how did you learn to work on cars?

I started taking things apart at a young age [my parents were not happy] cause i was not able to put it back in working order most times [no one in my family is mechanicly inclined]. What it did teach me to do was pay attention to how things came apart and then puttin them back together became easier.I became a wiz at our lawnboy mower [pos,had to rebuild carb/jets every time you wanted to cut the grass] from there it was bicycles,mini bikes,go carts,dirt bikes,i used to modify my 3 hp briggs by putting 5hp cams in and shaving the head down [mounting my fathers belt sander in the vice and grinding the head] made some screamers [most of them threw rods] then as i got older i began to hang around the neighborhood race car guys helpin out buildin roundy round cars,woods buggys,mini stocks,figure eight cars,late models ect. Started fixing my friends cars/trucks and was introduced to a guy that was building quite a few of the roundy round guys engines he took me under his wing and taught me chevy engine building. I went into the Air Force [dabbled around with some street cars of my own] and learned aircraft mechanics spent 9 years in came out and worked on commercial aircraft 89-94,at that time i started to build street/show cars for myself, to this date have built/sold 7 cars got #8 waiting in the wings. Where i got the intrest in cars i'm unsure no one in our family works on cars [my father was a nascar lover] and we did go to the local stock car track every saturday night,the same track that we raced at several years later with a mini stock team i was associated with. At 54 years old i love cars and this hobby more than ever but alas getting older has taken some wind outta my sails,i'm gonna keep buildin/wrenchin as long as possible then i'll just drive the damn things till thats not possible. I look back on my life i would not change a thing!!!!!