17 again? and Ask Mick

Make no mistake about it; I don't want to be 17-years-old again. BUT, having said that, allow me to clarify my statement by pointing out that now that I've retired, it turns out my feelings are no different than a lot of other Boomer guys my age. Most of us really don't wish we could be 17 again, but we really would like to revisit and re-experience the highpoints of our teenage years.

And these feelings of mine - the urge to reconnect with the good times of my youth - are so universal among adult male boomers that it is fueling a broader nostalgia wave in this country right now.

Baby boomers like me have begun driving up prices at auctions of everything from model trains and tin toys to concert posters and "The Catcher in the Rye" first editions. Collectively, we have also helped drive up the collector-car industry about 60% since 2002 to a $25 billion industry last year, estimates Phil Skinner, collector-car market editor for Kelley Blue Book.

I don't know about you, but I'm the first born son of a typical post war blue-collar family. My stepfather helped raise me after my father was killed in an automobile accident. He was a hard-working automobile mechanic and mom was a bookkeeper. They both worked to make ends meet and I was left to entertain and fend for myself from the time I left for school in the morning till mom and dad got home from work.

So, it's understandable that because I grew up in an environment full of car talk, garages, grease and tools that I developed into an extremely independent gear head. Motorcycles and cars were my entertainment and they consumed all my spare time.

My love affair with vehicles started early for me. 2-wheels or 4, it didn't matter to me as long as they were fast and fun. At 14, before I could legally drive on the road, I earned sponsorship from the local Honda shop and rode their bikes, competing in scrambles races all around Central Florida.

Even today, I still get a broad smile on my face when I think about the day I bought my first motorcycle. I had just turned 16 and after spending month after month scouring the classifieds, I finally discovered an ad for a motorcycle that I could afford.It was a Zundapp, a durable German-made two-stroke bike that was simple to maintain and relatively cheap to operate.

But by the time I was 17, I had already broken my clavicle, and destroyed more than my share of dirt bikes. Besides, I was in high school then and my interests were expanding.

Muscle Cars, Drag Racing, Cruising the local Steak n' Shake and Girls.

The 60's - those were the best of times and the worst of times for me. Now, when I stop and take the time to think back on the experiences of my teens, what stands out most in my memory, is the thrill of experiencing the unknown and the challenges of maintaining my ride.

Whether it was my first Zundapp, or my Honda Hawk, or my small block 57 Chevy or my 425 HP big block Chevelle, my parents made it abundantly clear to me that if I expected to play, I must personally pay.

As a teen back then, or as the adult I am today, I've always had champagne taste and a beer budget when it comes to motorcycles and cars. And the same holds true for me today. From the very start, my mom and dad made it crystal clear to me that there was no extra money in the family budget to help support my motorcycle and automobile fetish.

And the $35.00/week paycheck that I was bringing home back then while working as a stock boy after school and on weekends at the local supermarket really didn't stretch much farther than gas money and a burger on Friday night for me and the girlfriend.

So, out of necessity, I learned to turn a wrench to keep my vehicles on the road or on the track. And in the process, I developed a mechanical aptitude and the automotive skills that have served my family and me well throughout the rest of my life.

But these days, there's a really big problem for all the old-school shade tree mechanics, like me, who are still around.

Today's cars and motorcycles are technologically more advanced then their drivers. days, Computerized controls, electronic sensors, antilock breaks, etc, etc -- the list grows as each new model is introduced.

And so, in todays age of plug-in diagnostics where the car tells you what's wrong and teens talk about swapping computer chips and injector nozzles to soup-up their ride, those of us who are used to changing cams and tuning carburetors are now left in the dark.

And, what's the absolute worst insult for me these days is being reduced to referring to my SUV's owner's manual in order to locate its dipstick. Yes, times certainly have changed but the respect I have for the maintenance of my vehicles and the enjoyment I get from driving and riding still remains as strong as ever.

Most vehicles today are so technologically advanced that it takes years of training and lots of expensive tools and computer equipment to maintain them properly. So, unless your are willing to devote the time and spend the money it takes to keep up, you'll find yourself in the very same position most everyone else like me -- trying to locate a trustworthy, competent and fairly priced vehicle service technician.

And now is my perfect opportunity to segue into a discussion about "Ask Mick the Mechanic"

I'm really excited to make the following announcement to all of you, my regular Tip of the Week recipients -- you're the first to officially hear that BoomerBikerOnline has recently begun production on "Ask Mick the Mechanic." and if all goes as expected, visitors to our site will soon be able to view regular online video episodes of AMTM, hosted by Mick Cipolla, owner of Courteous Car Care, an independent Automotive Repair shop located in Largo, Florida.

Mick is honest, progressive, knowledgeable, and the consummate professional Vehicle Service Technician. He possesses a genuine concern for his customers and reputation of his profession. And it is because of his personal commitment to his customers and the vehicle repair industry that Mick has decided to share his vast storehouse of mechanical knowledge to the benefit of you, our viewers

So, here's your insiders tip for this week!

Stay tuned as they say in the TV business and make sure you check back regularly because the first episode of "Ask Mick the Mechanic" is already in the pipeline.

And finally, here's your homework assignment. I'd like you all to put on your thinking caps and come up with some future automotive and motorcycle service and maintenance questions to ASK MICK!

That's it for this week.