The Ubiquitous Block of Wood – Unsung Hero of the Garage (and Life)

In the heat of a race weekend, surrounded by the noise of engines, the precision of torque wrenches, and the blur of pitlane activity, it’s easy to overlook the most basic tool in the garage: the humble block of wood.

It doesn’t look like much. No shiny finish. No complex engineering. No brand name etched on the side. Just a solid, dependable lump of timber. But if you've ever been under a race car trying to fix a suspension issue or stop the vehicle from rolling off the jack, you'll know exactly how invaluable that block of wood becomes.

Whether it’s wedged under a wheel to stop movement, placed under a jack to give extra height or stability, or used to protect delicate components from metal-on-metal contact, that piece of wood proves its worth time and again. It's not flashy, but it's effective — doing the job no one notices until it's missing.

This got me thinking, how many “blocks of wood” do we have in our everyday lives? Simple, often-overlooked things or people that quietly hold everything together.

Maybe it’s the colleague who doesn’t seek the spotlight but always keeps the project on track. The to-do list on your fridge that keeps your day in order. The 10 minutes of silence with a morning coffee that grounds you. Or even that old tool you reach for out of habit, knowing it never fails.

Sometimes, the most valuable things are the ones we stop seeing - because they’re always there, quietly doing their job. Until we’re stuck without them.

Next time you’re in your garage, your office, or just going about your day, take a moment to notice your blocks of wood. Appreciate them. Because often, they’re the reason everything else works.

What’s the ‘block of wood’ in your life?
Drop me a note or comment -I'd love to hear what you value that might not get the recognition it deserves.