When were you bitten by the car bug??

My dad was a young man in his twenties during the Great Depression (the real one) with his interests in automotive, mechanical stuff, but in W Ga there was no money and few jobs. He was raied on a small farm with 8 other brothers and sisters. He had to make his own way somehow. So he entered the US Marine Corps. and learned aircraft mechanics. Then came WW11 and a tour in Korea.
He retired fro the service in '55 when I was 7. Two years later he had what was called back then a "nervous breakdown". At that early age I can remember him walking the floor all night long. Mom told hm he had a young child to help raise and he better snap out of it. Eventually he did. But he lost all interest in mechanicals, but still revered agriculture he just did not have any land or money.
I have wished many, many times he could have kept his love for automotives. I still envision my first ride, a 49 Chevy how we could have made it a really cool ride! I still have to hots to do such. Pushing 73 I better get at it if I ever do.
I loved everything country, livestock, and dirt. Yes I wanted a fast and cool car but Dad knew fast would not be good. Adrenelin and fast go together. Climbing on a colt for his first ride provided adenelin. No fast cars though.
He never knew that I borrowed the family car, be it the 55 Pontiac, or that 59 Chevy how I took it out and "opened it up" wide open to see what i old do and feel that rush.