MM Year in Review

[G.Irish]

As we close another year I look back and smile at how well the club is doing. Personally it was a fun but rough year. I got to go to a ton of new places, meet new people, make some money but Geeser I got stolen, Geeser II had a bad engine, and ultimately I didn't get to drive much. Next season is looking promising though and I may even do some special high profile events if the stars align.

Anyway post your MM Year in Review summary and pick your favorite three pics from the year (MM or motorsport related) and post em up. Try not to post the 5 MB pictures though.

Even though I was in the South Pacific you know I had to rep for the M's


Read the back of the dude's shirt


You know we couldn't leave JGTC without a shocka pic

[PDenbigh]

2004 has been, without a doubt, both the toughest and best year of my life. I lost touch with a very close friend, one that you think Ill be with her forever Funny how forever suddenly has definition, then termination, as two people grow and change

However, I had not lost the other thing very important in my life ÔÇô Motorsports. Because of Motorsports (and a garage), I made several very close friends this year and engaged in some great projects ranging from rebuilding motorcycles to swapping engines. While I cannot remember everything, some of my year consisted of:

Rebuilding three motorcycles
One via a frame-up restoration
Removing:
Five engines (2.3 Turbo, two 325IÔÇÖs, and two 500cc Honda CX500ÔÇÖs)
Three Transmissions (Ford T-9, 325I Auto, 325I Manual)
Rebuilding the 2.3 Turbo from the ground up (helped rebuild actually)
Installing a cobra T-5 World Class tranny in the XR
Rebuilding every other damn moving part in the XR. Yes, EVERY.
Rebuilding at least half a dozen motorcycle carbs
Hauling everything from broken vehicles to broken motorcycles to the garage, and then driving them away after we got them working
Getting the call that a friend laid down their bike or had blown their engine, and needed help.
Going to get those friends in the trusty F150, picking up the vehicle, and hauling it to the garage for surgery.
Sharing the thrill of motorcycles with as many as I could get to jump on the back and hang on
Instigating and helping as four close friends found motorcycles, rebuilt them, got their license, and successfully drove over Rt. 33W time and time again
Finding new friendship in a great gal that shares, embraces, and encourages my passions. And shes pretty cute
Feeling the pull of my turbo for the first time in 3-4+ years
Feeling the rear of the car brake completely loose when I hit second, at only 7psi 
Doing 115mph @ VIR on ┬¥ Cylinders, then pull into the paddock and put out a ÔÇ£minorÔÇØ underhood fireÔǪ
Finally had the time to get to know some of the new MM members, and even some of the OGÔÇÖs a little better.
Participated in some MM events and talk shop
Spending a lot of time helping Sean in one of his many projects, and doing my best to get his ass back on the road ;-)

Basically, and to cut this list short, I got back in touch with some things that really turn my crank. I figured out a lot of who I am, and what I need.

I am really looking forward to 2005. IÔÇÖll be forever tweaking the car, as will we all. But IÔÇÖll finally be able to get out there and drive the crap out of it, and hopefully share this years experiences and educations with as many people that need it! @ VIR and blow an engine? SURE, weÔÇÖll haveÔÇÖer rebuilt before your next session!

See everyone on the track in 2005

- Peter

Some momentos: (Couldn't narrow the year down to three pics, but I did make them small...)

About 5 minutes after the origioinal engine had been removed from the car, around Febuary of 2004:


Sean in one of his many events held in the garage:


Alison working on her new toy (pre-restoration)



Sean's Car, KIA @ Summit Point, and the ass end of one awesome truck ;-):


The XR, with barely 400 miles on it, seeing what it's got at VIR:


G and, um, G?:


The group from the Seanic Drive:

[G.Irish]

Whoa! I didn't know you had an engine fire! Cool

I can definitely saying that taking a ride on the CBR ruined me forever. I just got my Faster DVD set in the mail yesterday too...

[G.Irish]

Almost forgot...

Got my race license this year. Easily the scariest and most difficult driving weekend I had ever done with the unfamiliar car, unfamiliar track, tons of traffic, and...RAIN! Then my steering wheel came loose and I drop kicked another Miata...

Did my first race weekend. Easily the most challenging and frustrating weekend I had ever had but luckily the Honda Challenge crew helped me make my race.

[Dave]

hmmmm
Upgraded suspension and brakes in Supra; now I see why that is soooo much better than just adding power
First hit off the GFCP at VIR in Feb, hooked for life now, taken several more hits this year and 2005 holds mucho potential for furthering the addiction
Finally got rid of the mkIII
Acquired 3 seperate 240sx
Totally stripped a 4th generation prelude; hella fun
Converted an automatic to a manual transmission in a 240
Rebuilt a KA24DE; vast amount of knowledge to be applied later
Helped Pete work on his Merkur a little, not nearly as much as I would have liked
Hosted a huge bash for MM last spring at end of semester.
Met a very special person
Expanded my tool kit almost 4x what I had starting last year
Grew closer to a lot of OGs, met a bunch of new guys, and watched our club explode, all great things which I hope to expand even more.

I'll add more as I think of more

[G.Irish]

Here's a funny pic of RJ. We were in HBG for some reason and we were driving down Main St. I don't even remember who else was in the car but I saw these girls walking down the street and yelled out "Heeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy". Now I know what you're thinking. No I did not say, "You sluts need a ride?" Nonetheless I convinced them to get into the Accord and we went to their house. Unfortunately, that was the end of the story.



All right, who has the picture of RJ with his aviators on getting a lap dance?

[Chris]

wow, where to start...

-became Prez after Mike had put in a ton of work and got things up to a level where I could easily take over

-had tons of O meetings and worked hard with all the current O's to increase membership and plan more events

-went to highlawn with the "past, present, and future" presidents (G, Mike, and I) which resulted in an interesting night

-Finally got my car to "track specs"- bought wheels, azenis, and pads which allowed me to attend 2 driving schools at Summit Point and several autox's

- learned a ton about maintenance and wrenching on my car
-increased my tools tremendously
-hosted the 2004 hoMMecoMMing party- huge success!
- MM karting
-Chapin's house-warming party
-got to know many of the alumni better and a lot of new MMers as well
-decided that track events will be a lifelong hobby
-and much, much more

[.RJ]

Ah... '04, what a busy year but its been fun.

Sold the integra and the lunchbox... bought the ITR track whore and Accord. I decide the accord is a piece of shit and unloaded that recently for a 325is and the ITR will be gone in '05 for something cheaper, lighter and faster.

On track for '04, really "got it" with instruction and had a blast. 16 weekends, 3500 track miles, 2 new tracks and zero problems with the car. Got much faster over the year, hopefully with a cheaper track car I will be able to push harder on track. Crewed again for the 12hr enduro at summit point, even though both cars DNF'd it was a great experience as always.

Got out of my crappy job at Bearingpoint and got in with G at PEC so now I'm on the road quite a bit and even though its a clusterfuck at times, I'm enjoying it.

Got out of Nova... to Atlanta for a year, maybe longer depending on how things go with the project and all... will be a nice change of scenery.

Was single sometime around february and I dont miss it - I've got lots of free time for cars, biking, get back in shape, bs, and more expendible income. I'm sure that will change before long, but its a nice change after 3 years.

The MM crew - makes it all worthwhile - woulcnt change a thing, you guys are awesome. The parties, the random gatherings, busted ass cars (evan), picking up John's Z, Kaan's fiascos, road trips, etc... its been a great year.

Looking forward to '05.....

- Sell ITR
- Buy/build cheaper, lighter, faster (we have the technology....) track slut
- Lose some more weight
- Get a better mtn bike and spend more time on it
- Get a motorcycle and put it on track
- Keep having fun on track

(VIR, dave giving me some instruction )



Mid-Ohio



The Integra







Lunchbox







Maeng's pile



Driving Evan's car at the subaru challenge

[JessicaRabbit79]

John and I sat down together to figure out "our" year in review... since, you know, being married and all... :wink: so, co-written and co-edited, here goes:

The first half of our year was spent desperately trying to escape NoVa, with a few autocrosses and track events thrown in.

Fast forward to late June, when the fun began.

Finally closed on and purchased our first house.
Moved to Palmyra - mega props to the Lightning for making several heavily-laden trips down US 15.
John started working with Presearch Inc. (now SAIC... boo!)
Adopted our dear Ivy from the SPCA and all hell broke loose in the rabbit world that is our house.
Threw our housewarMMing party.
Worked at a plethora of track weekends at Summit (and survived a tornado or two in the process), and had a hella good time hanging out at Dave's Taverna on those Sunday nights.
MwaHAHAHAHAHA... the Z joined our family 'o b00st. :twisted:
Sold the VW, since 4 cars were just too many.
120k maintenance on the Z. Yowza. Learned a lot (and likely screwed some of it up)...
Had a great time at JMU HomecoMMing.
Dave's Taverna after MM elections was awesome (do we notice a trend here? ).

We're looking forward to the season starting up again in February- here's to another great year, full of more b00st, faster cars, and better friends. Cheers!

[Dave]

Thayer and I were reminiscing earlier today, thought we'd add a few memories from CMP.
-flying pizza in the parking lot
-talking shit to a two older guys with a vette, RX-7, and supra (I was piss drunk and they totally called me out on it)
-Thayer's first keg stand on the balcony of the hotel
-taking the keg back to the hotel
-army crawling in the hotel
-Chan rolled an NSX????

hopefully I'll be a little more trigger happy with my camera this year and be able to document the fun a little better.

[Chris]

-army crawling in the hotel

hahaha, I forgot about that!!

wasn't that the trip I "locked d'em shits up?"

[Ryan T]

Yes, I had the first hand experience of "locked d'em shits up yo."

This has been a year so full of memories and events I couldn't possibly sit down and list them all, but I'll throw down a few highlights.

Of course the CMP incidents. Bringing the keg back, my first keg stand on the balcony of the hotel.
Kaan bitch slapping me with a 14 hour old piece of pizza.
Many rides on track where I learned an incredible amount.
moved in with the current treasurer.
Sold the camaro and bought the supra. (funny thing is I was smashed when I learned about the supra, and sent the lady a very drunken email about it.)
The weekend where RJ and Gerald were in the burg and it ended up being me, dave, gerald, rj, and my roommate chris all driving around in the accord waving the giant shocker around. We somehow managed to pick up those three ho's and went back to their apartment with them.
The Chapin's house warMMing party.
Replacing the serpentine belt on the camaro in the parking garage of the tysons corner mall. Major props to RJ and Dave for doing most all of the work.
First auto-x in the supra.
And of course, being elected the President of MM for next year!

[G.Irish]

The weekend where RJ and Gerald were in the burg and it ended up being me, dave, gerald, rj, and my roommate chris all driving around in the accord waving the giant shocker around. We somehow managed to pick up those three ho's and went back to their apartment with them.

Man I couldn't remember who was in the car, thanks!