OK,ok,Jester.Your 6 months older than me.I'll give ya that one.LOL. I too feel I contributed to the design and application of the parts of today.
I do feel I wouldn't exchange my lifetime for anything.And yes I have my days that I envy guys around me that know nothing about cars that followed their college careens that drive around in their BMW's where after I graduated I ignored my degree.
But in hind sight,I have to say I've been very,very,lucky in my life.The things we thought nothing about in M/P and now looking back at the risks,we where lucky not to have eaten it.
Today we take a aftermarket BBC either in our case a 565 or 632 and buzz it to the moon expecting to do that round after round.
I think what has undermined hot rodding is ideas of a budget,no plan to create a income from hot rodding,(a business),the import parts that has done a fair job of convincing guys those parts are the same as quality parts when they are not,and guys instead of thinking things through are always looking for short cuts like in issues like tuning.Thank god for the island of salvation of guys like you,Vinnie,CD,well I can't name them all that try to leave a legacy behind of right and wrong.
I'll tell you guys this.When I turned 65 and got sick(yeah again damm it)it is a game changer.Not like before where you feel your infallible with endless tomorrows.I came to realize how each minute of everyday was so,so,important.And how I spend that time I will never get back.So either it is so important to me to spend that time or it is sometime I really enjoy.Other than that...screw it.
We have built from 434's to 383's to stuff into race cars for many.many,yrs and built street rod engines as well.We went threw a time period building Jr Dragster engines capturing in 5 yrs 5 track championships and built at that time a number of the same engines for customers.I think we can check that off the bucket list as being a success.Currently we are making aftermarket BBC's book.
Yep I look back to see the next generation now pick up the baton and run with it.It should be no surprise that will involve major electronics.For me,I'll be in the cheap seats cheering those guys on....................:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: