What brought you to Rusto Garage?
I have always liked the quality and easy to use Rust-Oleum paints. When I saw the Rusto Garage I thought it would be a perfect place to learn more about the products they offer and others experience using the products.
What’s your favourite part of this online community?
Learning about other people's passions and use of Rust-Oleum products.
How would you describe yourself/occupation to a complete stranger?
I am a true “car” guy! I grew up around cars with a Father owning a Rambler Dealership. One of my nicknames in school was “Wheels”. I always wanted to work as a car tester at a AMC proving grounds. That required a engineering degree. I didn’t want to go to engineering school so I decided to become a automotive mechanic. My first job was working a gas station at 16 years old, back when gas stations had service bays. Later I landed a co-op job in high school as a mechanic working on the local Sheriff’s patrol cars. I had no desire to be around cops but it was the only mechanic job available. I later was hired full time by the county as one of 2 mechanics. The Sheriff took a liking to me and later recruited me to be one of his Deputies. I knew the county had a 25 and out retirement program and my 5 years as a mechanic went towards that 25 years. I figured I only had to work 20 years as a Deputy and could retire at 44 years old. I took the job. I did retire exactly at 25 years. Well kind of retired. Sheriff convinced me to come back and work part time as a Deputy and I did that for another 21 years. I also during my retired years ran a limousine business for 15 years. I did this to feed my expensive classic car collecting hobby. Currently I am still working part time for the county as a soil erosion inspector.
What interests you most about the automotive world? What automotive projects do you like to focus on?
Reliving my childhood days I collect NASH/Rambler/AMC vehicles and memorabilia as well as my father. As my spouse always says, “If I had wheels he would show more interest in me”!
What is your favourite Rust-Oleum product? How has it helped with your automotive projects?
The gloss paints. You can roll it on, brush it on and when it dries it looks like you spray painted. No brush marks. Every fall I power wash my Western snow plow and roll on a fresh coat of gloss red Rust-Oleum. Buddies ask “when did you get a new snow blade”?
If you could create any type of automotive product/project (with no limitations), what would you design and why?
Stripping and installing a new roof on my 60x100 foot man cave pole building in 90 degree heat.
What is your dream ride?
Restoring my 1965 Rambler Marlin with a 800 HP hellcat crate motor with a 6 speed manual transmission. Everything else would appear stock looking and it would “blow the doors off” anyone thinking about challenging me at a stop light.
In 1969 AMC in conjunction with Hurst Corporation took 52 stock AMX’s shipped them to hurst to creat a Super Stock Class AMX just for Drag racing. My father's Rambler dealership had one of those 52 cars produced. I would like to have one in my collection. These SS/AMX’s are very rare and expensive if you can find one for sale. My Dad’s car was called the “AMX-Citer”.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know about you.
I was raised in a Pentecost Church home of the “holy rollers”
What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Be very careful of what you wish for.
Kicking back for a relaxing night: what’s your favorite meal? What will you be watching?
NY Strip cooked medium rare with grilled mushrooms, baked potato, fresh asparagus and a nice salad. Watching a old Peter Sellers “Pink Panther” film.
Thanks for spending time with us @themayor!
