barefootskater (Shaun) said:
Achievement unlocked!
In reply to bobzilla :
I ran a respectable 1/4 mile. I did it in the 1/8 is all.
That was so much fun.
Hope no one minds I post pictures of stuff that's not mine.
I owe a lot to this community for the help and support along the way.
A special shoutout to Gumby! His offer of parts and help (even on the wrong side of the country) was what really kicked this whole thing off. He's a great guy, knowledgeable, skilled, and super easy to talk to and hang out with. Thanks Gumby!
Bobzilla! Patrick! These guys went out of their way to help someone they've never met.
Dead_Sled. Dude. The wheels are epic. Just goes to show, one mans trash... Thanks!
Hobiercr. You facilitated a brainstorming session that got me 2600 miles to the challenge. It may not seem like much, but it was critical. Thanks for the food, water, cookies. Thanks for being awesome!
John Brown. Great conversation. Great ideas. This is the guy who pushed me to sand the spokes green. Genius.
So many more. You know who you are. Offers of rides, help, "come join my team" "crash at my house" "drive my car and compete"
I'll give a detailed write up of the competition once I get back home. For now, we're heading west. Going to try to get most of Florida behind us tonight. We left early, and sorry to anyone who wanted to talk or hangout, but I'm rushing to get home and see my family.
Those rims were indeed great. They're a perfect match for that car and they looked awesome.
100% my honor to be part of your rookie Challenge experience!
If I may, I would suggest a set of caster/camber plates and a good alignment after installing some decent dampers. Swap in a tubular Ranger header while you fix the exhaust. Then, just drive the car and see if you love it long term like a brown Accord. If you do, go both feet in; down the rabbit hole!
In the meantime, take a break from the Tbird and let your Challenge plans stew a bit. The project is cool, and now you know what kind of efforts are involved beyond building the car. Things will work themselves out if you allow them to.
Congrats on finishing! Most never start.
This is a daily, not a project!
*looking at rockauto and eBay on the ride west*
gumby (Forum Supporter) said:Congrats on finishing! Most never start.
So much truth
Patrick (Forum Supporter) said:gumby (Forum Supporter) said:Congrats on finishing! Most never start.
So much truth
Quoted again because, truth and I was only able to give one thumbs up. 
Congrats
I remember reading parts of the tbird build... had not made the connection with the mustang!
So glad the first trip out was a success. I only discovered this a year ago, but made the choice not to go this year. Maybe 21 will work out for me.
Lower Alabam ‘ is a long way away, but keep me in mind before you scrap the ‘bird... I have thoughts!
Safe travels!!!
Already thinking about some tweaks and improvements. I'll bring a last place car back for another swing. If I can swing the trip itself next year.
The trip home has been pretty... uh.. unforgettable.
It rained on us most of Sunday morning as we went through Alabama and Mississippi, then it started raining again in Shreveport and just kept getting worse. The rain started freezing just past Lubbock* then the rain stopped so the snow could start in New Mexico. First it was just some on the ground off the highway, then it got worse and worse until it stopped traffic in Albuquerque. Then we made some headway until being stopped again about 4 miles out of town. Then it just got worse and worse until now, where we're parked outside a gas station just shy of Grants, NM, where we're camped out in the car again.
Hoping the locals are efficient at clearing roads and that everyone is safe out there tonight.
*Lubbock was an all out E36 M3hole. I've never been through a worse place. It was like if you took all the small little towns in the southwest, picked the worst meth ridden parts, gave them more better meth, then put them all together in one sprawling garbage dump with the worst street and highway signs in existence. North Texas sucks. Fight me.
Being a bit of a Mac Davis fan, I was sorely disappointed in Lubbock when I went through there a few years ago, as well. I did at least go through in daylight and decent weather, with no problems. But definitely a run down town. Prolly changed some since the days of that song!
We got stranded in lubbock because of an ice storm 24 years ago on the last vacation we took as a family, and after experiencing that city I began referring to it as buttlick texas. Place is all oof
The Mudstain is dead. I am ok. Dad is ok. More in a bit. I'm ok.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Awe damnit. Glad you are ok!
Nuts! Glad everyone is okay. I hope getting home is not too difficult.
Anything we can do?
All kinds of advice on how to survive winter interstates is flowing through my head, now that I am awake... Sorry we couldn't help out sooner.
Oh no! Glad you and your dad are okay, though.
glad all are ok
this thread is an emotional rollercoaster
We were westbound on I40 just east of Gallup. Rear ended. Spun more than once and stopped in a ditch. I'm lucky it wasn't worse. I'm in the er right now. Getting lots of scans and such.
More info as I learn it. Time to start looking at classifieds again.
We were making no progress last night so we stopped off of exit 89 at a gas station and slept a few hours. When I woke up I felt ok. The snow had stopped and the road looked pretty good. Forecast said the snow was going to start again so we were trying to get to a city with lodging. Almost made it too. 8 miles shy of Gallup NM. Rear ended by an 18 wheeler. Just goes to show, even being careful, you can't do anything about the other guy.
All said, in that little old car, being run down by an 18 wheeler, in the dark, in a snow storm. I should be a lot worse off. The circumstances are not ideal, but at least I get to see my wife today.
E36 M3, Shaun! That's no way to end a trip. So glad you and your Dad are both ok. Is the car still driveable or are you guys having to rent a car to get home?
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