As we literally get ready to close the books on 2011 and move into an exciting 2012, It is time to do that whole retro look back thing on 2011. The third year of BangShift’s life was a good one. I got to goof off with Chad at a few cool events, take a bunch of neat little trips with my family to do BangShifty stuff, met a ton of great BS members around the country and spent a whole lot of time writing about gearhead junk of all shapes and sizes. In no particular order, rhyme or reason, here are some lessons learned, memories, and reflections on 2011 from the BangShift perspective:

• Meeting up with BS’ers is always fantastic. From hanging out with Gene and his awesome wife Amy along with her granddad at the Thresherman’s Reunion in PA to a banzai beer chugging session in Kansas City with a fist full of dudes during a long layover, to watching guys race and show at the National Hot Rod Reunion, to meeting up at an airplane museum on a frigid winter day, there’s always laughs and good stories to beat the band. I look forward to lots more of those meetings in 2012 at whatever events or travels I find myself involved in. If you live in the West Palm Beach, Florida area, well, I’ll see you in a few weeks!
• The more time I spend with Bill Caswell, the more I realize that the dude is the most driven and relentless guy on planet Earth. He manages to do it all with a smile and an energy level that military doctors would like to study. The dude can drive and blow BMWs up like none other, as well. Keep your ears peeled for Caswell news in the coming weeks, he’s working on some big racing stuff.
• One of the most fun drag races I have ever worked was the Canadian race I did this passed summer. The fans at the Grand Bend Motorplex up in Ontario, Canada were out in force and sucked up every drop of spent nitro out of the cool Canadian air. These were genuine, balls to the walls drag racing fans that were glued to their bleacher seats from bracket cars to the Top Fuelers. They were the most appreciative group I have ever had the pleasure to yell at for a weekend. I slugged beers with a crew of them in the pits at the close of action on Sunday. Somehow they got my shirt, hat, and spare IHRA shirt. I got a beer bottle opener with a Maple leaf on it.
• I suck and flying but am great at falling.
• The Rough and Tumble Thresherman’s Reunion weekend trip I took with my family was one of the best ever and one that none of us will soon forget. It was Americana from top to bottom. We stayed in a hotel that looked like a big steam ship, which was located in the middle of a corn field. The Reunion itself was one of the coolest events I have ever attended. My love of tractors ties directly into my love of American history. These are the machines that built and fed this country. If you are a well rounded gearhead, I highly recommend attending, even just once to take it all in.
• As much as I despise the Pacifica family truckster, the car zipped me and the family all over the place this year from the snowy tundra of Maine in the winter to PA in the summer to NY on the wrecker recovery mission, to icy Connecticut last winter, the damned thing came through (slowly!)
• Being a gearhead and a foodie makes road trips way more fun.
• I will now admit that I was scared when Kerri and I headed to NY to recover Brutus the tow truck. There was not really a safety net or a plan B if the wrecker spit the rods out or otherwise killed itself on the long ride home. I went as prepared as possible, met up with the two Jeremys on one stretch of NY highway and stopped fretting after the first 75 miles. Put the whole old car recovery trip thing on your bucket list. In the end it was one of the great car related experiences of my life and I was happy that I shared it with my wife.
• BangShift is no longer a secret. As you’ll see next week, we had amazingly busy and productive SEMA and PRI shows. Three years ago Chad and I were trying to convince people that this wasn’t a porn site, now we’re the ones getting chased. We’re about to dump some hydrazine into the tank of this mother.
• When you own an old tow truck, friends like to stop over just to pull stuff. That’s A-OK with me!
• Not exactly BS-related, but the Boston Bruins have risen back from the dead and are into their rightful slot at the big kid’s table of Boston sports. They fight, they score, they are good guys, and they saved hockey in Boston. I have as much fun watching these guys as I did the Sox teams of my youth.
• 83 years of great health does not guarantee that the 84th will work the same way, sadly.
• Even though gas prices suck, a tank of go juice is still the cheapest ticket to freedom in the world.
• When someone gives you one hour to make a significant life decision, it is a stark realization of your role in the grand scheme of things.
• Having two hands on the reins of your own destiny is the most exciting and frightening experience known to man.
• Buckle up kids, 2012 is going to be one HELL of a ride!