Lets Get Personal .....

[erik70rt]

I'm Erik and I'm 46.  Originally from a small rural area in NW NJ that had more cows than people.  Moved to PA in 2004.  Divorced, no kids.  Just a golden retriever named Pickett.  My username is pretty simple my name and a Challenger I owned a few years ago.  I have owned many Mopars starting in 1987 when I bought my first '70 Challenger 340 4 spd FC7.  I've had A, B & E bodies, and always liked the E-bodies best.  I had a slant 6 convertible '70 Challenger and a '70 Challenger R/T 440 4spd super trak pak in FY1 (should have kept that one).  I play ice hockey and curl (yes the silly sport with the rocks and brooms).  My other big hobby is collecting/restoring/repairing toy trains.  Been doing that since I was 5. 

Current Mopars are my '70 Challenger R/T SE 383 auto B5 and a '68 Barracuda convertible 416 4 spd in Omaha orange. 

Here is a self portrait

[Cuda Cody]

Thank you for sharing your story Erik.     Ice Hockey at 46!   

[blown motor]

Here, here to the hockey career! I'm 59 and still play goal. Some of the guys we play with are in their 30s, a couple in their 20s. One of the 30s played college hockey in the US. The only guy I've ever ducked a shot from. 

[erik70rt]

I can't keep up with those 20s kids anymore.  Think I need to switch from the beer league to the geezer league!

[Rev-It-Up]

I've really enjoyed reading the stories in this post and being able to put faces to names.  Here's mine...I'll try to keep it
short. 

I'm Laura...mother of 2, grandmother of 3.  I grew up around cars. My brother is 13 years older than I.  He was constantly working on cars and I loved to watch and ride around with him when I was young.  As I got older, I never really had the opportunity to restore a car myself...married, kids...you know the drill.  When my kids got into their early teens, I gave them an Autotrader and told them to pick out a car they liked.  I would hunt one down and we would work on restoring it together.  When they turned 16, it would become their car to drive.  They both thought it was a great idea.  My son picked a Challenger.  I found a 70 RT/SE and brought it home.  Within 2 hours of starting to tear it down, my son pulled me aside and said "Mom...this is not for me.  I do not enjoy this at all".  I explained that if he didn't work on it...he doesn't get to drive it.  He was OK with that and that's when the car became mine.  The car was finished 4 years later and turned out beautiful.  Pixie received the same opportunity and she chose the Duster.  She, on the other hand loved working on the car.  We got the car disassembled and ready for paint and body work when she went off to college...and her father and I divorced.  Unfortunately, I had to sell the Challenger so I am currently without an E-body. 

When I first started working on the Challenger, I joined CC.com...I think it was only a month old when I discovered it. Shortly thereafter, I become Administrator on that site and continued for the next five years until my divorce...when I dropped off the face of the planet. The 10 years between then and now have been a blast.  I remarried a wonderful man (albeit a chevy guy...but I'm working on that). And now I have the opportunity to finish the Duster with my daughter. I have loved getting back in touch with all of you and promise not to fall off the face of the planet again. 

[MEK-Dangerous]

Hello,

  My name is Mike, and have a Challenger addiction. I'm probably the only one here that can say he's owned all 3 generations of the Challenger.

Before I get into that...I'm almost 55, and I have worked for a major defense contractor for the last 35 years.

My first Challenger was a '78 that I bought in the early 80's. A 4-cylinder import, but it had the plaid seat interior, and overhead console with the low fuel gauge.  I liked the car, but sold it because it didn't have AC. I worked second shift back then, and my shirt would be drenched by the time I got to work in the summer.       Sorry I don't have any pictures of it.

My next Challenger was a '70. What an awesome car. I sold it to a guy in Russia 3 years ago.

Then I moved on to the modern Challengers. I have now owned an '09, 2013, and now my favorite of all time...A 2016 Challenger in Plumb-crazy with white stripes and a white interior. He's named Barney after the purple dinosaur on Sesame street. I have some really cool mods to show off at Carlisle this year.   

[Cuda Cody]

Thank you for sharing Rev and MEK!     Great to hear a little history on everyone.     And the photos are wonderful.  Can't wait to see you guys at Carlisle.   

[RusTy/SE]

My name is Russell, I'll be 59 this summer and been hooked by performance cars in one form or another since I discovered Hot Wheels as a 10 year old when the originals were released back in '68. Unlike my report cards seem to indicate, I eventually paid attention enough to graduate (although there was that one 5th grade incident involving Friday Auditorium and spitballs which won me a 1 week vacation as a non-participant in a 4th grade classroom ... ) haha. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY moving with my parents to Montgomery, Al early February '74. I arrived just in time for the local car culture of the Deep South and the beginning of Southern Rock to intersect.

My parents always let me come and go as I pleased as I was the last of five kids, the others having been born in '33, '35, '37, and '41, and I'm pretty sure they'd had enough of keeping tight rein on things by the time I arrived in '58. I made quite a few solo trips on the NYC subways to Manhattan/Times Square in the early '70s - and yes, I had to dodge 'creepy characters' on at least two of those occasions as this was way before Rudy Giuliani cleaned things up. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but as a kid growing up, I loved every second of it.

I toned it down enough to start an IT career beginning as an IBM System 360 Mainframe Operator in July 1976, a month after graduating HS and stayed a Mainframe Operator for various Data Processing centers until the end of August 2001 when I lateral transferred to my current position as Desktop Support Technician. Seven of us techs support approximately 1500 end users for the Alabama Department of Labor. Our current project is updating department personal computers to MS Windows 10. With 23 years at the state this coming September, retirement is planned for the end of 2019.

I bought my first Challenger, a '73 318 Rallye, in January '77, and have owned several Mopars since; '70 (A66) 340-4, '71 R/T 383, '70 R/T 440, 2nd '73 Rallye 340, '70 R/T SE 440, '68 Charger R/T 440, '70 Charger R/T 440, '67 Valiant 225, 2 '67 Coronet R/T 440s, and briefly my Dad's '68 Polara 318. I also bought a 1986 D250 brand new, finally selling it just before Christmas 2013.

The only one I still own is the R/T SE. In late 2006 I agreed to take it to a local collision shop owned by a good Mopar buddy, managed by another long time Mopar buddy. Things went well with it getting fast-tracked until late '07 when manager Mopar buddy endured a series of anxiety attacks. Unable to continue at the shop, he left under less than positive circumstances. The owner promised to finish my car but as often happens, keeping the business going took precedence, and my car languished more than it progressed. I had work stopped by September '10 and it's been a rolling shell with the drivetrain bolted in and living in a local storage unit since then.

I made pretty much every wrong move that first attempt at having it restored while nearly losing my house in the process - long tangled seriously redunkulous story - but things are ok now. A true restoration likely won't begin until after I retire but I'm ok with that. I have the car and a great forum with all the great folks here; many from c-c.com, plus members I hope to meet one day as once my Challenger is done I plan to enjoy and drive it - A LOT

Last year was especially tough as my two oldest and best friends moved through different life events; I drove up to Charlotte for Tony's wedding during the summer and East Stroudsburg, PA to attend Billy's Memorial Service in December (colon cancer).

Below are the report cards. class pic from 5th grade (Tony and I are in our Bluejackets Guard uniforms with Billy front row far left), with Mom and our cat at JFK Airport leaving for Alabama, my '01 Durango daily driver while I still had the truck, my first 70 Challenger R/T, and my current R/T SE the day it left body shop H*ll and pretty much how it sits today in a 10x20 storage unit.

[RusTy/SE]

Oh... and me  Tony had a Caricaturist at his wedding to do free art of any guest who wished to have one.

[Cuda Cody]

Very cool story @RusTy/SE      Super cool list of cars you've owned and congratulations on your upcoming retirement in 2019.     That will be here before you know it.   Those report cards are super neat.   

Can't wait for you to get started on your project.  That will be a fun one to watch come together.     Thanks for sharing buddy!

[Cudajason]

@erik70rt ice hockey and curling in PA, we may have to make you an honorary Canadian.  Up here we just call it HOCKEY though!

Great idea for a thread.

Jason here.  I am a 42 year old father of two (17 year old daughter and 10 year old son)! I am not officially married, but my wife, Ann Marie, and I have been together for 19 years this June.

I spend my days sitting at a desk.  I work for a global accounting firm, but I am not an accountant.  I manage our Canadian sales tax compliance practice, basically I over see the preparation and filing of sales tax returns.  It is not a sexy job, but the pay is pretty good, and after 17 years with the firm I still have an opportunity to grow. 

My interest in cars goes back as long as I can remember.  My dad is a bodyman by trade and always had cars he was doing on the side at home and a few of his own.  Lots of corvetts, which is probably why I love them.  One of my favorite cars that my Dad owned was a stock 29 chev. When I was 5 my dad took my kindergarten class around the block in that car one afternoon. Not sure how many trips he made that day, but it took a few!

I actually spent 5 years working for my dad in his body shop after graduating high school.  Working for family was not for me, so I went back to school which lead to my current gig.

My taste in cars is pretty varied, I like the very old to brand new, most makes, models, cars truck, hell even elCaminos can be cool...not Rancheros though the are UGLY!!

I have had my Cuda since Oct 91. The paint on it was done in 93, by my dad.

I drove it as my primary transportation in the summer of 93, then it went it to storage for 14 years or so.  Its a long story.

Now I am enjoying working on it, and driving it.  I hope to redo it sometime in the next several years, although with all the family commitments, I never have enough time to work on it.

Not much else to tell really, I can be found most mornings at the gym, always had a love of lifting weights, and evenings found watching a hockey game, usually while I am trying to get some work done, after I put my son to bed.  My daughter trains at her dojo (karate) every weeknight, and recently competed at the National level with the Ontario Provincial team. It is her passion in life. My wife runs here too and from the dojo every night.

The weekends, I am usually running my little guy around, he is autistic (high functioning), and has some form of therapy every weekend.   

Makes for a busy life, but its a good life!

Jason

[RUNCHARGER]

Yup: Cars come after family for sure.

[Cuda Cody]

@Cudajason  great story.  I've always liked your Cuda paint, but now that I know your dad painted it I LOVE it!     Don't ever re-paint it.  When you son or daughter own it one day it will mean a lot that their grandfather painted it and their dad drove it.    

[erik70rt]

@Cudajason That's not the first time I have heard that!  LOL  You should hear me talk sometime.  Growing up around a bunch of Canadians has definitely rubbed off.  So now I have to ask you my standard question I ask all Canadians that I meet...........  What's your favorite Stompin' Tom tune?   

[Timbbuc2]

My name is Russell, I'll be 59 this summer and been hooked by performance cars in one form or another since I discovered Hot Wheels as a 10 year old when the originals were released back in '68. Unlike my report cards seem to indicate, I eventually paid attention enough to graduate (although there was that one 5th grade incident involving Friday Auditorium and spitballs which won me a 1 week vacation as a non-participant in a 4th grade classroom ... ) haha. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY moving with my parents to Montgomery, Al early February '74. I arrived just in time for the local car culture of the Deep South and the beginning of Southern Rock to intersect.

My parents always let me come and go as I pleased as I was the last of five kids, the others having been born in '33, '35, '37, and '41, and I'm pretty sure they'd had enough of keeping tight rein on things by the time I arrived in '58. I made quite a few solo trips on the NYC subways to Manhattan/Times Square in the early '70s - and yes, I had to dodge 'creepy characters' on at least two of those occasions as this was way before Rudy Giuliani cleaned things up. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but as a kid growing up, I loved every second of it.

I toned it down enough to start an IT career beginning as an IBM System 360 Mainframe Operator in July 1976, a month after graduating HS and stayed a Mainframe Operator for various Data Processing centers until the end of August 2001 when I lateral transferred to my current position as Desktop Support Technician. Seven of us techs support approximately 1500 end users for the Alabama Department of Labor. Our current project is updating department personal computers to MS Windows 10. With 23 years at the state this coming September, retirement is planned for the end of 2019.

I bought my first Challenger, a '73 318 Rallye, in January '77, and have owned several Mopars since; '70 (A66) 340-4, '71 R/T 383, '70 R/T 440, 2nd '73 Rallye 340, '70 R/T SE 440, '68 Charger R/T 440, '70 Charger R/T 440, '67 Valiant 225, 2 '67 Coronet R/T 440s, and briefly my Dad's '68 Polara 318. I also bought a 1986 D250 brand new, finally selling it just before Christmas 2013.

The only one I still own is the R/T SE. In late 2006 I agreed to take it to a local collision shop owned by a good Mopar buddy, managed by another long time Mopar buddy. Things went well with it getting fast-tracked until late '07 when manager Mopar buddy endured a series of anxiety attacks. Unable to continue at the shop, he left under less than positive circumstances. The owner promised to finish my car but as often happens, keeping the business going took precedence, and my car languished more than it progressed. I had work stopped by September '10 and it's been a rolling shell with the drivetrain bolted in and living in a local storage unit since then.

I made pretty much every wrong move that first attempt at having it restored while nearly losing my house in the process - long tangled seriously redunkulous story - but things are ok now. A true restoration likely won't begin until after I retire but I'm ok with that. I have the car and a great forum with all the great folks here; many from c-c.com, plus members I hope to meet one day as once my Challenger is done I plan to enjoy and drive it - A LOT

Last year was especially tough as my two oldest and best friends moved through different life events; I drove up to Charlotte for Tony's wedding during the summer and East Stroudsburg, PA to attend Billy's Memorial Service in December (colon cancer).

Below are the report cards. class pic from 5th grade (Tony and I are in our Bluejackets Guard uniforms with Billy front row far left), with Mom and our cat at JFK Airport leaving for Alabama, my '01 Durango daily driver while I still had the truck, my first 70 Challenger R/T, and my current R/T SE the day it left body shop H*ll and pretty much how it sits today in a 10x20 storage unit.

Well there is someone else from Alabama same age too Hello