It's the American way! Next to purchasing your home, your automobile is usually your second most expensive purchase. Normal people, like you and I, enjoy our cars and we find peace when the tach is at red line and the speedometer is pegged. Well maybe in my younger years, but now I drive more carefully wanting to remain in one piece in my elder years.

I've always been a car nut since before I had a driver's license. When you're a kid your escape from parental guidance was when you got in your parents car, ever so carefully backed it out of the driveway, slowly proceeded down the street, and when you were out of their sight your right foot went to the floor to see how fast you could go. If you were fortunate enough to work at a garage in high school, you were able to rotate the tires often so not just the right rear tire would be bald while the other three still had plenty of tread wear left. You use to measure how much rubber you could lay so you could tell your friends. What fun!

Then you finally purchased your own car and watch out. What can we do to make this go faster! Then sooner or later you settle down, get married, have kids, become responsible, and as soon as you can you buy a sporty vehicle to avoid driving the family truckster. Ah yes, nice country America! The best time is when the kids are grown and you go into the "Big Boy's Toys" mode. It doesn't get any better than this!

My name is Bob, and I'm a car nut...