Congratulations on being selected for Auszookers Zook Owner of the Month!
How does it feel being honoured with the nomination for Z.O.O.M. 2013?
Surprised as I am still a newbie really – but think it is a great idea to get people here to know one another a lot better.
So tell us about yourself. Who are you, What's the meaning to your username, Where do you
live, and what do you do for a living?
I am a retired old fart that lives in the bush 75k’s from Lightning Ridge – I have been here for a bit over 20 years and don’t think I will be moving anywhere soon. I have done all sorts of things in my life – I am a carpenter and did my apprenticeship at Pinewood studios in the UK (yes I am a 10 pound Pom) and worked on the early Bond and Carry on movies mainly. When I finished my time I came to Australia in 1967 to Sydney as they were going to build a film studio there but by 1971 I gave up waiting and moved to north Qld. and spent 10 years fishing and diving around the Whitsunday islands and the Great Barrier Reef Before moving inland and plying with Gold mining for a while.
I soon moved from Gold to Computers and back to the coast for a while and ran a Tandy Store for a while – Got divorced – Meet a Girl I could live with (and still do) Gave up chasing money (the ex got all of that) and went travelling and ended up here and never stopped have fun along the way.
My user name is my name so no real story there except maybe that it has always been the same since the early days in the 80’s when it was just individual BBS’s that we used our clip-on modems to talk to each other at a scintillating 200baud.
How did you get started in Suzuki's & how many have you owned?
I brought my first Sierra in 1989 – it was a 1984 1lt sj40 – I had built a bus mobile home and got it to trailer behind that while travelling around fruit picking and such. I still have that one and have just rebuilt it with a new look and a 1.3lt motor and 5 speed box etc. I now have a number of Susuki’s lined up to restore and a Vitara as a daily drive although where I live that means about once a fortnight to go to town shopping.
How long did it take you to build your zook to what it is today?
This for me is a never ending job. I am not a mad 4WD person, more a car person – I had restored a few in the past and after a hart operation a few years ago my lady said “Why don’t you fix up the old Sierra” and now having done that I have a couple of LJ 50’s under way and a part built mini monster to finish and would love to add a LJ20 to the list. So from this you can see I have no time to die any time soon.
Any changes in store for your Suzuki?
See Above – Just change them from dead to new is all.
What has been your best modification?
Putting comfortable seats in the Sierra.
What has been your worse modification?
3” lift springs in the sierra – they are as hard a ride as a Land Rover I used to have. They tell me they get softer with use but I may end up taking some leaves out.
If you could have anybody else's zook, who's would it be and why?
Any one with an LJ20 – Because I want one. OR the ultimate would be to find an ONO360 in a barn out here somewhere.
What has been your best 4wding trip?
Out here we call it going to town – For the last 2 years the main road has been under water and we have had to take a 25k’s overland bush track detour.
If you could go to any place in the world to wheel, where would that be?
South America.
Who are you closest to in the auszooker's community?
Ummmmm ……………… Dunooo …………. I was thinking of ………. No best not.
Tell us what the wheeling is like in your area?
Flat except for the few ridges where most people live but there is plenty of places to go as there are tracks everywhere and not many people to say “Get out of here”
What other toys/hobbies do you put a lot of time into?
Oh-dear – I am a stamp collector and an Astronomer and always have some new interest and projects on the go – never seem to have enough time or cash for it all but at least I don’t have neighbours to complain about the noise or council saying you can’t do that or building inspectors saying that’s not how to build it.
What is it about the auszookers that brings you back for more?
Knowledge and funny pictures
What about the auszookers forum would you like to see changed?
Unnecessary foul language removed/stopped but that seems to be everywhere these days.
So if there is just one bit of advice you would give someone just starting out with Suzuki 4wds what would it be and why?
Get an LJ – they are cute.
Main Vehicle Specs
SJ40 – G13 engine 5 speed box – WT Transfer case – 3” suspension lift – 16” Vitara wheels. No gears etc because don’t have the terrain around here that need them.
Now for the million dollar question, who do you select to be the next Z.O.O.M. & why?
Tanshi is my choice because he is a LJ fan even though he does no keep them original
that tonneau cover has been around a bit, that's a fatzook creation from memory?
"A hunting we will go"
