Things have been awfully quiet lately... [Archive]

Blue91

04-11-2006, 02:44 PM

Yeah... it seems like we never get together and do anything as a group anymore.

Our lives have gotten busier, more hectic, etc.

Plus, a lot of us no longer have street cars to go cruising around with or our cars are always down for upgrades, and as such, we haven't had any real contingent show up at the FFW and COTT races.

Overall, it just seems as a group, everyone is headed their separate ways, and that thought sucks to me. :(

Ah well I guess. No sense in whining about something I cannot control, haha.

Otis!

04-11-2006, 02:53 PM

Have a crawfish boil Fred! I have a burner!

LOL!

HoustonLX

04-11-2006, 03:02 PM

Liz has been talking about we need to have another party. Ben? :drunks:

Silversnake91

04-11-2006, 03:02 PM

Between work, school and working on the car I'm so busy I don't know what day it is most of the time. It has been slow but maybe with FFW around the corner we can all find time to get together and hang out at the track. I plan on being there car or no car, but I will be there. I need the break to take my mind off all thats going on around here.

Saleen91

04-11-2006, 03:05 PM

hah yeah... we need to have a party and I need to be in town for it. Unfortunately I'm booked on the road for the next 6 weeks.

BTW, I'll be at FFW, in the RV, partying in the pits...but without the car.

Timebomb

04-11-2006, 03:59 PM

I think we are all in the same boat. I don't have much free time anymore either. BBQ and the Livestock show take up a lot of my time in Feb and March, and I've been really busy with work and the new kid on the way (my son is due on Thursday). I think the site hasn't died but there just needs to be a spark held to the fire to try and ignite it.

I'll be making a new progress thread with pictures in the next few weeks, as project Timebomb gets updated with a new suspension and drivetrain in order to finally be able to run fast enough to keep up with Ben!

I'll be at FFW also, with the RV, partying in the pits without a car. If we are all wanting to throw a party why not Fri or Sat night at FFW Houston at the end of this month?

Have Margarita Machine.....Will Travel!

Brent

Guffinator

04-11-2006, 04:02 PM

I lurk as always. My car is down for an extended time as I'm building the motor, so I really don't have much to post. Summer's coming and I'll be getting the pool ready soon, so I'm sure there will be a party in the making :)

rxracer

04-11-2006, 08:12 PM

this site needs more pr0n!

Saleen91

04-11-2006, 09:03 PM

Here's my $.02....and it will probably piss some people off.

I think the biggest problem with this site is that several people on it have lost interest in this hobby.

Fred/Cris - This is YOUR site, but yet you pay more attention/post more on other sites instead of working on your own site. Mix that with the fact that Cris has lost interest in her car and Fred has lost interest in his car ever since he got rid of the blue car and you have a low interest in the hobby all together. Mix that with Cris' job situation and moving to Colorado too for the icing on the cake.

Darrell - Just listed his car for sale

Alan - Sold his car..and Harley.

Larry - Sold his car(s)

Chad - Selling his car & his local track is closing down

Several others have been busy with other things...

Tyro - buying Larry's car and just bought a new house

Shane - looking to buy a house

Nick - bought a new house

Todd - bought a new house

Brent - baby due any minute

Guff - motor is down and saving dough for another one

Alex Mandy - Remember Ajax? I miss him. He got a divorce. Need more be said?

Me - upgrading combo and on the road for my job

Rick - done pulling his tranny and is looking to hire somebody to pull it for him (there's a joke in there somewhere)

Otis - did he ever replace the head gaskets he blew like 2 years ago? :)

That's the facts as I see them. Right, wrong, or indifferent. I *STILL* think PMFR can be a big thing but without the active interest of those who OWN the site I think the activity on here will continue to decrease.

For those of you getting out of the game, you'll be missed. You guys are family! For those of you still in it, I hope you stick it out because I think this hobby, as a whole, benefits from having more people in it. However, I know this is just a hobby. Life, family, and finances takes precendence. Hot rods and race cars are a "want to do", not a "have to do". I know this and respect that for everybody that's involved. However, I remember being told that if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to get it/achieve it. That totally rings true to me as I've proved it to myself over and over again. I still want to do this thing. My addiction continues to grow and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. Hopefully I'll see you guys at the track someday.

I'm gonna quote Martin Keefer here. He doesn't know this but I use this quote often.

"I just wanna screw my lady and race my car. Anything else gets in the way!" (it almost sounds like something Roy D. Mercer would say doesn't it? :usa: )

TxBandit

04-11-2006, 09:24 PM

Edit your post Ben....

Tyro is out of racing.....for a long time.

Ben summed it up, racing is something that some of us WANT to do. None of us HAVE to do it. I have much higher priorities than drag racing. I also have more interest in other powersports that yeild MUCH more "fun" time, time spent actually using the vehicle of choice. Drag racing is fun, but the seat time is too limited.

Also, my career is really taking off. I'll be doing more traveling in the near future as well, all job related. Each day I have more and more responsibility, not because it's passed on to me, but because I take it on. I want to earn a good living save some cash and retire early when I can still have some fun.

Troy

MUSTANG BILLY

04-11-2006, 09:27 PM

I'm just a lurker also that owns a never ending Money Pitt that seems if it will never be done! :(

Seeing Others cars such as Bens gives me some kinda Hope...lol

Saleen91

04-11-2006, 09:34 PM

Tyro,

You are not out of racing! I refuse to let you get off so easliy! Who's going to drink beer and bleed on my car if you quit???

Billy,

Don't give up man. You have the ingredients to make one bad BIOTCH!!!!

Timebomb

04-11-2006, 09:42 PM

Between my job, family issues, and everything else in my life the mustang the only thing in my life that I can still escape to. It is the last irrisponsible thing that I have left in my life and I enjoy it. Family and other responsibilities will always come before it but I will always find a way to keep it. I finally blew the motor up last August and it has taken me a long time to save up the money to do what I am fixing to do with the car.

I agree with what Ben says, but just because you don't have a car anymore doesn't mean you have to cut all ties with the friends that you have made through this site (and any others for that matter). Sure, if you get out of the hobby you will be missed at the track and other events where you may have been present if you had a car, but don't let that hold back from posting or contributing to the site...

And Jason.....you are right Rick needs to get on the ball and start posting the porn again! He used to make several posts a day, now he's just a slacker!

OK91LX

04-11-2006, 09:57 PM

My .02.. Yes, this board does not have the numbers as far as posts are concerned, but I think we all forget about the content. I browse many boards and by far I gain the most knowledge from this board than from any other. The regulars here seem to have the best insight, problems (usually with someone chiming in with a solution), and overall skill sets that far exceed the other boards. To me, drama, people posting links to news stories, general crap and bitching/pissng and moaning gets old. I know that I can come over here, look at the new posts, and usually find something that is worth wild and it will be something I can gain from.

Todd

Blue91

04-11-2006, 10:25 PM

We don't make as much money as you do Ben, nor do we have the financial security, so some things take priority over others. I realized I don't make the money to spend everything extra on a CAR that gives no return on the investment. I have got to start planning for a FUTURE and that means having some sort of SAVINGS. As it stands, I have a car that I can cruise around and have fun with, even if I still need to dial the a/f in. Cristina being in Colorado has NOTHING to do with interest in cars or this site. I would have already SOLD her car if she would have let me. She LOVES her car and doesn't want to sell it. We just do NOT have the money at this time to throw into a motor that will live up to what we want to put it through. So you know what? It sits and waits. Again, how her car being in a garage with no motor has to do with this site is beyond me.

I've already said, I've been paying more attention to other sites b/c they are more active, and there are more posts for me to reply to. I rarely (on this site or others) start my own posts. I usually reply to others. If there isn't much to reply to here other than a "haha", then I don't reply.

The funny thing is you talk as if the people into the cars are your friends only when it comes to the cars, and if they sell or have sold, they will be / are missed. I am friends with people, whether they have a car or not and whether they want to go racing with me or help me wrench or not. I don't mind hanging out with friends when the topic of cars NEVER comes up, b/c that's not the only reason a lot of people on this site are my friends.

I thank everyone that comes to this site and contributes to it. I am glad to see many of you aren't gone b/c you're tired of it, and that it's more just b/c of job/home/family issues.

Saleen91

04-11-2006, 10:46 PM

Those people will be missed! Odds are when people sell their hot rod, they stop coming out to events like FFW, COTT, TnT events, or just plain old "Can somebody help me wrench" get togethers. It's not an insult, it's just the way things go and I understand that. I wish that wasn't the case. It's rare to see somebody get out of the hobby and still be interested in it. In fact, I know of only 1 person that even fits that bill...and he's on this site (R.H.). That doesn't mean that I don't still consider those people friends. I do and will.

I'm not pointing the finger at ANYONE for taking care of their own responsibilities. I give credit to that, and even mentioned it in my post. People do what they HAVE to do.

Like I said in my opening sentence... Here's my $.02....and it will probably piss some people off. NONE of it was meant as an insult, mean-hearted, or finger pointing at anyone. Please don't take it as such. That means you, or any of the other 5 people I see reading this thread while I type my reply. :)

Alex in Houston

04-11-2006, 10:50 PM

Well I'm not really One of the Gang (I'm more of the Token Black Guy..............LOL) but I have been around for a while. I check the site daily and always post if I have a relevant thought or rebuttal. :D
I personally hope the site stays a part of my cyber route ( I bet we all have a route that we travel on the internet regularly). But if it doesn't, I do understand as such is life.

NiCk

04-11-2006, 11:31 PM

I really enjoy this site. I like it because of the people I have met here, and also because it is low on the B.S. meter. Most of the other sites people post just to get up there post count. A good example is WSM. Not to flame them because I still visit the site, but to access the "old school"section youhave to have 500 posts. I barely have that and have been there long before many others, yet I just don't feel like making conversation in the lobby. Shoot, you have to have 10 posts just to accesss the classifieds. I can see to post a sale but what if someone just wants to buy. They have to go make up some B.S. in the lobby just to "contribute" to the site. This is a much more mature group and I check the site everyday and usually read everything newly posted.

I do feel we need to have more get togethers. Many people don't conversate with folks that they don't know. So after they meet them in person they are more apt to interact with them over the web. By no means does anyone have to have a full out party(but I look foward to Guff's pool party :) ) any little gathering( a bbq, mod day, whatever) I think that will liven things up a bit also. Not everything has to do with cars, more about friendship.

Just my thoughts, hope I wasn;t rambling.

Oh and Ben...the car is getting started this weekend, I have been working on it, just hadn't posted an update.

Otis!

04-12-2006, 07:40 AM

I love you all like brothers, because we are, regardless of our interests or how often we get a chance to get together. I wouldn't hesitate to drop what I'm doing to help any of you guys, -provided- I don't have a familial obligation first.

However, at times I get burnt out struggling with the nuances of life, and the last source of aggravation I need is from my source of enjoyment. Sure, I 'd love to be able to drive the black car (and the gaskets are replaced, LOL! It's brake issues now, and a leaking 3550 (still!)), but it's such a PITA to deal with that I choose not to. It'll make a decent driver again someday, but not this month (unless miracles happen)...

You know what I enjoy now (besides the obvious, LOL!): working on other people's stuff. Yea, sounds stupid; I'd rather show them how than do it for them, but I get a great deal of satisfaction being able to apply my God-given talents to something that might help somebody else out, even in a slightest manner.

Work has me screwed up, an has for awhile now. I plan to make a change here in the very near future (read: couple of weeks) where I will be working in a much smaller setting, with a good friend, have a better fininancial status (one of my -biggest- issues and adjustments over the last three years or so), with a little more flexiblilty in terms of hours, work activities, etc. I fully expect to not only be more satisfied, but also have the opportunity to develop some car parts for the group as the need arises. I'll have the ability to have things cast, forged, and machined fairly readily...

None of us are out of the hobby, with or w/o cars. Sometimes we need a break, from everything, and, whether we like it or not, we are -all- getting old and realizing a shift in responsibilities. Does that mean we enjoy the hobby less? No. What it means is we all don't have the time we used to to dedicate to the hobby...

Now, anybody want to have a tech day building a pergola? LOL! How about bleeding brakes? Building a storage building? Fixing the fence? Playing with my poodle? What, scratch the last one...

O!

Saleen91

04-12-2006, 08:08 AM

I fully expect to not only be more satisfied, but also have the opportunity to develop some car parts for the group as the need arises.

Does this mean Neighbors Industries is getting it's own CNC machine??? :D

white87306

04-12-2006, 08:24 AM

I read this board everyday. I don't reply to many posts just for the sake of posting.
i have been actively working on gathering parts for my Fairlane over the past year. The motor is finally in the machine shop and I should be back on the road and at the track when the bugs are worked out. This car (10.5:1, 347) should easily be faster than the white car was
I don't make many get togethers in Tomball, it's a long haul from Rosharon.
I know how long the drive is but if anybody wants to help put the engine in when it is ready I would be grateful.
I do plan on going to FFW, and I hope to see you all there.

Otis!

04-12-2006, 09:02 AM

Does this mean Neighbors Industries is getting it's own CNC machine??? :D

Ben,

NI won't be getting one, but my boss has already mentioned the need for one (I think that was mumbled over Bud Lights and eight pounds of crawfish I had at the GCCA boil last Friday). I've already talked to him about a number of things related to what we do, and he's pretty excited about it. He is in the process of moving locations down the group of suites, doubling his space to about 3600 SF or so.

I'm working on him first to have a crawfish boil, take me fishing, and let me build a smoker. Once that's done, -then- car parts can happen! :D

O!

red95gts

04-12-2006, 09:24 AM

I still check this board every day. In fact, it's my Internet Exploder home page (and has been for a very long time)

I think it's got a lot to do with everyone's lives getting busier and priorities shifting away from cars and the eternal projects they always seem to turn into. Also, like Todd mentioned, this site has no BS that fills up other boards. When you read a post, it's either entertaining or informative - and never anything that's a waste of your time. Let's focus on quality, not quantity.

I think this site makes a good place for local friends to get together. Even though we are more active on other sites, it's answering questions or reading about a specific topic that interests us.

Yes, I put my car up for sale, but it in no way means I'm leaving the hobby and definitely doesn't mean I'm going to distance myself from my friends. Everyone on this site are my friends, first and foremost, regardless of what sort of car they drive...

As it turns out, the car doesn't look like it's going to sell, so I guess I'll put that piece of shit together! :) My plan was to sell the 95 and buy a 03-04 Cobra, do minor mods and have a nice street car that was fairly quick. So, I'm going to stick to that same goal with the 95. Which means I'm not setting it up to be as focused around drag racing as I originally had planned. It will be a street car. It won't cut the best 60's and I don't care. I want a car that I can throw the kids in and go out for a drive on a nice day. Hanging out at the track all weekend, every weekend, just isn't something that appeals to me like it used to. I guess priorities shift, but that's where I am as of now...

AGirlWithACoupe

04-12-2006, 09:30 AM

HoustonLX

04-12-2006, 10:23 AM

As it turns out, the car doesn't look like it's going to sell, so I guess I'll put that piece of shit together! :) My plan was to sell the 95 and buy a 03-04 Cobra, do minor mods and have a nice street car that was fairly quick. So, I'm going to stick to that same goal with the 95. Which means I'm not setting it up to be as focused around drag racing as I originally had planned. It will be a street car. It won't cut the best 60's and I don't care. I want a car that I can throw the kids in and go out for a drive on a nice day. Hanging out at the track all weekend, every weekend, just isn't something that appeals to me like it used to. I guess priorities shift, but that's where I am as of now...

Damn. Same thing with me. I tried to sell the 92 to buy a new 06 Mustang that I could make a fun daily driver and have some fun with at the track. Like you, it was obvious I was not going to be able to sell the 92 without practically giving it away. Just means I will keep it and finish the next motor project I had orgionally intended for it with the main goal of it being 100% streetable with the ability to cruise just about anywhere.

89LX306

04-12-2006, 10:46 AM

Interesting. I haven't had a car for over a year now, but still feel just as much in touch with you guys as I ever have. I've started devoting a lot more time with my family and my hopeful future career. Life changes and you roll with it. No biggie. Strangely enough I have ZERO regrets about selling my car. I still see you guys on occasion and get my fix at the track when I need it. Besides now I try to push diesel parts on everybody everytime I get a chance. :D

trbstang

04-12-2006, 02:30 PM

I read this board several times a day and kind of get disappointed when there are no new posts to read, but like was said, everyone has things to take care of and our life priorities do change. I kind of feel like the odd one on here, I don't race, never have even been to the track in 26 years of driving, and haven't done much if anything to make my car faster. Heck I'm probably the only one on here that drives my "hobby" daily. Add to that I don't even have a title under my name, I'm just a "registered user"! LOL! Or maybe that is my title....

The one thing about this site is that I have met and gotten to know a lot of truely nice and helpful people that probably otherwise would not have crossed my path. I don't have a real "circle of friends" that I regularly do things with or just hang out - one of the casualties of working a lot and having 4 kids with their activities! But I kind of feel that everyone on here is a friend that I wouldn't mind helping out if I can.

One thing I do enjoy about this site is that this is a group of friends that DO know each other for the most part. Much better than all the other websites where you are just a screen name. Plus I kind of know a little bit about what is happening to you guys through the posts without having to keep in personal contact. We share our car updates, knowledge, and also a lot of other important things to each of us, with our friends.

Overall this place is a class act in my book. Lets keep up the good work.

Thomas

Saleen91

04-12-2006, 03:36 PM

When you read a post, it's either entertaining or informative - and never anything that's a waste of your time. Let's focus on quality, not quantity.

True. I like the way you put that.

Yes, I put my car up for sale, but it in no way means I'm leaving the hobby and definitely doesn't mean I'm going to distance myself from my friends. Everyone on this site are my friends, first and foremost, regardless of what sort of car they drive...

Phew... man am I glad to read that!!!

Saleen91

04-12-2006, 03:51 PM

Whoa. I don't own this website. Fred pays the bills but it was created by a group of friends for people of common interest, mainly technical applications. Of course, I was under the strange impression that we were all friends first and foremost, I'd no idea it was contingent based on owning a car.

I made the comment that you and Fred "own" this site because you guys are married. It was a generalization. I didn't get specific about who registred the domain name, pays the hosting bill on it, is a POC for the hosting service, etc.

I never made a stance that if you don't own a car you can't be friends. I did state the generalization that TYPICALLY when people sell their hot rod that they stop coming around. That's my opinion and not an accusation nor a stipulation. Because it's just an opinion it could be about as right as saying crawfish aren't edible. (don't hit me Nay... it was just an example. :D )

I ALWAYS reserve the right to be wrong. I also ALWAYS reserve the right to have my own opinion, just as you guys do. I just want to make sure I'm clear on my opinion. Hell...if you and Fred sell ALL of your cars, house, etc and move to Colorado I would still call you guys my friends. But I think it would be safe to say I wouldn't see you at the track very often.

madforce

04-12-2006, 04:39 PM

Those people will be missed! Odds are when people sell their hot rod, they stop coming out to events like FFW, COTT, TnT events, or ... In fact, I know of only 1 person that even fits that bill...and he's on this site (R.H.). That doesn't mean that I don't still consider those people friends. I do and will.

See, you can be out of the hobby for years and STILL be mentioned. :) I sold my shitbox in 2000 (and the other in March '01) and never looked back. I still get my fix by going to track once-a-year, and with such limited seat time in this sport, I really don't feel like I'm missing anything.

For me I just didn't have the stomach for it anymore...too much stress and time spent trying to figure/resolve issues. When the fun factor approaches zero, it's time to bail out. Besides, my car didn't fit any class and was no longer street legal. When it was the World's fastest stock block Powerdyne car I should have left it alone. 400rwhp, 11.0's @ 125mph 1.500 60' w/out speed shifting my T5 - now that was wheelie popping fun!

When the T-trim went on and I blew a head gasket on my second test pass, then stripped two head studs right out of the block due to a bad torque wrench, I had reached my limit. There are just so many cuss words you can yell before running out of 'em! After that, you have to start making 'em up, and if you're not careful, really stupid sounding shit comes out (MutherElbowF*ckinAssLickingGawdDamnSonOfBastF*ck. ..you get the idea).

So to those of you still on here and still wrenching, here's to dedication. :drunks:

Guffinator

04-12-2006, 05:31 PM

When the T-trim went on and I blew a head gasket on my second test pass, then stripped two head studs right out of the block due to a bad torque wrench, I had reached my limit. There are just so many cuss words you can yell before running out of 'em! After that, you have to start making 'em up, and if you're not careful, really stupid sounding shit comes out (MutherElbowF*ckinAssLickingGawdDamnSonOfBastF*ck. ..you get the idea).

So to those of you still on here and still wrenching, here's to dedication. :drunks:

I feel your pain
:ashamed:

Chad82GT

04-13-2006, 01:30 AM

I used to check the board 3-4 times a day, and then all hell broke loose. For the past 2 months I've been getting aquainted with our state's political system and lobying for a tax incentive that would allow a new "world-class" racing facility to be built here. Not sure how I fell into the role as community spokesperson, but I did.

Here are a few examples if you're interested:

http://www.khon.com/khon/display.cfm?storyID=11215&sid=1152

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Apr/10/ln/FP604100336.html

I was on the news 2 other times too but can't find the links :(

The track closed on 4/1 (no, not an April Fool's joke) and it doesn't look like it's going to be opening any time soon. Just yesterday the bills died due to some political BS. We're looking into options for next steps but right now it's up in the air. Between this and moderating the "heated" discussions on the board I started it's been a 2nd full-time job. Now that it's died down I'll be popping in here more often (lucky you!) :D

Saleen91

04-13-2006, 07:06 AM

That's incredible Chad! Getting media attention to your cause out there is absolutely awesome!

Hang in there man!

Bubstang

04-13-2006, 12:37 PM

I'm on here every couple of days and must say it is my favorite site to read. The vert is doing well, drive it on weekends. Haven't been on the track in almost 2 months. Been doing some competitive shooting lately and really enjoy it, costs a bit less too. Girls have dance comp's and such and as you know I travel dang near every weekday.

Hope to see a bunch of you at FFW.

Bubba

gc90notch

04-13-2006, 01:04 PM

i still lurk but havent had a car in almost 2yrs... im trying to work on that but the price of fuel is making it harder to buy the 2nd vehicle i want. i havent been to many functions here recently since being busy with the fiancee and between here in dallas a couple/few times a month.. but if more things start happening i could see showing up

Chad82GT

04-13-2006, 01:36 PM

Thanks Ben. It's trying at times because there is a VERY vocal minority of racers who each have a bazillon kids that like to show up in matching t-shirts to oppose what we're trying to do. They don't like the current manager so their vensetta against him is killing us. They want the state to condemn the current track and set up an elected board to run the thing, basically take it away from the guy whose been running it for 17 years. Most of us don't think the State will spend the millions for the current track, especially since it is overdue for renovations and there are EPA issues on part of it (dumping, oil, old land fill, etc) that need to be addressed.

Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread with my political BS. It's good to be back and I hope this place stays open :)