What would you do if you received a text from a total stranger, asking if you could teach his 14 year old son how to weld?
Would you even bother to respond?
Well, Cat in the Hat did more than that…
On Sunday, he invited us into his shop. It was like attending ‘Hot Rod University’!!!
The first item was the car on the hoist. A detailed pictorial history was provided showing the car as a shell, the framework progression, and how it ultimately was transformed to the RatRod it is today. My son Daniel was also informed about what’s unique about it, and why it’s award winning.
Then came the welding.
After getting Daniel to draw a weld bead with a marker, and demonstrating the proper way to weld, Cat in the Hat passed the mig torch to my son, who has never welded in his life, and let him ‘weld’ for over an hour, while he supervised. He praised him when he did a good bead, and instructed him how to do better. You learn by doing. Next he drilled holes which after being instructed on procedure, Daniel promptly filled, and smoothed with a grinder. This guy has the patience of a saint.
Next, we swapped cars, and put the latest project on the hoist for the first time. Future plans for the car were then discussed with my ‘wide eyed’ son.
Who has the time to spend an entire day on some young punk that they don’t even know? I’m sure the guy who has his last build on the cover of Canadian Hot Rods (June 2015) doesn’t either, but I know that last Sunday, Glenn Botting enjoyed teaching a young car lover his craft, just about as much as Daniel enjoyed learning from a pro.
The last thing he said was, “Daniel, just call me when you want to come back!”
What would you do if you received a text from a total stranger, asking if you could teach his 14 year old son how to weld?
Would you even bother to respond?
Well, Cat in the Hat did more than that…
On Sunday, he invited us into his shop. It was like attending ‘Hot Rod University’!!!
The first item was the car on the hoist. A detailed pictorial history was provided showing the car as a shell, the framework progression, and how it ultimately was transformed to the RatRod it is today. My son Daniel was also informed about what’s unique about it, and why it’s award winning.
Then came the welding.
After getting Daniel to draw a weld bead with a marker, and demonstrating the proper way to weld, Cat in the Hat passed the mig torch to my son, who has never welded in his life, and let him ‘weld’ for over an hour, while he supervised. He praised him when he did a good bead, and instructed him how to do better. You learn by doing. Next he drilled holes which after being instructed on procedure, Daniel promptly filled, and smoothed with a grinder. This guy has the patience of a saint.
Next, we swapped cars, and put the latest project on the hoist for the first time. Future plans for the car were then discussed with my ‘wide eyed’ son.
Who has the time to spend an entire day on some young punk that they don’t even know? I’m sure the guy who has his last build on the cover of Canadian Hot Rods (June 2015) doesn’t either, but I know that last Sunday, Glenn Botting enjoyed teaching a young car lover his craft, just about as much as Daniel enjoyed learning from a pro.
The last thing he said was, “Daniel, just call me when you want to come back!”
Talk about Paying it Forward!
THANK YOU CAT IN THE HAT!
Jim & Daniel Colburne
The man's TAG Line says it all!
"If you don't pass on the knowledge you have to others, it Dies with you"
This was the same thing all the journey men told me when I was learning my trade, most of them were from England, I also try my best to live by the Cats feelings, I find it to be a fine quality in a trades person!
I wish I lived closer to the Cat in the Hat, sounds like a great guy.
Once again well Done Glenn, you are doing everything you can to keep the hobby going and the young away from those video games and the Malls!
Good on You Glenn!!! Cover cars are a dime a dozen, GOOD PEOPLE are not,
Glenn's picture should be on the cover of Canadian Hot Rods instead of his build!
Definitely not the first kid he's helped out and won't be the last I'm sure. Glen has helped my son Ben as well. Glen has an interest in the kids that have an interest, if that makes any sense? I've seen him let little kids sit in his cars at cruise nights as well. Doesn't seem like that big of a deal but it leaves a positive impression that the owners of Hotrods are not unapproachable.
Good on you Glen.
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slab----67 chevy II 2dr post and 66 chevy II hardtop
We are all getting older ...even if we dont acknowledge it, and if we don't take the time with the younger generation....who will?
I lost my father when I was 14.....loved cars.....nobody to learn from....until I met a guy by the name of Bob Smirle. He took me under his wing and gave me the information to feed my desire. From that meeting on, I was always in search for information to build better cars.
Todays kids have the "Want" but not the "Knowledge" and give up easily without the nurturing or tutoring they crave to feed the want.
Paying it forward is easy....talking to young kids at cruise nights instead of blowing them off.....letting them sit in your car to "Get the feeling"
Donating an old scrap car to the local high school so kids can tinker....a couple of hunderd from the scrap man is no where worth the payback from letting a young person tear a car apart at school.
I have taken my Hot Rods to schools and given talks on how they were built. And the interest is incredible. Recently I have spoken to John Willowby about trying to set something up where we....Hot Rodders ...all over Ontario set up a network of passionate Hot Rodders ....and do more of the same thing.... to instill an interest and "Pay it Forward"...a couple of hours of your time could change a young persons lifetime.
I have opened my shop to anyone who has an interest or passion to pass on what I have learned over the years....
I certainly dont know it all and there are a lot of people out there that have more skills than I do....and if we could just channel that skill and knowledge to the younger ones.....it would be incredible for Our Passion and Hobby.
I have to admit I'm doing it to ensure the hobby continues....if I don't....or WE don't ...who's going to buy our cars in the future? Who is going to carry the torch to pass the flame. If all these young people bury their heads in video games...and have NO INTEREST....what will your car be worth in a few years? Who will build the next Ridler?
It's up to us....everyone on this forum and your freinds that aren't....to create the interest and Pass it on or Pay it Forward.
I am certainly not the only one...
Pugsy has a metal fest every year where he opens his shop to anyone that has an interest in pounding metal
Mark Rogerson of the E.L.T.A. is one of the most passionate people I know of in this hobby (I'm Proud to be a ELTA BROTHER)
and many more that have spoken to me about ..."how to get involved"
WE....have the knowledge....WE...have the experience....We....just need to take a few minutes of our time.....to PASS IT ON
Daniel and his father Jim are good people....and welcome anytime to my shop. The look on Daniels face when he started to lay some welds was worth way more to me than a few hours of my time....and the scrap metal he was welding....he could be the next Foose....who knows. The few hours I spent could change his life.....who knows....You could have that same experience.....its easy
sorry for the ramble......
Please .....take a moment to think about it
-- Edited by Cat in the Hat on Tuesday 5th of May 2015 10:48:48 AM
__________________
"If you don't pass on the knowledge you have to others, it Dies with you"
We are all getting older ...even if we dont acknowledge it, and if we don't take the time with the younger generation....who will?
I lost my father when I was 14.....loved cars.....nobody to learn from....until I met a guy by the name of Bob Smirle. He took me under his wing and gave me the information to feed my desire. From that meeting on, I was always in search for information to build better cars.
Todays kids have the "Want" but not the "Knowledge" and give up easily without the nurturing or tutoring they crave to feed the want.
Paying it forward is easy....talking to young kids at cruise nights instead of blowing them off.....letting them sit in your car to "Get the feeling"
Donating an old scrap car to the local high school so kids can tinker....a couple of hunderd from the scrap man is no where worth the payback from letting a young person tear a car apart at school.
I have taken my Hot Rods to schools and given talks on how they were built. And the interest is incredible. Recently I have spoken to John Willowby about trying to set something up where we....Hot Rodders ...all over Ontario set up a network of passionate Hot Rodders ....and do more of the same thing.... to instill an interest and "Pay it Forward"...a couple of hours of your time could change a young persons lifetime.
I have opened my shop to anyone who has an interest or passion to pass on what I have learned over the years....
I certainly dont know it all and there are a lot of people out there that have more skills than I do....and if we could just channel that skill and knowledge to the younger ones.....it would be incredible for Our Passion and Hobby.
I have to admit I'm doing it to ensure the hobby continues....if I don't....or WE don't ...who's going to buy our cars in the future? Who is going to carry the torch to pass the flame. If all these young people bury their heads in video games...and have NO INTEREST....what will your car be worth in a few years? Who will build the next Ridler?
It's up to us....everyone on this forum and your freinds that aren't....to create the interest and Pass it on or Pay it Forward.
I am certainly not the only one...
Pugsy has a metal fest every year where he opens his shop to anyone that has an interest in pounding metal
Mark Rogerson of the E.L.T.A. is one of the most passionate people I know of in this hobby (I'm Proud to be a ELTA BROTHER)
and many more that have spoken to me about ..."how to get involved"
WE....have the knowledge....WE...have the experience....We....just need to take a few minutes of our time.....to PASS IT ON
Daniel and his father Jim are good people....and welcome anytime to my shop. The look on Daniels face when he started to lay some welds was worth way more to me than a few hours of my time....and the scrap metal he was welding....he could be the next Foose....who knows. The few hours I spent could change his life.....who knows....You could have that same experience.....its easy
sorry for the ramble......
Please .....take a moment to think about it
-- Edited by Cat in the Hat on Tuesday 5th of May 2015 10:48:48 AM
Good for you Glenn, you are a special guy, not too many people would be willing to give up their time like yourself. It is the only way the young guys will learn and even guys like myself who are late 30's and still learning. Nice to hear stories like this
Glenn, we talked at the Motorama show as you mentioned and I still believe we have some great guys on this Forum that would and could get involved with the Automotive classes at their local High Schools.
With the passing of my wife a few weeks ago, my world has come to a stand still. I will get back working on this and hopefully have a plan and suggestions that will work for all interested "Hot Rodders" across Ontario.
Thank you for what you do "paying it forward" Hopefully we can get more involved to support your efforts.
You guys will need to be carefull with all the kudos to Glen..His head will be so heavy he will be getting shorter..I think Glen is a Asset to the hobby and a great guy..His projects have been interesting ,creative, daring and for sure he has put himself out there for the many who have picked his posts and builds apart just to be a$$holes..He has stood the test and shown himself to be a good friend to those who gotten to know him..He is witty funny and inspirational and not afraid to take some creative risk, that's how we learn from challenging our self and making mistakes and being open to ideas and opinions ..If you want to play with the other dogs you will need to get off your porch ..Good on you Glen keep your brake lines full..
Will ..Sorry to hear about the passing of your wife..Mine has recently been diagnosed with Dimentia and it has been devastating to me I am completely lost and struggling to deal with it..It's a horrible, cruel disease for sure..
Nicely done Glenn. I'll guarantee Daniel will sing your praises for years to come. I also suspect in 20 years or so he'll have a young fella from the neighbourhood in his shop " passing it on".
With all the kudos and magazine covers lately I figured I had better get a signed autographed 8x10 glossy before they were all gone. I called "Cat in the Hat Worldwide Productions" today and and could not believe he actually answered the phone HIMSELF. I was like a schoolgirl on prom night and might have even peed a little I was so excited. So after a brief conversation ("who are you, what do you want, why are you calling me and how did you get my private number") he told me to send $49.99 (cash) plus postage, taxes, shipping handling and express come pick it up yourself delivery....All for only $129.99
And this is what I got...
Remember... If you get to big for your britches you can always wear a skirt...lol
Thanks Kurt..... for letting everyone know the price of an autograph.....
But, I would give you one for free......FREE !
If.....you paid it forward......with a young person who is interested in out hobby.....
Drag That Nova out.....take a kid for a ride....
(But dont scare the crap out of him)
Kurt already did that with Ben a few years back! Came all the way to my house to pick up Ben and take him to the waterdown car show. Left a big impression on him too.
Hey Kurt
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slab----67 chevy II 2dr post and 66 chevy II hardtop
Well done Glenn. I just received a huge favour from Ratmotor and it's greatly appreciated. This is the stuff that makes this hobby great! One thing I'd like you guys to consider. I stopped tossing my old magazines in the recycle bin and began giving them to my High School English teacher daughter, who in turn hands them out to other English teachers and the Auto Shop teacher for the kids to read. They say some of the boys and even a few girls can't get interested in some of the regular reading materials but devour the Hot Rod and Golf books. Anything to get kids reading and it'll certainly help keep the interest in our hobby going.
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My wife wants me to see things from a woman's point of view, so now I spend a lot of time looking out the kitchen window
yep give em the torch and maybe they'll find a calling
welder , fabricator ... fireman
who knows but without opportunity to try things they get nowhere fast
Glenn,, we do not know each other but this is an awesome storey, Glenn you are one of kind. I'm sure Daniel will remember that for the rest of his life.
Dale
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Remember, for every mile of road, there are two miles of ditch.
My Niece Lori-Ann who earns her living as a mechanic and is a mother of four weighing in at about 90lbs soaking wet showed up Sat at Armdrop with a car someone didnt want and gave her. She fixed it and flogged on it for about a month till she got it running real well and seemingly quick. She drove her first race at Armdrop saturday doing very well running 15.91 in a four door daily driver that she had rubbed on. It was the first Armdrop I wasn't racing and the first she did so it is good to know the Dynasty continues! I had little to do with this as she came up with it all and the plan on her own although she is hooked now and prying speed secrets out of this ol dude.
unc don
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SR Dragster because old people need to have fun too!
My Niece Lori-Ann who earns her living as a mechanic and is a mother of four weighing in at about 90lbs soaking wet showed up Sat at Armdrop with a car someone didnt want and gave her. She fixed it and flogged on it for about a month till she got it running real well and seemingly quick. She drove her first race at Armdrop saturday doing very well running 15.91 in a four door daily driver that she had rubbed on. It was the first Armdrop I wasn't racing and the first she did so it is good to know the Dynasty continues! I had little to do with this as she came up with it all and the plan on her own although she is hooked now and prying speed secrets out of this ol dude. unc don
Good of you to give yourself a pat on the back, but I thought this thread was about Glenn helping someone learn to weld?
