I started out on fixing lawn mowers when I was about 8. Getting throw outs left for junk, and
Fixing them up to sell. Moved up to 20" motor bike building. I even had an old Wizard that
My brother-in-law brought over one day from his travels. I loved that thing. Car beside me
Said I topped out at 65 mph.

I Quit school in the tenth grade. Tired of not having any money for lunch, and walking, or
hiking the long distance to and from school.

I started looking for a job at age 15, and lied about my age, said I was 16. It was a small
place back then called Rockford Automotive. You start at the bottom, tearing down greasy,
grimy starters, alternators, generators, voltage regulators. Then, you move up the line,
testing, assembling, coating wires, and rewinding fields, and cores, and final testing at the
end. Worked there until I could do it all.

Self taught body work, basic stuff to start with. Then moved on to advanced repairing.
Got a job at Barber Coleman Co. Started in the degreasing parts section, worked my way
Up to Class A Spray painter at the end.

Went in the service (77.00 a month) in Dec. 66. Got out in Dec 69. (450.00 a month, made
Seargent). Went in as mechanic, never saw that part much at all. They switched me to an
Infantry unit. Spent 1 1/2 years in Vietnam, I liked the combat pay, so I extended 6
months.(that gave me an additional 65.00 a month).

State side, got my GED the last 10 months of service at FT Carson, Colorado. So I could
go to College if I choose to do so when I got out, and wouldn't take up my job hunting time.

After I got out, found a good job, I then went and applied to go to College on the G.I. Bill
before the time limit ran out, for 4 years. 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, while working a full
time job at nights. Back then, depending on who you worked for, they would change your
start and quit times, so you could go to College.

I made Deans Honor list, then, Deans high Honor list in all automotive classes.
Covered all aspects of Automotive repair, and Business. Although I'm a little behind now
on the latest things, but it's not all that different. Just more plastic added.

Learned more about metal work by hands on experience. I ran my own small body shop
myself for 3 years, working mostly days, and weekends, while working nights at my main
full time job. This was just before I started, and went to College.

Learned to weld at MGD Graphics in the early 70's, maintenance Dept. Stick and mig.
Also, heat treating. Metal structures. Machinist specialist card, and maintenance card,
tear down and repair all machines. Requires 5 year apprentice to archive on each.
I worked there until they shut that plant down here in Rockford, for 13 years.

I worked at different car dealers. That was some good, and bad lessons. After that, a few
private shops, and finally, I just plain got feed up, and decided to start my own place.

I ran my own automotive repair shop by myself from 1989-1998, hiring part timers, and
repairing cars from the front bumper to the rear. All makes, and models. From 1998, at that
point, I had developed things that forced me to retire.

I presently have a 1934 Chevy pickup. Originally, it was a wrecker. I have installed a 67
Merc 410 engine, C6 Trans, and a Ford 9" posi rear end. Keeping the leaf spring setup.

At present, I enjoy passing on things I know and learned, or can help with, to all others that
want to learn, and find out how things work.

Sometimes during the summer months, I will help some of the guys at the local circle track if
they ask me. I still enjoy the smells that go along with racing...
Thanks for reading,
Denny