My ZR-1, my story...

[FLT4PWR]

I would like to introduce myself and my story.

My father has always been a HUGE automobile fanatic. As a son to a wealthy father he had the privilege to be able to own some really amazing vehicles...1969 Hemi Roadrunner, 1967 427 Corvette, GTO's, big-block Camaro's, etc. As he grew older and successful in his own right, he tried various makes and models, 911's, 928GTS, & NSX's, but always seemed to come back to the Corvette ( within in the last few years he had 3 c5's and a C6 Z06). At my own age of 15, he made a decision to see what my choice for his next car would be, knowing how much I read about cars....my choice would be a ZR-1. And the year I made this choice was 1993.

Fast forward to about 2 months ago...my father is killed in a car accident at the age of 53. Having lived quite a long way apart, I lost track of the ZR-1 and how it was, though I knew it remained in my father's possession and he always said it was his most favorite car he ever owned. Upon assuming his estate, I uncovered the 1991 Black on Black ZR-1. I had heard that it had a blown clutch..but at this point I am unsure. Although not in a completely wasted state, I will have to redo the interior and get new paint on it. I have decided to not rebuild the engine, based on recommendations of people who are members of the ZR-1 community.

Future plans for the car include getting it back to as new as possible. I'd like to do some mods to it, headers, exhaust, tune, possibly a rear gear...but at this point it is just a lot of work sitting in my garage.

I have been tempted to just sell it, but have since decided to restore it and enjoy it in his remembrance. I hope to be able to contribute to this community and put everything I can into the ZR-1 legacy as I possibly can.

I have a lot to catch up to, as I have spent the better part of the last 5 years ( I'm 32 now ) in the import scene...I have a 2006 Subaru STi with loads of suspension and motor work...currently pushing in the neighborhood of 500AWHP. A fun car, but no ZR-1. :)

I'd like to extend thanks to two members on this board that directed me here from the Digitalcorvettes.com forum.....JEFFVETTE and TCCRAB

thanks for having me!!

I am open to any and all help along the way...I know it is going to be a long road...both with the car and the healing from my father's death that I hope to gain from adopting this car project.

[Aurora40]

Sorry to hear about the manner in which you aquired your ZR-1, but thanks for sharing the story! Welcome to the club!

[32valvZ]

Hi, welcome aboard! Glad to hear you decided to keep the Z. I'm not sure I'd want to sell one of my fathers favorite cars if he passed. Good luck with the resurrection of the ZR-1. I'm sure your dad would be happy. Lotsa knowledgable guys here to help you in your quest for parts & assistance.
John

[RICHARD TILL]

interesting reading and good luck with the beast. will we see pictures along the way? sure hope so.

[Jeffvette]

I'd like to extend thanks to two members on this board that directed me here from the Digitalcorvettes.com forum.....JEFFVETTE and TCCRAB

Don't think it was me who referred you from DC, I believe it was -=Jeff=-
I rarely post over at DC.

But welcome to the group anyways. There will be a large group of us at Petit Le Mans in Atlanta in October. Try and make it, you'll enjoy it!

[jonszr1]

since your in georga , you might want to get ahold of aaron scott sgc corvette . he could do all the mechanicals on your car. or at least direct you to parts .glad to see you keep the car you will enjoy it like your father did

[cuisinartvette]

You gotta keep that car, it was your Dads. Once you own the Z awhile youll see why he loved it so much. Not another one like it.

Cool story!

[flyin ryan]

thanks for sharing your story. i know a little how you feel. i lost my father a couple years ago, he was only 54 & i was 34 at the time. i was planning on him being around for another twenty years or so. i'm an only child, sounds like you might be too, so i didn't have any siblings for support. i always say tough times don't last but tough people do. enjoy your fathers Zee.

[FLT4PWR]

Thanks guys...I will definitely keep everyone updated...and I will snap some pics along the way...matter of fact I'll try to post some of its' current state sometime soon.

I will definitely try to make it up there to braselton when the race is going on...but I have to warn you guys ahead of time, I'll be in my subie...the Z won't be ready by then....I am going to have to use my secondary job as the funding for the Z project.

I've actually Dynoed down at SGC before, and Aaron is a really nice guy...I've tried to phone him a few times to no avail...guess he's busy...I will probably ride down there sometime soon to pay him a visit...

Oh and Flyin Ryan, yes it does suck to lose a parent so early...my mom actually died when I was 18..she was 41 at the time...I gave up 3 full scholarships to really good Art & Design schools so I could spend her last year here with her....also, I saw you were from Edmonton...I just spent a month in Grande Prairie...yuck...I liked Edmonton much better!!

Thanks again guys...if you are ever in the neighborhood, look me up!

oh and thanks for not flaming me about my subie....I was afraid of that a little....it really is a cool little car...my dad really liked it too...

[Z Factor]

Hello and welcome to the forum.:handshak:

:cheers:

[flyin ryan]

i have quite a few customers in Grande Prairie actually. i think i'd like Georgia better!:hello:

[FLT4PWR]

I don't know man...it's freakin HOT down here!

[flyin ryan]

it was 93° F here today. bout as hot as it ever gets here. i love it.

[HADI-ZR1]

Welcome bro. , and i feel sorry for your dad lost!!
keep the Z and take care of it. its great machine!
and your name?? :handshak:
Hadi

[FLT4PWR]

Hey Hadi, my name is Bill...

[WB9MCW]

Hi Bill and welcome to the ZOO as we call it.

So sorry about your Pop's. We too lost our father to prostrate cancer but he made it too 70.5 years young so not quite the same a what u and FR went through but still a bummer none the less.

I always think of my dad when I am out in the ZR-1 by myself driving on the back roads in the county where I live. It would have been so much fun to have given Pops a thrill ride in the Z unlike any he had ever witnessed first hand. My day had Jag's - Beamers- even a Porsche over the years so he really liked sport cars. He even had a Crosley "Hot Shot" at one time. Once I put the hammer down in my SC T-Bird and he had the Chit eatin grin on his face as we ripped her up to the 100 mark. But what I would give to have been able to see the look on his face after a hammer down in the Z up to 125 say. No doubt I could just hear him saying "Dang son this baby is a real beast -- never went so bloody fast ever in my life".

At least I got to get him in my 28' Scarab with the new blower motor we had just built and it was so funny because my Mom was on board too and my brothers kids and the wife were as well. The kids said "hey Uncle Bryan we wanna see how the boat goes with the new engine"? With great concern my Mom said well OK go ahead and show em all --- Well about the time we hit 65-70 my Mom could not stand it any more and began yelling it was too much for her -- naturally the kids thought it was great and my Dad in the back seat was doing all he could to keep form bursting out in laughter. After we got to the boat rack and hoisted the boat and my Mom the wife and the kids got off on the pier and headed towards the house the magic moment came --- My Dad said "Son you really out did yourself with this one you have one hell of a motor in the boat now -- I thought your Mother was gonna wet her pants back there"

Moments like that stay etched in you mind forever!

I worked with my father for 23 years in the Family business and he was my hero so it was always a treat when he really liked something of mine -- the SC Bird and the Scarab I had the pleasure of receiving the nod on --- the ZR-1 I can only dream of what he would have said.

It is funny that the money I used to but the ZR-1 with was from my Dad's Mothers estate who actually out survived my Dad by three months (she made 90 years young) in reality my Dad had been giving his Mother money for many years and she had stashed a lot of it away and that was what really had caused her to have a tidy sum in the bank -- so it was really my Dad's monies after all that had empowered me to have some cash to splurge on my dream Vette. Another strange twist was that my neighbor (10 houses down from me) is the one who buys and sells Corvettes all the time (side note he is the one at Bloom. Gold this year that just bought the 6 ZR-1 collection) that happened to be the one to sell me the ZR-1 and at a bargain rate (he actually lost $75 on it and forgot to charge me for the title x-fer fee-- the only Vette he has actually ever lost money on) did me the solid on the ZR-1 because he had been my Dad's barber for the last 20 years and really liked my Dad a lot--- Funny how things like that all work out for a reason just like destiny--

I tell you all of this Bill because no doubt about it your Dad will look down from the heavens above and will ever be so proud to see you refurbish the ZR-1 and drive it hard the way the ZR-1 is meant to be --- and no doubt he too will have that "chit eatin grin from ear to ear" as he is seeing the enjoyment the olde ZR-1 brings to your face --- IT IS YOUR DESTINY TO DO IT NO DOUBT!!

We will all here be ever so happy to make this journey with you my new ZR-1 brother!!!

[FLT4PWR]

Hey, thanks for the story...

I actually had a really good story when my dad FINALLY approved of my "rice rocket" as he used to call it...I took him to a private track day at TGPR...I laughed my butt of at him as he was a passenger....I'll have to tell you about it someday....But I got a " DAMN son, that car is really fast...and you are a helluva driver" comment

it was awesome...

[RICKYRJ1]

Solid decision to keep the car in memory of your father. I lost my father last year at the age of 66. I too thought he would be around for another 20yrs. We did not speak for the last 2 yrs of his life , never got a chance to say goodbye. I will regret that the rest of my life. He was not a car guy but I know he would would have loved my car if he ever would have seen or driven in it. Welcome to our club :thumbsup:

[tomtom72]

:handshak: :hello: Just wanna add my "welcome to the asylum" Bill, and sorry for your loss.

I hope you enjoy the Z!

[We Gone]

Sorry for your loss :( Welcome to the ZR-1 :thumbsup: I'm just south Atlanta hope to meet ya some time.

[CorvZ061]

hello there, it's very unfortunate about how you came upon ownership of your ZR-1. if you need any helpers with your Z let me know, i too am in Ga. I don't have a Z just yet, but i'm looking for a nice one that needs some work cheap, but thats anoter story. i've talked to the people at SGC about ZR-1's they seem to be extremely knowledgable. They will be a very valuable assett to you. let me know if you need anything i'm not that far from you in Covington.

[FLT4PWR]

hello there, it's very unfortunate about how you came upon ownership of your ZR-1. if you need any helpers with your Z let me know, i too am in Ga. I don't have a Z just yet, but i'm looking for a nice one that needs some work cheap, but thats anoter story. i've talked to the people at SGC about ZR-1's they seem to be extremely knowledgable. They will be a very valuable assett to you. let me know if you need anything i'm not that far from you in Covington.

Thanks..I'll have to get up with you and see if you want to spend a weekend on it. I am still working out a plan of attack for the car at the moment. I have tried to call Aaron a few times in the last few weeks to no avail...guess he's out of town or something.
I'm sure this is of little interest to you guys, but I just finished some additional tuning and mechanical work on my STi...I am now pulling right at 450awhp/476awtq. My dad would be grinning right now...

oh, and pictures to come...(of the Z).

take care guys.

[CorvZ061]

shoot me a PM whenever you may want to try and get together and i'll pm you my number and we'll work something out.

[LoTu5]

Welcome aboard and sorry for the circumstances that you came to own the car. There's not much I can do from where I am other than wish you well and hope your Z serves you up many happy memories, both from the past and in the future.

Regards.

[Demps]

Drive it down to Panama City. I'd love to see it. Ted

[threestar40]

oh and thanks for not flaming me about my subie....I was afraid of that a little....it really is a cool little car...my dad really liked it too...

You generally don't have to worry about stuff like that around here?

If you had a C5 Z06 that might be another story...:icon_scra ;) :censored: :handshak: :confused: :thumbsup: just kidding of course.

Welcome to the club. Let us know how the clutch goes...sounds like that is all it REALLY needs to take a spin anyways. Are you going with a single mass or back to stock?

Rick =)

[93RubyZ]

Sorry to hear of the loss of your father. You made the right decision to keep the Z. I think your father would want you to hang onto it.

[FLT4PWR]

Hey Guys...Sorry it has been so long to update this...it hasn't been my year is all I can say.

As it stands now, I will not be keeping the car as previously stated. There have been many developments involving my father's estate as well as the addition of about $90k in Dr bills from my little girl's rough first 2.5 years...(she's 3 now)

I have to get the title transferred over to my name before I can do anything. I had a long talk with Aaron at SGC, so I can give his opinion on the car...I'll be out of town for the next 3-4 days, but if anyone is interested, please let me know....Haven't even begun to think of a price and all that...

I'm really, REALLY sick about it...

Maybe 2009 will be better...

[WB9MCW]

So sorry to hear about all of that --- Well we will all be here for many many years so when the better times come for you we will be happy to embrace your return and there will be a ZR-1 in your future then and we will all celibrate it with you --- Naturally your Dad will be happy then too!

Good luck and feel free to hang out and remain a member and make a comment or two every now and then abt your other ride and how things are going ---

After all you do own a ZR-1 even if was for a short time and we know you will return when you can --- it is your destiny either way!

[FLT4PWR]

Hey Guys!

I've worked really hard to get through 2008, and I did so without having to sell the Z. I'm really happy about it, though I did sell all of my other toys, including my Subaru that I did so much work to..it's for sale now.

In the end, my wife couldn't let go of it, and neither could I. I will still have to take my time with the restore process, as the funds aren't there yet..which worries me.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get it back on the road eventually...especially with all you guys' help.

:)

[CorvZ061]

Well if it would help motivate you, I would be more than happy to drive mine over there for a weekend, it isn't in the greatest shape, though.

[FLT4PWR]

Well if it would help motivate you, I would be more than happy to drive mine over there for a weekend, it isn't in the greatest shape, though.


heck yeah, come on over..I'll get some other corvette guys over too...I'll even see if Aaron from SGC wants to come up...we'll have a mini corvette reunion. :)

I'll be in Seattle all week next week, but I'll PM you when I get back...so, we can get something put together.

:)

[ZR1Vette]

Welcome guy... glad you made the decision to keep the beast... funny how little things become important after someone dies...my father passed earlier than he should have and afterwards was going thru some old pictures and came upon several of he and I and a brand new 1963 Buick Riviera...that was his car and I did not really appreciate it as much as I should have at the time. Funny...on two occassions he slightly dinged the nose in exactly the same spot (hitting something in the garage)... so when I go to car shows where Rivieras are shown I always look for that spot for a repaired ding...just to capture memories. You have an entire car to keep those memories.

[WB9MCW]

Sorry about the loss of your Subbie I know it was your P&J.

Glad to hear the Z made it through.

Brighter sky ahead for you and the family we will hope for you all.

[FLT4PWR]

Hey guys,
Work has been really busy lately, so sorry for not posting up some info as far as the Z goes. The wife has given me permission to take over the garage for the summer, so the car is on rollers and right in the middle of the garage. Hopefully I'll have time to post pics soon.
Now, I just have to figure out where to start. I think I have paint lined up. My dad happened to be very good friends with one of the premier painters in the country, and he has agreed to paint the car for me when I get to that point charging me only for materials.

But, I need to get a plan of action. I welcome any visits to look over the car and help me decide what to do. I plan on talking with Aaron again to see if I can lure him up here for an afternoon.

:)