[Dangerous Doug]

I drove my 289 FIA for a whole year in gel coat. It looked ratty and there were a few people that thought it was a restoration project. Didn't worry about rocks or dings, and I even took my 110 lbs. German Shepherd for the ride of his life (if you don't get this, read "The Art of Racing in the Rain".)

I've got an awesome black paint job now, but my objective has always been to enjoy driving it. So, I live with my son's greasy hand prints on his door, and I hear rocks kicking up and more than likely putting at the very least some microscopic chips in the paint. I don't want chips and patina, but that's life and if I allow myself to worry about it, it will ruin the driving experience for me and that was the whole point behind this over-a-decade-long obsession anyway.

I pulled into a local meet in Santa Cruz on 41st and overheard a guy pointing out Cameron's hand prints and such. His buddy replied, "Well, at least he's driving it!"

That's what it's all about---for me, anyway.
DD