Congratulations on being selected for Auszookers Zook Owner of the Month!
How does it feel being honoured with the nomination for June 2016 Z.O.O.M.?
Can I say surprised? Recognition for one's humble attempt to help others always provides a warm, fuzzy feeling. It is rare and when it happens, it is Golden.
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 the grandson of two English immigrants from Manchester. "Acker Dackerly" is the name of a character in a Science Fiction story I occasionally try to write (Not inspired by "Mars Attacks!" - total coincidence. Really!) I try to shorten it to "Ack" when a forum I join allows. I live in Independence, Missouri USA - hometown of former President Harry S Truman. I am a Broadcast Engineer at a local TV station (retiring in June!)
How did you get started in Suzuki's & how many have you owned?
I bought my first - and current - SJ413 "Samurai" in 1999 from a lady real estate agent. Over the years, I have "recycled" two samurais - highly educational but something I will not do again - and am currently restoring a 1988.5 Samurai 'Tintop" adding a VW 1.9 turboDiesel backed with a Vitara (Geo Tracker) 5-speed gearbox and transfer case. It is a lot of work just to get the gearing to match the power band of the Diesel for daily-driving...
Other Suzuki products include a 1993 LWB Suzuki Sidekick 16-valve 5-speed, a 1996 SWB Geo Tracker 16-valve convertable 3-speed auto, a 1996 LWB Sidekick Sport 1.8 5-speed and a 2002 LWB Chevrolet Tracker 2.5 V6 4-spd OD auto- all daily drivers except for the 1996 Tracker.
Somewhere during this 17-year offroading adventure, I briefly owned a 1973 Styr-Puch Pinzgauer 710M formerly in service with the Swiss Army. Giant. Money. Pit. But fun to drive! Terrible flex but it could get out of most any hole.
How long did it take you to build your zook to what it is today?I started on the Hypnotoad early in 2000 adding stuff since then. Along the way, I have added:
4" SPOA suspension lift, 30" BFG AT/KO tyres (on my second set) custom air tank front bumper and A/C pump powered onboard air (later removed), G16a engine, Rocky Road Outfitters DIY rear bumper, used Rocky Road Outfitters Stage II Over The Top steering system (BEST MOD EVAH!), Weber 32/36 Carb (removed), Sidewinder/MySide 44mm CV carburetion system, 4.625-1 Vitara ring and pinons (Got help with that one), Zuks Offroad front winch bumper and semi-crappy 8,000 pound Harbor Freight winch, Vitara seats, LED running lights and the Green/Yellow rattle-can camoflage paintjob that resulted in the name "The HypnoToad". It has more daily driver miles on it than actual offroading miles...
Any changes in store for your Suzuki?I may re-install the passenger seat once I fix the floorpan…
What has been your best modification?OTT steering - totally removed bumpsteer from my driving experience! Oh and the 1.6, and 4.625 ring and pinions. Easy to keep up with 100KPH freeway traffic.
What has been your worst modification?Onboard air compressor. Never quite worked right…
If you could have anybody else's zook, who's would it be and why?There are several LWB SJs that I have seen and lusted for - but alas they are too expensive and rare in North America for my blood. Importing a new LWD Maruti Gypsy from New Zealand is pointless as it cannot be titled in the US for road use...
What has been your best 4wding trip?I had the great good fortune to green-lane in Wales with Dave from Bits4Vits and Bret (maverick at Shropshiresuzuki.com) in 2011. An incredible drive through the beautiful Welsh countryside.
I have driven (not trailered!) to around 10 ZookiMelts over the years. Despite the 1500KM (one way) drive, wheeling at The Badlands ORV park (ZookiMelt's former home) in Attica Indiana is the BEST in the US! Most exciting was the one where I was towing 550 KG of carparts and managed to explode a clutchplate...
If you could go to any place in the world to wheel, where would that be?Australia. Hopefully, I will see many of you there soon!
Who are you closest to in the auszooker's community?Laurie and Bumstein. They have been instrumental in helping put together my trip to Australia
Tell us what the wheeling is like in your area?Few and far between... There are three off-road parks that are within a half-day's drive. Two are private, one is public. There are logging trails in the Mark Twain forest on the other side of the state. Never been there, though.
What other toys/hobbies do you put a lot of time into?Computers, foamboard RC airplanes, Watching non-US TV shows (like Top Gear, TAYG, Great British Railway Journeys and Mr. & Mrs Murder), home improvements and something called "Ack's FAQ"...
What is it about the auszookers that brings you back for more?All the new and different ideas and interests of the members! I am not much of a fisherman, but Disco has inspired me to try fishing around Broome during my upcoming trip.
What about the auszookers forum would you like to see changed?Not much, really. Maybe putting Z.OO.M. in a more prominent place so folks could read more about their fellow AusZookers. It would help if folks stayed on-topic in technical posts... but that is a problem everywhere in the InterWebs...
Now for the million dollar question, who do you select to be the next Z.O.O.M. & why?Dang - a tough question... Disco? (assuming he has not already had the honor.)
very gracious of you