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A 33-year dream comes true!

Cory McCloskeyCory McCloskey Supporting Member

imageimageimageimageimageimageimage Boys, I'm not ashamed to say it in front of  you… 

 

Saturday morning, as the fellow drove away with his money, and I stood there next to this little goddess, with her key in my hand and her door not even reaching my hip, three decades of longing and dreaming and scheming washed over me like a 10-foot swell. My eyes were a little wet. I couldn't believe it had happened, and that the dreaming days were over, and that the driving days were about to begin.

 

I've been haunting this site for more than 15 years, wondering if I'd ever be more than a spectator. In fact, I joined so long ago that I couldn't even remember my password, or even which email address was associated with my membership, so, after a computer crash, I had to join again!

 

I feel like I know many of you and your cars, and I'm looking forward very much to mining the minds that know so much more than I could ever store.

 

I bought my 2012 Beck Speedster from a fellow who is not a member here, but HE bought it from someone who IS. Many thanks to SOC member Monty (who lives not far from Carey's Special Editions shop in Indiana), for outfitting the car in the way that I might have commissioned it myself… 

 I shot Monty a note this evening to thank him for keeping her in such great shape. 

 

 I've always enjoyed hearing about the setup of a new owner's ride, so here's mine in case you're like me… 

Porsche Silver with Red Leather Interior, Black Top • 2110cc Engine, Dual EMPI 44 HPMX, Sebring exhaust • Vintage Speed Quick-Throw Shifter • Whitewalls • Front Discs • Chrome Nipple Caps w/Porsche Crest • Full Size Spare • Nardi Wheel • Heater Boxes with Blower • Ivory Knobs • Dash Grab Handle • Interior Door Pulls • Halo Chrome Fire Extinguisher • Bumper Guards • VDO Gauges • Haartz Top • Full Tonneau • Classic Lap Belts ( I might re-install the three-point belts that came with the car)  • Left/Right Side Aero Mirrors • Driving Lights • German Square Weave Carpet • Headlight Screen Guards • European Rear Reflectors

 

 I'm not much of a wrench, and I already have a few questions for all of you veterans, but I will save them for another post…  

 

 Although I tossed one of our daughters into the car, (she's with me in one of the photos) and drove with her to a little Father's Day breakfast this morning, it hit 120° in some of the Phoenix suburbs today, and the rest of the week doesn't look a heck of a lot better…  I don't think I'll be getting in much daytime driving for a while.  Sometimes it's still 100° in this town at 10 PM! (Now I know how you Northerners and Midwesterners feel when you're looking at your car in your garage, then heaving a sigh and shoveling a path to your mailbox.) LOL All of us here in the desert get pretty tired of the heat by the end of September, but, believe me, no one is already looking forward to Fall more than THIS guy!

 

Thanks again to all of you long-timers here, for providing such a fun and informative online world! 

 

See you out there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We've come this far -- let's not ruin it by thinking."  – Clint Eastwood

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  • image: A little Bleach-White, and those whitewalls shine!
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Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member

Welcome to the Madness, Cory!!!

One tip - stick with the lap belts.  The shoulder belt mount of the three point belts is too low and could actually be a danger - not to mention that it's not comfortable on a long drive.  The downward pressure on your shoulder gets old after a while.  Don't hesitate to contact the guys at Special Edition if you need anything as they are the best.  Also, make sure to join in some of the group events.  The people are the best part about The Madness.

ArtArtCMC, 1641cc
Lane Anderson posted:

Welcome to the Madness, Cory!!!

One tip - stick with the lap belts.  The shoulder belt mount of the three point belts is too low and could actually be a danger - not to mention that it's not comfortable on a long drive.  The downward pressure on your shoulder gets old after a while.  Don't hesitate to contact the guys at Special Edition if you need anything as they are the best.  Also, make sure to join in some of the group events.  The people are the best part about The Madness.

Lane, I have always questioned this lapbelt coversation. My Mercedes SL,  shoulder mount is identical to the placement in my speedie. I would think, Mercedes has reviewed this issue in detail?

Art

Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member

I have been told by a number of folks that a mounting below your shoulder could result in a spinal compression in the event of an accident.  I also learned, during my first trip to Carlisle, that the slight downward pressure from the inertia reel gets downright uncomfortable after a while.  At least for the sake of comfort the set of Crow Racing lap belts was one of the best changes I've made to the car in 10 years of ownership.

Last edited by Lane Anderson
Tom BlankinshipTom Blankinship2010 Beck-Dearborn, MI

Lane is correct.  The "D-Ring" as its called in the biz must be above your shoulder or you risk spinal compression at rather slow impacts.  If you look on your daily driver, you'll see what I mean.

There are a few ways to achieve this in a speedster; racing seats and 5-point belts (or at least holes high enough in the seats to route the seat belts); routing through, or attaching to a roll bar; or mounting a strong d-ring stand next to the seat.

I guess I'd rather risk smashing my face versus being a quadriplegic, so I opted for lap belts.

A functioning roll bar would be the way to go.

Cory McCloskeyCory McCloskey Supporting Member

imageRobert, you're the nicest!

 This weekend's already spoken for, but I'm hoping for some West Coast miles come the Fall. 

There's two hundred miles of Baked Fallujah between me and SLO in the Summer, so my coast dreams must wait.

 I just watched the 2015 SLO video, though, and I was very excited to see all of the faces and cars in motion! 

 Here's a little snapshot of my world yesterday: 

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ArtArtCMC, 1641cc
Cory McCloskey posted:

imageRobert, you're the nicest!

 This weekend's already spoken for, but I'm hoping for some West Coast miles come the Fall. 

There's two hundred miles of Baked Fallujah between me and SLO in the Summer, so my coast dreams must wait.

 I just watched the 2015 SLO video, though, and I was very excited to see all of the faces and cars in motion! 

 Here's a little snapshot of my world yesterday: 

OUCH, that's a spicy hot dish

Panhandle BobPanhandle Bob'57 VS Supporting Member

Cory:

We used to live in Flagstaff,  surrounded by national forest right behind Horseman's Lodge on 89. Get that car up through Oak Creek Canyon above Sedona some time when the tourists are gone. Most people don't know what a great hill climb road that is. It'll test you. When you get to the top, the cruise on into Flag is really a nice drive. But you probably already know that.

Also, the road from Flagstaff down around Mormon Lake that hooks up with 17 around Rye is another nice drive for a Speedster. More of a cruise than Oak Creek.

Last edited by Panhandle Bob
Gordon NicholsGordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member

Kathy and I hit all of those places Bob talks about near Flagstaff and Sedona.  Back in the 1970's we worked for Hamilton Test Systems and were part of the team that installed the first vehicle emissions test centers all over the state, based over on Camelback in Phoenix.  We ended up visiting every corner of the state for a year and couldn't get enough of it.  Ended up with a subscription to "Arizona Highways" for the next 20 years and have been back several times since.  Took a while to get over the posted speed limit signs back then (which everyone ignored) but once we learned to cruise at 90-100 or so, things weren't so far apart  

You folks wanna see what a beautiful state Cory ives in?   Here you go:

https://www.arizonahighways.co...graphy/photo-archive

And THIS is the Oak Creek Canyon that Bob and I have mentioned:

Last edited by Gordon Nichols
Cory McCloskeyCory McCloskey Supporting Member

I don't want to miss anyone...

Thanks, Terry! It was a Fathers' Day weekend to remember!
Thanks for the welcome, Ray! I'd thought about Vintage Air before I landed the car, but I can't imagine ANY setup that could conquer these conditions. In these hot months, it'll have to be early AM departures for the mountains, and late-night or next-morning returns. It's hard to describe how hideous this heat can be. I work the morning show for FOX here in PHX, and I couldn't help bringing the car to the studio Monday to show everyone what I'd been annoying them about for so many years. I knew the ride home was going to be murder. If you can imagine a 12-foot Rottweiler, who hasn't had water in days, riding shotgun and panting into your face from about three inches away, then you're getting it. Looking forward to October...

Thanks for the welcome, Robert and Greg and Jethro and Bob G. and Phil and Longfella and Lfepardo and Cliff and Dan and Oceanrambler and Julio!
Appreciate all the feedback on the lap belts, Lane and Art and Tom -- things I'd not have thought to consider... I'll investigate the Crow belts.
And, Lfepardo, I've always enjoyed the look of your whitewalls, and those of others in the group. My car happened to come with them, so I'm lucky to have 'em. I'll probably buy a set of regular tires in the future -- would like to change the look occasionally.
As for the Porsche 356 Registry sticker on the windshield, it was already there. So be it. I have a neighbor down the street whom I love (P-Car owner and clubber), who will probably razor it off some late evening. He's been after me to find some sad coupe, shot through with rust and weevils, and restore it. I keep telling him that I think I'll only live to be about 130 or so, and I don't think I'll have the time.
Gordon and BobG, you're right -- she's going to look SO pretty zipping through Oak Creek Canyon! Thanks, Gordon, for that beautiful photo and wonderful story -- that drive isn't Big Sur, but I think it lacks only the ocean!
Ahhh... Musbjim and Stan and Lane -- I love how you boys roll with the punches -- thanks for providing me with SO much entertainment over the years!
And the Dr....
Alan and I did all we COULD to get together on a build, but timing and credit unions and DMVs conspired against me. I'll always wonder what might have been, Alan... We'll get together on the next one!

I'm jazzed and unashamed, like every newbie... Looking forward to torturing you all with my ignorance! Thanks in advance for your patience...

Oh -- one last thing -- can someone track me down a hardtop?

BWAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAA

 

 

IMDougIMDougAZ 1978 IMendeola Supporting Member

Hey Cory ! Welcome to the madness ....... gotta be crazy to drive in 120-degree weather but, with the a/c turned on max, it's not really so bad ;-)

To all my knuckle-headed buddies in SOC and at this year's Speedster-fest, Karine and I will be fondly thinking of you wishing we could be there. We have three separate waves of European visitors scheduled starting the weekend-of, so we shall be awaiting Musbjim's next epic extravaganza to partake of what we will regret to have missed. We're already looking forward to next year !!

Stay safe everyone, and no matter what you do, don't let Scott buy you a drink ;-0

 

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