Today we will set aside the political correctness and proper etiquette with which we usually treat our hobby. Therefore, it is probably best if fainthearted readers or those who simply offend easily choose not to read any further…
There is a perfectly good reason why the Catholic Church offers the opportunity to repent your sins in the confessional. Cleans your soul and unburden your heavy heart in order to move on with life. I imagine we might be able to offer our faithful ViaRETRO readers something similar today.
I’m sure those of us who enjoy tinkering with our classic car in the garage have probably all been there. Sometimes our repairs are perhaps not entirely by the book. It’s obviously not that we don’t know better – that goes without saying! The correct repair accomplished with both the correct components and the correct tools is naturally what we would always prefer under normal circumstances. But there are times when one or more of those elements are lacking. This is when we are forced into being a bit more creative and imaginative. And before the purists raise their voice, I think it’s in place to point out, that it was this ability to improvise and explore new paths which led to the invention of the wheel in the first place.
However, this form of DIY activity out in the garage or perhaps even on the driveway, is all too often followed by a state of crisis. Either through dysfunctional mechanicals or being ridiculed within your social circles. Still, we all know that the passage of time heals all wounds. For years, all of us with a guilty conscience have benefitted from the art of denial. Yet, nothing takes the weight off your shoulders quite like a confession. Today ViaRETRO offers amnesty to all those brave enough to tell their story of wrongdoings from the hobby workshop. And to those about to write the editorial team, arguing that airing our dirty laundry will only serve to shame our hobby, I have but to say: Start by looking in the mirror, reflect upon your own past endeavors, and I’m fairly certain that you too could benefit from getting a few truths off your chest.
Yes, I too have a ghastly and cringe-worthy story from an engine repair multiple years ago. It has haunted me in reoccurring nightmares since the day of my sins. It is time I too come clean and share my story with likeminded enthusiasts, and I sense today will be that day. However, I am too mortified by my own actions to be the first to confess openly. For that, my story is simply too horrific. I sincerely hope someone else will have the courage to get the ball rolling with tales of minor misdoings. I promise you I will since bare my soul to all of you…
