Busted Lurking! Mooresville NC

[shopfabricator]

O.K. I admit it. I have been lurking for a very, very long time.
I want to thank EVERYONE on this board for ALL the wondorfull information that I have "borrowed". I really have no excuss for my poor behavior.

Now, how did I get busted?

PUFFIN? on E-Bay? (sale index) that's me........

All those that I have met at spring on the river, N/S, end of summer and other southern campgrounds, I was laid off from my NASCAR body building job. NASCAR is not what it was 10 or even 3 years ago. It looks like with this years round of silly season there are hundreds and hundreds of jobs just gone.

So.... with much regret, my tiny camper is for sale.

Now for the good news. I have finally come out of the shadows, learned how to take pictures, learned how to resize them, and POST! (All for Aunti M! Oil bubble and all.)

Enough ramble... I look foward to getting to know uou all better.
SMILES (haven't learned emoticons yet) Gary

[starleen2]

Yep - and I'm the one that popped ya" - welcome to the forum. You have a really nice puffin clone and many have remarked on its build. You'll find that many are here and have a wealth of knowledge ranging from the silly to sublime.

[swissarmygirl]

He's been dragged, kicking and screaming, out of the shadows!
Hello and welcome!

[JIML1943]

Sorry to hear about your job loss Gary.To bad you have to sell your camper enjoyed camping with you.Good luck on finding a new job.

[Nitetimes]

O.K. I admit it. I have been lurking for a very, very long time.
I want to thank EVERYONE on this board for ALL the wondorfull information that I have "borrowed". I really have no excuss for my poor behavior.

Now, how did I get busted?

PUFFIN? on E-Bay? (sale index) that's me........

All those that I have met at spring on the river, N/S, end of summer and other southern campgrounds, I was laid off from my NASCAR body building job. NASCAR is not what it was 10 or even 3 years ago. It looks like with this years round of silly season there are hundreds and hundreds of jobs just gone.

So.... with much regret, my tiny camper is for sale.

Now for the good news. I have finally come out of the shadows, learned how to take pictures, learned how to resize them, and POST! (All for Aunti M! Oil bubble and all.)

Enough ramble... I look foward to getting to know uou all better.
SMILES (haven't learned emoticons yet) Gary

So which shop did you work for anyway?? We get down there for the Lowes race about every other year and always hit all the shops. Not sure if we're going back anymore tho, things are changing too much.
Sorry to here about the job, that had to be a pretty cool place to work.

[shopfabricator]

Thanks ALL for the KIND welcome.

I worked for a shop called Speedway Fabrication Inc. in Mooresville for the last 3 years. The shop did contract work for many teams. We would receive the bare chassis from the teams and built template fitting and areo balanced low drag bodies. With NASCAR rule changes in an attempt to "save teams money" (B.S. IMO!) many teams have combined or simply shut the doors. The work slowed and then just stopped coming in. Locally there are MANY talented fabricators out of work.

Now for the name dropping. I've raced on many teams over the years going "over the wall" and preforming the duties of Tire Guy. Drivers include Mark Martin (two years Winn Dixie car and lots of wins), Bobby Hamilton Jr. (old Marines and his first win car) Mike Wallace (Geico and Datona win car), and a couple others. It was quite the exciting time!

About selling my camper. I have received more than a dozen e-mails on this build and am seriously looking into doing more. I'm thinking another standy in the alum clad style. I am unemployed and getting on in years (a very young 47!), and think it might be time to do something for myself. This venture will require much sole searching and investigation. I will pic and post" for all to follow. I know how much your input means to a successfull build!

Enough! Look what happens when you come into light. I'll try to have shorter and to the point posts once everyone gets to know me as well as I know all of you.

[Nitetimes]

Thanks ALL for the KIND welcome.

I worked for a shop called Speedway Fabrication Inc. in Mooresville for the last 3 years. The shop did contract work for many teams. We would receive the bare chassis from the teams and built template fitting and areo balanced low drag bodies. With NASCAR rule changes in an attempt to "save teams money" (B.S. IMO!) many teams have combined or simply shut the doors. The work slowed and then just stopped coming in. Locally there are MANY talented fabricators out of work.

Now for the name dropping. I've raced on many teams over the years going "over the wall" and preforming the duties of Tire Guy. Drivers include Mark Martin (two years Winn Dixie car and lots of wins), Bobby Hamilton Jr. (old Marines and his first win car) Mike Wallace (Geico and Datona win car), and a couple others. It was quite the exciting time!



Enough! Look what happens when you come into light. I'll try to have shorter and to the point posts once everyone gets to know me as well as I know all of you.

I recall seeing the name if not the actual shop. Sounds very familiar.
Sounds like you had an interesting time while it lasted at least.
I noticed we aren't getting near the TV ads for the tech schools to get into the NASCAR shops that we used to.
It's really a shame what NASCAR has done to the sport, IMO it is no longer stock car racing when the cars all have to be the same, kinda takes the "race" out of racing.
I think they are finding out that the fans aren't happy with them now that it's getting harder to fill the stands. Might go down hill faster now with the economy and all the newest rule changes.

[asianflava]

The screenname sounded familiar but then I saw that you only had one post. Then it finally clicked, we camped together at Piney Creek.... Duh!

Sorry to hear about the job thing, I was unemployed at the time of the campout, and just recently found one.

Good Luck!

[Lgboro]

I'm in the same boat just east near Goldsboro, NC. With my medical problems I don't know when I'll have an income but hey I've started over several times over the years. I have 90% of a camper in my kitchen, den and hallway. Hope I can find a way to finish my build this winter. You've been bit by the bug now so I sure you will have another tear in time. Good luck finding employment.

[mikeschn]

Hey Gary,

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you dragged yourself out of lurking. Good job on the Puffin clone!!! Any more pictures of that, other than what's in your album?

Mike...

[steve wolverton]

Now, how did I get busted?

PUFFIN? on E-Bay? (sale index) that's me........

Well, I think that is great looking little camper you got for sale.

I wish I didn't sell mine.

Good luck with your auction.

[wanders]

Gary,

Sorry to hear of the job loss. Been there, done that several times. Don't be afraid to try new things.

Cathi and I hope you'll be on the camping scene in '09. Something will work out.

[shopfabricator]

Wally & Cathi, "You Betcha!" This is just a bump in the road and now it's building season. I'm sure to be "on the scene" 09.

Steve... Your the MAN! You have inspired soooo many! Thanks for the thumbs-up! (How do I get Emoticons...grrrrr)

[Miriam C.]

Wally & Cathi, "You Betcha!" This is just a bump in the road and now it's building season. I'm sure to be "on the scene" 09.

Steve... Your the MAN! You have inspired soooo many! Thanks for the thumbs-up! (How do I get Emoticons...grrrrr)

I am also the queen of emoticons

Now all you really need to do is click on them Way too easy huh! Sorry about the job. That really must have been cool.

And to the playground. You might as well hang out while you wait for a real job.

[shopfabricator]

TOO MUCH FUN! Thanks Aunti M. Boy do I feel stupid.