At 13, Jack Scudder knows more about cars, engines, carburetors, tires and electronic wiring than many adults. The kid from Cudjoe Key has been tinkering with engines on all sorts of vehicles since he was 3 or 4.
“I think I have a picture of him at 2 holding one of his dad’s wrenches or screwdrivers,” his mom, Victoria Scudder told the Keys Weekly.
“I had a 1984 Sears Craftsman riding mower that I learned how to do oil changes and tire stuff on,” Jack said. “I really like to tinker and work with mechanical stuff. That mower lasted longer than Sears did.”
When asked whether he works on engines instead of staring at a phone or iPad screen, Jack admitted that he’s a huge YouTuber. “I post my own YouTube videos, but I also use it all the time to research how to fix something on a car,” he said.
Jack, who is home-schooled by his mom, a former teacher, decided to turn his mechanical hobby into a writing assignment as well. The assignment not only became a children’s book, but a series, called “Jack’s Garage.” The first installment came out this year, “Jack’s Garage: Tire Maintenance for Kids.”
“We surprised my dad, who was overseas with the military,” Jack said. “I dedicated the book to him, and when he got home, I had hidden it in the hood of an old truck we’ve been working on together.
“It’s a five-speed, four-cylinder truck that I bought for $400 from my grandmother’s neighbor in Jacksonville,” Jack said, slipping easily into the language of an expert mechanic. “That’s what I want to do is be a mechanic,” he said.
The writing is just secondary, but his next book will be about oil changes, and the third and final book in the series will cover fluids.
The first in the Jack’s Garage series won the 2022 Family Choice Award for children’s books.
“I’m flabbergasted, and we’re so excited for him,” said Victoria Scudder, who also has written several children’s books. “He’s a complete advocate for all things related to car maintenance, so I love that he’s writing about something so important to him. He’s also currently running a Kickstarter campaign for his second book, “Oil Maintenance for Kids,” and has until Sept. 6 to raise $3,300 more for the cost of his illustrator and printed hardcover books. He’s been working hard, and we feel it’s important for him to learn the business side of authoring as well. The hustle is only just beginning.”
To support Jack’s project, visit Kickstarter.com and search for Jack Scudder.
