Since I was in a stroller I have been immersed in the classic car culture. I grew up listening to oldies, cruising with my parents, and frequenting car shows and cruise nights. From a young age I became part of a colourful family of car enthusiasts. Car people are some of the nicest most welcoming people you could meet, and we truly form a family. All summer, most evenings and weekends were spent hanging out with my extended family. We would eat Deb's famous hot dogs at the Dunnville Slow Poke's cruise night on Saturdays, or wake up at the crack of dawn to meet at one of the several rendezvous points (ie "Hill Top" Gas station or Timmy's) where several of us would gather, fuel up on coffee and petrol and roll out single file to a car show in the outer lying area. Many of my favorite times in my childhood happened surrounded by cars, the summer sun (or sometimes freak snow storm in the spring / fall) and my huge family of piston heads.It goes without saying that many people have had an impact on me growing up whether they realize or not. Sadly, I lost a member of my family yesterday.
Mike and Lynda are the definitive "Happy-go-lucky, down to earth, would bend over backwards to help you out, truly nice people." Hilarious, smiling, welcoming all around great people. They are family for many of us. My best friend Miranda and I really clicked with them since my childhood. We palled around with them and their teddy bear Great Pyrenees named "Cruiser." We joked, and laughed and likely drove them crazy, but we loved them like family. Mike would always run up with a huge smile and crushing bear hug whenever he saw you. He was always relaxed in his trade mark moccasins and "Days of Thunder" sun glasses. He would help you out with any problem and would offer his characteristic no-nonsense heart felt warm advise. Something got you stressed out? Bah! Just shrug it off, wave your hand in the air to say to hell with it, and remember in the end some things just aren't your problem. A "Don't let the Bastards grind you down" type outlook.
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| Miranda, Mike and I at my Wedding in 2010. Notice our sunglasses! |
Several years ago, Mike and Lynda were in a horrific car accident. They both walked away, but Mike's beloved Copper Valiant was totaled. (They had his and her's Valiants that were equally the cutest and most bad-ass thing ever!) Much like them, I loved Mopars. I would tag along to Moparfest or the Spring Fling at Chrysler Performance. As I got older and started driving it came time for me to get my own classic car. Now, my first was a 1968 Mustang Coupe. A solid car that I remember fondly. My second was a 1964 Rambler convertible. An AMC that inched me closer to my coveted Mopar. I enjoyed that car very much, but I soon discovered that I was not a convertible girl. I preferred a no nonsense "post" or "Hard top" car. By this time my radar was honing in on the styles from the epitome of early muscle. Hemi's and slanted windowed hard-tops, and names like Polara and Dart were consuming me. After a lot of searching, I found my current and I think last classic car, as my baby is truly the end all be all for me. A unique Dart bodied, Canadian built (from Windsor to be exact) 1965 Valiant.
I pulled into my first cruise night in Dunnville beaming with a grin from ear to ear. No sooner had I put her in park, when I saw a flash rush past, drop down and shimmy under the rocker panels. The moccasins sticking out from under the car confirmed my suspicion; it was Mike! He popped up exclaiming about how clean it was underneath while simultaneously asking where I found it, and clinching the bear hug around me. It was a proud moment for me.
I rode shot gun while he drove back to his place, following behind Lynda's white Valiant and my parents and my husband Jake following us. The whole way Mike and I ooh'd and awed over how smooth her "Leaning Tower of Power" ran (The affectionate nickname for Mopar's indestructible slant-6 engine). Gushing over the unique curves of its rear side windows. It effortlessly shifted through its 3 speed automatic transmission. I was in heaven. My dad got Mike to give it an official once over as Mike was a Mopar wizard. It passed with flying colours. She needed a few minor cosmetic tweaks in my eyes to bring her closer to my vision of muscle but all good things come in time. For now she was perfect. Well, apart from the one missing radio tuning knob that irked me due to my own neurosis.
In no time Mike learned of my little tick from my dad and I was presented with a matching set of knobs, a slightly later model design, but they fit and worked perfectly. Mike got them out of his smashed up Valiant that was in the crash years before. I was touched. The night we were at their place I didn't recognize the pile of crumpled metal as his old car. I had no idea they still had it.
In the car world family there is always the dry season of the year; the Winter. We all long for Spring and the smell of exhaust and sounds from the engines of our cars that we've neatly tucked away for hibernation. We can't wait to get together. It's been since the fall since most of us have seen each other but each spring we pick up from where we left off and another cruising season is underway.
This Winter has been unseasonably bitter, but over the last month or so we have seen those teasing glimpses of Spring. The smell of defrosting earth, the warmth of the sun, and me struggling in the silence to hear sounds of revving engines where they will soon be. This weekend I thought a lot about the up coming season. Work mates and friends know this time of year to be my Cabin Fever inducing, Valiant lamenting time. My dreams of the soon to come spring are all about cruising with the windows down and the radio turned way up. Yesterday I thought a lot about the upcoming O.N.D.R (Ontario Nostalgia Drag Racers) season. I also thought about the upcoming Mopar Spring Fling and the deliciously famous breakfast from Skyway Jack's that accompany it.
Last night my mom called to tell me Mike had passed away. I am shocked and heart-broken to say the least. Anyone who knows Mike and Lynda are grieving the loss of a dear friend. A huge hearted, belly laughing, bear hugging friend, taken from us all too soon. It is so hard right now to comprehend and I know it will be even harder when the season starts again and our big family reunites and Mike is not there.
Today the weather has turned again to frigid and bleak. That's why I am going to bundle up in my heaviest coat, hat and mittens, go to my garage and climb behind the wheel of my baby. I am going to turn on the radio, fiddle with it's special tuning knobs, sit in its glow and listen to some oldies.
All of my love to Lynda and the rest of our family.
Love Lisa
