It's Friday. 70 degrees outside. A bit windy for my taste, but a rather beautiful day. A perfect day to work on a race car. To hear the roar of the engines echo off the wind. Unfortunately, that's not the plan for today. Or even for tomorrow, or the day after.

Preparing for my season will only take a day or two. But it's a day or two that my dad does not have to give to me. He's backed up in the fabrication shop, a month behind on other people's race cars who are nearly as eager as I am to get out and hit the track.

So instead of releasing the White Whale, we are pop riveting in sheets of aluminum and trying to wire a mustang without setting it on fire. We are jamming to PJ North for 3 minutes and then Eminem the next 3. We are mocking each other then quickly switching to serious as we tackle a task together.

Maybe the White Whale has been set on the back burner, making my blood boil every time I casually come across a photo or meander through Grandpa's garage. Maybe I won't hear the roar today, tomorrow, or the day after. Maybe, Dad shouldn't have gotten himself a rotten case of bronchitis and walking pneumonia that set him behind in the shop.

But the best part about preparing for the season are the same things that we are doing while working on other people's cars. Making fun of each other, dancing like idiots, and working on race cars. While I wish the Chevelle was the car we were breaking our backs over, it really doesn't matter what car we are working on or what garage we are working in. As long as we are working together, we are preparing for the season.

Our relationship is one of the key components to a successful season. And right now, as we work on other people's race cars, we are solidifying our relationship.