I'm Back!

[Santiago]

Holy smokes, look what I found in my garage! =)

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119235&d=1576857404

Somebody left an 818R kit in there… Poor thing, wasting away, “previous” owner must have been a *******.

It has been a LOOONG time since I’ve posted on this forum. I have been lurking for the last year, but didn’t feel I had much to offer on my end…I’ve been busy.

Quick recap:

Bought my 818R kit and started the build slowly, too slow in fact. So I got the genius idea to get another track car to “hold me over” while I finished the build. Yeah. About that. That was a mistake.

I got this:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119241&d=1576858512

Got it from a “pro race team” thinking it would be well-built and well-maintained. Hah! That car turned out to be a total mess. Spent the next year and a half making it into this:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119240&d=1576857941

Lots of time, lots of money, all of which could’ve gone into the 818…*sigh*
The upshot is that once the Mazda RX-8 was finally ready, it proved to be a useful tool for another year and a half or so. I used it to improve my driving, learn data, set a few track records, and earn a regional championship along the way:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119242&d=1576858588

Then life hit and I had to sell the car. So making my lemonade, I decided to use the opportunity to put my time (and collection of 818R parts) to good use. Here I am, back at it in earnest.

Lessons learned:
1. Getting a car to hold you over while you build another car is dumb…
2. Rotary engines and I don’t get along…
3. Hoosier’s contingency sponsorship f’n rocks!! Free tires are like manna from heaven
4. Baby steps work; taking a nibbles out of the project works far better than trying for big bites
5. Staying away from an awesome community you respect and admire, just because you’re embarrassed about your own perceived failings…that’s dumb too

Feels good to be back.

Best,
-john

[Mitch Wright]

Have fun. On many days I miss my 818R, it was such a joy on the track.

[Santiago]

Mitch! Oh I wish I knew you were around NCM. My main group, NASA Great Lakes, is there two times a year (though I often don't make the first). We'll be back in October, so I'll be sure to see if you're around for a drink/chat then.

[GoDadGo]

Santiago,

1. If you had fun plus improved your driving skills then getting a "Hold You Over Car" wasn't a bad idea at all.
2. Life gets in the way, be it an alternate use of time, work and/or family issues.
3. Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back!

Steve

[1932]

Well hell, you did your thing and had fun. Now you can have more fun back here.

[Pearldrummer7]

welcome back!

I did the same kind of thing as you. To 'hold me over' when the 818 was down, I got into riding bikes on track instead. Then when I didn't have the time to go to the track, I got into dirtbikes. Now I have way too many broken things (though it's fairly fun).

Feels good to see familiar names back on the forums.

[STiPWRD]

Same here, I took a year off in 2017 to build a motorcycle but was finally able to get the 818 registered and on the road this past September. I learned building a bike is about 10X easier than building a car but I'm glad to be back wrapping up the 818. Welcome back!

[Canadian818]

Welcome back!

Funny enough I also bought a RX8 as a hold me over car, and while I’ve enjoyed it, it has taken considerable time away from the 818. I’m also guilty of avoiding the forum. Usually the reason I can’t work on my car is work and not a lack of motivation so following other builds bums me out. It is a great community, the RX8 groups make me appreciate the FFR family that much more.

Merry Christmas

[Santiago]

...It is a great community, the RX8 groups make me appreciate the FFR family that much more.


I wasn't going to say it...wasn't going to say it...but you went there...yup. ;)

Adam, I owe you a HUGE thanks. Watching your YouTube videos kept my spirits up and rekindled the fire to get back at it.
Love seeing familiar names too; there must be ten dozen "Franks" here, but there's only one Pearldrummer7 baby!

Happy Holidays all!

[Canadian818]

I wasn't going to say it...wasn't going to say it...but you went there...yup. ;)

Adam, I owe you a HUGE thanks. Watching your YouTube videos kept my spirits up and rekindled the fire to get back at it.
Love seeing familiar names too; there must be ten dozen "Franks" here, but there's only one Pearldrummer7 baby!

Happy Holidays all!

I appreciate you saying so, I’m way behind on videos but you motivated me to start editing this morning. Next video coming out soon was recorded in April, lol. And I’ll always try to give a shout out to anyone on the forums that I’m copying.

Cheers