8 Ball Black

“Who does not love a first-generation Camaro?”—Casey Clements

- Ro McGonegal

Casey Clements is a mechanical engineer and a project manager for a global chemical company. His occupation requires busthead planning and eyeball-flattening attention to detail—in other words, it’s great groundwork for surviving a custom car build.

Casey’s job takes him to backdrops in Saudi Arabia and China, often for extended stays, designing and building chemical/plastics facilities. Since he wasn’t home for months at a time, he was unable to minister to the car personally. But here’s the thing about Casey. He’s not so much thrilled by the idea of showing his car as he is by being able to put it to good use.

Though he built it to drive, his motives were also altruistic; he built it to expose his 11- and 9-year-old daughters to the idea of getting their hands dirty … and working on cars. His wife, Anna, is also a mechanical engineer and an unabashed gearhead “who always supported the build and motivated me to get it finished.” So at the dinner table, conversation could easily segue from home improvement to the improvement of the Camaro. Nice work, Casey, you’re obviously a blessed man. Don’t ever let that get away.