“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” you don't get anywhere without trying.

"You don't know what you don't know..." Yep. The more you know, the more you realize you don't know - and that you'll ALWAYS be learning. That's what keeps this whole car thing fresh and interesting, least to me. Another great video by Tony! -Ed on the Ridge

When I started into the mechanic field, a old mechanic told me some very useful stuff. He said it's not what you do right that teaches you but what you screw up. It rings true time after time.

Most scary thing is the guy that knows everything.

“I need more horse power” I feel that every time I build an engine and take it out. A month later “MORE POWER”

I paid my dues and got past my young and dumb stage, but now I'm just old??? 🤔 I love the way the dog is just sitting at the table listening to your stories, that's cool

Oh god Tony, you're making me cry. Reminds me of my first run in my dragster. One built in the early sixties for an alcohol small block. I put a 396+ in it, ran it on gas with 850 Holley. Almost soiled myself when the green light came on and was VERY late out of the stage. Front came up about three feet because I forgot to attach the wheelie bars, tire shake was so bad from the vintage M/Ts and the tank fell out and dropped between the frame rails and dragged on the pavement for all but the first 60 feet. Still ran 11.56 after getting out of the throttle 1/3 of the way down. The track crew was not happy with me but it was fun as hell.

“I need it a windshield so used a street sign” love it.

"you don't know what you don't know" I practically have that embedded my very soul at this point as many learning points as I've had. A failure is only a failure if you don't utilize it as an opportunity to learn from it. I'm currently only 24, but I've been wrenching on my own cars since I first bought mine at 17. I've also had my first car since then, have done all the maintenance and repairs on it since I bought it. The transmission is the only part I haven't touched yet. Now I'm at a point most of the issues that are coming up are from repairs I've done when younger and end up fixing my own previous mistakes. I've found it to be a great way to learn, I've learned more from repairs I've messed up then I ever have ones I did right. The big thing is a lot of guys who have decades of experience and are very competent tend to not let on just how much they have messed up and those mistakes are why they are as good as they are, which probably doesn't help when learning because then you feel like the only idiot to have ever done what you did.

I’ve been binge watching the channel for over a week, I can’t get enough. Great stuff.

I was dizzy i was blind and i was trying to drive a fuelcar, it makes sence. Awsome story Tony, thanks.

Goodness, what a great life lesson and a wonderful message that it’s ok to make mistakes. Thank you and God bless.

I like these old school flash back videos

Thanks for the stories UT. My dad and me raced snowmobiles on asphalt. We were the first to run low 5's in 1/8. There was no tech for it then we built and designed everything through trial and error to figure it out. Once we did, look out. You have a slick that has about 3' of contact patch, and you launch so hard, it would almost hurt you. 60' in under a second. Doing that made cars always feel slow, I went into rally for excitement lol

As a wise man once said "knowledge comes from reading the fine print...wisdom comes from not reading the fine print" Love your content and delivery Uncle Tony!

I’m 19 and since I was a kid I have been obsessed with cars and always dreamed of hot rodding something but seeing the market now for things I always thought that I could never afford it, now that I’ve came across Uncle Tony’s channel it gave me a kick in the ass I started going out finding good parts for cheap that I can use on my first project he has definitely relit the fire for my dreams and I can’t be more thankful for it.

Tony, I am a fellow MOPAR enthusiast. I have 2 C-bodies, bother with 440's. Your lectures contain the most useable information about old school tuning skills I'm in need of. Your time and knowledge you put out is invaluable!

I love these kind of stories! And they just cement you as the go-to guru and master. Knowing a lot says something about a persons intelligence, but admitting ones failures says a lot about ones personality. I'm not so far on the knowledge, but I forgot to torque the bolts on the cam plate once and drove just over 200 miles. Startes the car the day after and a bolt got between the cam gear and chain... And that's why I've done 2 engine swaps in my Plymouth...

Your still an automotive journalist. Your the best at it. Thank You Tony. PS you were living dangerously back then front engine drag racing.

LOL..... My boys ask me how I know so much about cars???? 50 years of mistakes!!!

You also have to be lucky enough to live past stupid. Unfortunately most good stories contain stupid and/or alcohol. LOL

3:30 best looking shoe string budget build I have see look at these engines 👌

That was so great. The whole time I'm watching, listening and hoping this story never ends. Thanks!

I am older than you, with much less experience. I have never raced. My mistakes are still in the garage (67 Mustang I bought in '75 ) Your HONESTY is refreshing. Keep up teaching truth about your passion taking you through what you had to learn.

I love Tony’s story’s; also, Epstein Didn’t Kill Himself

Learning about cars and life lessons. The more i watch the more I love this channel.

Just bought a shirt the other day to help support. I didn't know much about mechanics before I bought my 69 Nova and you've been helping me dial in my Holley carb. Thank you from Canada!

Nailed it in this one Tony. I mess with bikes, primitive 2-strokes to be exact, sounds easy right? Psych! It is true! You must go through every experience FIRST HAND to truly master anything. I guess this is where all those “If first you don’t succeed” quotes come from.

I have been wrenching on cars with my dad since I was 5 years old.....I'm still learning. What a great video for those that may be getting discouraged by fails.....it's not a fail it's a lesson and you pay attention and learn. 💪

Near the end of the video you said "motor drive" for the camera, that really shows how long ago that was,,,I've been shooting a long time,,I had a motor drive on my old Nikon "F" camera

Love the stories! Your dogs are so adorable. They sit and watch you telling your stories. They are your biggest fan.

Thanks for this Tony, I think you covered a bunch of stuff we all need to hear once in a while.

Thanks,Uncle Tony for sharing stories from the School of Hard Knocks. Young people, Listen Up

Just when you thought nobody could replace the tappet brothers on Car Talk......... this guy comes along. I think you need a show.

Excellent video, Uncle Tony. Loved the stories n pictures. Thanks.

I have an appreciation for you as a person after this that bumped your channel to a higher level. Thanks for sharing and for helping out the guys who have this stuff in their bones but don’t know what they don’t know. I’m 59. 69 Dart in the garage, 408 mostly built, kinda stalled but you’re getting my juices flowing again.

When I was a youngster and my dad was teaching me about engine building/tuning he said at that point in my life I had no clue and better keep things simple. Then told me similar stories that you shared today.

Thank you for the look back into your past. I heard a great saying once. “ you never lose, you learn”

I've destroyed a lot of cars in my day. But in doing so, I learned what not to do. Now I can confidently do pretty much anything to a car and know my limitations. I also never stop trying to learn. I watch people like you, and talk to anybody who will give me the time. I have a 10 year old son and I am getting ready to start a 1980 Monte Carlo project to build with him. He can't do much yet, but by the time it's done, he should be able to take care of himself and help his friends. We have to keep the car culture alive. Sorry for rambling, but thanks for the knowledge and entertaining videos.

Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from lousy judgement.

Show me a man who has made no mistakes, and I'll show you a man who made nothing. Very famous quote. Not sure who from, but so true. Thanks for the stories Tony.

I fit in the old and stupid at times... We all need to learn every day and from everyone. Too many people overlook the person that is a little slow or lack a education or speak in a southern manner. When you do that you are overlooking a book of knowledge. Keep it up Tony.. You are becoming a book of knowledge for many.

These are the stories new kids need to hear keep up the good work 👍

I grow up in NJ. My dad's friends used to run drag cars, i can remember going to Atco, Englishtown, and Island dragway. I fell in love with the sound of cammed big blocks and the smell of race gas and burnt rubber.

Uncle Tony, seriously I could listen to you talk about life and cars for HOURS. Seriously kick ass channel. Should do some video stories with Uncle Kathy too.👍👍👍👍🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘😇🤘😇😇

I’m transitioning from 23yrs in the military where I’ve become old and wise only to start over as a motorcycle mechanic…you and dumb again but with bad knees this time!! Love your content, man

Dig the Channel Dude!!! Cool see still some of us good old boys getting on KZfaq sharing the past!! LOVE THAT ROAD RUNNER MAN!!!

I think thats the best video I've seen by you Tony. Thanks for sharing those stories.it 👍😁

WOW What a GREAT TRIP . Thanks for sharing GOD BLESS Rick

I absolutely loved these stories. I think I was smiling the whole video. Thank you uncle Tony.

My favorite Uncle Tony video. I too was born in the 60’s and relate to the learning curve aka growing pains. What a nice walk down memory lane. I love that you look to the future but, we need to remember where we’ve been, so we know where we want to go.

Absolutely Awesome Video !!! My Friend Had A Blown Pontiac In The Seventies ,I’m Now Building A Blown Pontiac ,Young And Dumb ,Then, Old And Dumb ,Some Of Us Never Learn !!! Gearheads !!!

Uncle Tony, I share the same addiction, slingshot dragsters. As a young guy in rural Canada who read A Few Moments In Hell in Hotrod magazine, I cant even tell you what a profound effect that article has had on my me. Your story is absolutely the closest I will ever come to ever experiencing an iron block Hemi on nitro. Since reading that article way back when, there's not a week that goes by that I dont think about some little thing from that story. Such a vivid account. Etched in my brain for all these years. Wombats... Haha. That is without a doubt my most favourite piece I've ever read. And to think all these years later I actually get to thank the very person who has made such an impression on me. Thank You Tony.

Man. Love this channel. Just sitting around having a beer, listening to Uncle T tell stories. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. After the chores are done anyway.

Heck, clicked and liked for the title alone. True wisdom.

i remember my wife once bought quite a large and expensive piece of art work from a gallery. and while i was walking out i caught a glimpse of the rear of the artists gallery. and there was a dumpster surrounded by tens of unfinished, likely rejects the artist felt weren't for the walls. real eye opener.

Thank you for your stories! I love listening to the trials and errors, the learning from the mistakes, the true "you" and nothing else. Great stuff Uncle Tony

I can’t say it enough, you are amazing! wish more of our elders were so open about there experiences and knowledge. Thing I heard the most is “GET OUT AND DO IT!” thanks for being an inspiration Uncle Tony!

Thats a really great story ... Glad you shared it along with pics

''AAAhhh juicy fruit' Remembering things we've loved or loved to do. Great story Tone. Uncle Cathy you looked great!

I know a guy who’s a lot like a young Uncle Tony, he’s real intuitive, good at changing parts, lots of mechanical knowledge, I started to think this guy was just born a great mechanic. After knowing him a couple years he told me all about the engines he had ruined and all the tuning that he tried with a laptop that destroyed the ECM. At any rate it’s very true, failure pays for your education

Thanks Uncle T and Aunt Cathy for sharing all of these experience’s and wisdom!!!

I'm glad you showed the car that rattled your brain out...the first video of yours I watched was you talking about it (I think you were sitting in the garage and eating an artichoke while telling the story). We joked about head injuries in the comments (I knocked myself out with a pipe bender) and I was hooked on the channel.

Love it man! So true, as im 52 and been there lol!!!

"Tattooed to my soul." Awesome line, excellent video!

I love watching the gears turn in your head when you talk about dragsters

You’ve perfectly described the Dunning - Kruger effect : you don’t know what you don’t know . We’ve all been there ! Competence starts when you realise the subject is way bigger than at first glance and you start educating yourself. Another great video!

Like the time I throttled a cold dual carb hemi with no air cleaner attached. Or.....using nitrous without adjusting a piggyback fuel controller because "it's only a 50 shot". Lessons learned, mistakes were made, I am waaaay wiser now!!! Have a great day, Uncle Tony!!

This should be required watching in every high school auto shop class. Great video Uncle Tony.

That's so cool..the dog is just looking at you and listening to your conversation

I’m thinking about trying to become a master mechanic. Did the jiffy lube thing for years then national tire and battery. Recently I completely rebuilt my Integra and it has given me the experience and understanding of the ins and outs of vehicle operation, repair, and maintenance. I love watching Uncle T

Cool story’s.School of hard knocks ,best way to learn.

Better that TV. Watched every second of it. Big Thanks Unca Tone...

So much of what you talk about applies to not just cars, but to life in general. Thanks, Tony.

Thanks for sharing Uncle Tony. That sure explained a lot of things.

Great great great episode... loved it uncle Tony... I've always said wisdom is wasted on the old...

Love the doggos! We have a lemon beagle... great stories, enjoy your vids. Very helpful btw

I love this video, We need more of this, Learning from other stories of shortcomings is great. Thank you!!! @Uncle Tony's Garage

The search for power can be painful (expensive too) Me and my brother did a lot of bracket racing back in the 80's with a 10 second 69 Camaro we built. Had a built small block and ran great, low 11's. We had to go and put a big block in it looking for more power and lower ET's. Took a lot of broken parts and really bad nights at the track before we got it right. After thousands of dollars and tons of heartache all we achieved was shaving 1 second off of our ET's. In the end we should have left it alone. Great stuff brother keep them coming...

Great video, and very true. I often go back on my old work and think "what the hell was I doing"

Uncle tony I’m 23 and just really starting my journey. Keep up the great videos some day I hope to obtain as much knowledge as you.

Love this kind of content. I could listen to these kind of stories all day!!!

I paid to learn how to play poker. Great stories Tony. We were just street racers going to gruge races on Wednesday night. We were happy with the low 13.

Dude. I totally understand. I'm about the same age as you - different field - computers and software. More than once I've looked at a younger colleague's problem and diagnosed it with a glance, to their astonishment. No astonishment needed - I had ALREADY made that mistake!

Man uncle Tony....i love walking down memory lane with you!! I was just a young kid in the 80's with a love for drag racing. This just reminded me of so many good time's i had at the track as a child. Thanks man!!

Thanks Tony. As soon as you think you know, the game changes. I went to the same school. "school of hard knocks".

Thanks for sharing, that was AWESOME.

Thanks. Hope you less experienced folk get benefit from these wise words. And us older folks can relate and reflect. Uncle tony mentioned some of the realities of gaining experience. As you get more experienced it’s is also difficult to watching younger people going through the trials, but going through them you must. You don’t know how much you don’t know, is such a profound statement and cannot be emphasized enough....

I love the title to this video because it’s so darn true!! Cheers from Windsor,Ontario,Canada :-)

“You got to lose to know how to win” Aerosmith - Dream On

Love this video gives me chills

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm really enjoying the channel.

Love the story uncle Tony, I'm always amazed how much I learn from each video,

Well wise man I say you have earned the title. Thanks for sharing. Makes me feel much better about blowing my first engine I built same deal as you went too big too fast and didn't really know what to expect. It has held up to my beating it but not after learning how much timing is too much timing cost alot of pistons 4 rebuilds worth new set each time. But I learned something new everytime.

that was awesome, Tony! I part time crewed on a a blown, then later injected TAD from 2000-2006 that we ran in Div7. When you've been ther,e yourself, you know. From the first UTG video I watch, I thought "this guy is the 'real deal' " now I know.

Loved the look back! Do it again sometime! History should never be forgotten, so much knowledge can be lost.

Great video! Nice to see a person with mechanical aptitude do so well!

What a fantastic story. You’re my favorite KZfaq guy.

This was fantastic. Thanks for sharing!

I'm learning so much from you Tony!.. thanks for sharing your experiences and theories with the public. You definitely have my respect and loyalty. Thanks man.