http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog Comments on technical education and vocational training in metal and custom fabrication shop environments along with 40 years of circle track racing experiences, chronicles of life in the professional motorsports industry, training professional metal shapers for the Winston Cup / Nextel Cup teams, and the personalities associated with the sport. This blog is for the typical fan that is interested in the history and behind the scenes look at in a high speed wobble. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:30:41 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Story by Mark Davis / Photos by Kevin Thorne Article originally printed in the Racing Milestones Magazine April 1999 As we jump into our car construction, many issues come to mind. But, first let's get clear on some things. When 1 was very young, an uncle told me a story about ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=31 Story by Mark Davis / Photos by Kevin Thorne Article originally printed in the Racing Milestones Magazine March 1999 Pull out your notebooks, sharpen your pencils, grab your checkbooks, call your accountants and whatever you do, don't tell your wife. We are going to build a Winston Cup stock car. For ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=30 I've decided to post some of my tech articles printed in the Racing Milestones Magazines dating back to March 1999 when I was the director of the Bobby Isaac Motorsports Program at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory NC. The series of articles titled Building A Race Car chronicles ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=29 Location. Location. Location. Being involved in a family business in Florida, then relocating to North Carolina I quickly realized that where you do business directly affects your bottom line. The hot rod industry shop rates are all over the map just like the shops. I ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=27 In the past number of years, we have seen a definite trend based on the strength of the custom vehicle industry. Auto body shops throughout the US are starting to entertain options other than conventional insurance/collision repairs. The insurance industry has kept a tight rain on body shops ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=26 Daily we have at least one hot rod, muscle car, performance car enthusiasts declare that they too are going to jump on the bandwagon and quote "open a hot rod shop." All it takes if a shop, some equipment, a little imagination, some cars to build and off to ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=25 Many years ago in the early sixties my Dad embarked on one of his many adventures, a teenage nightclub. The thought was to give young people a place that was drug free, alcohol free with good adult supervision.  A place where teens could hangout and listen to music in ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=24 In the mid nineties, when we saw the NASCAR Sportsman series start to unwind, as car owners we wondered what our options and what could be done to fill the gap between the Saturday night LMSC and the Busch Grand national Series. As a car builder that had a ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=23 As I have stated in other articles, racing is an evolution. NASCAR has, for years, hunted the perfect lead-in series for the Busch Series, and Cup. In the 70's somebody had the idea of starting the Daytona Dash Series, basically an American Mini Sedan Series with Vegas, Pintos and that ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=22 "I know that you really like Danny O'Quinn, do you think that Danny has been treated fair in the Roush Deal?" T.P. Wake Forest, NC I am a big fan of Danny O'Quinn.  As a team owner and car builder, I got to race Danny and his family's team on many occasions.  ... http://www.metalcrafttoolsskillcenter.com/blog/?p=20