HEALING THROUGH RESTORATION

I’M A long-time fan of Street Machine, and I’m interested to see if you’re aware of how powerful your product is. I’m a serving member of the Australian Defence Force; I’ve deployed to a number of war zones in my 17 years and I’ve built some great friendships with like-minded domestic and international grease-heads. I point them all to your website and share magazines that my family send me while I’m deployed.

I don’t know if you guys are aware how powerful and lifesaving muscle cars, motorcycles and street machines have become. In the past 10 years or so, I’ve been impressed with how chrome, grease, smoke, engineering, and craftsmanship have become the focus point for many of my friends. In this same period, I’ve lost friends to suicide and mental health-related illnesses, and it tears your guts out every time!

I’ve found (personally) that having a place to lean into an engine bay, talk, listen or just share space and time with other PTSD sufferers is probably the most powerful form of recovery – it’s saving lives.

I am restoring an XY GT replica; I love it. My wife got me this car when I was pretty deep into a dark hole. It’s saved me, now it’s waiting for a cash injection for the next stage of the build.

I’m not looking for anything out of writing this. I just wanted you to know that there’s strength in what you do. Thanks. Darren Edmonds, email