This is an abridged version. So, it was 1969. I was a student in college pursuing a career in physical education. What can I say, the Gym teacher job looked good as I was an athlete! I was driving home from my part time job at Sears when my 1963 Beetle engine disintegrated in front of the Prudential Building (now Lake Side Middle School). I remembered a small car shop on the way home had a number of VWs on the lot. I walked the two miles to the shop and introduced myself. The owner and I pulled my '63 Rag top back to his place. After he gave me the bad news, I needed a new engine, we agreed on a labor swap. You need to know that I worked in the paint dept at Sears. His recently purchased business building needed paint. I painted the block building several coats of Green Sears Best. I also tore down an old fence and did a number of other odd jobs. When I had finished the agreed to work, the owner asked me if I wanted to continue working for him. I agreed and he trained me as an apprentice as I worked for him for 6 years.
During that time, I learned to perform general maintenance as well as front end repair, brake repair, engine rebuilding, transmission repair, minor body work and paint refinishing and detailing. He was a former Chevrolet and Volkswagen of America mechanic so I learned the best of both worlds.
After 6 years we had a parting of the ways. Basically, I drove him and his wife crazy because I loved so many cars that I wanted buy all the cars on his lot. So, I took a job at the local VW Dealer, Bill Magarity VW Porsche Audi. The service manager was a school mate of mine. He knew my background with cars and offered me the job as the Unit Mechanic. I worked there for about a year.
It was now 1976. I had continued to take education courses at Glassboro State College. I applied to Aurthur P Schalick High School for a position as a shop teacher and was shocked when I got the job. After 5 years the shops were closed and moved to the Salem Vo-Tech. I tried teaching in classroom, but it was not for me. So, I quit and opened my own shop/gas station. A year later, I had a job offer teaching again. This time at Millville Senior High. I taught Auto Shop, Automotive Technology and Cooperative Industrial Technology for a total of 26 years in Millville. I was forced to retire due to Lymn Disease/Arthritis in 2009.
I did not have a grand plan for my working life. I feel lucky to have found jobs which turned into be my career. I would not have had the opportunities without the on the job training from my apprenticeship and the education I received at Cumberland County College and Glassboro State College.
So, I guess if anything can be learned from my experience. It is to get some education and skills. %$oldcit
Bob
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Topic: How a '63 Rag changed my life (Read 7026 times)