[31zook]

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. 2014?
I didn’t score this gig through a nomination but was talking to 31zook at the recent Wotto’s trip and asked what happened to the ZOOM as I find it a good read. He asked if I would like to have a go so why not.

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?
Ben is who I am, 41 with three daughters from 17 to 21. Living on the mid north coast of NSW in Coffs Harbour and self employed landscaper by day. Bogga came about back in the day when mud seemed to be fun all until the damage started piling up.

Thought about changing my username but it kinda still works


How did you get started in Suzuki's & how many have you owned?
Always had an interest in 4wding but mainly touring and easy forest trails. Owned a Toyota Surf 3ltr for years but after moving to Coffs Harbour in 2007 really wanted to start hitting some more challenging trails but in typical Suzuki style budget restraints were a driving factor.
If memory serves me correct I purchased my current sierra about 5yrs ago stock as a rock and there it began.


How long did it take you to build your zook to what it is today?
Well over the 5yrs I’ve owned her it’s been a slow build but built up as I gained more experience. Best thing I done was started driving it stock and learning the vehicles capabilities and also mine. Before owning the sierra I didn’t know the first thing about mechanics but through trial and error and loads of research, I now feel quite confident tackling most mechanical issues.
Where she sits today


Any changes in store for your Suzuki?
Nothing major in the works. Feel like I’ve achieved the perfect balance of a very capable vehicle off road, yet on road still has good manners. My wife drives this daily (10km round trip to work) and she is very comfortable in it and god bless her is straight onto me whenever she hears a unusual squeek, rattle, wobble or crunch so it’s safe to say it’s pretty well maintained if only to keep the peace.
It would be nice to run air lockers as opposed to auto front and spool rear. Spool eats tyres on road but more so it would be nice to drive trails unlocked again now I have a lot more experience.
Not into the buggy or crazy build side of things. I kind of like the concept of hitting up some real tough tracks through the day then being able to run down to the shops in the arvo.


What has been your best modification?
Hard to say really as each mod done seems to marry with and better the last. As an example, front locker goes in snaps a cv so chromos go in and spits hub bolts, hub bolts upgraded etc etc. Best mod for comfort was the Legacy seats that went in. Best mod for wheeling with locked front was powersteering. Best mod for 31’s was 4.9 reduction gears. Best mod for my panels was barwork.

What has been your worse modification?
Checkerplate door cards hands down. Lasted about 2 blood transfusions due to knee injuries. As far as mods I would like to take the body lift out as it does sit to high now but bar work makes this way to difficult to even worry about.

If you could have anybody else's zook, who's would it be and why?
Mine because I’ve built it for my driving and my conditions where I mainly wheel. As far as liking another vehicle, there are way too many I like and all in their own way.

What has been your best 4wding trip?
Last weekend at Wotto’s 2014 by far. Company was fantastic all weekend and there was no bullshit just tonnes of laughs. Trails were completely different to what I’m use to driving and was great to have the adrenalin back pumping for most of the weekend. Small group consisting of 3 lwb, 2 swb and 1 Jimny and every vehicle unique in its own way. Was interesting watching the different lines driven based on driver and vehicle set up. Couple of me from the weekend





If you could go to any place in the world to wheel, where would that be?
Too much to wheel is Aust first. Vic high country is top of my list.


Who are you closest to in the auszooker's community?
Boggomobile as he is local and has helped me so much over the years with technical knowledge, fab skills and a seemingly endless supply of spare parts. Cut4b when he was living local but still have the odd phone call and there’s 31zook, JimnyTimmy and all the other guys I’ve had the chance to wheel with over the years.


Tell us what the wheeling is like in your area?
Awesome! Everything is so close to town. I can leave my driveway and within 5mins have hubs locked in driving some crazy track in lowrange. There are trails here for all levels of wheeling but generally the harder stuff is long, very steep, massive ruts, clay, shale and when its wet which is ¾ of the year its slippery as hell and if its to dry it is very loose. The area is predominantly rain forest with some great crystal clear creeks plus open woodlands and some great beach runs.








What other toys/hobbies do you put a lot of time into?
I draw a lot almost daily, more as a hobby and it’s a great destress and I find it relaxing. I primarily use graphite and charcoal but would one day like to oil paint but in more traditional methods. Would love to make a living from it but there are a lot of starving artists out there and plus I own a Suzuki! I organised for a print run of stickers for the annual Wotto’s run from one of my original drawings that seem to go down well with those that attended.






What is it about the auszookers that brings you back for more?
Anything you want to know is right in here and the search function doesn’t give a smart arse reply when you keep pestering it


What about the auszookers forum would you like to see changed?
Nothing about the forum itself


Now for the million dollar question, who do you select to be the next Z.O.O.M. & why?
Boggomobile and for reasons I said earlier plus the guy has been around suzuki’s for a long time and i can’t count how many he has at his place, and I promise you Im not joking. A guy like this has to have a good few tales to tell

[atari4x4]

I've been hanging for this, awesome read & a great nomination!

[madmacca]

Good read , worthy Nomination ,well done

[Joe]

Congrats and them drawings are unreal

[greenzook89]

Great read Bogga and like the others said awesome nomination!

[Scrawny]

Good read Ben! It was great meeting you earlier this year too

[Marko_SJ]

Congrats on ZOOM Bogga. Thanks a lot for the read and pictures.

The drawings are pretty sweet, as I don't have an artistic bone (skull?) in my body, how much work is in one of them?

Cheerss Bogga and 31zook.

[bogga]

Thanks for the comments
Marco the pics don't pick up the fine detail that I get so caught up in. The two skulls with the red in the background is A4 and prob about 15hrs work. The skull with the cards is a little larger and done in charcoal and would be well over 20hrs work! Here's a pic of my process and alot of it is hand rubbing into the paper

[atari4x4]

^^^^ yep, you go skills.

[bogga]

Or skulls

[Zook_Fan]

Very very cool drawings! Awesome read, glad to see ZOOM is back!

[SierraDan]

Kewl!

[cut4b]

YOUR THE MAN BENNY

[ZookFan]

Great read..and cheers for the top pics too

[bogga]

Just going through some old pics and here's a blast from the past on a local beach

[bogga]

Haha and another oldie back when my bro had a sierra and mud was the all the rage!