I've put 'er up for the year.

Kids, it's been fun. Teresa is now the owner, operator, driver and mechanic for the Hoopty, pending my return from the Dark Continent.
It's being garaged in Crofton, Md., and Teresa says she'll be down occasionally to burn a little dino juice.
Matt and Jeanne Tobia are the caretakers. Teresa's got a PoA; might be could use a little help with Carlisle registration and such.
Take care, all, and be safe.
See you soon; if I can post from somewhere along the way, I will.
Cory

The Hoopty looks pretty comfortable there....
Stay safe my friend....
bring me back a ball sack for my change...

Go get'em Cory!

And take care of yourself Chief...... Show the youngsters the way!

Dude, take it easy and watch your back.

Cory--take care of yourself over there---try to post to let us know what's up with you --you have an awful lot of friends on this SOC site? Talk later---Jack

Take care of yourself, Cory. At one point you said something about spending some time stationed in SC before heading overseas. Let me know if that happens, and maybe we can get together.

Good Luck Cory--Stay safe!! I don't think I ever told this bunch, maybe some of you know but...I work for an airline--In order to move the massive numbers of troops the military contracts the different airline carriers to bring them over to Kuwait etc...Part of the contract is supplying a full crew to support the aircraft (Pilots, flt attd's and mechanics). I've gone over a few times in order to bring troops over and also bring some back. The one thing I couldn't get over after meeting them was just how young they look and are. Most of them are carrying duffel bags bigger than they are (really). They load the plane themselves and then climb on board for a very very long flight and aren't allowed off till they get to their final destination (20 plus hrs sometimes). We may stop in Italy, Ireland or Germany to swap out our crews but they ride on. One flight I witnessed the #1 soldier in charge pull soldiers out of the ranks in order to load the plane. The others filed into the a/c and took their seats. This is a long labor intensive process (no belt loading equip. here, all by hand). Once loaded the "#1" lead them to their 1st class seats--they were a happy bunch.-Nice to see. All in all everyone I met was extremely positive and a great bunch. Another surprise (my ignorance) was the large number of girl. They truly are a great group of people!! You're in good hands. and so are we.-Thanks

Save passage, Buddy.

Fair winds and following seas!

Kick ass, take names and come home safe.

I'll call Teresa every week.

angela

Not mine . Gona be 70ish friday ,if the weather man is right. I will roll her out and install the heaters friday. and enjoy her some more..

Take it easy Cory and be careful over there. We'll be looking forward to your return.

ECB

Cory, stay safe and see you back here

Cory,
We look forward to your return. You know our thoughts for you.

Happy Trails,
Dusty and Sharon

Corey.....Remember three things, "Never volunteer", "Never stand when you can sit, or sit when you can lay down." , and "Get your butt back here safe and sound" .......Good Luck and Best Wishes....

Corey:

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
The sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Safe travels!!

Cory, You can be sure that your name will be on our minds whenever we lift prayer. On the bright side, I'm sure Teresa will be a blast at Carlisle, right!!!

Cory, You can be sure that your name will be on our minds whenever we lift prayer. On the bright side, I'm sure Teresa will be a blast at Carlisle, right!!!

Cory, be safe man and know that the thoughts expressed here represent only a small measure of what you mean to the folks on this site.
tb

Give um,,( What for) Cory.. Don't take any bull from them. But do watch your 6 (!)!!!

Cory:

Give those pirates hell and come home safe.

We'll all be thinking of you.

Gordon and Kathy (and the pups)

Cory, my friend!!

Watch your '6' and come home SAFE! I'll be there when you come back state-side!!

Peace - Out!

Be safe, do your job, and come home soon. Thanks for the many times you have served.

Cory , When are you shipping out? Where will you be deployed at?
I still have a few bud's still in even though retirement is right around the corner for many.
They were a great group to be with when I was deloyed over Iraq during Desert Storm .
Good luck and be safe out there!

Joe

Cory,

Looks like things are getting ship-shape, all squared away, and lashed down. It's hard to get a grip on your being out so long, but I know the mission will run well, and will be better for your presence. I expect that there will be connectivity, so keep the broadcasts coming, as we all (your VERY extended family here) will be keenly intertested. Good luck, and keep your head down.

Kelly

Cory,

Be safe,& and as they don't say in the south of France........
Git Er Dun !!

Cory, Take care my friend and be safe. This site will be very quiet without you posting regularly. I know we will all be anxiously awaiting the news that you are back in the states.

Get em Tiger, stay safe and hurry back!

Cory, it's ALL been said, so I'll just say ... "See you back soon and protect your 6.."

Speedster "D"

Hey Cory,

All the best! You posted some time ago that your 356 leaked and you were going to purchase a replacement top. How did that work out? I also live in Maryland (Bowie) and was wondering how the car performs in cold weather. I'm thinking of buying a 356 Speedster and could use some help with my decision. I have not seen any of these cars up close and personal.

Thanks,
JP

James - Cory's car HAS no top or side windows, and it barely has a windshield. He's the King of Open Air Driving. We're not worthy.

All of the rest of us - with the exception of some of the Intermeccanica folks - have battled leaks of some magnitude or another. Even the originals leaked. The top was called an "emergency top". These will never be fully weather-proof, but that's not the point. They are raw, simple, and direct ways of traveling in an involving and entertaining manner. You actually begin to accept some of the shortcomings as part of the adventure. That said, there are things that you can do to reduce the amount of air/water leakage. There are several folks in your area (Kelly Frazer, Bruce Stump, etc.) that I urge you to get in touch with. I'm sure they'd be happy to take you for a ride.

James - Mine hasn't leaked for the 20 years its been a work in progress in the garage. Pull up the CMC build manual at the Library tab. It covers how to seal the pan to body joint. A new pan gaslet and lots of silicon/caulking and then cover with fiberglass and resin and it should even hold water from when you forget to put the top up. Side curtains and front windshield to top seal can be fixed too - to being liveable. I wouldn't consider it a daily driver - unles you get the artic survival suit and snoopy leather flying cap like Cory sported (was that a whicte scarf I saw trailing in one of his photos?

Thanks to all who contributed:

My dilemmia: I have a Lexus 03' SC 430 (hardtop convertible) and would hate to part with it for the 356, eventhough I have a second vehicle used for daily driving. My Lexus is extremely nice with all the bells and whistles. I am sure some of you have had to face the same dilemmia - should I or shouldn't I.

What would help me is too visually see and drive the Speedster. My preference,as of now is the wide body or super wide body.

JP

Hmmm... The Lexus and the Speedster are on the opposite end of the spectrum, with the only commonality being the drop top. You definitely need to try before you buy.

The only Speedster that I'd trade your Lexus in for would be one like Howard Bobrow (orthohbb1)in NJ has and had on display with the IM exhibit at Carlisle last year (after just having it delivered). Drooolll ... Absolutely awesome car! Contact him - Definately worth a ride to NJ to see and perhaps drive it! Being an IM, I bet it doesn't even leak - Carlisle whould have tested it for sure.

https://www.speedsterowners.com/forum/readmsg.asp?t=12492

James,

I will assume you read the locked thread at the top of the Newbie section. Read it several times. I will risk wrath from some here by saying you should not trade the Lexus for a Speedster. Having one each makes a lot of sense however, as this is basically my arrangement. The Speedster is a toy, and a very cool one at that, but I do also have a real car: '03 Mazda 6. Some use their Speedsters as daily drivers and it can be done. Most of them live in CA. Regardless of your clime, you will give up a lot of creature comfort for the fun involved.

Getting a new turn-key car is going to be in the $30K range from most builders. If you want the "Lexus" version, go put a few large down with Henri at IM and get a truly magnificent build w/ roll-up windows and a good heater for probably well over twice that amount. Or buy used ($10-15K -?-) w/ idea to get a real good exposure to what these cars are about and how you work w/ them. Drive it for a year, and if all goes well, you'll then be the ultimate informed consumer. "Staff" here can help you find a good used car. You would be able to sell the used one for about what you paid for it, depending on if you fixed or upgraded it -- or maybe drove it into the weeds -- LOL.

I'm not saying don't buy, because I'd love to see you in a Speedster, just don't give up the Lexus in order to do so.

And above all else: come to the Carlisle meet in Carlisle PA this spring, and see and meet many of the cars/drivers from this site.

Thanks Kelly for you frank and honest thoughts. Perhaps I will take a look at a used one, at the price you suggested, to get a better feel for what I will be dealing with. As I said, the Lexus is a wonderful car and visually appealing, but...

Regarding the PA trip in the spring: I'll most certainly try to arrange it.

JP

PS: The Bobrow IM mentioned above is basically a 911 that looks like a '57 Speedster. No sh--. It is all Porsche parts, expertly and exquisitely reconditioned, except for the obvious FG body and trim. And I'll bet it costs WAY more than your Lexus. What Henri can do w/ 911 parts and his abilities w/ FG and steel, and what you get down here in the real world (VW components by and large) are very different and come w/ very different price tags. The dressed up VWs we call Speedsters are still way cool, and affordable, but not the same thing as the custom-done, special-built, 6-cylinder issues from IM.

Cory, be safe and get back unscathed. I expect that and only that, will be thinking of you often.