2008 in review

[TireSmoker]

Well, I guess this would normally come in another month or two, but this is a good milestone for me, since I moved just over a year ago and it's basically the end of car-season.

So, in the past year, I:

1) Moved. I spent 8 years in Lyndhurst and was quite settled. Starting in early October 2007, I started moving, with Oct 15th being my move-in date. I love the new house, having a real office for my computer junk, the cavernous basement. A basement that will soon be packed with big-block snowmobiles, Hemi's, and GN interiors.

2) Got the Chevelle running, and down the dragstrip. After all the well-documented trials and tribulations, the Chevelle made it down the track several times this year, with several passes in the 12.30s @ 110 MPH. My goal with the new heads was 12.20s @ 110+, so I think the car can still pull that last tenth.

3) Changed motorcycles. This wasn't even really on the radar screen a year ago. It just sort of happened. When I saw how easily I was able to sell Tony's bike, I started trolling craigslist and found the SV. I put about 6-7k miles on my Radian in 4 years of ownership. I put over 4k on the SV, and I didn't get it till June 25.

4) New garage -- ok, this kinda goes with number 1, but there's moving, and then there's getting the garage all set up. These are two different tasks. The new garage is bigger, attached, heated, better lighting, and has full-time compressed air. This involved adding new lights, a new electrical sub panel and running some plumbing from the garage to the basement as sub-projects. I'm currently adding cable-TV and wired Internet (wireless signal hasn't been 100% reliable). The holes are drilled and wires fished, just need to hook everything up.

5) Drove the Corvette to Carlisle. (ok, a little over a year ago)

6) Rode one motorcycle to W.Va and back with 3 friends. Rode a different motorcycle solo to Virginia and back on mostly 2-lane roads.

7) Made it Thompson on I think 6 different occasions, 3 with the Chevelle, 3 with the SV. No tows home.

Discovered the true goodness of craigslist. Sold: 2 Yamaha Radians, washer/dryer, cracked 400 block, supercharger, Vortec heads. Bought: SV650, Motorcycle jack (that won't work with the SV, doh.)

Mixed in with all the above, I hosted Thanksgiving & Christmas for the family, had a successful New Years party, got a $300 'education' on my birthday at Mountaineer, some Browns and Indians games, some late nights/weekends at work and have lead from the start in MostMint's poker league since January.

It's been a good year. I'm pretty lucky.

-Dave

[Basement Paul]

I would agree that this year has held a lot of things for me too:

1- My dream of having another garage has finally come true. Five cars under one roof... AWESOME!

2- I'm in the 12's... This time last year I had my first 13 second pass (13.99) in the Caddy, and for about $3000 and a little determination, I've gotten much further than ever before on the strip. Not to mention the Caddy's 13.81 surpassing the famous 13.92 laid down by 32v's 1968 396 Camaro, back in the day, amongst other infamous Cossick cars. I believe there's only one left to beat.

3- I've had much more success financially than ever before at work (albeit I've probably worked harder than ever before).

4- We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this June!

5- Two trips this year, one to DC and another to Vegas.

6- A real milestone here: I've kept a daily driver for more than one year. The T-Bird has been around for over 13 months.

7. My sister got married (yeah, little Susie is almost 30)

I'm sure I missed a couple, but I'd say '08 has been good to me so far.

-BP

[Racin'Jacin]

OK I'm very NEW here so I'll jump in.

Like most years this one was filled with Highs and Lows:

Buried my sweatheart Beagle of 13 years - still miss her, but the big fella upstairs has quite a sense of humor because our new Puppy has EVERY characteristic of our old Squirt - bizzarre almost.

Built the trailer for the dragster -took 3 months.

Got the dragster to the track! - been working on it on and off for SEVEN YEARS. It was HUGE for me to finally get it there and make a pass (or two)

Finally started to remodel the kitchen for Jill - of ocourse the pipe bursting under the sink really started it all - but hey I've been putting off all major house projects for - you guessed it SEVEN YEARS now.

[MostMint]

In February I was not feeling too good one day so I went browsing on Autotrader, and spotted a deal on an 08 Impala SS. The next day my Camaro blew a head gasket and my backup car was down with a power steering line leak. First time I bought any car less than four years old.

Did the assistant coach thing for my son's coach pitch baseball team

The hot water tank in my house gave out, so I decided to upgrade to a Bosch tankless. My Dad and I installed it. Saves about 2 mcf's per month at my house.

Borrowed Tiresmoker's truck and filled it with stuff to sell at Canfield in July. Moved a lot of inventory. Won't soon forget the downpour on Sunday when BP and I were packing up.

Got woke up at 3 AM by the fire alarm at the hotel during the Trucks at Carlisle show.

Replaced the doors on the south side of the house. Again Fred32v and I installed them.

Took the family to Niagara Falls and Ft. Niagara. The whole trip was a big success. Not sure how I can do better next year.

Bought a new fridge after we found the freezer part of the old (vintage 1990) fridge was dead upon return from Niagara Falls. New fridge reduced the electric bill about 10%

Watched my daughter place soccer in spring and fall leagues. In the fall the Tigers beat the "undefeated" Galaxy and made it to the championship game.

Did two weddings in two days.

Been trying to sell the Vette. No luck yet. The end of loose lending has impacted the value of my Vette.

Spent a lot of time studying equity markets, but so far not much help improving my return on investments.

Played a lot of hold'em. Usually under $50 to play, and have been doing OK. Maybe I can catch Dave in my own poker league - still 2 games to go and 6 points to gain.

I think I might be cured of the Civ 3 game.

[markss327]

Well, It's been a rather uneventful year. That's a good thing.

Sold off my 16' open car trailer. Bought it new in 1991, and it was starting to show some age. Needed tires, brakes (surge coupler) and paint.

Sold off the 2004 Avalanche Z66. Price of gas went up, I was forced to respond. Replaced with a 2005 Impala Base. Love it.

Been thinking of selling off the Nova. On again, off again. I get weary of dealing with a 45 year old car. But BP keeps reminding me, I'll be sorry if I let her go. For the last several years, I've been toying with going off road. ATV off road. 6-7k to get a decent utility ATV. Sell the Nova, I'd have change left over. I've even found my self looking a Jeeps. CJ, WJ, and XJ, Wranglers, Cherokees and Grand Cherokees.

Did a three day Cub Scout camp with Dan. He loved it, I wasn't so crazy about it... lota work. But, I'll do it again next year.

I've been working with a guy who flips houses. Learning a lot of rough carpentry. Literally gutted a whole interior of a house. Moved a load-bearing wall. Moved a staircase. Added a half bath. Air nailers are cool !!!! Got to play with a Kybota (sp?) back-hoe. A bit underpowered but sure beat digging in the dirt with a shovel.

For the first time since I've lived on my own, I plan to have my Impala AND Colleens minivan in the garage this winter. I've made arrangements to store the Nova at my moms. Hopefully, no more scraping ice off windshields in the morning.

Edit-
Dan has me hooked on PS2 Guitar Hero 3. What can I say...

[Fred32v]

As old Blue Eyes would say, it was a very good year.

The highlight, of course, was the Cinderella wedding of my daugther Susan.
The father daughter dance was most memorable.

Confirmation sponsor for my granddaughter Ivy was a spiritual high.

Our first test ride in the grey ghost was amazing after having spent our winter weekends in the garage
cobbling this beast together from seriously old car parts. http://www.youtube.com/v/k4X5_rTtdZs

OK, a casino once a month and planning a second trip to Las Vegas offers a good time.
Never lost more than we budget to lose, winning is a rare thing.

The most fireworks were not on July 4th but on July 5th when I traded the
..............2000 Ranger and came home with the 2005 Silverado.


Involved in the transition of WXO's old Firebird from NC to TheRookie.


Watched GMJohn sell his 1987 442 and helped him bring home his 1998 Vette.


As a group happening, the 2008 Carlisle ALL Truck Nationals was certainly the outstanding event of the summer.
(except the 3am fire alarm) WXO's super DVD of the 2007 Corvettes at Carlisle allows us to recapture some of that madness.
Looking forward to the 2009 Carlisle Spring event. We never fail to have a great time at our annual Carlisle adventure.

Can the year 2009 be any better, time will tell!