Future Fabricator Award : Unofficial Announcement!
 

Greetings fellow Yenkonians!

Let’s rewind the clock a bit, shall we? :scholar: Think back to a time when you started in this hobby. I know for many of us it seems like a long time ago. Gas was below one dollar a gallon. NO CDs, DVRs, or i-anythings to keep us busy. And for some of us, a new invention called “fire” was transforming the way we eat our Steakasaurous freshly killed on the plains of the Supercontinent of Pangea. I’m sure we all remember our first car and what a disaster it was despite at the time it being the best thing ever. Mine was a 1966 Mustang coupe, 289 A-code, C4, 3.00 rear, in a stunning rattle can M-code Wimbledon White. No lights worked, no gauges worked, and there were stop signs riveted under the my feet to cover the holes in the floors. How did I know they were stop signs? Pretty simple conclusion after I pulled the carpet up and saw the red/white “STOP” staring up at me like an omen as if to warn me to sell this contraption now and avoid years of suffering. This was 1990 and believe it or not, you could still head to the Ford dealer and order a few new parts for over the counter. This was just the first in a long line of fun-filled disasters of learning I was to experience all before I hit even the ripe old age of twenty-five. I sure could have used a lot of tools that were not accessible to me back then to learn to fix all the things that were broke either by someone else or more often than not, broken by me. Speaking of twenty-five, wouldn’t it have been nice to have some great tools in your garage to help you fabricate your dreams?

I never lost touch with my growing pains getting into this hobby. No matter what venue you choose to go down; classic American iron, imports, kits, etc., a variety of tools are needed. It seems now that I’ve graduated from restorations to coach building which requires yet another set of tools. A big part of this hobby is your support network. A spouse and/or parent that can help when needed and encourages you along the way. I’m fortunate to have grown up with mechanical aptitude in my bloodline and I married my wife who understands (after many therapy sessions) my passion for all things rusty, broke, and old. Just like me! So we decided to come up with an award for the younger crowd who many not have the means to buy all the tools they need to start into this hobby. We’ve created the “Future Fabricator Award” to help encourage the younger folks to take this hobby into the next level. Thinking of what one might need to really get started in restoring cars, I assembled an introductory welding kit featuring Eastwood products. It’ll contain a 140a 115v welder, gloves, a welding cart, and an auto darkening helmet. We will award this to a lucky participant under 25yrs old who shows passion an above all, a desire to learn and advance their skills.

This is a way to give back and hopefully take the puff of smoke of passion for this hobby and turn it into a full on roasted tire burnout of fabrication fabulousness!!!! The award process is simple. It’ll consist of a multi-day interview process, two written 100 question tests with one being multiple choice and one essay based. And having years of experience with testing, the longest answer nor “C” will ever be the right answer just so we’re clear. And after the…..Hang on a second….”What’s that, Bob? No tests? Uh huh…..uh huh…..uh huh…….No interview either? Not allowed by state laws? Uh huh…..uh huh……..”. OK, this just in, new rules for the award will be a little simpler. You must be 25 and under and you must be the registered owner of the car you’re putting on display at MCACN. Kelly and I will chose the winner Saturday and with this award will come a custom made trophy to display as well. Details on that to follow.

I hope this entices more young folks to get out there and learn more about this great hobby. Who knows? Maybe this will start someone down the road of opening up their own shop or perhaps fuel the fire for the next Concours Gold awardee?

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More pics to come, and Best of luck everyone!!!!

Cheers,:beers:

Dave & Kelly

Given that Dave has a history of being somewhat of a prankster, I don't know whether to believe this or not :dunno: Waiting for the other shoe to drop.....

I think that this is a great idea! :biggthumpup:

Better than winning a Toyoda.
https://apnews.com/article/6f88d9687...6e2679cf012597

I wish I was under 25 again! So, just how many under 25 year old's register a car at MCACN?

Prankster? Toyoda?:hmmm: No, not a prank.:no: These items are being shipped as we speak to the show World Headquarters:shocked: and I’m finalizing the trophy design too:biggthumpup::biggthumpup:

Just figured it was something worthwhile to do. I bet there’s more than you may think. Maybe Bob will shed light on it?:dunno:

Cheers
Dave

That was my first thought, if a person is under 25 AND showing a car at MCACN, they would, most likely, be waaaaay beyond a beginner.
Maybe have a drawing of some sort ?

Thanks for creating this award, it is important to generate interest from a younger group of hot rodders.

I secretly wish my kids had interest in this stuff but they are making their mark on the world of arts in music and dance. (Which I wouldn’t change for the world)

This award will generate some buzz and hopefully “spark” more youth to get into old cars.

Ryan W31

This should be REAL fun to watch, with Dave at the helm.....lol.

Like you Ryan, I did my best with my two girls. I even bought the youngest one a plastic tool box and had her coming out to the shop for a month or so and then she figured out she was a girl. Danm. Then came the barbies, million dollar dance lessons and figure skating and I was left holding the perverbilly "micro-fibre cloth".

I support this award 100%, this should be good Dave.

Paul

Great idea Dave & Kelly.

Great question;

More than you may expect, which is 10-12 this year. This has been expanding every year and many of the Under 25 year old participants will be joining us for the "Meet The Future" panel discussion Saturday, Hosted by John Kraman.

Let's show our support!

Bashton

And all kidding aside, can you guys believe what a Class Act this gentleman is?

This is really putting your money where your mouth is when is when it comes to promoting the hobby and encouraging our younger folks to be a part of it.

Dave, aka A12Pilot....we salute you!

Bashton

Sounds like the best time for the D&K Future Fabricator Award and Bob is just the guy to make this happen.

Well in some cases yes, but in others, they are guys and girls that are directly involved at some level, whether super experienced or just getting into it.

Among them, one races ARCA, another a Jr. Dragster (he had his 65 Barracuda in the show last year) Two young ladies that both race Pure Stock and another young guy that races a Corvette in SCCA competition.

We also have a 25 year old that is showing his 1969 Daytona on the red carpet display...what a story he can tell!

Bashton

OK...you got us. This was all actually Kelly's idea. She has a way of getting Dave to do, well...whatever she says!

No seriously now...this is 100% for real.

This is going to be a blast!

Bashton

I think Budweiser should do a "Real Men of Genius" Commercial featuring Dave.

I completely agree. I have not yet attended MCACN but it is on my bucket list of things to do. I am not sure if there is a fabricators section but if there is then A12Pilot's BMW 507 would make an excellent display.

Well, Dave's original intent was to shake things up at MCACN in a new and very different way. That is exactly what he will be doing...again!

Bashton

OK, that is about the funniest thing I’ve heard in a long time!:haha: sniff….such good memories and times!!

I’m glad you all like the idea of the award. Thank you all for the well wishes and support. It’s a small award, but I think a deserving one. Who knows? Maybe we’ll decide to do another next year in a different category? More details this week about the trophy, testing, rules, stipulations, and what notness.:biggthumpup::hmmm:

As we speak, aerial drones have dropped off two of the three packages sent to MCACN World HQ.

I’m in talks with the Executive Staff and COD (Chief Operating Dude) about a possible follow on award to this one for the 90yr and up crowd. :laugh:

Ok, that might have been that sense of humor coming out.:smile:

More details this week!:scholar:

Cheers
Dave

So, figuring that this is a "fabricator" award, the trophy is hand fabricated by me! :biggthumpup: Think back in your early days learning automotive stuff. What did we all wind up doing at some point in shop class? Yep, disassemble a lawnmower engine. While the auto shop teacher was yelling across the hall at the woodshop teacher, I was busy trying to figure out how this contraption worked. Since so many of us started on these engines, I decided to make the award from lawn mower engine parts. Enter my old trusty LawnMachine 6100 Mowmaster. Years of no oil changes resulted in it not wanting to start for whatever weird reason.:hmmm: So it's the perfect parts palette for the award.

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Parts are out and mock up begins. Pulley base, crankshaft with piston for the top.

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Ferrari Rosso Corsa Red in DBC pops on the main shaft and I added pushrod supports on either end. Just waiting on the final plaque for the award title to come in.

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The countdown is on!! Of course I had to have Kelly pull out the A12 Bee unveiling dress she wore a few years ago for promo stuff.:cool2:

See yous guys soon!!

Cheers
Dave

A better pic... of both! :blush:

The plaque that says "Future Fabricator 2022" should be here shortly. Final pix after that!

Cheers
Dave

Just another a great creation from scratch. Who wouldn't be proud to receive that!:youguysrock:

Thanks, Joe! I appreciate the compliment!:headbang:

Cheers
Dave

Classy move and a neat trophy! Well done and I'm sure it will be appreciated.

Now you just need to partner with this selected future fabricator with a live clinic on chopping a top like Gene Winfield does at World of Wheels using the car of some (un)lucky volunteer. "We've never done this before, but I'm sure we'll figure it out by Sunday...."

Outstanding trophy

Wow - what a great ambassador to the hobby. Thank you both!

Thanks, guys. Here it is in final form!

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See you guys next week!:headbang:

Cheers
Dave

Very cool!!!

And the winner of this first award was?

It was Nathaniel, and you can see us chatting with all three candidates along with the award presentation here on their YouTube page:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bAmy7uvQh4

All three were so talented it was hard to pick. I wish I had three welders to give away!

Looking forward to next year!

Cheers
Dave