Author Harold Van Doren
A conversation with Harold Van Doren, author of Survivors and An Island Sense of Home.
Ask the Author
When did you realize that you wanted to write this book?
I think I realized as I started to work on the truck that there were perhaps thousands of other men that shared the common attraction to old pickups with me and who were also struggling against prostate cancer. I saw a targeted audience that likely held in common many of the same preferences and fears as myself. I wanted to share my experiences and perhaps help others to not feel quite so cornered by a life-threatening disease.
Which part of the truck’s restoration process was most rewarding for you?
The best part was when I finally got the cylinder head bolted back on and it didn’t leak. Up until then, I was pretty nervous, desperate to the point of thinking about putting in a different engine, etc. It was most rewarding to drive the truck in the parade and have people happy to see the old bird on the road again.
You’re a talented storyteller, illustrator, and automotive restorer. Which of these art forms brings you the most joy today?
I enjoy telling stories with immediate audience feedback. It’s easy, I’m not hurting myself or rolling around on the ground. I enjoy drawing loose cartoons and I love it when that “living line” conveys exactly the emotion or feeling I’m seeking. I wish it could happen more often.
For those of us non-“gearheads,” as you describe yourself, what’s the first question we should ask ourselves when considering buying an “antique” (pre-1975) or “vintage” (1919-1930) vehicle?
“Do you have the time, money, and patience to see this through?” It’s a given that your project vehicle will end up costing more than you estimated and you are bound to run into unexpected snafus which will make you wonder why you ever took it on.
You write that CeeCee was not the first truck you’d restored, nor prostate cancer the first health challenge you’d faced. Looking back, what’s something new you learned about yourself?
I’ve always tried to be as self-sufficient as possible, toughing it out alone. But, through dealing with the truck and the cancer, I learned how important it is to have friends who will be there in whatever way you need them and yourself being willing to reach out, knowing that you’d do the same for them.