[JessM36MT]

I find myself a very lucky person.

I have had 5 amazing kids that continue to keep me on my toes and active with life. HOWEVER….a growing family became my very reason to leave the manual transmissions and fun cars of my past behind me.

I WAS lucky to have inherited my 5 speed ‘87 mustang GT 5.0 hatchback from my dad in the unluckiest of circumstances (his major stroke at age 40 though he was peak physical condition as a football coach and auto cross aficionado). I was even luckier he already taught me so much about cars as we tinkered on weekends and talked about what my first track car would be. I was lucky he instilled the absolute joy of driving and experiencing a car, its limits and finding your own. It was not long after that I caught my eye on a phoenix yellow 2002 BMW M3 with all 333hp it had to offer and knew that was THE one I would be chasing while I stayed my course with American muscle.

Well, I also WAS lucky to have found a husband willing to allow me the freedom to continue my exploration and affection of this world when we got married. I was lucky when after a lot of heartache of trying to expand our family and loss, we finally had our first child. I was lucky this child just barely squeezed into her toddler car seat behind the drivers seat of my 2004 Lexus IS 300 (of course still manual because of course I’d never let dad down). I was lucky when we were blessed with the news of my second child after riding that struggle bus again and lucky still when it was time to trade in the IS for an automatic SUV with the promise of being able to pass back a sippy cup without having to shove the car in neutral. I was lucky when after our 5 total kids (one surprise COVID blessing), my husband recognized that my soul needed to go back to my roots, to find that joy & to offer my children what my dad offered me - learning to drive the hell outta a stick shift and how to eat ice cream with a helmet on in the backseat during auto cross-also another worthy skill thank you very much.

I AM lucky that life has driven me down a road and arrived at a spot that I both dreamed would happen and never imagined would all at the same time. I am lucky that she’s here…..
My blue manual transmission bada$$ machine is ready to be my track fun, my education for all my kids (yes the 2 year old can say “wheeeee” and mean it when I downshift even if she hasn’t learned about a manual transmission….yet), and my joy that will allow me to connect with all that my dad gave me and pass it on to my kids as a gift from him.

I WILL be lucky to finish up my bucket list with:
1. driving 1100 worthwhile miles north to pick up my dad and just drive around, shifting - with critique from him hopefully - and talking about football. This is why I couldn’t spec buckets as he is hemiparalegic with left side neglect and it was extremely important to me that he could get in the passenger seat at least once. Buckets can always come later but I’m not missing this chance now.
2. teaching all my kids about the soul of a car and just how to find your own passion (clearly mine became cars and clearly it would be pretty neat if even 1 of the 5 could share that with me)
3. having some me time behind the wheel and getting to some tracks/finding some new spots in the state we now call home
4. Teaching my kids how to eat ice cream cones with a helmet on in the backseat during autoX

I have a fond appreciation of this community. Helping me understand specs and options from a driver’s perspective (ie how I unfortunately knew I couldn’t spec buckets initially with the build on my dad’s behalf), seeing some excellent tips and tricks for so many things from washing your car to mods to what roads to wind down.
We all have our opinions but I am lucky you all chose to share yours so I could read, get excited and get as ready as possible to enjoy these moments and choose my own adventure.

Now time for some fun. Love what you drive & live for the ride because after only 160 miles of rowing these gears I am going to find it tough not to invent excuses to head out and drive.

['Cane]

Congratulations! Love the color. Also, I guarantee this will hit the front page, so congrats on that too.

[hhkb]

Love the appreciation for life and for being vulnerable, sharing personal highs and lows.

This car may seem like just an appliance but it’s an appliance that allows us to drive to be with family, and to share life’s experiences in.

Keep it going!

[mcsquared]

Congrats!

[chicagofan00]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story. Wish you many miles with smiles.

[m3wannab]

Congrats! Amazing color and I’m sure your dad had a blast

[Llarry]

Do you have a sister as gorgeous as you who also has gasoline in her veins? What a great story! May you enjoy many pleasurable miles in your M3!

[JessM36MT]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Do you have a sister as gorgeous as you who also has gasoline in her veins? What a great story! May you enjoy many pleasurable miles in your M3!

Gasoline in the veins…..love that….really made me smile

Thank you!

[Needsdecaf]

Who is chopping onions. Damn it!

Great story. Yet another example of why it's not just a car, a vehicle, a mode of transportation for us.

Many happy wishes to you, your family and your dad!

[429throttle]

So great to see this!
Congrats!!

[LuckyBrand]

I always give props to the ladies that drive performance cars especially with 3 pedals. I mean I frequent many car shows and the take rate of the ladies that come pulling in with performance cars is almost non existent. There usually riding in the passenger seats. I always say that's pretty bad ass. Congrats to you and your family. Pretty special deal.

[kgelfen360]

Very positive story!! Congratulations and be safe!! Color is awesome!

[carswithdonuts]

Thanks for sharing! Awesome post!

[Jim B]

Save the Manuals!!!

[Llarry]

Please be sure to keep us posted. Post pics of your Dad in the car!