1969 Oldsmobile 442
Personal story and photograph submitted by owner John and Cindy Cavanaugh
for participation in the the 2008 GM Century Cruise
Between restoring vehicles, and being a part time racer at Motor City Dragway, my Dad was a car fanatic. His hobby occupied our two car garage to the point that my mother was never able to park her personal car in the garage. Even with this exposure to cars, and weekends spent at the race track, I did not embrace cars with the same enthusiasm as my Dad. My career plan was to be a cowboy, and participate in rodeos. But at about the age of 12, my Dad had just installed a new balanced and blueprinted engine. Understanding his eagerness to fire up that engine, it was done before installing the exhaust and other peripheral parts. The engine turned over, but would not start. With a little help from gasoline dumped into the top of the multiple carburetors, the engine backfire with a flame shooting up from the carb, temporarily starting on fire boxes sitting on the garage rafters. Between the excitement generated from that, and the noise from an exhaustless engine, I was instantly converted to a car fanatic. From assisting others in preparation of their vehicle for the Auto Rama, and eventually the purchase of my own car, I now share my Dad's hobby.
Not only did my interest in cars play an important part in my choice to make GM my career, but I also learned that having a garage big enough to support my hobby, as well as provide my wife an indoor parking place was important.
GM’s Century Cruise pays tribute to GM’s past and the passion owners have for their vehicles. On Saturday, August 16, 2008 this vehicle and more than 100 other classic GM vehicles will cruise from the GM Global Headquarters at the Renaissance Center up Woodward Avenue to the heart of the Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak and the surrounding suburbs. One of these vehicles will be crowned “top cruiser” based on a text voting campaign.
Next GM Century Cruise Participant
Tag Cloud
 |
English |