Back from the dead! You guys must be pretty desperate LOL. Seriously, it is very kind of your guys to ask, and for Norm (coloradohill) to gave me call. It took a while for me to get it see below. Been off-air for a few reasons:
But the BIG reason is that we finally found the property we have been looking for since 2017 in the ID/MT/WY region for building a retirement home. Found it in early 2021 on a snowmobile trip, just outside of Dubois WY, in the mountains a little more than an hour from the south entrance of Yellowstone NP. Starting building the garage in fall of 2021, finished that to 95% this May/June, and then started on the house in summer. Got the house foundation in and closed in the basement this November and then headed back to VA. I'm the builder/engineer/electrician/plumber/ditch-digger/materials handler/tractor operator, etc. so it is pretty intense work and so pretty much no time for cars in the last 2 years.
- Yes, having a life is part of it. You know, some of the old arguments get.. well... OLD. I left this site and then another old car site due to getting tired of some of the 'noise'.
- Been on a Ski-Doo snowmobile site a lot. A different crowd, with a lot more 'operators' and riding discussions versus vintage car crowds. Plus sleds from the newest '23's with turbos back to '70's with engines like advanced lawn mower engines LOL. All very interesting. Imagine a drive system where you can customize what is the equivalent of the torque converter for whatever stall speed you want.. and do it in your garage!
- Took on a rebuild of a '75 Opel Ascona A in 2020. I raced these cars for years in rallies. So that was fun.
Building in a very rural spot like Dubois is tough... very few subcontractors and hard to find helpers. The population density there is about 2 people per square mile, and it is 80 miles to the nearest Walmart and 200 miles to the nearest box lumber store. So materials are expensive to haul in or buy anywhere near.
But the view is spectacular... see below; this is the view towards Yellowstone. House site is at 8100', on a knob with 360 degree views to the mountains, and is 1000' above the valley floor. The mountain peaks are 10,000' to 12,000' That thin black strip below the house site is a 7000' long airport