My Ultimate Christmas Gift...to MEE!!

[Mahnarch]

This isn't a request to buy a ticket or enter the raffle. It's information, only.
In fact, if you do buy a ticket, I will drop kick you in the face......

***

For those that don't know me very well, my dream car/hot rod has always been, since about 14 years old, a red or metallic purple 1923 T-Bucket - real or replica, doesn't matter. (I'd prefer a replica, so I can actually drive it).

Last week the cover of the 'West Michigan Auto & RV' book caught my attention whilst I was putting together my daily lunch of 'gas station chili dogs' (good fuel).

It wasn't an 'in your face' push, either.
The magazine rack is half-buried behind the chips, tucked back in a corner and partly tilted away from customer view (probably because they are all 'Free' magazines and don't warrant good location).
The only thing I saw was the very bottom, right corner of the magazine and a picture...



A red 1923 T-Bucket replica, being auctioned off for $25/ticket.
There aren't very many people who've signed up - as of yet - and this is the first one, ever, to be auctioned off.

With the way it was brought to my attention. It's location. A school that's similar to the trade center that I attended and the recently slashed prices of tickets (from $100 down to $25 to boost sales) leads me to believe that this car is destined to be mine.

I'm Atheist but, I've heard the theological claim that, 'the more you give, the more you receive'.
I'm a giver - 10 fold.
In fact, while everyone else was suggesting humanitarian causes for our company's last charity give-away, I was the only one that suggested the local humane soceity, instead of some 'Mission' that no one would ever experience, personally.
The company was so blown away that this is the first time that two gifts were given: One to some unknown Argentina school/ministry and one to the 'Harbor Humane Society' in West Olive (just north of Holland, on US-31) to feed and shelter our furry, four-legged friends that have no home (rescue a cat or dog, won't you?)
I donate to the Holland Rescue Mission every year and I'm a pushover for favors and 'I-owe-you-ones'.

After 16 years, this must be my chance!
The actual drawing will be held on 12/21/07 at Noon ET in Goshen, IN.

***
If you DO want to buy a $25 raffle ticket, I won't mind if you did in my name to up my odds.
I can only afford 1 ticket, as of yet - which isn't very good odds.

The car is probably going to go to some guy named Dave in Bob, Iowa but, the signs seem to be lining up for me.

They better not pull any bull-plop about taxes and crap!
It's an internet sale. There shouldn't be any taxes.
Besides, how do you appraise something that was built by students at a trade school?

If the big joke of a December 21 draw is that, 'The winner will have to drive it home in the snow", well, HA! I'll drive my semi down there and pick it up at the nearest factory.
It'll fit and I've got plenty of E-Straps.

If you'ld like to buy a ticket in my name, for me, PM me and I'll give you the info of where to go, and my personal info to input (to my friends, only.)

With less than a month to go, I'm getting pretty geeked and anxious.
There's not a lot I can do/monitor at this point. I wish the site would list who's bought a ticket or the odds.

[Phil]

Way cool. You can actually win your dream car. How sweet that is.

[Classicblast]

My father in law would insist it be a kit car. He has an authentic Model T coupe and he is a purist about having old cars turned into HotRods. Unless he has a low opinion about the car. Like a Henry J or something then he would say "That's all it was good for is souping it up."

I think it's great that your dream car is up for raffle I hope you win.

[Mahnarch]

Thanks, guys. I'm pretty geeked about it, yet.
I got all my 'buyer's info' in the mail, yesterday - which ups the anxiety.

It is a 'Kit Car' - fiberglass tub and such (no rust! - w00t!)
The point of the school is to build everything and assemble it yourself.
There might be one or two original parts but, Ford didn't make a OHC V8 in '23/

[Blastgirl]

My Dad would be relieved that it's not a "NICE OLD CAR HACKED UP."

He has no problem with kit cars. He also doesn't mind if there's a car in the field that was junk anyway that is turned into a rod because there's no other use for it.

I hope you win Mahnarch.

[Hedgy]

I hope you get it! My dad thinks hotrods are great! (Me too!)

[Phil]

I'd love to make a rod. I understand what some people are saying about not chopping an original but there's enough kits you don't even have to.

There's a pretty good hotrod show in Carlisle Pa every year.

[Mahnarch]

Thanks Hedgy.
Even though I'm sick of working on cars, I still like to look at and drive them - especially the faster ones.

***

Phil, did you know that you can make a Ferrari Testarosa Kit Car?
It's based on the VW Karman Gia platform.

Alot cheaper, too!

[Hedgy]

Isn't the Testarosa kit for a Toyota MR2? I'm sure it is!

Cars are beautiful things, like guitars but less stringy and more vroomy!

[Phil]

Mahnarch- no I did not know that. I'd love to have a pseudo Ferrari. A friend of my fathers had a MG kit car based on a Volkswagen and it really looked authentic. At least to an untrained eye it did.

Hedgy- Less stringy and more vroomy is a good analysis.

[Mahnarch]

Hedgy, you may be right.
The Testarossa might be based on the MR2 - maybe I'm thinking of the 'Diablo'?

There's at least ONE kit car based on the VW. I know that much, for sure.

***

Phil,

That's the only problem with Kit Cars. A lot of the assemblers get antsy toward the end, or lack certain tools or know-how and tend to fudge/cut corners, sometimes.

A lot of kits you ride in/drive will have creaks and squeaks (and electrical anomolys) where none should be present.

It's good to hear your dad's bud did his in tip top form.