I and the “intrepid companion,” my two year old son Tom, have had a couple well documented adventures since he’s been able to walk around and make noises resembling words. Car shows, abandoned old heavy equipment, even a trip to the dragstrip have all been checked off the list, but just yesterday the first true milestone moment came about.

We went and picked up a motor to put in the “Red Ball Express” Javelin. It is a Craigslist find, a 1975 vintage AMC 360 (did you just hear the AMC guys cheering?) and best of all it was located in rural Connecticut, an area that I’ve not been to but once or twice before.

I broke the news to Tom late in the week that we’d have to go fetch the engine on Sunday morning and he was bouncing off the walls to come along. We loaded up early on Sunday morning and as the morning light was coming up we were making tracks south. I put my shades on, smiled, and glanced in the rear view mirror to see Tom’s wide eyes. He was sleeping.

No bother, I was still cranked up. I don’t think I’m the only one who totally savors every second of these little journeys. What is it with us? As I’ve mentioned in the past I envy Tom’s ability to express his emotions, unguarded, on nearly any subject. As we get older, it’s not normal behavior to go running around the house with your arms waving in the air screaming with glee. We have the same feelings, I know we do.

When we arrived at the seller’s house Tom was finally awake and interested in seeing the proceedings. The motor was hanging from a chain fall in one side of an old, tight, two-car garage. I was barely able to squeeze my truck in there after folding the mirrors in. With a couple inches to spare on either side and with the tailgate actually up against this guy’s workbench we lowered the motor into the back of the truck, strapped it down and shared a couple quick stories. Then we made tracks.

Tom’s first words upon leaving the driveway: “Are we going to put it in the Javelin now?” His brow furrowed when I told him that we needed to get it onto an engine stand and do some stuff with it first.

I had told him early in the morning when we left the house that we’d get some food on the way home. It was now about 9:00 am. I asked if he was hungry and he responded that he wanted french fries. I offered bacon and he accepted with a smile. We stopped at a neat old diner, walloped down some eggs, and continued on our way. It was essentially perfect.

I’ve never been so excited to have a 200hp lump of pig iron on an engine stand before. I guess that’s probably because this motor has a definite destination and plan ahead of it, something my previous major projects have always lacked.

I look forward to sharing all the successes and failures along the way. We’ll chock up yesterday’s trip in the success column.