Hi. I figured it's about time I introduced myself now that I've posted a few times.
My name is Dempsey. While I'm new to
this forum (and I have no idea why I didn't look for it before now), I'm not new to forums in general.
I just bought a 2000 Wrangler, primarily for my fiancee (it's her current daily driver):
I'm no stranger to Jeeps, though. My first was an '88 XJ which I bought from Matt Hornback of RMH4x4. While it already had some nice mods when I got it, I ended up lifting it a bit more and doing a few other things. In my hands, this vehicle was no stranger to off-pavement abuse... and I gave it the body damage to prove it:
After that, I had to go topless. Since I sell cars at the Doug Smith Autoplex, I factory ordered an Amber Fire 2001 TJ Sport:
In hindsight, buying a brand new Jeep was a mistake--I suddenly became much more timid when four wheeling for fear of scratching my pristine paint (it was my first new car ever). Still, I loved it dearly. Sadly, I had to sell that TJ in order to buy my house.
But now that the soon-to-be-wife has a TJ, I am
dying to lift it... and since she won't let me go hog nuts wild modifying "her baby" I guess I"ll soon be in the market for another TJ of my own. I'll have to sell my Camaro SS to free up the funding, but I've got my priorities.
My automotive tastes are not limited to Jeeping. I'm also an avid drag racer. I compete in the Street Legal bracket racing at RMR and, thanks to racing a 13-second turbocharged Dodge Caravan, I have become something of a local celebrity. If I ever show up at the track in another one of my vehicles, people I don't even know will walk up to me and ask, "dude--where's the minivan?!?"
Racing is an addiction and there's no cure, at least not for me. Inevitably, every car I own ends up going down the track at some point. I even once raced my TJ while it was still stone stock; it ran 18.2 or so IIRC (I'm sure I have the timeslips around here someplace). You guys think it's pricey trying to mod your 4x4? Try doing that
and modifying your race car(s) at the same time.
Anyway, here I am. I look forward to getting to know many of you.