ODB’s Life is a newsletter covering various aspects of my life and things that interest me. This newsletter is brought to you by Mini Truckin’ HQ - Our Lifestyle Podcast (OLP). Checkout OLP however you listen to podcasts or click here to follow us on YouTube.
I often think to myself… when is it time to move on from something you enjoy? Is moving on selling something or just sunsetting it for another day? Lets explore.
In the Tom Petty song “Time To Move On”, a track that both my Dad and I loved, he sings the following lyrics:
I remember talking to my Dad about this song. Tom Petty was going through challenges in his marriage in the early to mid 1990s during the time he was writing for this second solo album Wildflowers. “But the marriage was already collapsing when Wildflowers was recorded and the songs reflect the pain that Petty was going through at the time. “She’s an honest defector,” he sings on “Time to Move On.” “Conscientious objector/Now her own protector.” “I’ve read that Echo is my divorce album, but Wildflowers is the divorce album,” he told Zanes. “That’s me getting ready to leave. I don’t even know how conscious I was of it when I was writing it … it just took me getting up the guts to leave this huge empire we had built, to walk out.” Rolling Stones
Ok, so let me be clear. My relationship with my wife is perfectly fine and I am NOT going through a divorce. The song mentioned above still rings true on other aspects of my life. When is it time to move on from something you enjoy?
5 years ago I “moved on” from a company I had worked for roughly 21 years. I appreciated a great deal about the company but was ready for a change. I was making the most money I had ever made in my life and still I didn’t care about the money. I often think how long should I continue going to car and truck shows. I officially started attending shows in November 1996 and I am nearing in on 30 years of dedication. Do I like going to shows? Sure, I have a lot of fun but I mainly enjoy interacting with show-goers, talking about their rides and memories, covering the event via social media, etc. Bottom line is I like highlighting others more than I like showcasing my own personal ride(s). I feel it’s time to sunset my S-10 and focus more on family/friends, other projects, OLP, Lincoln Addict and other ventures I want to pursue. Remember, time is one thing that you can never get back so we must all choose wisely on how to spend it.
Our son Preston is graduating from High School soon and will begin attending a local Community College in the Fall (same college I bought my S-10 to commute to back in Aug ‘97). My love of Lincolns and the history of the Lincoln Motor Company continues to grow. I often receive a lot of praise and recognition for my contributions to the Lincoln community. Of course I follow my passion not for recognition but for the love of the content. Call me crazy but I’ve always felt if you follow your passion and put the work in, things will work out.
The age old question continues to be how long should you keep doing something you love or enjoy? Think of it like this. A sports athlete might gauge his/her decision based upon a decline in their skillset or challenges with remaining healthy due to injuries. This makes sense in my mind. Often I hear people say “you will wake up and just know.” For me, this is something I’ve had in the back of my mind for a very long time. My truck has garnered a lot of success and I believe I could do even more to the truck to win more… but that isn’t what drives me. Although I appreciate awards it has never been a driving force for my passion. I’d rather someone else get an award and see there happiness than me taking home what often becomes a dust collector. Here are some of the highlights of my Chevy S-10 known as Bada Bing. It has been an insane ride for the past 27 years and it helps me to reflect by putting these key milestones in writing.
Purchased the truck Aug ‘97 after graduating high school earlier that year
Driven to community college (same college my son is about to start attending)
Airbagged suspension late in ‘98 by Matt Torgersen at THE SHOP
Bodydropped (channeled) in late ‘99 into ‘00 by Matt Torgersen at THE SHOP
Driven body dropped (channeled) a few years until it was blown apart
Began a short venture as Project SeverdU which transformed into Bada Bing
Jimmy’s Rod & Customs did a ground up build including a full custom chassis, tons of metal fab, firewall new floors, final assembly + so much more
Chassis, in bare metal, brought to Spring Turkey Rod Run March 2009 by Jimmy
Chassis, powdercoated, brought to the Turkey Rod Run Nov 2009 by Jimmy
Full chassis debut at Showfest 2010 in Tunica, MS
Mini Truckin’ Mag Aug 2010 chassis feature including Table of Contents spread
Big Body Custom Interiors (Chris Tisdale’s shop) finished the interior
Best Mini Truck debut at Showfest 2012 in Tunica, MS
Mini Truckin’ Mag July 2013 cover (issue 259) including interior photo for Table of Contents
33rd Severed Ties truck to be on the cover (my truck pulled Severed Ties ahead of Relaxed Atmosphere, at the time, for total covers for a truck club at 33 <ST> to 32 ///RA - more on this topic in the future
Common Treads Magazine Issue 10 cover 2013
TruckTrends (Japan) feature Jan 2013
Mini Truckin’ Magazine - Mini Truck of The Year 2013 which was announced in Feb 2014 issue 266 (there were only 3 issues after this issue)
Rebuilt 4.3 v6 by Dave’s Truck Stop; Tony “Boss” Bolin’s family’s business
Best of Show Mini Truck Showiest 2012 during the truck’s debut among numerous other awards including landing an award at Goodguy’s event in FL
Note: I will say winning a Top 10 Minitruck award at Lone Star Throwdown 2024 was a HUGE accomplishment for the truck. I pulled in a Top 75 10 years prior in 2014 and 10 years later I was able to place with the top minis at the event! The icing on the cake was pulling in an award at Southeast Mini Truckin’ Nationals aka Mini Nats 2024. It made the decision even easier to sunset the truck as I felt like hey… better to go out on a good note. Again, I never sought out to win awards but to have the truck community provide the reassurance that the truck was something special… well thats an amazing feeling.
Anyway, long story short… its time to move on. No, the truck isn’t going anywhere so please don’t ask if it is for sale… it is NOT. But its time to focus on other things. I’m proud to say that although I never built my truck to win awards it did earn awards in 4 different decades - 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. Funny enough I recently parted ways with my first award ever which was from a local show circa ‘98.
Thank you Jimmy Graham of Jimmy’s Rod & Customs, Shane Schlack, Hardcore Tim, Josh Garman, Texano, Colorado Custom Wheels, Matt Torgersen, Chris Tisdale and ‘Lil Chad of Big Body Custom Interiors, Scott at Ron Francis Wiring, the body shop that did the bodywork after Jimmy/Shane finished the metal work, Vic Figueroa - President Severed Ties <FL>, Tony “Boss” Bolin including his family (Dave/Kim) and so many others for making this dream possible. I’m truly appreciative of everything you did to help finish on the truck! Of course none of this would have been possible without Jimmy Graham of Jimmy’s Rod & Customs. If you played any role in helping me at any point… I thank you! Thanks to Bill Hancock at Colorado Custom Wheels + the new ownership including Michael and family for the continued support. Thanks to my Severed Ties family for any and all suppor over the years! Thanks to Mike Alexander, Kent Williams, Makoto (Japan Severed Ties) and John Mata Jr. for the amazing print media support. Also, thanks Michelle Boone for the cover truck photo shoot at Mini Nats. It was amazing to be apart of such a large group of former cover trucks in the shoot! Thanks Phil Gordon for shooting the truck which ultimately landed on the cover of Mini Truckin’ Magazine.
✌🏽Jason “ODB” Ballard
Severed Ties <FL>
Remember, Never Disrespect the Bing
PS: I’ll still see you at shows so don’t worry… but the Bing will be on the lamb… Fuhgeddaboudit <>
Oh and this one is for Papa Smurf (RIP) - “Bada Bing, it beats anything you’ve ever seen” which was one of his proud Father catchphrases about the truck 💕! Until we meet again!