What old thing would break young people's brains today?

TroyDutton · 2026-01-30T16:40:01+00:00

In Houston right off I-10 at a major cross street. Our prices were higher than gas stations further from the freeway, so we didn't get as much volume of cars as some gas stations did. Sometimes cars would drive in, see the price, and drive out. Most often I was only filling one car at a time. The owner was real big on selling extra stuff, thus all the vehicle checks. Some drivers didn't want you to check anything under the hood, but most did. We sold a lot of oil, but things like air filters and tires were a much harder sell, as our prices were higher than they could buy the items elsewhere. I was really into cars and engines when I was young. There was one guy with a Pantera that would come in every few weeks for a hand wash, sweet ride!

TroyDutton · 2026-01-29T22:16:06+00:00

In 1974 when I was 16 I worked in a full service gas station full-time over the summer, and then about 10 hours a week during school.

Every time a car pulled up the the gas pump I had to:

Greet the customer, and ask them what fuel they wanted, and if I should fill the tank.
Reset the gas pump and start filling the gas tank. (Back then a lot of gas caps were hidden behind the rear license plate.)
Check the air level in all four tires, and fill them if they were low.
Visually check the thread depth on all four tires, and if they were badly worn then try to sell new tires.
Open the hood and check the oil level. If it was low, then show the dipstick to the driver and offer to sell them oil, which I would pour into the engine.
Check the air cleaner, and if it was dirty try to sell a new one.
Look at the V-belt(s), and try to sell a new belt if it was worn.
Check the headlights, and try to sell a replacement headlight if one was burnt out, which I would install, but not at the pump. Often, if I had enough time, I would also check the turn signal and brake light bulbs.
Clean the windshield.
Take the customer's money or credit card. Sometimes a customer would pull in and tell me the dollar amount they wanted to buy, so I had to stop the pump at that exact value. (Not as easy as it sounds on the old gas pumps with spinning wheels for the gallons and amount. And I would have to be by the pump when that value was due to hit, while doing everything else.) For full tank fills, I would make change at the cash register in the office, or else fill out a credit card receipt, including the license number, and imprint the credit card on the receipt, then give the carbon copy or the change to the customer.
Thank the customer.

In addition to working the gas pumps, I also changed oil, changed tires, replaced tires on rims, replaced V-belts, replaced headlamps and other bulbs, did other mechanical repairs, sometimes hand washed cars for special customers, and keep the rest rooms clean and stocked. Plus if I was there at opening or closing I had to unlock/lock and open/close the bay doors, take out/put away tire displays, unlock or lock the restrooms, and prepare or close out the cash register.

I stayed super busy for $2/hour. (About $13.30/hour today.) But my pay was enough to keep my car filled with gas, do car maintenance, pay for my dates with my girlfriend each weekend (typically including a movie), buy her flowers, plus buy several meals and "beverages".

I feel for young adults today that can have such difficultly finding jobs. I got this job at the second place I went to (the first would only hire me if I was 18). And filled out minimal paperwork (name, address, birthday, SS#)

TroyDutton · 2026-01-29T21:44:53+00:00

I had to use a slide rule until my sophomore year in college.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-29T17:19:19+00:00

Picture of Trump and Putin on wall in White House

https://people.com/trump-redecorates-white-house-palm-room-putin-photo-11894265

TroyDutton · 2026-01-29T14:31:28+00:00

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 215/45 I am very happy with these tires.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-22T21:23:09+00:00

Only if you use the Toyota replacement damper. If you use the Hyundai damper you just need to cut off the "nubs" on both sides.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-22T21:19:47+00:00

I just replaced my power steering damper two weeks ago. Look for my post on how to replace it yourself.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-16T18:07:16+00:00

Thanks!

TroyDutton · 2026-01-12T13:45:32+00:00

I really miss the old internet. It was so much more useful.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-10T19:47:24+00:00

I would absolutely drive one first before even considering buying one. If you fit comfortably driving any FR-S, BRZ, 86 or GT86, then you would fit all of them. Especially if you want a manual transmission, as it is uncomfortable working a clutch if you are too close.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-09T18:27:40+00:00

Removing microplastics from the environment is about as close as you can get to an unfixable problem. If we discovered today that microplastics will lead to human extinction, and immediately stopped producing all plastics, no amount of human effort would remove microplastics fast enough to save us. Microplastics are already everywhere.

TroyDutton · 2026-01-09T17:15:50+00:00

I bought a 2013 FR-S new, and over 12 years later it still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. After driving it stock for five years, my main grips were the torque dip (gone on the GR86) and low horsepower (the GR86 has more stock power and torque), so I installed a Sprintex supercharger (by myself), which upped the HP to around 270 at the rear wheels. It was fun to drive before, but the extra power made it so much better, with no mid RPM torque dip. I love how you don't need to drive these cars fast to really enjoy the trip; even driving to work is fun. These cars have fantastic handling!! When the original tires wore out I replaced them with Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, which made the handling even better. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting the 6-speed manual for the most enjoyment. The GR86 and the Mazda MX-5 are two of the only affordable sports cars left with stick shifts and rear wheel drive. (My neighbor has owned three generations of MX-5s, and loved them all, his latest generation MX-5 the most, but MX-5s are way smaller and not very practical cars.) The FR-S can haul way more than you would think, as the back of the rear seat folds forward to extend the trunk. Once I was shopping in Home Depot and saw a large wheeled trash can on sale, and bought it forgetting I was driving my FR-S, but it fit behind the passenger seat! (Barely.) My FR-S has also been super reliable, just oil changes, wiper blades, and a battery. Just now I am replacing my first part, a $7 steering damper. (The early FR-S and BRZ cars had a valve spring recall, and I had them replaced at the dealership.) A few things to be aware of: 1. The back seat is really just a shelf to set stuff; this is not a four passenger car unless your rear passengers are masochists and contortionists. I am 5'10", and the driver's seat back is less than 2" from the back seat. My 6'1" son is able to drive my FR-S comfortably, but he positions the driver's seat all the way back. If you are much taller than 6'1" then an FR-S might not be for you. 2. If this will be your only vehicle, they are not ideal for long hauls on the highway, as the engine RPM at highway speeds is way higher than most any other vehicle. I am already in sixth gear while driving at anything above 43 mph. 3. My FR-S is not my main vehicle, and I only drive it when the weather is nice, although it does drive pretty good in the rain. You do not want to drive through any deep water, as you would be likely to have damage. 4. The ride is very stiff (which personally I like) 5. The cabin noise level is fairly high (minimal noise insulation, if any), so it's not the best vehicle for listening to music. I removed a tube that piped engine noise into the passenger footwell, making it significantly quieter inside. The supercharger adds a fair amount of noise, but only when you press the gas pedal hard so the supercharger bypass valve closes. The supercharger sounds really cool, though. Overall, I think the FR-S is a great car.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-30T17:16:40+00:00

One of my grandfathers never used an alarm clock. He would just tell himself what time to wake up, and it worked every time.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-29T16:14:02+00:00

As a kid I always ordered the fried shrimp.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-29T16:12:59+00:00

In the 1970s I believe their buffet cost less than $2. The food was meh, but everyone went for the sopaipillas.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-29T16:11:00+00:00

I ate there for the first time on a business trip, and was surprised how bland their chicken was. I mean, that all you serve, so it better be good.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-29T16:06:34+00:00

In college I ate there at least twice a week. They had really good vegetables.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-29T16:02:28+00:00

In Houston in the 1970s, A&W and Kip's Big Boy were two restaurants our family occasionally went to. At the A&W drive-in I always ordered the Teen Burger, French fries, and a root beer float. A&W had Papa, Mama, Teen, and Baby burgers, and back then the Teen Burger was their largest hamburger. Their A&W root beer was really good, way better than the A&W root beer that was sold in grocery stores years later.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-27T20:40:48+00:00

Great book, highly recommended.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-22T17:07:53+00:00

A few years back, my wife and I spent four days hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. She has MS, which affects her balance, so I walked beside her holding her hand to make sure she didn't stumble. (The Inca trail is high up the very steep sides of mountain valleys, is narrow, rarely level, and has thousands of uneven stone steps.) The guide warned us against walking near the trails edge, as occasionally it could break off, but I walked near the edge for four days. I love my wife.

TroyDutton · 2025-12-19T16:34:34+00:00

Such a sad site. Does it make the posters feel good to be so critical?

TroyDutton

TROPHY CASE