Father's Day Activities: Ranchero Rebuild
Self Reliance: How Father's Lessons can go a Long Way
As Father's Day approaches and I think about everything that my dad has done for me and taught me, the most significant trait that stands out is self-reliance. As a kid I spent most of my childhood growing up in the farm and ranch lands of Montana. In the country, self-reliance is a necessity, if your car or truck broke down you couldn't always run it to a mechanic, you had to buy the parts and figure it out for yourself.
While a lot of my classmates parents were farmers and ranchers. My dad drove semis for a living and so he had a vast knowledge of engines and all things automotive.
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When teaching my brothers and I how to do anything, my father's philosophy was tell us what we needed to do to accomplish the task, show us how to accomplish it, then have us complete the task to make sure we understood how to get it done.
I now use this same philosophy with my family, and even in my every day life as a store manager.
Fatherly Advice: How to Choose a Profession
We always had mini bikes and motorcycles at our house growing up. My Dad enjoyed riding them around and he taught us to ride and how to fix them when they broke down. There were a lot of times when my brothers and I took something apart and we couldn't fix it, so that's when we would go over and "borrow" the engine off the rototiller just so we could keep riding.
When it was time to till the garden, our bike riding came to a halt until we got the garden tilled and planted.
If you want to get out of the garage this Father's Day, you could always try this.
I started working for Big R in Great Falls, Montana in 1981. I was working there for a couple of years when the oil boom was coming back around again. I had an opportunity to go to Oilmont, Montana and secure a better paying job. I was discussing the opportunity with my father and asked him his opinion on what he thought I should do.
His answer to me was, "Son, do you LOVE what you are doing right now?" I replied that I did. He then asked me where do you see yourself in 5 years if you choose to stay with Big R? I replied, "I see myself as a store manager, and running a great store with a great team."
He told me I'd just answered my own question. He said it's more important to do what you love, than it is to make more money and not enjoy what you do.
Building Cars with Dad: Passing along Insights from the Engine
When I am not working at North 40 outfitters, you'll find me in my shop tinkering with the cars I enjoy building. That passion started when I first purchased a 1972 Pontiac Lemans. It had a blown engine and my father helped me replace it.
I worked on that car for the next 3 years. Dad taught me how to replace many clutches and how to swap out a 3-speed transmission for a 4 speed. Anytime I was outside working on my car, there was always my dad's shadow behind me urging me to figure it out or to think outside the box. Dad was always inspiring me to try things in a different way, and to change this or that which helped me grow as a man and mechanic.
He always seemed to know what I needed to hear and to adapt to my newfound knowledge in order to help me in just the way I needed.
I've worked on a few cars now, including one with my son. I've been able to pass along my father's knowledge and philosophies to him I hope one day he will pass along this knowledge to his children, so that my dad's wisdom will carry on.
Recently, I worked on a project with my two brothers again, just like old times.
It was my father's 1957 Ford Ranchero that was the first car us boys learned how to drive. Over the years it took a beating so we retired it to the back pasture on my brother's ranch. So for our parent's 50th wedding anniversary, my siblings and I presented a 1957 ranchero one we restored for them.
This vehicle holds a special place in my heart, as it was such a significant time in my young life learning how to drive and gaining my freedom.
If you're in Montana for Father's Day, enjoy free fishing for the whole weekend.
My wife has asked me how I learned all the things I know how to do. My reply is when you have a father like mine, you listen and learn from him. He is a jack-of-all-trades, master of all them. I am self-reliable and enjoy my life and what I do immensely. I owe this to the most influential person in my life, my father.
Happy Fathers Day,
N40 Employee, Tony Wilson