Fighting to Bring Back the Know-How We’ve Forgotten
We lost practical skills to convenience, outsourcing, and screens. Now, a new generation is picking up the tools and reclaiming what we left behind.
Garage
The Garage represents the practical side of history. Where Innovation Meets Application. The tools, technologies, and crafts that have built our world. It’s a tribute to the inventors, artisans, and workers whose hands-on efforts have driven progress.
Learn MoreFighting to Bring Back the Know-How We’ve Forgotten
How Bootleggers Forged the Spirit of Modern American Racing
Explore how Prohibition shaped the rise of stock car racing. From moonshine routes to souped-up Fords, this is the mechanical grit behind an American tradition.
Why Don’t Things Last Anymore? The Definitive Guide to Quality, Cost, and Built-In Obsolescence
Why don't things last like they used to? Explore the decline in durability, from planned obsolescence to material changes, and learn how to buy for longevity.
The Mechanical Lens: Understanding History Through the Hands That Built It
The Garage offers the mechanical lens of Practical History. Celebrating the hands, machines, and craftsmanship that shaped our past and continue to teach enduring lessons.
Gastrock Special: The Putty Hill Garage Racing Team from 1962 to 1964
Explore the legacy of the Putty Hill Garage Racing Team from 1962 to 1964. Discover how the Gastrock Special and its drivers left a mark on stock car racing history.
NASCAR Champions: The Nite Crawlers’ Winning Story
The Nite Crawlers Racing Team were back to back NASCAR Champions in the Modified Division in 1960 and 1961.
Dominating Alcyon Speedway: The Putty Hill Garage Racing Team from 1958 to 1959
In 1958, Ed "Fireball" Lindsay took over driving for the Putty Hill Garage Racing Team. Ed won track champion in the Modified class at Alcyon Speedway.
A Pair of Champion Drivers: The Putty Hill Garage Racing Team from 1954 to 1957
From 1954 to 1957, championship drivers Ralph Smith and Ken Marriott raced the Number 88 and 88A, respectively, for the Putty Hill Garage Racing Team.
Just Getting Started: The Putty Hill Garage Racing Team from 1952 to 1953
From 1952 to 1953, Pete Kantorski was the car owner and driver. Pete and the Putty Hill Garage Racing Team were the Free State Stock Car Racing Association Champions in 1953.
How to Register a Classic Car in Texas in 2025
How to register a classic car in Texas is not exactly clear. Online forums don't seem to have the answers either. I've done it in 2025. Here's what you need to know.
