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Hemmings Motor News has been around since 1954. We're proud of our heritage, but we're also more than the Hemmings full of classifieds that your father subscribed to. Aside from new editorial content every month in Hemmings, we have three monthly magazines: Hemmings Muscle Machines, Hemmings Classic Car and Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car.

While our editors traverse the country to find the best content for those magazines, we find other oddities related to the old-car hobby that we really had no place for - until now. With this blog, we're giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what we see and what we do during the course of putting out some of the finest automotive magazines you'll ever read.
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Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

Posted September 08, 2014 12:00 AM by dstrohl
Pathfinder Tags: classic auto project car restoration

As I write this, I'm supposed to be working on my 1967 Buick GS 400. It's well after work hours and I promised myself I would dedicate some time to it tonight. However, a freak storm rolled in 45 minutes ago and caused lots of flash flooding in my area. It also flooded my patio, which in turn started pouring water into my house via the back door, so my son and I had to quickly dig a small trench around the back of the house to let the water run-off. Now I don't feel like working on the Buick and the usual "I didn't work on the car today and I should have" guilt is setting in.

Over the last never-ending winter, all I could think about was getting the Buick back to a turnkey cruiser again and I worked toward it. Now it's literally a couple days of work away from that, yet things keep coming up and it keeps sitting.

This is my driver, the car that's finished-if that statement can be true of any car-and it was supposed to provide carefree cruising all summer long. So far, it hasn't happened and summer is quickly coming to a close. More time would always help, but at this moment, motivation is what's lacking.

Get back in the garage on Hemmings.

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phoenix911
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#1

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/08/2014 12:37 PM

I hate working on cars. I only worked on my cars when I didn't have the money, or I could do it myself a lot cheaper than to pay someone else.

Fortunately now, cost is not as big an issue.

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#2

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/08/2014 2:38 PM

Because mine is a heap of junk and I hate it. If someone rolled into the back of it they would be doing me a favour.

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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/08/2014 6:38 PM

sucks when you park it in the seedy part of town, doors unlocked and keys in it.... and its still there in the morning.

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lyn
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#4

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/08/2014 6:58 PM

I have tons of motivation.

I almost work on it every day, except Sunday. Church, you know. Oh, I don't go to church mind you, but I'd hate to disturb my neighbors with a uniquely loud automotive mechanic's language.

All cars are profoundly deaf and gentle coaxing will not get that nut or bolt loose. Ask any experienced mechanic and they will confirm this.

Mondays, I almost work on it, but that's laundry day at our house. So, I can't be anywhere close to home or I'll be forced to wash my dirty clothes. I make a beer run.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are foot ball practice from 6:00-9:00PM. When we get home, it's time to grab a few brews, eat, and see that the left tight end and the right tackle do their homework.

Wednesday, I almost work on it, but I have to cut the grass, clean the pool, sort my clothes that were left on the floor by my wife on Monday night, make a beer run and go to bed.

Friday, I almost work on it, but I have to work late on Fridays (I do PR at the local bar) so I don't get much "my" time then either.

Saturdays, it's football games all day. Then we come home and I almost work on it, but we swim until I have to make another beer run.

By then, I'm so tired I just take a nap until I go to bed.

Next week, I'll work on it for sure. Almost.
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europium mkII
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#5

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/08/2014 11:04 PM

I love working on my car. http://youtu.be/05X5V9Bfs94
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#6

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 7:36 AM

Maybe it's time to get a BOAT!

Your car will just be a convenience for servicing the BOAT.

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#7
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 9:21 AM

Who was it who said that the best days to own a boat are the day of purchase and the day of sale?

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#25
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/10/2014 6:46 AM

Absolutely true

B ring

O ut

A nother

T housand

Old Buicks only eat hundred dollar bills!

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#26
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/10/2014 10:13 AM

Hey, I just bought a Buick......

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#27
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/10/2014 6:25 PM

ka-ching

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#8

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 9:57 AM

Because it is a 1967 Pontiac GS 400. I think you would have more motivation if it were a 1967 Porsche 911.

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#9

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 10:23 AM

Because everything is difficult to reach. Everything is cramped and don't have the tools to get to it properly. Furthermore, it takes me 4 days to do the job that would take a KIA mechanic 4 hours to do and I can't have my car out of commission for that long.

Maybe if I had a car lift to get under the car easily would help matters, and have the ability to pull the engine out would help too. But I don't have that and I don't have a lot of the fancy tools.

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#10
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 12:17 PM

Where's the problem?

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#11
In reply to #10

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 12:37 PM

Why his tool box and welder is out of reach of course.

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#12
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 12:40 PM

Well, duh, you don't want to ruin a perfectly good welder if the car falls.

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#14
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 1:48 PM

Some one get some help... The car fell on the new arc welder.

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#13
In reply to #10

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 12:41 PM

I attended an OSHA Compliance Seminar and that picture was used during the presentation.

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#23
In reply to #10

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 5:15 PM

no license tag...that's illegal

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#15

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 2:44 PM

Because every time I go and lay under the car to fix something, somehow I always find myself falling asleep! Lying under the chassis with a cool whip of air blowing on my face almost always put me under that spell, asleep specially right after having lunch!

Now I'm wondering why those cats love to hang around underneath those park cars?

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#16
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 3:06 PM

Well, I suppose that's better than falling asleep in the car driving somewhere!

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#24
In reply to #16

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 6:02 PM

You are right!

Falling asleep underneath the car is a lot better and preferable. A lot better than falling asleep while on the steering wheel control.. Creating a more dangerous scenario not only to one's self but also for others on the road..

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#20
In reply to #15

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 3:46 PM

As long as you don't fall asleep with a lit cutting torch, otherwise Toby the beagle will pee on your face.

See movie "Used Cars".

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lyn
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#21
In reply to #20

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 4:37 PM

"Used Cars".

We had to wait on a highway for two hours while they filmed the scene where they jumped the car through the train in the AZ desert. The cars kept running out of gas and had to be refueled.

Most of it was filmed in Mesa, where I still live. I still watch it sometimes, and laugh.................
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#22
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 4:42 PM

Your tellin me....I can't go into a used car lot after that....

"Hey old man.... looks like you got a oil pressure problem.....

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#17

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 3:06 PM

An incident involving your head under the hood and someone honking the horn can cause trepidation and lack of motivation.

Working under your car, on your back, in a gravel driveway in 90 degree heat, when a pair of penny loafers shows up and a voices says "excuse me" and you crawl out and some guy hands you a small pamphlet that reads "You have Sinned" can cause lack of motivation.

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#18
In reply to #17

Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 3:11 PM

And your reply, "No, but I'm about to".
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#19
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Re: Why Do We Sometimes Lack the Motivation to Work on Our Cars?

09/09/2014 3:20 PM

I did enjoy the cooling breeze as a result of my pursuit and the guy lost both of his penny's.

Co-incidentally the guy was taken away by the police later. Supposedly for child abuse, so I guess the publication was meant for him and he was looking for someone that could read. Just goes to show ya, working on your car can make you jump to conclusions.

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