UPDATE – 12/20/07 Continued
After reviewing final details of the painting, we were off to Specialized, and a lengthy review with Rick of every aspect of the re-assembly. While we were there the custom, chromed, radiator/cooling system built by Be Cool arrived. You would think we were kids opening Xmas presents !!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to Marty and the Be Cool crew for a great build. Talking chrome……there’s a ‘whole lot of chromin’ goin’ on’, as you can imagine at this stage. Rick devised a neat custom engine stand- work station, very useful and necessary for the seemingly miles of wiring, just for the engine/computer set-up, not to mention the rest of the wiring requirements. This Cobra SVT- SC is one beautiful beast ! We reviewed and finalized the interior layout details. I’ve nick-named the ZZ Rider….”Houdini’s Hot Rod”…..because we’ve devised/designed it for total smoothness. Everything is so hidden; it is essentially a magical illusion of modern technology/design, that will have you wondering “….how did they do that….??? After what seemed like an endless session, and with both of us parting with “homework” lists in hand, Shirley and I hopped in the 250 and headed SOUTH with trailer in tow and thoughts of what warm weather and sunshine we would be experiencing in a few days. Wishing everyone a Great Holiday and HEALTHY , Happy, 2008 !
We’ve also come up with a tentative schedule of shows we’d like to exhibit ZZ RIDER at after the RIDLER/Detroit Autorama March 7,8,9……….
April 18-20………..Good-Guys Spring Nationals………………Jacksonville,FL
May 2-4…………. NSRA Street Rod Nats – South……………Knoxville,TN
May 16-18……….. Good-Guys Great American Nationals…….Hershey,PA
May 30-J1…………NSRA Street Rod Nats – East……………..York,PA
June 13-15………..Good-Guys NAPA Southern Nats………….Atlanta,GA
June 27-29………..Good-Guys Nashville Nats…………………Nashville,TN
July 11-13………..Good-Guys PPG Nats………………………Columbus, OH
August 1-3………… NSRA 39th Street Rod Nats………………..Louisville,KY
Sept 12-14………..Good-Guys East Coast Nats………………..Rhinebeck, NY
Sept 19-21………..NSRA Northeast Nats………………………Burlington,VT
Oct 10-12………...NSRA Southeastern Nats…………………..Tampa,FL
Nov ………...AAPEX-SEMA-NACE EXPO…………….Las Vegas,NV
UPDATE – 1/21/08
Well, I started writing an update 3 weeks ago, but got so frustrated at the seemingly slow progress, that I had to stop!..... NOW, I am more (cautiously) optimistic again. BTW, a big THANKS, and tip-of-the-hat to Butch Patrico and crew at the Michigan Hot Rod Assoc. for 1.paying close attention to detail while processing the scores of Show applications, and 2. taking the trouble to try to help out and make sure folks understand the RIDLER rules; especially ‘newbies’ like us.
Bruce and his PRO COMP crew have finished painting the body (except fenders) (SPECTACULAR!!!!) Bruce has worked his magic with those great PPG Coatings. The body is on its way over to SPECIALIZED AUTO, where Rick and his crew will get down to the nuts and bolts (literally… and they are all S/S or chromed) of final assembly.
My custom wheels finally arrived from CA, and Pete and I spent many hours searching for 1. a tire/tread design that I liked, and 2., that it was the correct size/shape/performance match for the wheels, which are different sizes front and rear. I had to settle for my 7th choice!! I didn’t believe how difficult it became. Next time, I might choose the tread design/tire first, then design my wheels to match the available tire sizes.
If you haven’t had chroming done for quite a while (me), be prepared for big-time ‘sticker shock’ ! Most of the chroming has been done, except for a big job by Street and Performance, and Sanderson Headers. By the end of next week 80% of the display components should be ready……4-corner plus intermediate perimeter stanchions, carpet, wiring, lighting, chrome car holder-display, mirrors, and more coming.
Jim Awis has been working away on the trailer, and I’ll be joining him tomorrow on it. I’m starting to sweat the arrival of the T-wedge truck cap, because A.R.E. is running into production problems.
I know this doesn’t sound like much of an update, but actually, there have been many hundreds of hours spent since last update by the Pro Comp team, the Specialized team, and my Cape Coral team, because we are down to CRUNCH TIME……do or die !! There are literally hundreds of details being dealt with by all three teams at the same time. The closer we get to “Showtime”, the greater the intensity, and the more you understand why the RIDLER is # 1, and how much it takes just to compete in it !
Back at ya soon………….rod on !
UPDATE – 2/10/2008
Set-backs, hurdles, ‘bumps-in-the-road’….we’ve come to accept that now as an almost daily happening. But, how about CRISIS….like last Thursday morning’s daily ‘start-the-day-with-a-call-to-Rick’ event. Pro Comp had FINALLY finished the fenders, skirts, and hood ! Specialized temp-attached them to the body. Then they unpacked my custom wheels and tried to put them on. The point was so that I could get a representative picture of the whole car in time to have shirts, cards, signage, etc. made. When Rick said to me….”the wheels don’t fit !”….I honestly felt like I’d been hit by a train, and was getting nauseous! I had started working on those wheels over a year ago….this couldn’t be happening! I had to recover quick, because everyone there was in shock and sick over it, and momentum- enthusiasm had come to a grinding halt. Rick and I started examining our options and came up with a few. However; one thing for sure was that first I was going to get hold of Pete Perez immediately, and have him speak directly to Rick with any ideas for a fix, just get us through the Show. The whole reason I engaged Pete to begin with, was just so this very thing wouldn’t happen !!! As of today, the front wheels are being shipped O/N back here for Pete to pull off what he thinks he can do to make it work. He and Rick came up with plan to make the rears fit….time will tell. I wish I could show you a pic of the wheels, but I believe it is against the rules, now that ZZ has been finish-painted.
I guess this update should be titled “Problems”, because they have been numerous since last update, both in Pittsburg and here in Cape Coral with the display; the details of which are far too lengthy to relate here. As I live this dream-drama, it has reversed my opinion of those TV reality shows, be they about building cars, trucks, or choppers. Personality and ego conflicts, job and worker quality issues, vendor screw-ups, deadlines, crisis, and set-backs from everything imaginable ARE REAL! I used to firmly believe that script writers made up many of these ‘problems’, just to increase conflict, interest, and an added story line….NOT ! At this point in time, reflecting on the entire build of ZZ RIDER, it would have made one heck of a great reality –show episode!!! (hey Jim; it ain’t over yet, pal). Suffice to say, when the RIDLER competition is over, I may be voicing some of my feelings Orange County Chopper style….Bad and good!
The next update will probably be from the road. We plan to be at Specialized to see ZZ RIDER ‘up close and personal’, one week from today. Usually folks up north look forward to the arrival of ‘heat from the south’, especially this winter. I have a feeling that may not be the case next week.
The crunch-time clock keeps ticking louder and louder each day closer to ‘D’ (Detroit) Day! I said a year ago, we weren’t going to be one of those….”we were working on it right up until it was loaded on the trailer bound for Detroit” … stories. Guess what….I’m now a VERY firm believer in “Murphy’s Law” and “The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men, Often Go Astray”!!!
Back at ya soon………..rod on
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