If you’re blessed with space for wrenching and thinking, never miss an opportunity for either.

microsoft, we raise a glass to garages and rain
Sheryl Yap

Weezer really said it best. “In the garage, I feel safe.” Those lyrics buzzed through my head last weekend when I sat down to drink a beer in my garage. That moment will seem unremarkable to nearly anybody reading this website, but I’ll tell you, that beer tasted something like quiet triumph.

It’s been a long time coming; If you regularly read Kinardi Line, you’ll know that my wife and I finally bought a house near Seattle after six restless years chasing R&T across the country. Between the moving boxes, packing tape, and removal of ancient pink toilets, there’s hardly been a breath for reflection. As anyone who’s moved recently can tell you, it takes years to whip a new place into shape. We’ll be lucky to have the last U-Haul box emptied by 2030.

But in the chaos, I stole away for a moment. To celebrate in some small way. A polite Seattle rain fell on the roof, a soft drumroll against the garage’s single broad window. It felt like a good moment for a sit, for a think, for a cold beer. So I sat and thought and drank.

Welcome to Kinardi Line, mouthpiece of the free world’s most self-loathing auto writer. Home to questionable takes, reviews, and shitbox worship.

Home ownership still feels like a distant stretch, even after my wallet’s been dented by the first mortgage payment. Seattle’s housing market rode a wild upswing for more than a decade, driven by high-paying tech jobs that outstrip the wages of middling writers like myself. We knew it’d take something special – possibly even miraculous – to land a house within our budget.

For that miracle, I must thank the almighty garage.

At the showing for our house, we met the owner’s son. He’d stopped by at that exact moment to mow the lawn. It proved serendipitous. Curious about the house, I struck up a conversation just before he left. We got to talking.

Turns out his family are fans of my beloved Washington State University Cougars. The home’s late matriarch was the most devoted of the bunch. She traveled for away games and sent her grandchildren off to the university in droves. After swapping WSU stories, the son led us around his old house, regaling us with memories. Eventually the conversation moved into the garage.

There, he told me the house had been occupied by racers. My ears perked up. The family’s two sons and their father ran a NASCAR-sanctioned stock series in the Eighties, he said. Their efforts produced dozens of trophies and thousands of memories, the garage’s rafters stuffed with old parts, a race trailer parked in the back yard. You could still catch a whiff of old gear oil or worn race tires around the edges of the place, but since his mother’s passing, the garage had been emptied of old racing junk. Only a single beam hung across the ceiling as a reminder. It was put up decades ago to pull engines at the end of each race weekend. The son said he’d feel better selling the family’s home if that old beam – and the garage that holds it – might see likeminded use in the future.

“Well, my Miata could use a V-8,” I laughed.

We offered asking price for the house, a maneuver that’d failed us maybe twenty times before. The owners graciously accepted, though the open market would’ve certainly brought more money. When we moved in a month later, after a nightmarish buying process, I found the son had left me a photo at my new work bench. It was an image of a race car in the house’s front yard, flanked by a dozen trophies. His brother stands there in the photo, a beaming smile with Eighties sideburns.

The photo sat on my work bench until that weekend with the cold beer and the pattering rain. I held the photo and sat in quietude. It got me thinking about garages, about fathers and sons, and time. Then sip or two from the can got me thinking about my grandpa, who passed away last year.

Larry Voeks dug septic tanks for a living. His “garage” was more like a full workshop tucked into the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. It rains a lot there. He ran his small business from the shop’s three wide bays, servicing the diesel engines and hydraulic fittings that powered his vocation.

On weekends in my early twenties, I’d show up at the north end of his shop and open the bay door with a long chain that hung from the vaulted ceiling. My grandpa was long retired by that time. Usually he was napping when I arrived. A series of heart attacks had slowed him, but he always seemed to appear at the right moment to offer advice (which I usually ignored) or a lukewarm beer (which I always accepted).

We never talked about anything pressing, but sharing beers under the roof of his shop changed dynamic between us. I felt more worthy of recognition in his eyes when my shirt was stained with oil, and yet, he always asked about my writing. Unlike conversations with strangers or even friends, I never felt ashamed to share my hopes and insecurities on that front. In turn, I learned about how he grew up, about his favorite spot to skinny dip as a teenager, about lifting a salmon or two from the nearby hatchery when food went scarce at home. Visits to his shop became a weekly ritual.

In time, that garage became a place of reprieve. A temple. It always seemed to be drizzling on that thin tin roof and sometimes I’d close my eyes and just listen instead of turning wrenches. When Microsoft laid me off in 2014, it took more than six months to find work again. Application after application was launched into the void, unanswered, ratcheting up the tension in my personal life. But I could always count on the garage to diffuse my angst.

As the jobless months wore on, I fiddled with my car for the sake of fiddling, heading out to the shop for projects that kept me busy instead of wallowing. One can find order in any garage; If something is broken, it can be fixed. Real life isn’t so easily understood.

Eventually I found work again. When it was raining in my new office, my thoughts often drifted to Grandpa’s shop, but my visits there went erratic and infrequent as my life moved forward. In time, my grandparents moved and my grandpa passed away. I’m left only with the memories.

The pattering rain sounds different in my own garage, dulled and hollow, but the rhythm brings back the smells and sounds of that old shop, and with them, a sense of melancholy. What can we do but keep driving into the fog?

My own garage is shaping into a space of its own, slowly. Hopefully I’ll hoist an engine or two with the help of that trusty old beam. Maybe in time I’ll grow grey and give up refrigeration and keep a pallet of cheap lager chilling on the floor and learn something new about my own grandson. Who could say?

If you yearn for a garage like I did, my advice is to hang in there. You never know when life will swing its arm around your shoulder and draw you close. If you’re lucky enough to have such a space already, go spend some time there alone with the sound of the roof in the rain. Cherish it. Take a moment to let gratitude wash over you, then get busy. In the garage, if nowhere else, you are safe.

Keyword: We Raise a Glass to Garages and Rain

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Musk set to finally take wraps off Tesla truck - to tough crowd

Tesla’s electric semi truck unveiled in 2017. — Reuters SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla is set to unveil today its long-delayed Semi, a 18-wheeler heavy duty vehicle that has faced skepticism from industry experts who doubt battery electric trucks can take the strain of hauling hefty loads for hundreds of miles. ...

View more: Musk set to finally take wraps off Tesla truck - to tough crowd

Tesla Semi unladen weight estimated by Nikola whistleblower

Just recently, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the Tesla Semi has been able to complete a 500-mile trip while weighing in at 81,000 pounds. The announcement was received with much excitement from the electric vehicle community, though questions still remained about the unladen weight of the Semi without ...

View more: Tesla Semi unladen weight estimated by Nikola whistleblower

Best Cyber Monday racing video game and accessory deals

‘Forza Horizon 5’: Standard Edition (Xbox and PC) – From $34.99 ‘Gran Turismo’ 7 PS5 Standard Edition – From $49.99 (29% off) ‘F1 2022’ (Playstation, Xbox and PC) – From $35.00 (50% off) ‘GRID Legends’ (Playstation, Xbox and PC) – From $9.99 (up to 83% off) ‘Mario Kart 8 ...

View more: Best Cyber Monday racing video game and accessory deals

Musk says fully loaded Tesla Semi completes 800km trip, invites Gates to test drive

Tesla Semi. Source: Tesla Tesla boss Elon Musk has claimed that a fully-loaded Tesla Semi electric heavy truck has completed an 800kms journey – presumably without re-charging. The revelation – made on the Twitter social media channel he now owns and which he has long used as his soap-box ...

View more: Musk says fully loaded Tesla Semi completes 800km trip, invites Gates to test drive

Tesla’s Elon Musk invites Bill Gates to drive the Semi — just so he knows it’s legit

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates do not necessarily see eye-to-eye in a lot of things. Gates has shorted Tesla stock, and Musk has turned Gates into the butt of jokes several times online. The two billionaires also disagree on one specific thing — long-haul battery ...

View more: Tesla’s Elon Musk invites Bill Gates to drive the Semi — just so he knows it’s legit

Here's how you can stream Metallica's Helping Hands show into your eyes and ears this December

null Metallica have announced that they are to stream their Helping Hands concert from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on December 16. The show – which will be broadcast via Paramount+ – will benefit their All Within My Hands foundation and will feature Greta Van Fleet as the opening act. According ...

View more: Here's how you can stream Metallica's Helping Hands show into your eyes and ears this December

Tesla has lost almost $700 billion in market value, the equivalent of 3 Disneys, 4 Nikes, or 6 Starbucks

Elon Musk. Reuters Tesla’s market capitalization has plunged from over $1.2 trillion to $530 billion in the past year. Elon Musk’s company has lost nearly a Berkshire Hathaway’s worth of market value. Tesla’s $670 billion decline is roughly equivalent to three Disneys, four Nikes, or six Starbucks. Tesla’s market ...

View more: Tesla has lost almost $700 billion in market value, the equivalent of 3 Disneys, 4 Nikes, or 6 Starbucks

Will Electric Cars Kill AM Radio?

There’s an interference problem from EV motors that’s bumping AM bands off of electric vehicle dashboards. Radio over 5G may offer a solution.

View more: Will Electric Cars Kill AM Radio?

mReview: 2023 Polestar 2 SRSM - In Pole Position

Best early Black Friday racing video game and accessory deals

Elon Musk to French President Macron: Twitter will absolutely protect children

Bosch taps IBM quantum computers in hunt for new EV materials

Mobility Ideas Abound at the Web Summit in Portugal

How Oxford Street was left drowning in empty shops and American candy stores

Hyundai, As A Brand, Is Worth More Than Ford, Porsche, or Nissan

Tesla listed among Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2022 report

Electric Vehicle Council calls for more EVs in Australia

100+ Companies Want 1 Million EVs on Australian Roads by 2027

One million EVs: 100 Australian companies urge rapid uptake of electric vehicles

Driverless car quest has made a bonfire out of $75 billion

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel