Factory Five Racing '33 Hot Rod, Assembly Manual

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very definition of always trying to go faster. The late Carroll Smith wrote
something I really loved that speaks to this point.
“There is no magic! The one basic truth of successful racecar preparation
bears repeating. There is no magic. There is only logic, common sense,
forethought, vast amounts of hard work, and a fanatic dedication to the task at
hand”.
Carroll Smith
“Prepare to Win”
I can’t think of anything more appropriate to say about the right way to
approach the serious work of building your own car. Carroll passed away not
too long ago, but his accomplishments behind the Ford Lemans victories and
his contributions to the motorsports community continues in his writings that
are all at the top of my list of recommended readings for the car builder or
racer.
After being honest about the skills, responsibility, and dedication required to
build a car, I feel the need to talk about the PROCESS of building a car in an
equally candid manner.
The process of building a car is a lot like the process of having kids. As a
matter of fact, it’s absolutely the best analogy I can find (apologies in
advance to all of you without kids, try and bear with me). Both things are
easy to get started. With a car project you order a manual, talk to car guys,
get all excited over glossy photos and perhaps order a kit from us. With the
whole pregnancy thing, well for most folks that’s even easier to get started…
When my wife was pregnant with our first daughter I was sure we would
never have any more children. From the swollen ankles to the morning
sickness, to the delivery room scene from the movie “Alien”, the whole
process was difficult, and while she didn’t complain too much thru the nine
months, it was obviously hard work. Another thing, she wouldn’t have been
the best salesman for others considering getting started on the baby thing.
When it comes to the car project, once the kit arrives and the process begins
it is much the same as pregnancy. Frankly the degree to which a person
breezes thru the project or languishes is commonly a factor of skill, but still,
building a car for anyone is a tough job and there are inevitably issues. How
many times have you gotten the wrong part at NAPA, gotten home to realize
the alternator has a six ribbed pulley not five…? You will meet challenges
building this car and you will be frustrated at times. Thankfully there are
internet discussion forums where you can vent your frustrations and complain
about the idiots who designed this kit. We smile when reading these posts
because we know that while the pregnant woman complains, the mother
loves her children in an unreasonable and perhaps even undeserved way!