It was pretty cold but Levi wanted to take his new race car chassis for his first test ride.
Since Levi is only six years old he had never driven anything with a motor on it, so I thought I had better go along for the ride, just untill he got used to the brake and the gas and let me tell you it was one ride I won't forget for awhile.
I have a circle drive around my house that makes a pretty good race track and after the second time around he wanted to go by himself and I had had just about all I could stand so I told him OK. so I put his helmet on his head and turned him loose. Not because he is my kid but he drove like he had been doing it for a long time. When he got to the first corner I thought sure he had forgot to let off of the gas pedal but he put it into a slide and made the corner. I couldn't believe my eyes. After he had went around a few times he stopped and said "Dad it sure is fun when the back wheels slide", I think I might just have a racer on my hands.
Here he is taking a sharp right as of right now I have too many objects he could slide into if he goes around the house to the left, like that car hauler you see in the picture, but I don't think it is going to make a difference to this kid whichever way he goes. Just look at him up on the wheel and leaning into the turn ( that's my boy!).
Here I am welding the skin on his coupe body. I feel very fortunate to have a young son like this to raise and do things for. Being married for 15 years, this time, and my wife being 20 years younger has given me the oppurtunity to raise another family and I think that all dads should take out some time from what they are doing and do a little something with their kids.
Well I finally got Levi to stop long enough for me to give the body its first trial fit and for some reason Levi thinks everything feels and works better with the body on. I haven't quite got that figured out but with all of his expeirence that he's picked up in the last week I guess I will just have to take his word for it. Now it's time to build a hood and do a little more heat shrinking of the metal and then smooth out the body for paint. I had planned to make this a winter project but with a six year old standing under you with a whip sometimes I move a little faster. Hope to have this car done so we can put both of them together in the upcoming World Of Wheels car show. More pictures soon.
Dec. 20, 01
Well after about a two week absence I am finally back with some more pictures of Levi's car. My 12 year old daughter just went through back surgery and that gave her and my wife a long stay at the hospital.
Here's the rearview of Levi's Lucky Little Coupe. Which will be the name that Levi wants to call his race car, and will be painted on the back deck lid.
Here's the front view and as you can see I have the hood on the car and now we are ready to finish the body for paint. We should have this little coupe completed before long and will be back with more pictures soon. Levi is having a blast and I don't think he cares if it gets paint on it or not.
