Art Hughes:  

it's been both fun and aggravating learning something new every day. Some of the cars I work on have 12 to 16 computer-controlled systems and more computer power than most desktop PCs. The plus side is I'm physically stronger than I was 10 years ago, with bending and lifting all day. 20 more pounds to lose from my fat storage areas, and I'll be good to go. Thought I could "grow up" a little, stop buying cars, but failed, bought 3 this past year. July 2011, 2009, got dumped from my Volvo job. Knew it was coming, due to new owners, I didn't care. Got a job as a Security Guard. Had fun for 1 1/2 years. Too much a "people" person, which isn't allowed if you are a Guard, so early 2010, out the door I was sent. 3-month vacation and got bored. Found a fun job at a Fiat restoration shop, now a mechanic again. Then the company racecar mech left, and now I do the race engines for both company cars, + customer work. Odd to be Crew Chief again, after so many years. Health good, except for Arthritis creeping in. Weight down to 174, what I was 15 years ago, Diabetes doing fine. Wife, Becky, is also fine. Nov 2011. Diabetes doing better, and new meds I'm down to 160, same as 1974. As company race team mechanic, we got 5th place at the SCCA National Championships, my best, so far. 2012 will be better. END OF 2014, guess old age caught up with me, along with a major illness. Still at my Fiat restoration play job, part-time. Better condition at my age than others, still have some hair and most of my teeth. LOL. However, I have been losing weight in small amounts since 2002, when I was pretty fat, and mentioned this to my Doc. He scheduled me for testing, as my weight loss was 30 pounds total. He called to tell me, "they found you have a problem". I expected lung cancer, due to smoking and chemicals in the auto trade, but was told they found a "mass" on my left kidney. More testing. Meanwhile, I had some skin issues and was awaiting test results. Had appt's for both Docs the same day, and found out I had skin cancer, and less than an hour later, cancer on both kidneys. Left kidney cancer free now, as of Jan,2, 2015, and right kidney operation March 2, 2015, successful. Skin cancer is gone, for now, and a small hunk of my left ear.. After all the fuss about weight loss, I'm afraid to make sure they know I lost more weight last 2 months, down to just under 150. I'm small-boned, and 5" 8", and was always thin when young, 113 when I got married in 1961. Makes me wonder if I have more cancer that hasn't been found. I'll know pretty soon. JUNE 2015 As of the end of May, all my skin caner has been removed, including a hunk of my left ear. Reconstruction looks OK. My 2 major kidney cancer ops are healing well, all caner gone, 2 10 inch incisions ugly, a little swelling in my belly, all OK by end of the year. Weight down to 141-142, and now up, 144-145. A lot of muscle loss, due to physical limits all year, getting better. Heavy into racing season, the company race car has been really fast, I must be good. LOL. Didn't compete at the SCCA National Championship races in 2014 Was on the West coast way too much money to travel for the boss, and me too. Did the Championship this year at Daytona, the engine just not big enough, started 6th, and finished 6th. We run the lowest Production car class, "H" Production. Top speed in our class was 135MPH, our best 133.4MPH. Still can't believe our car went that fast. Looking for more in 2016. 2016 was a good racing season, the Midwest-Bayless car was competitive at every event. Sadly the one track we wanted the win, The SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Mid-Ohio was a real heart breaker. Earlier in the season at Mid-O we ran faster than ever before and at the runoffs we gained a bit more. Well, so did 6 other cars, whose "bits" were more than ours. Started 6, finished 7th.