The Silver Days of Life.

I would have titled this 'The Golden Days', but that would not leave ample description of things still to come.

I guess my Mini was the root of all things good in my future. Sounds strange, but the kind or type of car one drives will dictate, or at least used to dictate, a lifestyle. The Mini did not bring about too much change until I had engine problems and I was directed to Reputation Tuning in Scarborough. I had found a home away from home. Aside from spending untold amounts of money on the Mini, it became the sports car social hub of the east end. Life long friendships were formed at Reptune. There was a hardcore group of seven Mini owners, and one MGB owner that became inseparable for many years. We all joined the same car club, BARC-OC, worked races, did Solo Events and the occasional rally. Every outing formed up at Reptune and a lot of times ended up there as well. It wasn't often that we didn't end up bending or blowing up one of the eight cars on a days outing. It was a constant battle to keep the cars in proper tune. If the average wage amongst us was $100.00/wk, we were spending $125.00 a week to go faster and look better. One of the group, Dave Crowther still has his original 1964 1071cc Mini Cooper 'S'.

The Mini days hold some of my fondest memories but like most good things, must come to an end. I used the car for drivers school but soon learned that a lot of the modifications I had made under the old Improved Production car rules made it ineligible under the new SCCA rules which CASC adopted. I bought a used MGB and started about building a legal race car. I had a lot of success with the 'B', winning most of my novice races in 1968 and the E/P Championship in 1970. Other cars in my race lineup included a Datsun 240Z and a FF1600, which was very short lived.

Single life soon gave way to marriage and racing was put aside.

I met my wife Linda through a mutual friend at BARC in late 1968. Linda was a corner worker with CRCA, but put it aside in '69' to follow my racing. After racing, Linda and I stayed involved. Linda became the Ontario Region Numbers Registrar and I did some driving instructing at Mosport, was Ontario Region Chief Scrutineer for a few years and a CASC Steward.

In 1977 our son Ian was born. Earning a steady living and looking to the future became paramount and most forms of motorsport were put on the back burner. Our daughter Sarah was born in 1982.

I could write a book on our wonderful kids...but that is another story. Suffice to say we went through the usual soccer, karate, skating etc. Through all the ups and downs of raising children, we have always been very proud of their accomplishments. Sarah is now the mother of our precious granddaughter, Sienna Lynn. Sarah and her significant other, Jason are now embarking down the road of parenthood, and doing quite well. Ian is just preparing to start his life away from the nest with a wonderful young lady from Ireland, Eileen ( http://www.eileendaegu.blogspot.com/). Ian and Eileen met while they were teaching in South Korea. Each of our children are unique and their accomplishments have far exceeded anything Linda or I accomplished as young adults. Having these two children in our lives have provided us with our 'Golden Years'.

So, in a nutshell, here we are. The kids are grown, my sister and her significant other, John, have very successful lives and Linda and I are retired. Both my parents are gone, Mom in '86' and Dad in '96'. Now Linda and I are just getting our second wind and ready to start another phase of our lives.

As I wrote all this, a million memories came flooding back, far too many to include here. So for all those people who passed through our lives without an honourable mention here, please forgive me. You are not forgotten.