Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The 12-Gauge Garage

[alpinewhite]

One thing I was hoping you can help with...what is the violin music that is playing in the 'one car' video between 5mins and 6mins? Superb choice of music.

Try Shazam.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks, brad mole. And welcome to the Journal.

alpinewhite, I pointed the phone at it with both Shazam and SoundHound, and got some crazy conclusions -- once, Shazam claimed it was a Charlie Daniels song.

 

[bluebolt]

Yep. My allergies started acting up, right at the end. Or maybe there was some dust in my eyes, or something, when he showed the picture of him at 9 months in the car and you realize he found that exact car again, all the way from France.

I could do without all the shaky camera and flickering and all of that. When you've got a great story to tell, like that one, then that's all you need.

Yeah my non-existent allergies were giving me misty eyes too.

 

[SC-AW11]

Wow what a garage. What a car. I just recently watched your One car to do it all video. Great video. Crazy that I was just browsing and click this to see your garage in detail. Very good job man

 

[dmeray1]

Jack,
Just saw your 911 video of Willow Springs. Yikes, it brought back some good memories. I raced dual engined laydown karts, a 250cc SuperKart and Formula Mazda. I raced there from 1980 to 1990. I think the fastest we ever went was in the high 1:25's with the SuperKart. We don't have the top end you have but we didn't slow down so much in the corners. I loved that track, well except in the cold of winter and the heat and wind of the summer. Here is a photo of the Formula Mazda

.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Great picture. I think Zeke on this board has also driven an enduro kart at the big track. I've only driven an open-wheel car there once, and it was just because a friend tossed me the keys knowing I hadn't been out to the track since my son was born. Here's a picture with the son:

I think the fastest we ever went was in the high 1:25's with the SuperKart.

1:25's are my goal with my 911. I've got a line on some better rear shocks. With some sticky tires and a little time spent tuning, I think I can get into the 1:25s. But it probably won't be until December or January of next year, unless it somehow all comes together while the temps out there are still low enough -- which would have to be in March.

We don't have the top end you have but we didn't slow down so much in the corners.

That's what I say to the Viper and Corvette guys.

I loved that track, well except in the cold of winter and the heat and wind of the summer.

It's a great place to spend time outdoors -- for about four full days every year.

For those of you who have never been out there, these are the average temperatures for Willow Springs, not the records:

 

[Jack Olsen]

Oh, and for any of you who don't have kids yet. Let me tell you, you haven't seen how quickly time can fly past. This is three years after the blue car picture. It's from this past weekend.

 

[78Bird]

nice pic!

He'll be wanting his own track car before you know it.

Even Jack mignt need more garage space

 

[xXSanderXx]

Haha lol.

Nice leahter jacket btw.

 

[Trick Shot]

Thanks, brad mole. And welcome to the Journal.

alpinewhite, I pointed the phone at it with both Shazam and SoundHound, and got some crazy conclusions -- once, Shazam claimed it was a Charlie Daniels song.

Cheers Jack, Alpinewhite,

I had also tried Shazam without luck...I hope someone on the forum will be able to help...if not, and you happen to hear from the Director, I hope he might be able to tell you what the track is!

Regards,

Nick

 

[Trick Shot]

Cheers Jack, Alpinewhite,

I had also tried Shazam without luck...I hope someone on the forum will be able to help...if not, and you happen to hear from the Director, I hope he might be able to tell you what the track is!

Regards,

Nick

sorry, should have been ....he or she.....when referring to the Director!

 

[dmeray1]

In 1985 while we had our International Karting Federation Grand Nationals at Willow, we were rudely awaken by the double sonic boom of the space shuttle coming in to Edwards....one of the coolest things I have seen as we watched it circle from the North.

Hope you make it to the 1:25's! From the videos, it looks like you are pushing a little in turn 2 and at the top of the hill. If you could get the nose planted without getting the tail too loose, it might help. Oh, and I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[alpinewhite]

In 1985 while we had our International Karting Federation Grand Nationals at Willow, we were rudely awaken by the double sonic boom of the space shuttle coming in to Edwards.

That was in July 1985, right? I vividly remember that. I thought something slammed into the wall at the Radio Shack where I was working at.

 

[chrislehr]

Jack.. just saw your one car to do it all on facebook. You are getting more famous! (I havent posted in this since....page 8?

 

[Sham]

Jack, thanks a lot for all the great information, your garage looks fantastic!

Let me tell you, you've got a couple of fans down here in France. I wish my garage could look half as good as yours!! ;-)

By the way, do you have any color reference for the green you used on your cabinets? Definitely look 60's, I love it.

 

[fredybender]

Jack, I am shure you have read a lot of words, and sentences about what you bring to communities about cars, garages, DYI, and a lot of other aspects around these topics.
Last week my friend on FB posted the video link about your car and garage, and thought I might recognize your work... But of course!
This post is just to let you understand, that what you bring as inspiration, motivation, and being truthful to your passion, transpires to worlds coast that could not be traveled within a month or so, only half a century ago...

My mothers tongue is not english (french speaking and raised) , but I truely can tell you that you are one of my favourite inspirations, on all your posts on GJ, and to see and hear you, about your conviction, makes me a better person, just by being witness to what you bring to us.

Thank you Jack!

 

[alpinewhite]

By the way, do you have any color reference for the green you used on your cabinets? Definitely look 60's, I love it.

Here you go.

And thank you, mtownbuild. The green is a Sears WeatherBeater color called Tarragon. It's discontinued, officially -- but as long as you know the name, they can mix it. I used exterior semigloss, and I'll warn you that the WeatherBeater paint is not very good. I always have to do two coats with it to get consistent color. (But it's what I started with, and I'm way too far downstream with it now to change.)

 

[Zeke]

Great picture. I think Zeke on this board has also driven an enduro kart at the big track.

I certainly did in the 100cc Stock class also during those years. At the lap times mentioned I wouldn't be surprised if the poster's name was Tom. I sometimes practiced at the same time as some of the 125 shifters and they would blow by so fast it looked like I was parked a 90MPH. The Super Karts are AWESOME.

They used to have a leash tied to the lower front of their helmet like a funny car driver. You can guess why.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Jack.. just saw your one car to do it all on facebook. You are getting more famous! (I havent posted in this since....page 8?

Welcome back to the thread, Chris. It's too big to read, now. But I just saw that it's closing in on one million views.

Jack, thanks a lot for all the great information, your garage looks fantastic!

Let me tell you, you've got a couple of fans down here in France. I wish my garage could look half as good as yours!! ;-)

By the way, do you have any color reference for the green you used on your cabinets? Definitely look 60's, I love it.

Jack, I am shure you have read a lot of words, and sentences about what you bring to communities about cars, garages, DYI, and a lot of other aspects around these topics.
Last week my friend on FB posted the video link about your car and garage, and thought I might recognize your work... But of course!
This post is just to let you understand, that what you bring as inspiration, motivation, and being truthful to your passion, transpires to worlds coast that could not be traveled within a month or so, only half a century ago...

My mothers tongue is not english (french speaking and raised) , but I truely can tell you that you are one of my favourite inspirations, on all your posts on GJ, and to see and hear you, about your conviction, makes me a better person, just by being witness to what you bring to us.

Thank you, guys. I wish I spoke French. A magazine called Speedster sent an editor out a while back and there's going to be a piece about the garage and the car in that magazine. I'll be relying on Google to translate it for me.

I think they're based in Bordeaux?

 

[dmeray1]

Zeke.....Tom is Tom Kistler who won that year. I sadly, was second. I made up for it by winning with my ZIP 250cc Rotax in 1986 in Portland. That is a great Kart track. We used the entire front dragstrip and shutdown area unlike the "sissy" Indy cars that had the chicane at the end of the 1/4 mile.

Oh and I am sorry if I came too close to you during practice at Willow. Yes, and the helmet strap was needed. Well, except for Terry Ives, the Ironman....he never used a strap.

 

[Zeke]

Yeah, I knew TK, I just didn't want to print it in public. Knew TI too from up in NorCal. No you didn't brush me in practice, they wouldn't let us stockers out on the track with the big dogs. Anyway, enough of a hijack on the 12 Ga. Garage thread although it's been a great meeting place.

dmeray1 if you ever get out to Willow when Jack is running, you ought to hit him up for a ride. I did for 6 laps and it was a great 6 laps. I rode in a Z06 the same day and all I can say is different machines use different lines. Jack has a good line in 5. I think I always tried to late apex it because I was afraid of it. I went off there more than once. I think Jack has too, but he ain't afraid of T5's quirkiness changing elevation and camber at the same time.

He just runs down in there and plants it until the edge comes up and next thing you know he's flying (literally) over the crest in 6. Quite a ride.

 

[alpinewhite]

Jack,

I found this funny post of yours on another thread dated 01-19-2010, post#60

Re: Harbor Freight 13 drawer tool boxes $271.99

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=739764&postcount=60

Looks great Jack. Do you feel like you are close to completing your shop ?

That's a question my wife has asked more than once. The answer is yes -- this bench is the last big thing I wanted to change. Now I need to get everything put away, and there's a long list of details to finish.

That was funny!!!!!! I'm glad you didn't stop.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Good intentions, right?

 

[Zeke]

The question is did you ever think your $3500 garage makeover during the writer's strike would go viral to the point of being in a Euro mag?

 

[Jack Olsen]

No sir, I did not.

In fact, this morning I was reading a forum that's in Portugal -- where some Portugese guys were talking about my garage -- and there was one compliment on it that I think Google's Portugese-to-English translation software turned into something other than what the original poster meant. I liked the translation, though, so I tried it as the 'test' text for my new vinyl cutter, which can make heat transfer cut-outs for t-shirts.

What's that on the car? I've got a testing day at Willow tomorrow (probably, so long as the baby's fever doesn't get too high), and I'm bringing some second-hand tires to test on.

 

[Zeke]

Hah! The new Jack Olsen self portrait pose: the smirk. I might have to try that one.

Hope the baby is fine and it's a great day in the desert. These January days out there can be some of the nicest days of all desert weather. Cold as hell in the morning warming up to a beautiful sun filled day before the breeze turns into a wind.

I could almost talk myself into missing that place.

 

[GGB]

Love the new t-shirt logo, and I might add, very accurate!

GGB

 

[fergus]

Man Jack...that's pretty close to a smile. I'd watch that if I was you. The translation is probably correct. The kids all say "beast" as an adjective now. A positive, exclamatory one, usually describing something pretty rad. Something like "Did you see (insert awesome thing here)?" "Yeah, it was BEAST!" So you're officially "beast" in Portuguese now.

 

[Huxley]

I like it.

Too bad they weren't cursing in Portugese. They truly make it an art form. You would have gotten an eye opening translation then.

A rudimentary example:

Typical American - "Stick it up your a**!"

Portugese - "Shove it directly into the festering dark center of your putrid hole"

 

[Exceller8]

Man, I want a "Jack Olsen- Dude is Beast" shirt now.

 

[Conor]

so tell us more about this vinyl cutter of yours? gonna cut some vinyl for the garage?

 

[Brian R]

Jack,
Your garage is awesome and the car spectacular.
I hope you don't mind me asking a few questions but I've really enjoyed your track videos and the pursuit of lower times. I do not race nor have I ever been to Willow Springs but while sitting at the local barber waiting for my son to get his hair cut I was reading the March issue of Motor Trend and they tested two cars at Willow Springs:
Ford Focus ST - 1:29.27 (hp 252)
Subara BRZ - 1:30.32 (hp 200)

I was shocked that off the shelf cars would be able to turn what I think is pretty quick times since you've put such effort going from 1:29s to working to 1:25s.

Is it that these new cars already have state of art suspension and brakes (and mechanics that set them up perfectly for the conditions at the track)?

Is it that they are driven by professional drivers (not that you are not a great driver but how fast would a pro lap in your Porsche?)

Maybe the difference between your 1:25 and 1:30 is bigger than I think?

Again, just curious and this thread is fantastic, inspiring and educational.
Thanks for posting.

 

[Brian R]

...and sign me up for 'Dude-is-Beast' t-shirt.

 

[Jack Olsen]

so tell us more about this vinyl cutter of yours? gonna cut some vinyl for the garage?

It's a classic example of clicking on a thread and starting to think 'Hey, I think I could do that...' and then having to spend $300 to find out.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=184153

Jack,
Your garage is awesome and the car spectacular.
I hope you don't mind me asking a few questions but I've really enjoyed your track videos and the pursuit of lower times. I do not race nor have I ever been to Willow Springs but while sitting at the local barber waiting for my son to get his hair cut I was reading the March issue of Motor Trend and they tested two cars at Willow Springs:
Ford Focus ST - 1:29.27 (hp 252)
Subara BRZ - 1:30.32 (hp 200)

I was shocked that off the shelf cars would be able to turn what I think is pretty quick times since you've put such effort going from 1:29s to working to 1:25s.

Is it that these new cars already have state of art suspension and brakes (and mechanics that set them up perfectly for the conditions at the track)?

Is it that they are driven by professional drivers (not that you are not a great driver but how fast would a pro lap in your Porsche?)

Maybe the difference between your 1:25 and 1:30 is bigger than I think?

Again, just curious and this thread is fantastic, inspiring and educational.
Thanks for posting.

You got me to Google that. Because those lap times for those cars seemed impossible. In finding the article, I see that the test they did was at a different track at the same facility. The Streets of Willow is a different track than Willow Springs.

To put it all in some context, here's a list of lap times at Willow for stock cars. (How 'stock' and how scientific/accurate the list might be is undetermined.)

Willow Springs (the big track) is a great reference track because it only has one configuration and can only be run in one direction. So a lap time there (post-1986, at least), is pretty comparable to any other lap time there.*

*Well, mostly. No two days at the track are ever exactly the same. Ambient temperatures, track surface conditions, and even the time of day can make significant differences in lap times.

That's why my second t-shirt from my vinyl cutter was about my favorite track.

 

[markviii]

I use the Cameo Silhouette in my custom picture framing shop - makes fun embellishments on mats. I sometimes use the embellishments to cover flaws in the mat that I otherwise would have had to scrap, but they look intentional, blending in with the theme of the art. It's also been a nice add-on activity (and $) to service the craft and scrap-booking community. (I have a dry mount press in my shop, so heat transfer is no problem.)

I can also make my own promotional materials, reducing my merchandising/marketing costs significantly (important for my one-person shop). I've also attracted customers who want me to do their posters/promotional material designs (other small one-person shops in the small towns around here); so I'm saving them time and $, too.

I like it better than the CriCut because it's software driven with the ability to import fonts/designs, allowing for more design creativity. And the price is good. I was able to pay for mine in the first year with no effort.

Thanks for sharing, Jack.

Chris

 

[HAMAR]

Your Porsche video popped up in our local BMW-club here in Iceland:

http://www.bmwkraftur.is/spjall/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=59856&p=701301#p701301

 

[Brian R]

....(sheepishly) thanks for posting the reply although I now feel pretty foolish. I do remember seeing 'Streets of Willow' and thinking it must be different configuration. It is neat to see what your setup does compared to other cars.

Carry on.

 

[Hotz]

Hello Jack ...

For us here in Brazil, it is also very difficult the Portuguese from Europe, many words have really here for us Brazilians a connotation of offense, but may actually be compliments.

You can not imagine the difficulty we I have to understand certain technical information they post here.

Congratulations Porsche / garage very inspiring ....

 

[DocJock]

What an awesome garage/car combo.

I was introduced to this forum via the video about you on PistonHeads.com and it has inspired me to stick around.

If my wife divorces me, I'll be citing you as mitigation Mr Olsen

 

[bazzateer]

The camera is called the 808 #16 V2 -- which is really catchy. It's a true 720p HD camera that comes disguised as a key fob, which I can't get my head around. But they've worked very reliably in my race car. It's $44, delivered from China. I usually get them in about a week, but it could take longer. Here's an ebay link to the seller I've used. And here's a link with more information/discussion about the camera.

I've got one of these on the way from China (£28.00 delivered). Taking the Imp (just like a miniature Porsche Jack!) out on a classic Tour in April so will give it a try out then after some practice once it arrives.