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fact5racer
09-19-2012, 09:00 PM
When building these cars it is definitely a roller coaster. Some nights things go together great, other nights can be a nightmare.

But I have been driving mine quite a bit this summer, although I have been really busy racing the KTM that I feel bad that I haven't been able to use my GTM as much as I would like.

Tonight I met Jim Schenk and his wife, John "The National Champion" George and his girlfriend for dinner and took the GTM. I left early so I had time to kill so I took some back roads and I have to say, that this GTM of mine is really an amazing car. With it's front fender louvers and AIM dash with MOMO wheel, it really feels like driving a Daytona Prototype. It is just so solid and void of any rattles or vibrations. Of course you can imagine the reactions it recieves when I go through the center of a town! But the best part is the pure thrill of driving it. I like my truck, I like my Mustang......and each of them have a place and purpose in my life. BUT my GTM puts me in a whole different state of mind. There's no "6 inches of mass produced plastic" around me. Everything around me in this car is there for the soul purpose of going from point A to point B in the quickest amount of time possible and in order to do that......it was designed to let my hands, my butt, my ears, and my eyes recieve the raw feedback that one needs to become one with the machine. But the best part is that it does this without being "crude". Maybe it's having been my 13th FFR build that brings the amount of "solidness" that this GTM has?

There's also the neat part that when you drive these cars at a spirited pace, it's nice to be able to let your mind go through each and every part of the car that you yourself actually assembled. When I look around and see and feel every one of the custom touches and modifications that I have created and how now that it is done I can experience how well they have all come together to create a REAL "Ultimate Driving Machine". Very few car enthusists can actually say they built every inch of their car. It's so easy to buy a mustang, camaro, Civic, and just start modifying it, but building from scratch is a whole different world.

Next Sunday if the weather is nice, myself and Bob Cohen are driving our GTMs up to the white mountains and I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll have some video footage to share afterwards.

Aman
09-19-2012, 09:53 PM
Thanks for the inspiration man!

Aman

Kempo
09-19-2012, 09:59 PM
Great write up Gary. Thanks for sharing that experience.

Kalstar
09-20-2012, 06:28 AM
That's a lot of people in one GTM.

sk7500
09-20-2012, 07:03 AM
I was talking with my wife about this very subject. I told her that there are any number of really cool cars we could have sitting in our garage for much less than we have invested in the gtm. I reminded her of our trip to Europe last year. We seen some amazing things. But unless you know the story behind a particular statue it's just a rock. Our GTMs are more than just a car to us. If I went down and bought a brand new super car could I tell the story of how my son learned how a torque wrench worked while replacing all the transaxle nuts with Nylocks? Could I look at the headlights and remember how good it felt when my dad felt my frustration and finished them for me? Or how good the sandwiches tasted that my wife made for us as we were installing the doors? These are just a few of the hundreds of stories that we have for every square inch of our car. Those memories represent a chapter in my life and in the lives of my family. So when I look at our car I see more than just shinny paint. I feel the joy of sucess of overcoming all the little challenges. All the memories will far outlast that "I got a new car" feeling.

fact5racer
09-20-2012, 07:14 PM
I was talking with my wife about this very subject. I told her that there are any number of really cool cars we could have sitting in our garage for much less than we have invested in the gtm. I reminded her of our trip to Europe last year. We seen some amazing things. But unless you know the story behind a particular statue it's just a rock. Our GTMs are more than just a car to us. If I went down and bought a brand new super car could I tell the story of how my son learned how a torque wrench worked while replacing all the transaxle nuts with Nylocks? Could I look at the headlights and remember how good it felt when my dad felt my frustration and finished them for me? Or how good the sandwiches tasted that my wife made for us as we were installing the doors? These are just a few of the hundreds of stories that we have for every square inch of our car. Those memories represent a chapter in my life and in the lives of my family. So when I look at our car I see more than just shinny paint. I feel the joy of sucess of overcoming all the little challenges. All the memories will far outlast that "I got a new car" feeling.

I swear, If my doctor told me I had just 30 days to live.............................................. ..................I would get in my GTM and head out, hit the west coast, turn around head to florida, then turn around again and again until either they cancelled my Sunoco card or I did my favorite impression of "Vanishing Point"

The Stig
09-21-2012, 08:32 AM
So what I'm picking up from this is that you like your GTM. Right?

I think it's very cool that you're able to get out and enjoy it. That's what they're built for. I certainly intend to do the same when I ever finish mine up.

Enjoy the ride Buddy!

Mike

VD2021
09-21-2012, 09:05 AM
So what I'm picking up from this is that you like your GTM. Right?

I think it's very cool that you're able to get out and enjoy it. That's what they're built for. I certainly intend to do the same when I ever finish mine up.

Enjoy the ride Buddy!

Mike

As do I. I can't see it not being driven at least once per week. I've put just over 40 miles on it, cruising inside my neiborhood, "testing" systems;).

Keep driving and enjoying every minute.

Someday I Suppose
09-21-2012, 12:38 PM
Gary, very cool and a good group of people your hanging out with :-)

I can't speak for the GTM, but have noticed my heart races a bit when I get into the roadster, its good to hear its not just me.

-Scott

joe0121
09-21-2012, 12:42 PM
When I had my 99 Corvette. That car was my therapy. There just something about getting into a performance machine and driving just to drive. I tell my wife all the time, there is driving and then there is DRIVING. No matter how bad of a day I was having I would get in that car take the roof off, fire up the engine and smile as I eased out the clutch.

RF RIDER
09-21-2012, 02:10 PM
I have not reached the go-kart stage as of yet (stopped mechanical and started body work) but when seeing my 4 year old son get into the car and turn the steering wheel while making engine noises and saying "dad, your car is the coolest" brings a smile to my face. That gives me the motivation to keep on plugging away.

LCD Gauges
09-23-2012, 12:53 AM
13th build - dam/nnnnnnn

Great story; thanks for posting.

This afternoon I stood at the end of my garage looking at my GTM, and thought, "I will never endure this much pain again in my life".

Then I got butterflies thinking about the go-kart test that I'd just weeks away.
It's a love-hate relationship with my car. I'm sure my feelings will change when it's complete,
And I'm enjoying the blood, sweet, and gears!