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New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7580
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Author:  GonzoRacer [ October 9, 2009, 12:53 pm ]
Post subject:  New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Howdy All-
Perhaps I should say "Howdy Y'all, since I'm down South. I'm "JD" and I've been a car nut for as long as I remember. Wrote a fan letter to Carroll Shelby back when most folks were watching the Beatles... Watched the Ford GT's win Lemans the same summer we watched Neil A walk on the moon... Been an SCCA racer for a few dozen years, most lately in G Production with "Lucretia", my ever-faithful MGB.

I've been snooping around on this site, as well as searching the 'net and reading a few books (Great job, Keith, loved your book!) and generally feeding my addiction. It got to where I felt kind of guilty for secretly invading your lives (especially Rod, with that wondermus 302 Locost build!) and seemed like I ought to introduce myself.

I started gathering parts and drawing diagrams and downloading plans back about February '09, and I think I've reached critical mass, that "Geronimo" moment when ya step off into the abyss and build something. Along the way, I hope to learn some stuff (like perfecting my welding skills) and make some new friends.

Let's keep in touch!
Peace, Love & Pushrods-
JD Kemp

Author:  dhempy [ October 9, 2009, 10:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Welcome to your new addiction, JD! :)

-dave

Author:  chetcpo [ October 10, 2009, 9:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Welcome JD. Who are these "Beatles" you speak of? :P

Author:  GonzoRacer [ October 10, 2009, 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

chetcpo wrote:
Welcome JD. Who are these "Beatles" you speak of? :P



Hey ChetCPO, guess news about the Beatles didn't make it into Kanawha County... They were some guys that had a band. Nobody really important. :D

JDK
(Former Mercer Co, WV resident)

Author:  chetcpo [ October 10, 2009, 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

GonzoRacer wrote:
chetcpo wrote:
Welcome JD. Who are these "Beatles" you speak of? :P



Hey ChetCPO, guess news about the Beatles didn't make it into Kanawha County... They were some guys that had a band. Nobody really important. :D

JDK
(Former Mercer Co, WV resident)


Yeah, I hear we are a bit behind the rest of the civilized world. Congrats on escaping to if nothing else a better climate. :mrgreen:

Author:  horizenjob [ October 11, 2009, 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Tallahasse is the home of the "High-fi chassis", so that should work out well for you!

Author:  dodgedartgt [ October 11, 2009, 11:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

JD,
Judging from your avatar, I think we all needs to see some photos of Lucretia. I personally have been collecting parts (including MG) for my own build.
Now, Tallahassee is NOT the Center of Universe... That would be McMinnville, OR where I used to live... ha ha ha
I'm in North Port, south of you.
Mikey Bynum

Author:  GonzoRacer [ October 12, 2009, 8:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Thanks for the welcome, Guys!
Chet, I wasn't making some cheap joke about WVA (savin' those for later), I mostly wanted to sneak the geographical reference in so I could tell ya I'm an adopted hillbilly myself. (Moved from hillbilly to Florida Cracker, only change is the climate!)

Horizon, What's the "High Fi chassis"? I've been planning on a modified/F'ed up version of the Collins chassis for my dream car.

Dodge Dart, careful what you wish for... Do ya want pics of Lucretia sideways, crossing the finish line, up on two wheels, taken apart for major surgery??? Just how big is your in-box?

And I must respectfully differ, the actual center point of the universe is my buddy JK Jackson's shop, where there's a massive collection of Jaguar and Triumph parts. The universe expands outward from there. Trust me, I'm a geologist, we know this stuff. (Well, geologists and Douglas Adams know it, he's just slightly confused.)

Author:  horizenjob [ October 12, 2009, 10:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

It's in an old rock-a-billy song. " Tallahasee lassie with a hi-fi chassis". I can't remember more of the words to put it in context right now, and it's too early to start drinking to recreate the mood.

Author:  GonzoRacer [ October 13, 2009, 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Howdy-
During my lunch break at work, I cheated and read another build log. I find that "Moti" already used the "X" front end design from the Caterham CSR that I had planned on copying. Darn, hope he doesn't mind if I copy him. (I bet Caterham has meaner lawyers, funny I'm not worryin' about them!?!?)

Also, in his build log was a mention of a thread for guys to introduce themselves... Should I have posted the original message in there? Should some of you Forum Gods move it? Dunno, just askin...

Horizon- I know the title to the song "Tallahassee Lassie" and have heard it once or twice, but I don't know the lyrics. So, even if we/I did start drinking now, I wouldn't remember them. Perhaps some other day.

Author:  Blackbird [ October 17, 2009, 12:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Hey JD!

Did you find the thread yet?
It's a sticky in the off topic forum - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5789

Steal away any ideas that work for you, that's the beauty of an open source community like LocostUSA :cheers:

Moti

Author:  GonzoRacer [ November 24, 2009, 10:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Hello, hello? Is this thing on?

Hey, I just had to brag to somebody... I long ago (well, a few months ago) decided that I'd start with the roll cage, and build the frame outward from there.

So, I'm bragging: I ordered roll cage steel yesterday! 1.5" dia, 0.095" wall DOM. A bunch of it, should be here soon. :D

I also spent an hour or two on Sunday with my "racin' buddy" James, playing with his MIG welder. He's going to do the fab and welding on the roll cage, whilst I practice on scraps (and help bend pipe). At some point in the near future, I'll start doing my own welding on the rest of the frame. 8)

As soon as we have a few sticks of pipe stuck together, I'll post a pic or something!

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all-
JDK

Author:  erioshi [ November 25, 2009, 4:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Grats on the start. I'm hoping to start a full scale cage mock-up in PVC early next year. I want a chance to test overall fit & ease of exit before I commit the design to metal. I'd hate to build something I couldn't exit in the alloted 10 second time.

Author:  GonzoRacer [ November 25, 2009, 9:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Mornin, Erioshi-
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, if you're unfamiliar with roll cages and such, doing a mock up is a very good plan. I've lived with 'em for years (see avatar!) and we did a "mock up" of sorts with a cage in a TR6 that I'm borrowing some ideas from. My buddy James has done dozens of them for various folks (it was his TR6), so having him "on the team" helps a bunch. Reference the rule book(s) for the sanctioning body(s) you'll be racing with too, that's kind of a critical part as well.

Ooops, am I preachin to the choir? Sorry, didn't mean to...

Hope you get your build up and going soon as well. Hey, where's "Snow City"??? Iffen ya don't mind me askin', that is.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours-
JDK

Author:  erioshi [ November 26, 2009, 2:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Guy Checkin' In - GonzoRacer

Snow City is the Minneapolis area. Doing a fully caged, enclosed sports racer will be something new to me. Hence the need for a good mock-up of the office before I commit anything to metal.

It sounds like you guys have the skills and experience to avoid the kind of things that can sneak up if you haven't been through the process a few times. Again, good luck with the car .. and start a build log, lol.

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