What's up guys, my name is Andrew Lesemann, a local from Midlothian, Virginia. I'm a freshman at James Madison University and will be graduating in 2022, looking to go to graduate school, but we will see. Also, I'm a new member to Madison Motorsports, which I am very excited to be a part of.
Back home I own a '92 Jeep Wrangler YJ with a 4L i6, which was my first vehicle. This Jeep opened new doors for me, and by learning and working on my Jeep, it turned into a true passion of mine ever since. I put a lot of work into the Jeep after buying it from a family friend, not just adding on to it, but mainly keeping it in good condition. Trying to get her off my hands at the moment in hopes of buying a more track oriented car to broaden my knowledge in the mechanics of other vehicles, also to experience why each vehicle is unique in its own way.
Here are just a few things I have done (mostly cosmetic): New wheels (FUEL) and tires (BFG KO2), 52" Lightbar, Performance distributor, Bilstein 4600 shocks, Skyjacker steering stabilizer, Corbeau Baja R/S seats with 3 point harness, Magnaflow exhaust, Kicker speakers.
A little info about me: I'm a health science pre-med major, as I have background as an EMT and consider myself to be pretty extroverted. However, I have a love for the automotive industry as well, so I'm very conflicted on which route to take. I'm a very easy-going, calm, and optimistic person. I have a set of goals and dreams that I pursue everyday, taking opportunities as they come and looking for them as well. I'm greatly looking forward to what Madison Motorsports has in store for the future, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the ride.
Welcome! What are you interested in off-roading, tracking, or something else? I see you want a more track oriented car to change it up. Have you thought about just keeping the jeep and doing off-road/overland things? We have a few people who do overland/have off-road builds that could teach you a lot
Welcome, Andy! Sounds like you're bringing a lot of enthusiasm to MM which is awesome. I wouldn't worry too much about figuring out which path to take career/education-wise, just get through your gen-eds and start exploring the options you have for both of your ideas. Some of the officers and other students have been working with MAAP and that would likely be a good way to explore some of the automotive industry. I've got a few friends in the industry working for various OEMs (FCA, VW, Mercedes) and I'm sure they'd be happy to chat with you as well.
Hope to see you at some track events and Turducken in the fall!
09-11-2018, 10:33 AM (This post was last modified: 09-11-2018, 10:37 AM by Andrew Lesemann.)
I have thought about keeping the Jeep @rherold9 , but I think I'm pretty set on getting something I can take around the track. I know I'll have the Jeep for a little while longer, so hopefully I'll be able to take it on a few trails up here.
@Jake, I've heard a lot about MAAP so far, and that's something I want to check out for sure. Looking to learn as much as I can while I'm up here, and I'm sure I'll be meeting you sometime in the fall!
09-11-2018, 11:53 AM (This post was last modified: 09-11-2018, 12:03 PM by davej.)
Welcome Andy! As other's mentioned there's a good amount of people that off road here, some with bald tires on a full sized truck, some with a bit more sense. But take advantage of the area before you move on from the jeep, there's a lot of great trails around here.
It'll be good to have an EMT/pre-med on retainer for Turducken! (and to just follow Taylor around) Sometimes things...happen
09-11-2018, 12:01 PM (This post was last modified: 09-11-2018, 12:05 PM by rherold9.)
(09-11-2018, 11:53 AM)davej Wrote: some with bald tires on a full sized truck, some with a bit more sense.
Still made it on ice/snow even if it was sketchy. Kudos to Ford engineers on making a full-size luxobarge truck trail capable in stock form! (obviously wouldn't make it crawling or hard trails but I bet it could hold it's own with a good driver on medium trails) I wonder how it'd do a little more built with non-bald tires
welcome to the club. That’s a very good looking Jeep, always loved that body style.
They always surprise me how good they sound with the I6. Never expect to hear that noise coming from a Jeep.
Definitely take it to a few trails around H-Burg if you get a chance, or at least hoon it around in the first couple snows.
I can imagine you’d get a solid amount of attention from the opposite sex having access to a Jeep in a snowstorm.
Welcome and have fun! The EMT background is very cool. A few friends of mine that used to be EMTs are now further along in the medical field and they love it.
Hey Andrew! Welcome to MM, I love the Jeep and look forward to checking it out on person soon. MM does an off-road trip every now and then, they're a blast!
09-23-2018, 08:52 PM (This post was last modified: 09-23-2018, 08:53 PM by V1GiLaNtE.)
Welcome! I'm a Midlo native myself and went to Monacan high school! I've had 2 XJs and still miss them. If you need a hand during breaks come on over to Ryan and I's place. We have plenty of tools and I've got more Jeep knowledge than I care to admit.
Quote:Goodspeed
Welcome! Love the Jeep - MM is way, way overdue for a JP Jeep build, so you should do that
Welcome! I’m jealous honestly, always wanted to get into over-landing/off-roading more. Echoing what the others said, definitely take advantage of the trails/mountains this area has to offer if you haven’t before.
That being said, what are you considering as a track oriented car? Would you consider keeping the jeep and going full gutted car or is it a definite that the jeep will go in order to fund a new car?
@JustinG What a small world, right around the corner from there. @V1GiLaNtE thanks for the help! ill more than likely have to take up on that, my tools and expertise are not the greatest. @GTBrandon definitely looking for a c5 corvette or anything that has a V8 and can handle corners well, the Jeep would go into funding a new car unfortunately.
But take advantage of the area before you move on from the jeep, there's a lot of great trails around here. 
![[Image: jeep-wrangler-jurassic-park.jpg]](https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/wQLGR/s1/jeep-wrangler-jurassic-park.jpg)
