Christina Lardie's journey with her 1969 Camaro SS unfolds as she shares her heartfelt story of connection with her late father, who purchased the car for them to restore together. After his passing, Christina takes on the challenge of learning automotive skills to honor his memory. With plans for a 383 stroker engine and support from industry professionals, she navigates the complexities of car restoration while documenting her experiences on her YouTube channel. The episode highlights themes of nostalgia, personal growth, and community support in the automotive world.
What do you do when you inherit a classic car shell and a garage full of mystery parts? You buy a ticket to SEMA just to ask the manufacturers, "What is this and how do I install it?"
In this episode, guest co-host Dave joins Doug to sit down with Christina Lardie (aka @ChristinasGarage). Christina is a medically retired EMT from the San Francisco Fire Department who is honoring her late father's legacy by building cars and breaking barriers.
We discuss the incredible story of her 1969 Camaro SS (which her dad secretly bought and gifted to her in pieces), her journey learning to be a "Gearhead in Training" without formal mechanic school, connecting with like minded people in the automotive industry, and the heartwarming restoration of a 1952 Chevy Pickup that delivers toys to children in need.
In this episode, we cover:
🏎️ The Secret Camaro: How her dad surprised her with a '69 Camaro SS unibody on jack stands for her 30th birthday.
🚒 The Altenberg: Restoring the 1952 Chevy Pickup (with original patina!) for the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program.
🔧 The Engine: Building a monster Short Rod 383 Stroker with Rich from TEM Performance.
🏁 The Great Race: Joining an all-female team with Riley's Rebuilds to race a '66 Fairlane across the country.
🎓 SEMA & Learning: Overcoming "Imposter Syndrome" and learning to wrench by asking for help rather than risking injury.
📢 Join the Conversation: What's the best way to learn "wrenching" ? Let us know on Instagram @toallthecarsivelovedbefore
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"...the 2024 Ram 1500, yeah, the 1996 Honda Actie Street, which is a Japanese K micro van..."
The Honda Acty Street is a tiny van that is very popular in Japan for city driving. It's small enough to fit in tight spaces and is great for carrying small loads.
The Honda Acty Street is a K-class microvan that is compact and designed primarily for urban use in Japan. It is known for its small size, efficiency, and versatility.
"...the 2024 Ram 1500, yeah, the 1996 Honda Actie Street, which is a Japanese K micro van..."
The Ram 1500 is a large truck that can carry heavy loads and is often used for work or towing. The 2024 version has new features that make it more comfortable and efficient.
The Ram 1500 is a full-size pickup truck known for its strong performance, comfortable ride, and advanced technology features. The 2024 model continues to build on this reputation with updated styling and improved capabilities.
"...your dad bought this 1969 Camaro SS and he bought it with both your names on it, right?"
The Chevrolet Camaro SS is a special version of the Camaro sports car that was made in 1969. It's known for being fast and stylish, making it a popular choice among car enthusiasts.
The Chevrolet Camaro SS is a high-performance variant of the Camaro, known for its powerful engines and sporty design. The 1969 model is particularly iconic, often celebrated for its classic muscle car styling and performance capabilities.
"Is there a drivetrain in this car? Well, I have a rear end."
The drivetrain is a system in a car that helps it move. It includes parts that transfer power from the engine to the wheels so the car can drive.
The drivetrain refers to the components that deliver power from the engine to the wheels, including the transmission, driveshafts, and differentials. It's essential for the vehicle's movement and performance.
"...Rich with TEM performance. He's had a Sonoma County."
TEM Performance is a company that helps improve car performance by providing parts and services. They work with people who want to make their cars faster or more powerful.
TEM Performance is a company that specializes in performance automotive parts and modifications. They are known for their expertise in enhancing vehicle performance, particularly in racing applications.
"...we had two 383 strokers we took to Rich. We took them both apart, and we had been discussing for a while to have this engine build..."
A 383 stroker is an engine that has been changed to make it bigger and more powerful. This is done by altering certain parts to allow it to burn more fuel and produce more energy.
A 383 stroker is a type of engine that has been modified to increase its displacement to 383 cubic inches, typically by using a longer stroke crankshaft. This modification enhances the engine's power and torque output, making it popular for performance applications.
"...we had been discussing for a while to have this engine build, and he wanted me to learn more first. He didn't, he was awesome enough not to take over the project..."
An engine build is when someone takes apart an engine and puts it back together, often to make it work better or to fix it. It can include changing parts to improve how the engine runs.
An engine build refers to the process of assembling or modifying an engine to improve its performance or to restore it to working condition. This can involve replacing parts, upgrading components, or completely rebuilding the engine from the ground up.
"Centerforce clutches have already been out to their facility and seen how they put the product together, so that was a no-brainer for me to decide to do a Center Force clutch and flywheel."
Centerforce makes special parts that help cars shift gears better and handle more power, which is important for performance vehicles.
Centerforce is a manufacturer known for producing high-performance clutches and flywheels, designed to improve the performance and reliability of a vehicle's drivetrain.
"Centerforce clutches have already been out to their facility and seen how they put the product together, so that was a no-brainer for me to decide to do a Center Force clutch and flywheel."
The clutch is a part that helps you change gears in a car. It connects and disconnects the engine from the wheels so you can shift without stalling.
A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages the engine from the drivetrain, allowing the driver to change gears smoothly.
"Centerforce clutches have already been out to their facility and seen how they put the product together, so that was a no-brainer for me to decide to do a Center Force clutch and flywheel."
The flywheel is a round part that helps keep the engine running smoothly when you change gears, making it easier to drive.
A flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that stores kinetic energy and helps maintain engine speed during gear changes, providing a smoother driving experience.
"I believe we're gonna do the RGI 5 with the 0.64 overdrive."
Overdrive is a special gear that helps the engine run slower when you're going fast, which saves gas and makes the engine last longer.
Overdrive is a gear mechanism that allows the engine to operate at lower RPMs while maintaining higher speeds, improving fuel efficiency and reducing engine wear.
A true track is a part that helps the wheels of a car get better grip on the road, especially when accelerating, so the car can go faster without slipping.
A true track is a type of limited-slip differential that helps improve traction by distributing power to the wheels that have the most grip, enhancing performance during acceleration.
"I go to the Willwood booth because I knew them from meeting from how I have Willwood breaks in my garage."
Wilwood makes parts that help cars stop better. They are well-known for their brake systems, which many car lovers use to improve their vehicles.
Wilwood is a manufacturer known for high-performance brake systems and components. They are popular among automotive enthusiasts for their quality and performance upgrades.
"...the great race, racing her 1966 Ford Fairlane. And the rest is history."
The Ford Fairlane is a large car made by Ford that was popular in the 1960s. The 1966 version is known for its stylish design and was used for both everyday driving and racing.
The Ford Fairlane is a full-size car that was produced by Ford from 1955 to 1970. The 1966 model is known for its classic styling and was popular during its time for both family use and performance variants.
"...that I want to speak about throughout this entire journey. And it would be really cool to see, you know, if..."
The Dodge Journey is a family-friendly SUV that can carry a lot of people and their stuff. It was made from 2008 to 2020 and is known for being roomy and useful for everyday driving. People like to talk about it because it’s a good option for families who need space.
The Dodge Journey is a mid-size crossover SUV that was produced from 2008 to 2020. It is known for its spacious interior and versatility, making it a popular choice for families looking for a practical vehicle. The Journey often comes up in discussions about affordable family vehicles with decent cargo space and seating capacity.
"...some of these companies, like I've heard of Poppy's patina or like some of these other ones that make product that is specifically for preserving patina vehicles..."
Poppy's Patina makes special products to help keep old cars looking good without losing their vintage charm. Patina is the cool, worn look that happens to cars over time.
Poppy's Patina is a company that specializes in products designed to preserve the appearance of patina on vehicles. Patina refers to the natural aging process that gives vehicles a unique character, often seen in classic cars.
"...this is why people always search for California cars. You got a 1952 truck that's original paint, and you would never know."
California cars are cars that have been mostly used in California. People like them because the weather there is usually dry, which helps keep the cars in better shape without rust.
California cars are often sought after because the state's dry climate helps preserve vehicles, reducing rust and deterioration. Enthusiasts often look for cars that have spent most of their life in California for better condition.
"So the the rust is what you know, it's the humidity creates rust, and rust just eats metal. So for sure."
Rust is what happens to metal when it gets wet and starts to break down. It makes the metal weak and can cause problems for cars, especially if they are not taken care of.
Rust is a type of corrosion that occurs when iron or its alloys are exposed to moisture and oxygen over time. It can significantly weaken metal components, making them less safe and less reliable, which is why it's a major concern for car owners.
"...speaking of cars, so what we want to do, Christina, is hop in my DeLorean. We're gonna hit ADA, which is somewhat safe."
The DeLorean is a famous car known for its unique design and its appearance in movies. It has doors that open upwards and is made of shiny metal.
The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car that became iconic due to its distinctive stainless steel body and gull-wing doors. It gained further fame from its role in the 'Back to the Future' movie franchise.
"...I was able to find 2010 Dodge Avenger, and I was actually really happy with the car as a whole..."
The Dodge Avenger is a car made by Dodge that was sold from 2007 to 2014. It's a mid-size sedan that many people found to be a good value for the price.
The Dodge Avenger is a mid-size sedan that was produced by Dodge from 2007 to 2014, known for its affordability and decent performance.
"The only problem is that the alternator would go out so often. I don't even know how many alternators I went through..."
The alternator is a part of the car that helps keep the battery charged and powers things like the lights and radio. If it breaks, the car might not work properly.
An alternator is a crucial component in a vehicle's electrical system, responsible for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy to charge the battery and power the electrical systems while the engine is running. If it fails, the car can lose power and stop running.
"Well, when when I was young, my dad had a Chevy Silverado, it was white single cab. And I remember that he would, with my parents being divorced, he would do the pickup with us in the truck..."
The Chevy Silverado is a popular truck made by Chevrolet. It's known for being strong and useful for carrying things or driving on different terrains.
The Chevy Silverado is a full-size pickup truck known for its durability and versatility, often used for both work and personal purposes.
"...I was at the time where I was kind of learning how to drive and it was manual. I could not reach the pedal to get the clutch all the way down."
A manual transmission is a kind of car system where you have to change gears yourself using a stick and a pedal. It gives you more control over how the car drives.
A manual transmission is a type of vehicle transmission that requires the driver to manually shift gears using a clutch pedal and gear stick, providing more control over the vehicle's power and speed.
"...he's looking to sell his truck, and it was gas. My idea was like, well, I kind of wanted a diesel though..."
A gas truck is a pickup truck that uses gasoline as fuel instead of diesel. These trucks usually drive a bit differently and can be lighter than diesel trucks.
A gas truck refers to a pickup truck that runs on gasoline rather than diesel fuel. Gas trucks are typically lighter and may offer different performance characteristics compared to their diesel counterparts, such as acceleration and fuel efficiency.
"...because of my lack of experience, the diesel maintenance would be more for someone like myself. My brother-in-law actually has the same exact truck, but diesel..."
Diesel maintenance is about taking care of diesel engines, which are different from regular gas engines. They need special care, like changing oil and filters more often, and sometimes you need to know more about how they work.
Diesel maintenance refers to the specific care and servicing required for diesel engines, which can differ significantly from gasoline engines. This includes regular oil changes, fuel filter replacements, and attention to the fuel system, which may require more specialized knowledge.
"So he like indirectly helped me buy my first truck, a 2006 Chevy Silverado 2500 heavy duty with the full extra cab, and it has a camper shell as well, and it is a really awesome truck."
The Chevy Silverado 2500 is a strong and capable truck that can handle heavy loads. The 2006 model is often praised for its engine reliability.
The Chevy Silverado 2500 is a heavy-duty pickup truck known for its towing capacity and durability. The 2006 model is particularly noted for its reliable engine options.
"...They had a similar system that could sh it was a V8 and you could shut off X number of cylinders and become a I think a V6 or a V4, apparently was terrible."
Cylinder deactivation is a feature in some car engines that lets them turn off some of their cylinders when they're not needed. This helps save fuel, but it doesn't always work well.
Cylinder deactivation is a technology used in some engines that allows certain cylinders to be turned off under light-load conditions to improve fuel efficiency. This can help reduce fuel consumption, especially in larger engines, but the implementation can vary in effectiveness.
"...And my my dad had uh speaking of diesels, my dad had like an early 80s Delta 88 diesel. I think they only made them for a couple years."
The Oldsmobile Cutlass is a car that was made by the Oldsmobile brand. The 1986 version was part of a long line of Cutlass models that were popular in the U.S. during that time.
The Oldsmobile Cutlass was a popular mid-size car produced by Oldsmobile, particularly known for its various iterations throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The 1986 model year featured a range of engines and body styles, appealing to a broad audience.
"...speaking of diesels, my dad had like an early 80s Delta 88 diesel. I think they only made them for a coup..."
The Lancia Delta is a small car made in Italy that was popular in the 1980s. It is known for being very successful in car racing, which makes it special to car enthusiasts. People talk about it because of its cool looks and its history in racing.
The Lancia Delta is a compact car that was produced by the Italian manufacturer Lancia from 1979 to 1994. It gained significant acclaim for its rally success in the 1980s, particularly in the World Rally Championship, where it showcased advanced technology and performance. The Delta is often discussed for its unique design and historical importance in motorsport.
"...they were telling me the difference between a torque converter and a catalytic converter because I got confused between the two."
A catalytic converter is a part of a car's exhaust system that helps clean up the harmful gases produced by the engine. It makes the car's emissions less harmful to the environment.
A catalytic converter is an emissions control device that reduces harmful pollutants in the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. It converts toxic gases into less harmful emissions before they exit the vehicle's exhaust system.
"...they were telling me the difference between a torque converter and a catalytic converter because I got confused between the two."
A torque converter is a part in automatic cars that helps the engine work smoothly with the transmission. It allows the car to speed up without the engine stopping, making driving easier.
A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling used in automatic transmissions that allows the engine to spin independently of the transmission. It helps to multiply engine torque and facilitates smooth acceleration without stalling the engine.
"We've been having a great time with Dave and Christina. Dave's gonna do some stuff about his Volkswagen, I hope. Very, very soon."
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a new electric van that looks like the classic VW bus from the past. It’s designed to be environmentally friendly and is great for families or anyone who needs a lot of space. People are excited about it because it combines a fun, retro look with modern electric technology.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an electric minivan that pays homage to the iconic VW Microbus, combining retro styling with modern electric vehicle technology. Launched in 2022, it represents Volkswagen's commitment to electric mobility and aims to appeal to both nostalgic fans and new customers looking for eco-friendly transportation. The ID. Buzz is often discussed for its unique design and potential to redefine family travel in an electric age.
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Welcome back to All the Cars I've Loved Before, your authoritative podcast on automotive nostalgia where all our guests are unique.
Each auto has an era, and every car tells a story.
So you know what time it is.
It's time to plug in, get a little grease under those nails, and slip into your favorite car themed t-shirt, hat, or jacket.
And today we have something unique.
I am Doug.
Doug is doing the uh introduction here instead of our usual captain, Christian.
Christian uh had to uh deal with some personal stuff tonight.
So we have a guest co-host, and I'm super excited about it because I've always wanted to have one.
So, with that, our guest co-host was a guest on season five, episode seven.
His name is Dave.
We talked about his K-car and his Volkswagen.
Some people refer to him as Deputy Dave.
Deputy Dave, how are you today?
I am doing fantastic.
I'm so proud to be here as a guest host, and I want to do the podcast proud, but I'm just here to say hello to listener land and hope I can fill some very big shoes tonight.
But yeah, I'm here for it.
Yeah, the 2024 Ram 1500, yeah, the 1996 Honda Actie Street, which is a Japanese K micro van, which I saw, and actually we put a video of you talking about it on our YouTube channel.
And you have a bunch of things in common with our guest who I'm gonna go ahead and introduce.
Her name is Christina Lardy.
Christina, how are you?
I'm doing fantastic.
Thank you for having me.
I mentioned that you and Dave have a couple things in common.
I think it's past being an EMT, but can you tell us about yourself?
Obviously, you had a career before the social media, and then tell us what you've been doing.
I am a medically retired EMT from the San Francisco Fire Department.
And after I retired, or right around the time that I retired, my dad passed away.
And he was really into classic cars.
And I had been, I had interest for a long time before he had passed.
And I never took that opportunity to learn from him because my parents were divorced, they didn't live with him full-time, so I didn't have the garage opportunities with him on a regular basis.
And also, you know, I was young.
I was like, oh, we have all the time in the world.
I'll we'll do this once he retires, and I get to a point where we can do this together.
And unfortunately, we didn't get to that point.
Fortunately, though, I have a car to work on, and I am a noob that's gonna learn how to do it with help, not by myself.
None of this has been done by myself.
I'm gonna be learning how to actually finish the car in his memory.
And you were telling us before the podcast that your dad bought this 1969 Camaro SS and he bought it with both your names on it, right?
Because that was his plan.
And so you're just carrying it out.
He did not tell me he bought it initially.
So we had been, he was very sneaky, very sneaky.
He did this with my first bicycle as well.
He's like, Oh, this is a cool bicycle, let's help pick one out for your stepmother.
So we're all there looking at the bikes, whatever.
And then he surprises me with the bike going, Oh, this we we were actually picking out your bike.
He did the same thing with the car.
We would go to car shows, try to figure out what car, I didn't know what year, I didn't know what I didn't had no idea.
I knew he was gonna get something for us to do because he did it with some.
I'm the oldest of his five, and I had no idea.
He had had it for a year.
Apparently, it was drivable at the time that he bought it.
On my 30th birthday, it was the unibody on jack stands in a garage.
Wow.
Like almost completely stripped, and I have no idea what it looked like.
I have no pictures, or I I don't know what the condition was when he actually got it.
So yeah, definitely from the ground up.
Do you know where he where he got it from?
No, no idea.
My stepmother doesn't know.
He didn't tell me, no idea.
So, just out of curiosity, how did you find it?
Like, did he did he gift it to you when it was on Jack Stands?
Yes.
So on my 30th birthday, I was out there and he took me to it was someone else's house that he had been storing it at.
The gentleman was doing bodywork and paint on it, and he had stripped all the layers of way uh of paint away.
So it was not even primed.
It was uh he started doing the jams with the color.
And mind you, the color that he picked, he had not seen the color.
I had imagined it in my head.
We saw a bunch of colors at different car shows.
I like this one, I don't like this one, I like this one, but I don't like the purple.
He picked the color specifically based on those descriptions, and it's the exact color I imagined in my head.
That's amazing.
It's crazy, and I don't even want to like the the jams are painted right now.
I almost don't want to touch it.
Yeah.
Because that's what he didn't actually paint it, he had someone do it.
But uh I he did show it to me, but it it didn't even have the subframe on it at that time.
After he passed, when I went to the gentleman's house to check on the car, it he had put the subframe on it.
Other than that, it still the the entire car was it didn't have fenders on it, it didn't have a hood on it.
Yeah, my logo is actually the image of what it looked like right after he passed away.
It just it's the unibody with the subframe and it's just like floating.
That's cool.
Well, I I think it's awesome that just by your subtle clues and cues, he was able to kind of imagine that same color that you were imagining and make that happen for you.
That is just those those deep connections that we have with our loved ones that we don't even realize are there.
I think that's just awesome and on its own.
Please tell me that the guy that was painting it still has some of the paint so that we can complete it.
He gave me the can, so I have the can.
Okay.
I had taken it from that gentleman because he wasn't giving me straight answers.
I was like, How much is it gonna cost to get it to a point where I can take take it home?
And he's like, I'm like, okay, well, I'm taking home with me.
And through somebody at a car show locally, I was able to find a gentleman that does body work and paint.
He has since retired from it, but he took really good care of the car.
He put it together the body together that way it actually looks like a car now.
And then he did epoxy with the overspray.
So he took, it looks kind of like a shark right now because it's got the gray epoxy and then a little bit of the blue overspray, and the jams are kind of done.
So it's like I'm kind of getting attached to how it looks, like unfinished.
But it's I have it in my garage now and uh foreshadowing we're gonna have a lot more work done on it in the next few months.
But that's what this is what your whole platform is, right?
You're gonna learn how to put it back together and make it, you know, as good as new through this process, right?
Yes, that and then some.
I had no idea that I'd be going the direction that I'm going.
I was just like, oh, I'm gonna learn everything I can so I can work on this car.
And as I'm throwing everything at the wall to see how I can learn, because I'm not going to mechanic school, especially with my back integrity-wise.
I don't want to sign up for a class and go, well, I can't lift that.
I can't do that.
If I'm gonna sign up for a class, I'm gonna sign up for a class to do what I need to do.
I'm not gonna sign up for a mechanics course and tell them they need to modify for me.
That's just not how I work.
And I've been doing all learning from other people in ways where I don't have to force anybody to modify for me.
It's it's more like it's easier to be like, hey, can you help me with this?
I can't physically do this.
And the people that I'm usually learning from understand that, and they're okay jumping in when I need the physical help along with the educational part as well.
That's that's that's that's the way to do it.
If you, you know, you you know your limitations.
There's no reason to push your limitations and and re-injure yourself, but you still want to learn, and that's the way to do it is surround your surround yourself with people that are willing to help both educationally and physically.
Is there a drivetrain in this car?
Well, I have a rear end.
I I am in conversations with race-winning brands right now.
We are discussing, I'm still learning all the things a short rod 383 because my dad wanted to do a 383 stroker and Rich with TEM performance.
He's had a Sonoma County.
My dad had known him.
I was there when we dropped the engine off because we had two engines.
I think one was from a 72, and then one might have been from my car.
I don't know, but we had two 383 strokers we took to Rich.
We took them both apart, and we had been discussing for a while to have this engine build, and he wanted me to learn more first.
He didn't, he was awesome enough not to take over the project.
I told him what my goal was, and he let me go out in the world and learn versus just building the engine for me.
I could have had the engine done a while ago, but we he wanted to allow me to do do as much learning as I can before actually building it.
Now I'm talking with race-winning brands about the different products that they they make to be able to put this engine together.
And with hopes, we're in talks of me doing manufacturer tours to understand how they actually make the products so me as a newbie can understand how the products are made and have a better idea of how they function.
And then when I go to Rich's shop, we're gonna put the engine together for the clutch.
Centerforce clutches have already been out to their facility and seen how they put the product together, so that was a no-brainer for me to decide to do a Center Force clutch and flywheel.
And then I'm still in talks with Richmond.
I believe we're gonna do the RGI 5 with the 0.64
overdrive.
It's gonna be a manual, and yeah, that's drivetrain stuff, right?
And then the rear end I took it to some place when I first started.
I think it's a true track on the inside.
It's uh what do you is it 12 bolt?
Is that that's the now I can't remember.
That is a terminology.
Rear ends.
That's about all I know.
I'm still learning.
That's the whole point, though.
That's what we're all learning, right?
But there, but there's a plan there, and of course, your YouTube channel, we'll talk more about it, is called Christina's Garage Gearhead and Training.
That's what she's doing.
Very, very impressive.
You've got a plan, there's a project.
Oh, yeah.
So you're talking about the creator race team.
That got me.
Uh, do you want me to start with kind of because that is what inspired me for what I'm doing with my car?
Please.
Okay.
So we were talking about Riley with Riley's rebuilds.
I met her my first year at Sima.
This last SEMA was my third.
And Richmond gear was so cool.
They invited me to come to Sima.
And I'm like, okay, whatever.
Let's let's go.
I have no idea.
Everybody's like, these are bucket lists.
I'm I'm going, I'm a noob, I know nothing.
I'm showing up to Sima anyway.
I was going to some of the booths that I had recognized over going to Hot Ox Nights and Good Guys over it was it's been five years since I started to get into this, and only two and a half since I really started diving into it.
And I had parts in my garage that my dad had left, and so I was going to these booths that matched the name of the products, trying to go, what in the world is this?
I don't know how to put it together.
What is this thing called?
That's how I met Richmond at Hodgkaus Nights and Greg, their one of the, I think he's their lead engineer or one of their main engineers was the one I really met.
And and then he got me connected with their marketing guy, and they're the ones that got me to SEMA.
So I'm at SEMA, going around at the booths.
I go to the Willwood booth because I knew them from meeting from how I have Willwood breaks in my garage.
And Miguel goes, Hey, have you gone over to the she shed and met all the gals?
I'm like, What in the world is the she shed?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
He's like, Oh, it's just over there.
And it was a the real deal revolution with Girl Gang Garage, and there were a bunch of different groups of women that were all underneath the same booth that year.
And I met Riley and I did their carburetor rebuild workshop and then met them again at the following CEMA and stayed in contact.
And then, oh, I think it was like eight months ago or something like that.
She she started this group message with all these women that are within the automotive industry.
And she goes, Hey, this opportunity has come up for the great race.
Who would want to join in?
And like me, yes, I'll I'll do it.
I have no idea how much time it needs to take, but this is what I I don't need to take time off work.
So, you know, might as well just see what happens.
I was expect expecting to pay full out of pocket for stuff.
I was not expecting any sponsors for for me as an individual.
I just wanted to be a part of the experience.
Turns out that we had, I think, a total of like 10 to 12 women that rotated out over the nine days that participated in the great race, racing her 1966 Ford Fairlane.
And the rest is history.
You know, we we did all the things.
We did the great race.
The sponsors were so happy.
Like my my trip ended up being fully covered by sponsors, which was just unimaginable for someone like myself that's like new into this, and they were so happy.
They invited us out to back to Florida to work on the car and then prep it to do Road to SEMA, and it was on display at SEMA.
That entire experience inspired me that wow, I can actually do this with my car.
So, like reaching out to people that I've built relationships with, like Richmond and and and just going, hey, I am being really ambitious because I have like six months to build my car.
Can we do it?
And I I we're gonna do the best we can.
I mean, I'm putting it out that that we're gonna do it, and that so I can actually we're doing Route 66 is Wow.
Yeah, I'm like, I can't not, and it's the hundredth anniversary of Route 66.
That's right, that's right.
Well, that just gives you more fuel to to make it happen, right?
If you don't, if you don't envision it happening, it won't happen, and you are definitely off to that good start of making it happen.
So kudos to you on that.
Yeah.
Now, one thing we also wanted to touch on is you mentioned that you also have another project vehicle that has a lot to do with your dad, and that is the 52 Chevy pickup.
Can you tell us a little bit about that?
So it's not my project, it is the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Programs vehicle.
So it's like their main car or the main truck that picks up and drops off toys for kids, also delivers helmets and bicycles and does a lot of good for the community.
It was it was rebuilt and dedicated to my dad.
My maiden name is Altenberg.
That was my dad's last name, so they call it the Altenburg.
And I want to do what I can with my influence and with this project to bring attention to the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program because my dad was a firefighter there.
I was an EMT for that same fire department and grew up in the firehouse experiencing the good and the joy that the toy program brings to the community.
And they are the nonprofit that I want to speak about throughout this entire journey.
And it would be really cool to see, you know, if any of the sponsors along the way would be willing to help put towards the car because the the president of the toy program, he's the one that's, you know, essentially paying out of pocket to work on this truck and to do what he can and with some other help of some other firefighters to work on this truck.
So it would be really cool to be able to make the connections there to be able to help work on it.
And I told them I would love to be a part of it as well if they can teach me as we're working on the car because they have a whole list of things that they want to do on it.
It is the original red lacquer paint as well.
Really?
Yeah.
And it's not sealed or anything either.
I guess they were using like oil or something initially to kind of keep it.
But I was like, you know, it'd be kind of interesting to talk to some of these companies, like I've heard of Poppy's patina or like some of these other ones that make product that is specifically for preserving patina vehicles.
Like it is very, it's a very nice condition from the outside.
Like it, you wouldn't have guessed it to be the original paint.
It's not like a bunch of like scratches, it looks really nice and red, like firefighter truck red with the Christmas red, you know, it's it's a really cool.
You know how we firefighters are.
We love our red trucks, right?
So that being said, about the toy drive, is that the toy drive something, the toy program, is that something that also, you know, people can get involved with with like donation of toys or time or anything like that, or is is or is that kind of just for the union?
So they do take monetary and toy donations.
Most of the events they do, they'll have buckets for toys.
And that's actually one thing in in after so my my plan of doing the great race, and then go with the toy, the toy truck with my Camaro to some of these events to collect toys.
And one of the events, I don't know.
Well, you guys are in Michigan, you're not, you're not in the middle.
We're Maryland, Maryland, Maryland, yep.
I'm not as geographically inclined, born and raised in California, haven't really traveled as much until recently.
It's okay.
It's okay.
You had the M right.
We're not gonna judge.
You had the M.
The San Francisco old car picnic, they do a car show every year in Golden Gate Park.
And I talked with the organizers, we're still in talks about it.
I hope that in fall of 2026, I can bring my Camaro with the toy truck, with also historic apparatus to the event.
And I would love to have like a truck full of toys that have been donated, like in tow to bring it all the way down.
Because I'm about without traffic, like two hours-ish from Sacramento to San Francisco.
If you are anywhere near here, you know that traffic is horrid.
So the goal would be to have like closer to the time I can say if people wanted to directly donate toys that I could maybe do an Amazon wishlist or something to my P.O.
box that you know we we could do a bunch of toys.
They know that the toys were received.
I've done something similar with a local school where I'll have people send toys and I will video and show where all the toys are going so people know that it's received that I'd be bringing them.
At least that's that's the idea that I have in my head.
But if you want to direct directly donate to them, they do have a website that you can do monetary stuff.
And if you're local, you can go to some of their events and actually bring toys to their.
I think they collect toys all year round too.
Well, offline, we'll get that link from you and we'll make sure that we're putting it on our website along with your your contact information too.
So hopefully in the next couple months, we'll be able to see you out there and your Camaro with this beautiful red truck.
And noting the patina, this is why people always search for California cars.
You got a 1952 truck that's original paint, and you would never know.
That's why people are always searching searching for California cars.
I mean, that's that there's your bread and butter right there.
Well, I heard it's a lot of it has to do with the humidity too, right?
Because it's not as as not as d wet, I guess.
Humid, right?
Humid's the word.
Yep, yeah.
So the the rust is what you know, it's the humidity creates rust, and rust just eats metal.
So for sure.
Yeah, and that's why every time I go to California, I am shocked at the number of old cars I see that are in phenomenal condition, patina or not, survivors.
And we wouldn't see those out here, Dave.
We'd see them rusting in somebody's yard, probably.
Yeah, the ones that have the plants through the floorboard out the windows.
Yeah, that's what we get.
Well, that's I mean, not the only reason, but I think another reason why it's so important for the word to get out about how important it is to preserve that culture, especially in California.
Like SEMA Action has been working a lot with that to try to preserve our culture, especially in California, with not just classic cars, but cars.
Cars in general.
Yeah, it's we have a huge community, especially Southern California, is really huge with the car culture, too.
That you you don't you don't know it unless you've experienced it.
And I've never been to California, so that's a that's a bucket list for me.
I want to get out there and see all the classic cars myself, but I haven't had a haven't had a chance yet, but we'll get there.
We'll get there.
Yeah, I love San Diego.
And speaking of cars, so what we want to do, Christina, is hop in my DeLorean.
We're gonna hit ADA, which is somewhat safe.
I don't think I've gone that fast recently.
And my tires are new, and we want to talk about your first car.
What was your first car?
How'd you get it?
What are some great memories of it?
Or or not so great memories of it?
What sticks out?
So the first car that I owned, because I my mom, you know, you you always get a car that's not necessarily yours.
You're driving other, you know, your parents' cars.
I had an Izuzu that I drove.
And then my mom had, I forgot what year, but it was a BMW, that she didn't want to pay the car payment.
So I actually paid the $300 something dollar car payment, so just so I could drive it.
And I realized how spoiled I was with rear-reel drive and how how heavy the vehicle was.
It was so nice that when I went to go buy my first car, that I was a little bit more picky.
I was able to find 2010 Dodge Avenger, and I was actually really happy with the car as a whole.
Like the sound system was cool.
I liked how it was a heavy, solid car.
The only problem is that the alternator would go out so often.
I don't even know how many alternators I went through, but I learned what an alternator was and how important it was for driving it down the road because it would go out so often.
I was able to get it though until like over 200,000 miles.
And I got it at, I think, I think I got it about 60,000 miles.
Okay.
Yeah, I had it for a while, and it was a solid car, and I had it until I moved out here.
And it was after my injury that I sold it because I had I had my truck at that time as well.
So I had two cars and it wasn't commuting anymore.
But the Dodge was great.
I actually I really liked it.
The my the gas mileage is was pretty good.
I mean, the only issue that I had was the alternator.
I even hit a deer going 80 miles an hour in at like five in the morning where there was you couldn't see anything, and it took out the deer.
I was able to finish because it was dark.
If I would have pulled over, I could have potentially gotten hit.
I'm like, I'm just gonna try to, it was on the way to work.
Yep, of course, 5 a.m.
Yep.
Yeah, I pulled into work.
It was still dark.
It was during winter time, so the light, the sun wasn't even out.
It was so dark, and I was not able to drive it home, but I was able to to get it to work.
And like there was hair in the front, you know.
Yeah.
That car was solid, you know.
It's like it took out a deer and kept going.
Yep, there you go.
Yep, yeah.
It it's funny.
I've never hit a deer, but everybody I know, it's like the deer kicked a hole, they'll find fur in their car, in crevices of their car.
It's hilarious.
No, no harm meant to the deer, of course.
So they're overpopulated.
Yeah, yeah.
So, and was that a car you got kind of post-high school?
You mentioned your mom's car.
Yeah, I think, yeah, because I was working at the time as long as I paid for it my own.
I can't remember what year I bought it.
Okay, but it was definitely out of school.
And I was because I was I went to school and worked.
Like I I worked well, I went to EMT school the summer that like I started the schooling the summer after I graduated high school.
So I had done the EMT classes and then I got a job and I was going to school at the same time.
So it took me a lot longer to finish my degree because I was working at the same time.
So it was like in the middle of that that I that I got the car.
Gotcha.
Gotcha.
So that car lasted a while, and then you got your there was a little bit of overlap.
You got your truck.
Tell there's a lot of truck people here who are listeners.
Tell us about it.
Well, when when I was young, my dad had a Chevy Silverado, it was white single cab.
And I remember that he would, with my parents being divorced, he would do the pickup with us in the truck, and we would drive long distances in the truck to go to either his place or my my oma, my grandmother's place.
And I had so many memories in that.
And even my stepfather at he for a short period of time, he he had a I believe it was a Chevy Silverado as well, but it was lifted.
And I was at the time where I was kind of learning how to drive and it was manual.
I could not reach the pedal to get the clutch all the way down.
Like he was like six foot, he was really tall, and I'm five, I like to say five six, but I'm actually like five, five and a half, you know, like but trying to get the clutch all the way down in that car, I had to the whole bench seat I had to bring all the way up.
I'm like, okay, no.
But I had wanted a Chevy Silverado for a really long time.
And in mutual co-worker, he was a paramedic on the suppression side.
So he was a firefighter paramedic with the same fire department.
My dad was like, oh yeah, he's looking to sell his truck, and it was gas.
My idea was like, well, I kind of wanted a diesel though.
So I didn't say yes right away.
And then after talking with some people, because of my lack of experience, the diesel maintenance would be more for someone like myself.
My brother-in-law actually has the same exact truck, but diesel, and he has all the experience he can maintenance it all on his own.
So that wasn't a big deal.
My dad approached the gentleman and he was like, Hey, you know, I'm looking to buy it for Christina, and he knew me because we've ran calls together too.
And my dad, I don't know what he paid for it because he only let me pay him three grand.
So he like indirectly helped me buy my first truck, a 2006 Chevy Silverado 2500 heavy duty with the full extra cab, and it has a camper shell as well, and it is a really awesome truck.
I was told that the engine was a really good year that like 2007 they started making the engine a little bit different.
So they a lot of the people I talked to were like, yeah, 2006 is a really great year.
Yeah, I had one of the the 2007 to 2013 ranges and I had nothing but issues.
So you do have one of the last good engines that came in the the I think it's the 5.3
or 5.7.
I can't think of off the top of my head.
It's one of the two because I've been a RAM guy for the last couple years.
But yeah, the the 2006, because they introduced a fuel injector control module that would shut off half the cylinders at like cruising speed, and it would end up the oil pump didn't stop.
So then those cylinders would fill up with oil, and then when it restarted, it would burn off that oil.
And soon enough, if you drove long enough, you'd run out of oil.
I could see how that could become an issue.
Is that was that some of their the emission style stuff that they were trying to make better gas mileage and and all got it?
Yep, exactly.
That's it.
That's the that was the ticket.
And they ended up they did fix it in the long run for a long time.
The you know, not to speak ill of Chevy, but they they were sticking by the oh no, it's fine, it's fine.
It's like it's not fine.
My dri my dipstick is dry, that's not fine.
But yeah, they they did end up coming back around and getting that stuff straight.
It's it's funny.
Cadillac in the 80s, I think it might have only been one year.
They had a similar system that could sh it was a V8 and you could shut off X number of cylinders and become a I think a V6 or a V4, apparently was terrible.
Now that's the 80s for you, right?
And actually it reminds me of my Dave, your I think your first car was an Oldsmobile, yeah.
86 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
Yeah.
And my my dad had uh speaking of diesels, my dad had like an early 80s Delta 88 diesel.
I think they only made them for a couple years.
It was a truck engine that they put in a car and it just didn't work well at all.
He had nothing but problems with it.
But such those are such great stories, and you know, I think I think we're all kind of it it's amazing the connection we can have to our parents through all these different things.
And my dad passed away five years ago, and for anybody who's listened to the podcast, they'll hear me talk about the DeLorean.
Did I ever own the DeLorean when my dad was around?
No, the joke is if I had gone to buy it, he would have called me stupid if he was alive.
But whenever I'm working on it, and he was an electrical engineer, so he taught me about soldering.
I'm not nearly competent as he is, and I would just it started conversations in my head.
I'm like, how would dad do this?
What would he be doing?
And you know, I just love it, it makes it so special, even though he had nothing to do with the car.
It's a really great because we don't talk about grief enough, just as humans in general.
Uh culture, we just kind of shove it off to the side, like, oh, you'll get over it.
No, like, especially when it's someone that you were really close to.
The grief is usually a reflection of of the love that you have between that person that you've then lost.
And I think it's been it's given me direction for that grief to be able to put it into action rather than just having a picture on the shelf or something else, like being able to physically do something that in that action, like everything that I do now, almost everything that I do, especially with cars.
Like I'm thinking of my dad the whole time and being able to carry his legacy forward as well as create my own in the process.
And I see that with a lot of people, like you were saying, Doug, that are like, well, my dad was into it.
And you know, it's usually the dad, not as I think it's becoming more common that women are getting into this.
I have spoken to some women that have been in it for a long time, and it's it's really cool.
Although I do see more people say their dad or their brother or some male figure in their life was into cars, and that's what introduced them into it.
It's it's a really cool way to remember people and that you're driving it down the road.
It's not something that just collects dust.
I mean, sometimes they do, right?
The car, I haven't touched the car in a couple years, but it's still like it gets to a point where I'm gonna be able to take it out and be able to collect toys with the toy program truck.
You know, there's so many things you can do with it that it allows the grief to lead into something more fulfilling, not just for yourself, but also something you can share with other people.
Yep, yep.
That and 100%.
No, go ahead.
That and it's the same, you're carrying on the the process that your dad already started without you even knowing.
You know what I mean?
So, like this is something he was he was doing while he was here.
It's something tangible, like you said, you can put your hands on, but it's also something he started that you can continue, not only in his name, but in his whole demeanor.
That this is something he was obviously planning on doing anyway, and you're here to honor him through that, and it's something tangible.
A lot of things about grief is we want something that we can touch, and here you have the actual physical object that he started with, and you gonna you're gonna you're gonna do your own thing, yes, but you're doing it in your way to honor him, and I think that's that's honorable in itself.
So that's that's awesome that you're that you're taking this process and you know you're trying to help other people show the process, but also living with it yourself.
So props to you for that for sure.
Thank you.
I really appreciate that.
No, it's it's a gift your dad left you with, and it's not just the car, it's everything the car means to you, but also what it's become.
And it's it's cool having conversations with other people and not just women.
So we're talking about the creator race team, like a lot of the women that are involved, they're focused on helping other women.
And for me, I have found especially that I over my lifetime, I haven't really had healthy relationships with women growing up.
And it's not until more recently that I've been able to actually find women that I can have a good healthy relationship with.
And, you know, I see I've, you know, working in a probably I was working in a primarily male-dominated uh being a first responder.
And then now being in the automotive world, there's a lot of men involved as well.
I am not focused on just helping women.
I want to help newbies in general or people who want to learn more.
And there's been a lot of men that I've talked to that like, I'm like, hey, I did this thing, and you know, they were telling me the difference between a torque converter and a catalytic converter because I got confused between the two.
And there are a lot of men that are like, you know, I didn't know that.
Thank you for sharing.
Yeah.
And and they go, Well, I can't work on the cars with my friends because they're like way beyond me.
And I want to learn, but I don't want to go to mechanic school because that's not what I do for a living, but I would like to like learn more.
So those that's the people that I want to help, not just women.
I want to help men and women, newbies or people that want to learn more to show them that if you say you don't know and you want to learn, men or women, that the the culture in general, like there's always gonna be people everywhere that's gonna be a butthead about it, you know, because everywhere you're gonna find those people.
But the majority, if you want to learn about it, you know, if you don't know where to start, go to a local Cars and Coffee and then just start asking questions.
And when people bring, I don't know very many people who don't want to talk about their cars when they bring it to Cars and Coffee.
That's why you bring it.
Right, exactly.
So it it's gonna be really cool to continue building this momentum to not only just tell people, hey, you know, there are people that are more welcoming as they gain momentum, be like, I've lived it.
So I can tell you that yes, if you are interested, go and put yourself out there because look at where I am now.
And even people who've known me like years ago, and then me having car conversations now, they're going, Wow, you you can actually hold a conversation and I'm just throwing a party over here, like drivetrain.
Okay, we're talking about the engine and you know, all these things.
And it just over time, when you're immersed in it and your interest in it, you're gonna learn.
And that's what I want to inspire other people that that if you have an interest, that you're not gonna be, you know, like a rocket scientist overnight.
No, it's a it's it's a process, but there there has to be a good core of people that want to teach other people and are welcome to anybody that wants to learn, no matter you know what you where you come from, what your age is, whatever the case may be, if I have knowledge, I want to help you gain that same knowledge.
And I think you're doing a great job of kind of fostering that idea.
So kudos are there too.
So the one question we always have to ask is what if you know, budget's not a thing, whatever the case may be, what would be your now that you've been through all these car shows and been to SEMA?
I mean, I I'm even jealous of the SEMA thing.
What's your what is your dream car?
What would be that thing that you could put in your garage to make yourself feel good?
It doesn't have to be expensive, but I'm just saying, whatever that car might be, what would be the one that you would pick for yourself at least?
I already have her.
My 1969 Camaro, yeah.
Um blue.
And I understand that.
I understand that.
Um I'm I am really excited because I'm actually going to be building her this year.
Right.
So that's that's where where me asking for help comes in handy because you know, building a car is not cheap.
So it's it's gonna be an interesting process.
But yeah, she's she she is the one.
I don't need any other ones.
I look at all the other cars and I see mine.
Well, that and that's awesome that you've already got that part of it because there's a lot of them, like even me, I have a whole list of dream cars.
I could sit here for another hour just listing off my dream cars, but that's just because I'm never satisfied.
But you know, you have that in your garage that you're working, actively working on, bring it bringing it to the public through your channels, which we're gonna get to.
So I want to plug your stuff because we've been talking about you.
I want to, I want other people to find you, I want them to see the process, I want them to see your progress.
Let's plug you real quick.
On YouTube, you can find Christina's Garage on Instagram under Christina Lardi.
Facebook is also Christina Lardy, TikTok.
They're all except for YouTube, they're all Christina Lardi.
And I you also have a link tree attached to your Instagram.
So please, if you're listening, go check out Christina on her YouTube and her Instagram.
Follow along with this process.
Let's see this Camaro come to life.
I'm I'm excited for it to come to life.
I can't wait to see this toy drive.
Let's let's make this the biggest toy drive ever because there's a lot of deserving people out there that are underprivileged that we can help.
And even if you can't, just by clicking that subscribe, watching some videos, you're helping the process in itself.
So please go check check out Christina.
She's got an awesome story to tell, and I can't wait to keep hearing the story through this process.
And I just want to say, I know I'm stepping stepping on Doug a little bit, but thank you so much for having this conversation with us.
I've enjoyed this greatly.
So take it, Doug.
Thank thank you again, Christina.
You know, it's such a pleasure after seeing all your videos and your content and learning more about you and the things you're doing, the process.
Like, hey, I have these parts going to the vendor booth.
What is this part for?
Like, I love how you just went and did that.
Like, yeah, it's inspiring versus somebody behind a keyboard trying to figure it out, which is great, but it's kind of overused these days.
You went the kind of old school path.
With that all said, we're gonna gently guide the podcast off to the off-ramp.
And we want to thank everyone for listening.
We've been having a great time with Dave and Christina.
Dave's gonna do some stuff about his Volkswagen, I hope.
Very, very soon.
That's the plan, at least.
For anybody who's watching the video, Dave has a Volkswagen memorabilia collection behind him.
This is only just a fraction of what you can see in the whole room, but yeah, as you can see, I'm a little bit of a Volkswagen nut when it comes to memorabilia.
So you can find our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, BuzzSprout, all the major podcast platforms.
We have new content coming out every Tuesday, hashtag TorqueTuesday.
You have just heard the high revving, low mileage, late model, heard around the world, authoritative podcast on automotive nostalgia.
He's Dave.
I'm Doug, and she was Christina.
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