Call me Jordan. Or Ahab, if you're pedantically inclined.
From a young age, I knew that my automotive interests were a bit different from the rest. My family has never been into cars and, with precious few exceptions, my experiences with cars remained pretty vanilla. While my friends were into your typical Mustangs and Camaros, I was busy coveting Benzes, Cadillacs and full-size wagons; vehicles to me that embodied your typical suburban nuclear family. That never really changed during my formative years, but then Gran Turismo came out. I discovered a whole new world: Mitsubishi 3000GTs, Toyota Supras, and of course the Mazda Demio to name a few. Even with my horizons expanded, however, I still held a flame for my first love. When I finally had enough money to have a "fun" car, I went fishing. What followed was a long string of automotive fails.
And then I discovered Grassroots Motorsports.
I took the next several years to just sit back and learn, and learn I did. My next foray into catching my white whale involved my dearly departed 1988 Caprice Estate. I loved driving that car, and was finally able to maintain it on my own. Had I finally discovered my forever car?
Well, no. About every four years or so in the ensuing decade I took a stint working overseas, necessitating the sale of my automotive curiosities. To quote Vonnegut, "So it goes."
When I finally had enough with bombs being blown up over my head, I moved to Florida to start a dream job and bought Tom's Golden Whale.
Almost two years have past since. A family member got sick and the rest is history. As I sit here typing this, I once again face another challenge: After buying this white 1991 350SDL to tinker on over my summer break, I found out on April 1st that my school is restructuring and I won't have a contract after June. So. It. Goes.
Getting my Master's at almost 40 seems a daunting task, but am I going to sell this car? No, I'm not. I'm hell bent on bucking the trend having once again found my white whale. Now if I can just make it back to shore alive.
