My "Retirement Garage"..

[JohnZ]

John,nice garage.I saw you are from Michigan.Do you ever get to the "pure stock drags" at Stanton Michigan?It's muscle car guy's dream.They have a web site.Go Buckeyes....just kidding.

I know several local guys who are regulars at the PS Drags, but I haven't been out there since 2006. I did renew my NHRA Dragster competition license at ATCO Dragway in New Jersey three years ago (at age 63); made 14 runs over three days - most fun you can have with your shoes on!

 

[e-tek]

Yes, I travel a fair amount with the Corvette hobby - I'm an NCRS Master Judge and a Bloomington Gold Certification Judge and Instructor, so I judge at most of the six NCRS Regional Meets around the country during the year and at the National in July, at Bloomington Gold in June, my NCRS chapter is hosting the Motor City Regional in Novi next month, and our gang from Vetteheads.com gathers every year from all over the country at Corvettes at Carlisle in August and at the NCRS Winter Regional in Orlando. I also travel occasionally as Technical Editor of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine to do on-site feature articles on manufacturers and suppliers.

VERY inspiring - your shop, house and what you're doing now (though I'm guessing you've been doing it a while!). I have some writing experience and that's something I'd like to do later - any advice or experience to share?

 

[djjsr]

Ok, JohnZ, I gotta put you on the spot. Are you a Chevy guy or a Mopar guy? Just kiddin. You don't have to answer that (I think we know).

I do have one legitimate question though. It seems you have the performance cars that you've always wanted and I think they're excellent choices. My question is this.....What's missing? If you could have ANY domestic performance car ever built, what would it be? (sorry, only one)

Congrats on the license. I got mine a few years ago at Frank Hawleys school. I was by far the oldest in the class (by 25 years) and took some good natured ribbing, but layed down the best RT and ET just to teach those "young whippersnappers" a lesson.

 

[connorB]

Nice garage! I would love to hang out in your garage. Nice man cave.


Glenn
www.garagefreaks.com

 

[JohnZ]

I have some writing experience and that's something I'd like to do later - any advice or experience to share?

I've written technical articles for decades (for GM, Chrysler, and SAE publications), and the move into a national magazine was pretty natural. The formula I've always used is to keep it brief and concise (3000 words or so), break it up into logical pieces/headings, summarize at the end, and use LOTS of good quality high-resolution photos, each with an explanatory caption, to carry the theme. Good grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure is essential - Editors do NOT like re-writing submissions so they're print-ready.

If you write, do it because you enjoy it and want to share with others - there isn't much money in it.

 

[JohnZ]

I do have one legitimate question though. It seems you have the performance cars that you've always wanted and I think they're excellent choices. My question is this.....What's missing? If you could have ANY domestic performance car ever built, what would it be? (sorry, only one)

I'm basically a Chevy guy (21 years with them), and have had just about everything they made that fits that category at one time or another. That said, I'd like a late 60's Hemi Charger.

 

[wrenchr]

Very nice and Enjoy your Retirement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It looks like you are!!

 

[HiHoSilver]

I want to be like John Z when I grow up
I think it is awesome to see a Viper plant manager be such a Corvette guy!!!! love the 57

 

[GTRClive]

Hi John, major respect on the garage.... Would love to have the space to do such a size, you never know alittle later for me maybe...

I'm shaw I read you had R34 walls with 2x6 studs, what did you put in the walls to get R34 ? and with over R50 in the ceiling I take it you had realy thick F/G batts with losse fill on top in the roof ??

I ask because I am building my dream garage and like you said am going to build with the best insulation I can..... I'm having in Slab radiant heating, ICF's for the foundation walls upto 2 feet above ground then 2x6's above that...... was going to Spray foam the walls and
F/G batts and loose fill on top, but am open to anything at present ??

any advice greatfuly taken...

Clive

PS Calgary gets cold to.....

 

[e-tek]

Hey to GTRClive - I'm in Saskatoon (that's in Canada for our US friends!) and although I didn't go overboard (maybe I should have?) on my insulation, I haven't had any problems. I have "regular" 2x4 R20 walls and R30 ceiling with two big 16x9' doors. The heat is just a Hot Dawg Type electronic Forced air system. It didn't run all that much last winter and didn't "break the bank". Of course if you could do more, you would, but I'm wondering at what point does the cost of insulating catch up with difference in heat costs. Now I only keep mine at 7C (programmable thermo) unless I'm in it. Another thing was the type of heating - I was going to go in-floor, then radiant, but here's what I thought were the drawbacks: with in-floor you may still require a forced-air unit to change the temp quickly. As I was going keep it cool unless I was in it, it would take 12-16hrs to get a floor system from 7C to 18C. As for radiant, I was warned about the "direct" heat you get on whatever's in front of the unit (car side, your head, etc.), plus the clearance needed around the unit takes up alot of space (needed 18" from ceiling and walls). So, in the end (and I guess because I'm not rich!) I went with the Hot Dawg type. In a 40x24 shop it works great, blows right across and warms it up to 18C in minutes. In Saskatoon last this year we had long stretches of -25-35C (that's minus 10-15F in US). Anyways, just my thoughts...I guess had money been no object I would have gone with 2x6 walls, R30 and in floor as well as forced air! Of course I'd also have a Hemi-Challenger, convertible Vette and a Shleby!!

 

[JohnZ]

I'm shaw I read you had R34 walls with 2x6 studs, what did you put in the walls to get R34 ? and with over R50 in the ceiling I take it you had realy thick F/G batts with losse fill on top in the roof ??Clive

PS Calgary gets cold to.....

I don't recall exactly what went in the walls and ceiling - I worked the specs I wanted with the architect, and he handled it with the insulation contractor, who certified in writing that the material and installation met the architect's drawing specs. There's LOTS of fiberglass in the ceiling.

 

[skullhead]

So how is the floor holding up John? I'm thinking of using them to do my garage.