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. 2016?It's ok I guess, someone's got to do it!! Haha.
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?The names Mark, I live on the northside of brisbane at deception bay and my user name is pretty basic, its my initials and year of birth. so no, dont read it as MisterW82, i am not up myself!!
I an a maintenance fitter at G james glass at eagle farm, I guess having the trade gives me the skills for all the dodgy shit I do on snotbox. but I've seen less qualified people do even dodgier shit, so zooks really are a hobby for anyone.
How did you get started in Suzuki's & how many have you owned?My brother gave me a Sierra when I first got my license, I had heaps of fun in that zook but sold it due to reliability issues. After going through a few different cars and drowning a 'nice' fourby I decided I needed something cheap to go bush in that wouldn't matter if it got scratched/dented/drowned etc. and another Sierra was the perfect fit so brought a fairly stock green LWB zook that has become snotbox.
So that's 2 road going zooks I've owned, but your not a real zooker until you've parted out at least 1 zook. I think i'm up to a couple now
How long did it take you to build your zook to what it is today?I brought Snotbox in 2007. I guess theres not many on here that can claim they've had (and wheeled) the same zook for 9 years.
Any changes in store for your Suzuki?I'm sort of looking into adding EFI to the 1 litre, but I have very little spare time and too many projects as it is, so it'll probably just stay carby for now. a while ago I was looking into a 1.6 upgrade, even had a donor vitara. but decided the 1 litre does everything I need it to do and I can go as hard as i possibly can and not break shit, whereas others I wheel with can easily get a little excited and break shit on command. I am quite happy with the setup I have, It works really well for what and how I drive.
What has been your best modification?as great as being twin air locked is, I would have to say the 2 best mods I have done have been crawler gears and power steering. they give so much more control in all off road situations. the lockers would win too, but I do enjoy going out and playing on tracks open diffed, it makes you realize how lazy you get with point and shoot lockers, instead of picking lines.
What has been your worst modification?Chequer plate door trims!!!! they are like rubbing your elbow on a cheese grater. it was one of the first things I done to snotbox, I hate them every time I go off road, yet I still haven't bothered to remove them.
If you could have anybody else's zook, who's would it be and why?Thats a tough one, having had snotbox so long is testament to the fact i'm pretty happy with it and what it can do. Darrens ring ding is always impressive to watch on the tracks and has a cult following. but I wouldn't have a hope in hell of fitting in the drivers seat. I sat in it once and couldn't physically lift my leg to put it on the clutch pedal. I don't know how darren fits in it being so tall.
What has been your best 4wding trip?Coffs trip a few years ago was pretty epic, out of all the zooks that turned up snotbox was the lowest there (with only a 2" spring lift and 30" tyres) and drove everything the others drove (except the uphill of vales, but only the grand sierra was able to drive that anyway) and I was 1 of only 3 or 4 left unbroken by the end of the weekend.
I also have fond memories of my first trip to Fraser island, 4 days, 1000km and the back of the zook was loaded up like the beverly hillbillies. but theres nothing quite like driving a soft top sierra through the inland rain forest tracks of fraser island while its pouring with rain.
The windows kept fogging up and the inside of the zook was just as wet as the outside. I loved every minute of that trip.
If you could go to any place in the world to wheel, where would that be?I want to do more 4wd/outback touring of australia. there is so much to see of this country I don't see the need to go anywhere else.
Who are you closest to in the auszooker's community?All the guys from NBS, that's who I wheel with and camp with. I have been a member of NBS for almost as long as I've had snotbox and am the current club president. I can trust any of those guys to guide me through the toughest of tracks safely. a lot of the stuff we drive you are putting your full trust in the person out front not to steer you wrong and onto your lid, likewise you need to be able to over ride your natural instincts and do exactly as they tell you to do.
What other toys/hobbies do you put a lot of time into?family. my family is my life, I have a wonderful wife and 2 amazing kids, I've been waiting years for my son to be old enough to ride shotgun in snotbox so we can have father son wheeling trips. the last year he has started coming out on easy/medium trips.
He loves 4 wheel driving and all things cars. I look forward to building him a zook (or other fourby) together through his teenage years, which should keep him broke enough he wont be able to afford to do drugs. and having a hobby in common to hopefully keep a close relationship with him.
What is it about the auszookers that brings you back for more?The tech section, and for sale. I've always got my eye out for a bargain (like any true zooker).
What about the auszookers forum would you like to see changed?In terms of activity, forums are dying out to facebook groups. but the flip side is all the noobs don't bother signing up to forums when they can just ask a question on facebook. so there is less stupid. facebook will never have the tech database you get with a forum so I believe forums will always have their place. I don't see any real need to change anything dramatically.
Now for the million dollar question, who do you select to be the next Z.O.O.M. & why?Greg/just cruisin. because TAG, you're it!
