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?
I'm actually quite chuffed about it, Joe normally tells me to shut up.
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?
My user name means, I'm a dumb ass that didn't fill out the sign up page properly, Do'h !
I'm short, round and robust, I believe that if you can't fix it with a hammer then you need a bigger hammer. Nothing is impossible just some things are more difficult than others. Also I'm always right, its just that people often disagree with me.
I'm a self employed ceramic tiler but I've been a cook and a courier and mechanic and a few other things in my 47 years, mostly just a dumb ass that bangs his head and trips over stuff. I like to make people laugh if I can. I live in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne about 25 min from the city and a friggin hour and a bit from Joes shed, oh well it's a nice drive.
I have two dogs, Elle Jay, a Kelpie x Boarder Collie x Blue Healer and Ava, who was rescued from my sisters neighbour, her chip says she's a Labrador x Staffy.
How did you get started in Suzuki's & how many have you owned?
Well I've wanted an LJ since they were new I was only 8 years old when I saw one drive down the road and I wanted one.
Then ten years later a mate inherited his grandfathers LJ 50, he sold it without even offering it to me.
then about 25 years ago he offered to sell me an LJ 50 he'd just bought it had new Saas seats ( which are still in it) 30" Yokohama's and a corolla boat anchor in it but it drove, so I bought it. I've also had a few other Suzuki's like a super carry, a Jimny, a 94 4 door JLX Vit, a 2000 2.5 GV and now the Prestige. There's been a couple of LJ's pass through my hands as well over the years.
How long did it take you to build your zook to what it is today?
Ummm it's been a while. It's had 4 major rebuilds in 25 years. I registered it, then did a leaf over on it with the help of a friend who had little understanding of how to make that work then I met Joe and lots of trial and error went into that suspension to get it to work really well and the motor, I tried almost every thing to get the boat anchor to work to no avail, so in the bin it went and was replaced with a G13a, five speed, an LJ 80 body and blue paint, instant improvement.
Then in late 2002 Joe ordered me a Vit import half cut and the transformation began including getting it engineered. Then a few years back we did the coils and diffs and stuff.
Any changes in store for your Suzuki?
Yep, power windows and aircon, maybe cruse control.
What has been your best modification?
The G16baw4dualtransfer4.6airlockersfullfloatdiscbrakecoilspringpowersteering.
Ok I'll pick just one. The air shift for the Vit transfer, it turns me into Homer Simpson, I just sit there and change from high to low and giggle with delight.
What has been your worse modification?
Persisting with the boat anchor, not that I did that mod originally.
Oh I did put a land rover ashtray in it once and it caught land rover disease and started leaking oil, frying its wiring and breaking down alot.
I got rid of the ashtray.
If you could have anybody else's zook, who's would it be and why?
I have to agree with Joe, Mr Greens four door Seirra is awesome, it's good to see a quality build and attention to detail but I really like LJimny as well, a good build and thinking outside of the box.
What has been your best 4wding trip?
The one I started 25 years ago and I'm still on it. As far as destinations go, our first Tassie trip was a real highlight but its only just ahead of a long list.
If you could go to any place in the world to wheel, where would that be?
Canada, great people, spectacular scenery and I think they'd have every kind of terrain you could possibly want to drive.
Who are you closest to in the auszooker's community?
No surprises here, Joeblow of course but so far everyone I've met from AZ have been pretty cool.
Tell us what the wheeling is like in your area?
Porsches, Hondas , conformodores the occasional Lycra clad tossel jockey but when I get out of town it gets much better we have a few rocks ( about three) lots of hills that seem to go on forever and if your really lucky you might see some snow, enough mud when it rains and even a small dessert in the top corner of the state.
What other toys/hobbies do you put a lot of time into?
I've got a couple of RC rock crawlers that get the dust blown off them every now and then. Also I like to blow my horn when I can, yes playing a bit of blues on my tenor sax is a great way to wind down, sure does seem to piss off the neighbours though, I'm a hack.
What is it about the auszookers that brings you back for more?
The fact that nobody takes it too seriously, most of the time. You can hang it on people a bit and they just wear it or get flamed if they can't.
What about the auszookers forum would you like to see changed?
It needs a like button and a dislike button, maybe even a "pissoff idiot" button.
Main Vehicle Specs
LJ 80, g16b, aw4, dual transfers custom diffs with full float rear axels, disc brakes, coil springs power steering and 33's.
Now for the million dollar question, who do you select to be the next Z.O.O.M. & why?
303zuke he just seems to know lots of stuff and I'd be intrigued to hear his story.
