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 great to get nominated, I haven’t put together a build thread as it’s really just been an experiment.
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?Husband and father of 3 kids, the 2 boys just love 4WD’s with the Linc, middle child, already comfortable in the extreme stuff. The boys at Coffs can attest to that. This kid has already been in a layover and fallen asleep on an extreme night run. It’s bloody hard trying to drive tracks and hold an 8yo’s boof head from bouncing about.
Just cruizin’ came from when I had a 105 series cruiser, was my 2nd 4WD after a Forerunner. Started using that username on 4WD Monthly (back then) forum and have stuck with it through the life of that forum, till it got overrun with the tossers, through Outerlimits4x4 then into my zook days. The cruiser is now gone but the name remains.
I’m a Pipeline Engineer spending my time between Brisbane offices and the gas fields of the Bowen Basin and live in Joyner on the northside of Brisbane.
How did you get started in Suzuki's & how many have you owned?Back in the cruiser days I dropped a fortune on mods only to find the more you have the harder you go and cruisers have lots of panels. Also driving 600km’s to work each week the fuel bill was getting up there. Convinced the boss a cheap little runabout would pay for itself in saved fuel (and insurance excess) so bought my first Sierra, 95 WT, Rattler. Name came from the process you go through when you drop piston skirts.
Along the way I picked up a LWB rear drive shaft from Steve as so Rattler II was born, and still in build, can’t say progress.
NFI was purchased as a consortium of 5 club people as a $500 shitter. Gearbox had about a 1/3 of a gear left and the transfer inlet had no bearing whatsoever and you could shake inside the case.
How many have I owned is a difficult question, what qualifies as a zook, registered, driveable, rolling or just a body. 3 registered, currently though 1 driveable(registered), 1 x ½ build, 1 x started. And along the way I’ve owned various bodies, wrecks.
How long did it take you to build your zook to what it is today?NFI has been in the club for about 7 years I think. Was turned from a shitter into something we could compete in over a weekend. The 5 owners threw bits and pieces we all had lying about into it and we made it happen. Since then it’s been a progressive build, break, fix cycle. Some things are for the better, some for the worse. Not much of the original car remains, chassis, pedals and master cylinder that’s about it.
A brief status is:
G13BB, sierra gearbox, 6.5 transfer & 3.7 WT’s with ARB’s cromo’s up front and ADD floaters in the rear
2” lifted Rear springs all round with cheapo shocks, body lift and virtual lift. Was on 35 Silverstones, currently wearing 33 BFG’s, but may step back up to 35 creepies for comps.
Jimny power steering, TSOR HD steering arms.
Fuel Cell and battery in the rear, GTI seats and exo.
Any changes in store for your Suzuki?Dropping some height out of it, going back to standard rear springs in the front without the need for extended shackles. U bolt flip. Belly plates and a rear disconnect (just because Bruce has one)
What has been your best modification?
Body Lift is where it’s at. No really Gears, nothing ease changes the drivability as much as gears. Lockers are nice but picking good lines is more important.
What has been your worst modification?Been a few, shit tyres and extended shackles used for the wrong reason would be the top of the list.
If you could have anybody else's zook, who's would it be and why?
Mr Green’s Grand Sierra, haven’t seen it in the flesh but from all reports it’s just magic. Being able to take the whole family out wheeling in something that capable would be unreal. With both boys fighting to come along a new build has started with a LWB with room for 3 and camping gear.
What has been your best 4wding trip?Coffs, I really need a reliable car that can go the distance. Ben, Josh and the crew are awesome and it’s a trip that every zooker needs to do.
If you could go to any place in the world to wheel, where would that be?Utah and the Rubicon trail – it’s the mecca
Who are you closest to in the auszooker's community?the guys and girls of the NBS club up in Brisbane, a great group to wheel and socialize with, these guys are my best friends.
What other toys/hobbies do you put a lot of time into?Apart from family and everything that having 3 active kids brings it’s 4WDing. Whether is trolling the forums or selling body lifts, 4WD’s are my life.
What is it about the auszookers that brings you back for more?The community, Auszookers is a great place to spend hours either researching tech and shooting the shit with others, put your emotions aside and don’t take life too seriously.
What about the auszookers forum would you like to see changed?Originally I thought ‘nothing’ but on consideration I’d say an induction is almost warranted. Now facebook has taken most of the dickheads and those wanting instant answers I think a quick 3 minute video of what a forum is and the benefits would be great for all new members. Like in ‘Tech’ it’s tech, not ‘Can I fit 31’s;’. You will read something the wrong way, that’s your problem, not the person who wrote it. Before you get angry laugh, most things in life are a piss take and if you can’t laugh at yourself you need to lighten up and enjoy life.
Now for the million dollar question, who do you select to be the next Z.O.O.M. & why?Dave Mac (Dmac) in Papa Smurf, another capable rig that just seems to get the job done with little fuss.
As bought
http://nbs4x4club.com/forum/index.php?a ... 4365;image
First run at Janowen Hills, clean up surprisingly well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj9O63X ... r_embedded
https://youtu.be/ikaUPxU72oM
