At Home Mechanic

Nothing says, “I love you” quite like a trip to… the junkyard. Imagine if you will, walking hand in hand past the rusting hulks, pausing to pick through cast off parts, lingering over a promising wreck that may yield that Master Cylinder that you both had hoped to find. It chokes me up just to think of the fine time we could have sharing tools while stripping parts from derelict cars. Good times, good times.

Or maybe sharing a day of behind the wheel racing at the local track is the way to build a strong relationship. Bonding as a couple is assured when you walk the track together, discussing apex points, braking thresholds and course strategy. It takes a strong man to admit that his ladylove is faster and smoother through the double apex and negative camber turns. But think how much stronger your relationship will be when you surrender your ego and love without reservations.

And think of the happy times you and your sweetie can share in the garage under the hood together. “Honey, could you hand me that 10 millimeter socket?” “Sure dear. Do you want a short or a deep socket? And do you want it in half-inch or three-eights?” “Three-eights in a shorty will do Sugar Pie.” I bet all you hopeless romantics are wishing that you and your significant other could communicate so well.

I know it is unrealistic to expect your girlfriend/wife/occasional bedmate to share all of your enthusiasm for all things car-related in the same manner as the average Gear Head. But every once is a great while a fellow gets lucky and finds a woman who has at least an open mind when it comes to our car hobby. As long as you do not abuse that special quality (“Dear, do we have to go to the drag races again this weekend?”) and mix in a few chick flicks for date night you should be able to keep the romance alive.

As for me? Well, I have shared a racecar with my fiancée. And she is insisting that I take her to the junkyard today when her son and I look for some Camaro parts for his ’78 Z28. My Love is a good sport and is willing to give every new experience a chance so I expect that she will approach this as a learning opportunity. But I bet it would be delusional of me to think that she will make a second trip to the junkyard anytime in the future.