Learning

I got a call the other day from a jammed up young rodder who I've known for about a year and encouraged to do it right the first time. Being a "traditional" rodder he wanted a rod like you read about in the Magazines, and sometimes that is far from right. That's what he built and has had a great time driving it. Until the other day.

While cruising down a country road it became skittish in a corner and went off the road hitting a guide wire from a utility pole in the process. Due to location the State Police became involved. When the Trooper saw the vehicle he didn't know what he was looking at and had the vehicle impounded.

The owner called me to find out if I could help him out of his jam. The impounding Garage was an old acquaintance of mine and told me how it usually goes down. First the trooper could just release the vehicle, not likely to happen. The trooper could have it towed to Augusta for the Forensic Vehicle Team to thoroughly examine the vehicle, but as nobody was seriously injured and nothing other than vehicle was damaged, this wasn't likely either. The final solution would to have an Inspection Mechanic who is acquainted with Street Rods, inspect the vehicle to determine if it is safe to operate on Maine roads.

Option 3 was chosen and you guessed it, I was called.

I met with the Trooper and he and I inspected the vehicle. I explained to him how things were constructed and why this was done that way and how old technology was not always the best technology. The Trooper asked real good questions and admitted to me he was Street Rod illiterate. I explained that if he wanted to learn I'd teach. He and I spent over an hour looking over the vehicle and talking to each other, like we've known each other a long time.

It was determined that the vehicle was indeed safe but not legal and the owner was given a citation for an uninspected vehicle. The vehicle is now at home resting easily awaiting repair.

What else was determined was that this Trooper was smart enough to realize he was out of his comfort zone and needed help. He asked the right people and came up with a new respect for our hobby. I now have a new respect for the State Police due the fact that he asked for help, and listened intently as I explained the Street Rod Inspection, which hopefully will lead to a better working relationship in the future. The owner of the vehicle now has a lot more respect for guide wires and us "Old Guys" and plans on building a better rod.

Not a fairy tale but a tale just the same.