Atlantic City Car Auction

As I sit here and dread the impending snow storm that approaches, I try to convince myself that the warm weather will be here soon and I will be back outside playing with cars soon. The Atlantic City Car Auction every year feels like the last part of winter for me, so I go to not only enjoy the cars and swap meet, but also to say goodbye to the cold winter months. The event is held February 27-March 1, 2015. We also make sure to visit the White House Sub Shop and enjoy some awesome subs... can't wait.

Barrett-Jackson 2015

The entire family has been watching the outstanding coverage of the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ collector car auction on Velocity and Discovery. It has been way better than the horrible coverage the Fox attempted previously.

We can't wait to see the rest, including the Ron Pratte collection. I've seen him purchase many of these cars over the years, and now he gets to sell them again. Zach and I went out to the garage to start the Camaro and take the '52 Pickup out for a full tank of gas. We just got back, and the show is on.... got to go!

Upcycling

I found this cool lamp on Pinterest, and finally discovered the term 'upcycling". Basically, you take your old car parts and turn them into something else, like decor or furniture. I've held on to some old crankshafts, cams, connecting rods etc just for such a purpose, and can't wait to get started.

New Steering Wheel

Sometimes I seriously wonder how stupid people are. The previous owner of my 1952 3100 pickup had installed a cheap, billet wheel that was only held on by five tiny horn cap screws....yeah, that's what was holding the steering wheel on to the truck! 

It also did not fit the column, and there was this hideous gap from the side. I looked at a few replacements at the swap meet, but they were expensive, and not very stylish. The stock steering wheel for these trucks was as bland as they could make it.

So, I went on to eBay and picked up a used 1955 Chevy Bel Air steering wheel. It is not perfect, but the design does fit the truck pretty well. It was so easy to install, and the ugly gap from the side view is completely gone. The wheel is also held on by the large steering nut attached to the steering shaft... like it was designed to.

In the future, I plan on restoring the wheel with new paint, a new chrome horn ring, and either filling the two small holes for the horn cap emblem or buying a new emblem.

Now thanks to the larger 18" diameter wheel, it feels like the truck has power steering... and I'm not worried that the steering wheel will come off in my hands while I'm driving it.

Other repairs...

There were a bunch of other things that needed some repair on the truck. The radiator was not original, nor did it fit the truck at all. The top inlet had to be relocated, because the radiator hose was so twisted it was hardly flowing. I took it to the radiator repair shop, and eventually they got it right. I custom made my own overflow tank from a bottle of Jack Daniels, and that will do for now.

I had plenty of issues trying to tune up the pickup, so a new points conversion kit was in order. While I was at it, I also replaced the Rochester Monojet with a new rebuilt carb, and constructed a non-existent crankcase ventilation system. There was no PCV, and the engine like to diesel a bit when shut down. Now that I installed that and re-timed it correctly.

There were  few things that needed attention: no gas gauge sending unit, wiper motor jammed up and left on (motor was practically bunt out), no door locks, no door handles, no bolts holding in the hood vent. These were all easily fixed, and gave me time to get acquainted with the truck.

I did find that the billet aluminum steering column drop was a bit too low for me, so I fabricated up a new one that kept the column closer to the dash and provided more leg room. Now I am just waiting for my new (used) 1955 BelAir wheel to arrive, and to see if I can mount that up to replace the current wheel that is too small, AND only held to the steering shaft with 5 small allen bolts on the wheel center cap. I am not digging that at all.

3100 Truck Heater

Take a look at this nice smooth firewall, wouldn't it be a shame to cut a hole in it? Well, I had to cut two , because there was no heater in this truck...so I made two holes for the 5/8" heater hoses and the new Mojave heater system. The unit is basically a small heater core with an electric fan built in, and there is a secondary plenum with three vents. 
Two are directional, and the third is used to hook up the duct work for the defroster. I installed two new defroster ducts and hoses prior to going any further. 
I was able to pull back the carpet and expose the original firewall. Luckily I could weld on four bolts to the firewall without it effecting the nice painted side in the engine compartment.

 Then I simply mounted the heater, cut two holes for the 5/8" heater hoses and grommets, wired it up and installed the switch in the existing hole in the dash. Now the truck has HEAT!

Air Ride Pickup

The first day the truck was home from Texas, and I already ripped the bed off of the back to figure out how the air ride was wired and set up. The entire wiring system for the air compressor was done incorrectly, so I spent a day or two re-doing that. Once that was done, I moved on to the brakes, or lack thereof. As you can see from the pic, the rear brakes were not even working at all. I was able to figure out (through a few trips and return trips to the auto parts store) that the chassis was a 1990 S-10, which is important because the brakes change after 1991. Then while I was rotating the axle, I heard a sound like a grinding Gatling gun from the rear end. Oh great! After pulling the rear cover off, I discovered the spider gears were very loose, but they were not actually the issue. The carrier was worn, giving the spider gears too much play. So I called up Randy's Ring and Pinion for some much needed replacement parts. At some point in the process of playing with the bed body, brakes and rear end, I discovered that the entire rear end was installed about 7/8 of an inch too far to the left. I went over to ACE to put it on the lift and fix that. Chris, Zach and I cut out the rear, and re-welded everything in the correct place. On to the next issue....

1952 3100 Pickup

Well, here is my new truck. A 1952 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup. She sits on a 1990 Chevy S-10 chassis, with air-ride suspension, disc brakes, and a newer 250 inline six motor coupled to a turbo 350 automatic transmission. I spent such a long time trying to find a truck like this, but everything on the east coast is a rust bucket. This truck was a California truck, and bought from Texas. I researched the previous owners name, and came up with a pic or two of it in the process of its restoration. By the time I first saw it, she looked like the photo and video below.

My 1971 Chevelle

So, I traded the 1971 Chevelle for the pickup, and it was now hanging out in Texas. The car needed nothing mechanical, but I was getting worried about the condition of the body from being outside all these years. I had spent a lot of time making it nice, and I really didn't want to go through all that body work and paint again if I didn't have space in the garage to keep it looking nice. That was the main reason to go for the trade. I had traded the Buell for the Chevelle, and I really didn't have much money tied up in it. I certainly made a few bucks on the trade in value.

The new owners of the Chevelle decided to repaint her, and lay down the famous Chevelle stripes that Zach always wanted. It eventually sold for $17,999, or so it said on their web site at Classic Car Liquidators. They made it an SS clone by adding the badges on the front grille and read bumper, but it didn't look like they touched the interior or powertrain. All I know is that the new owner will surely enjoy that car, she ran great!

They even posted a video on YouTube!

Long Time Gone

It has been a long time since I've posted anything here. I have spent my online time looking at Facebook and Instagram, but honestly I am not sure why anyone else would read my post here. I do this for myself. I have been busy living, working and enjoying my family. We even got a new dog.

So in the past few months, I have traded the 1971 Chevelle in for a 1952 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup. I found the truck online in Texas, and we made a deal to trade.

I

I shipped the Chevelle down to Texas, and two weeks later received my pickup. There were a few things that I needed to do first, but I don't mind. I actually enjoy that part the most.

 

Unfortunately, there were a few things that were not disclosed about the truck, like the faulty wiring, lack of door locks (or ability to even close the doors completely) the poor brakes, no shocks and trashed rear end. I'll save all of that for future post.

Rebel Corvette

The 1969 L88 “Rebel” race car just sold for $2.86 million at the 2014 Barrett Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ. I have a video series featuring Kevin Mackay of Corvette Repair, where he discusses finding the car in a junk yard and its restoration. Check it in part 4 of the series here, and also in part 5.

Auction Results: Arizona 2014

By: Brian Rabold

Historically, the annual Arizona auctions have been scrutinized and examined as a bellwether for what the market will do during the next 6 to 12 months. And for good reason — somewhere in the neighborhood of 15% of cars sold at auction each year appear in Scottsdale or Phoenix in January. Those looking for evidence of a cooling trend this year will either have to dig deep into the results or wait for the next major event, as 2014’s totals far surpassed 2013’s record amount. In the end, $248.5M worth of cars traded among the 6 auction houses — more than a 10% increase — with Barrett-Jackson, RM Auctions and Bonhams all recording their highest-ever totals in Arizona. Yes, more cars were required to achieve this feat, but the average sale price for all cars sold this year was still more than 7% higher than last.

We have long discussed how Blue Chip collectibles have been driving overall growth in the market for the past several years, and Blue Chip cars continued to perform in Arizona. Top sale for the week was $8.8M for a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California LWB Spyder, sold by RM. This is the second year in a row that a Cal Spyder earned top honors in Arizona, as Gooding sold a 1958 LWB example for $8.25M in 2013. Gooding sold a similarly elegant if less sporting 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet for $6.16M, as well as a 1997 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail race car for $5.28M. In general, most of the star cars that sold across all auctions did so for numbers at the leading edge of the market.

Exclusive foreign cars weren’t the only ones to do well, of course. Perhaps surprising to casual observers were Barrett-Jackson’s results for Corvettes. In particular, an exceptionally rare 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe sold for a record price of $3.85M, the 1969 L88 “Rebel” race car sold for $2.86M, and a 1968 L88 convertible sold for $880,000. That’s three Corvettes for more than $7.5M.

Cars in more affordable price ranges also performed well, generally speaking. As evidence, the two companies that most cater to the mainstream buyer — Silver Auctions and Russo and Steele — saw their collective average sale price increase by more than 16%, and this despite Russo narrowly missing on its premier car.

As is the case at any auction, bargains were to be found. With nearly 3,000 vehicles on offer throughout three cities during the course of a full week, some cars didn’t generate the attention they probably deserved. For example, a nice 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 convertible sold for $84,700 by Barrett-Jackson, which is about the price an excellent replica might make. Plenty more of these opportunities lurked, with lucky bidders who found themselves in the right place at the right time being rewarded.

While Arizona grabs most of the attention from the classic car universe in January, Mecum’s mega-auction in Kissimmee will close out the month with roughly the same volume of vehicles crossing the block. When those numbers are combined with Scottsdale, a new story may emerge, but for now 2014 has picked up right where 2013 left off, which is to say with all cylinders firing.

2015 Corvette Z06

The 2015 Corvette Z06 was revealed today at the Detroit Auto Show, featuring a brand-new supercharged engine with more that 625 horsepower.

The giant hood vent not only helps cooling but adds downforce, and if you option the carbon-fiber aero package, you’re granted an even larger front splitter with aviation-style wings and a bigger rear spoiler featuring a fixed wickerbill (a lip on the edge of the wing that traps air, producing a drastic increase in rear downforce).

But it’s the optional Z07 package where things really come alive: the winglets on the front splitter are enlarged and the rear spoiler arrives with a see-through center section that can be adjusted up and down significantly to tailor the amount of downforce produced. With this setup, the Z06 boasts the most amount of downforce of any production car GM has ever tested—including all of its competitors.

Ticking the Z07 package also adds larger carbon ceramic-matrix brakes, delivering a 23 lb. saving over the standard steel rotors. The monster tires, too, turn from Michelin Pilot Sport to the racing-inspired, practically slick Sport Cup tires. Inside you have the option of a GT seat or the Competition Seat, the latter being the preferred choice—but not if you’re carrying excess holiday weight.

At the heart of the 2015 Z06 is the all-new LT4 6.2-liter supercharged V-8, boasting a monstrous 635 lb.-ft. of torque to compliment its 625 hp. That’s an increase of over 100 horsepower compared to the outgoing Z06.

Like the Stingray, the Z06 features cylinder deactivation to help with fuel efficiency, but unlike the Stingray, it adopts a dry sump oiling system rather than a wet one.

Further changes occur in the transmission—notably the addition of a brand-new 8-speed automatic. Fear not, a 7-speed manual is available with the same rev-matching feature used in the base Corvette but the auto promises upshifts eight-hundredths of a second faster than Porsche’s notorious PDK transmission.

That’s a lofty claim for a company that doesn’t have a competitive performance automatic in its current arsenal, and this isn’t even a dual-clutch system. If Chevy has indeed produced a class-leading paddle-shift auto, this will prove to be a huge asset when it makes its way onto other GM vehicles in the future.

Arriving as standard with Magnetic Ride Control dampers, offering settings from Touring mode to Track mode, the Z06 now comes with a removable, lightweight carbon-fiber roof panel. With it off, the Z06 still manages an improved stiffness of 20-percent over the outgoing model; with it in place, it claims a whopping 60-percent increase. The featherweight aluminum frame remains essentially the same as that on the C7.R racecar, and an electronic differential comes as standard.

Performance specs aren’t yet available; neither is price. But like any Corvette, the Z06 promises unsurpassed speed for a relative bargain. When it goes on sale early 2015, it will join the likes of the new Camaro Z/28 and SS sedan, proving Chevrolet’s current performance lineup rivals that of the world’s best.

By Alex Lloyd

Tips to Keep Mice out of Stored Cars

From Hagerty

If you're a classic car owner, chances are that you've had to store your car at some point. Check out readers' best ideas for nipping rodent problems in the bud, ranging from D-Con and dryer sheets to sulfur and steel wool. If you’re putting your car away for the winter, keep reading for ways to keep those small, unwanted guests out of your classic. 

1. Dryer sheets
“I have had a 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 XL for 18 years, and I also have an acre in the country, so we see our share of mice. The best thing I've used is dryer sheets. Just go to the Dollar Store and buy a box. They don't have to be expensive. I just lay them all over the interior, under the hood, in the trunk, on top of the tires – even in the exhaust pipe. Then, in the spring, gather them all up and toss them. Not only will there be no mice, the car will smell like it just came out of the dryer. Works great for me!”
“Try Bounce fabric softener dryer sheets. Mice don’t like the smell, but you’ll like it better than moth balls. Use them in several places in the car.”
“One of the best things to deter rodents is to put multiple sheets of a fabric softener inside the car (“Bounce” is excellent!). There is a very low odor associated with the smell after taking the car out of storage, yet rodents hate this item!!! I have a car that I put in storage each winter and also have a 30-foot camping trailer that I store. I have never had one problem since I was introduced to this idea years ago, and I had many problems with rodents before using this technique.”
“I've tried with a good amount of success using fabric softener sheets placed around the car and inside the vehicle. Bounce seems to work the best. I received this information from an upholstery shop that does a lot of work on vehicle interiors.” 

2. D-Con
“The best (and most effective) means of removing all rats and mice from virtually any place is to place D-Con around in areas accessible by the mice and rats, but too small to be accessible by dogs, cats, or any other pets you may have. You may (or may not) detect a slight odor as they are killed off, but I can assure you will never be bothered by them again. I'm 75 years old and have used D-Con all my life, and have yet to see any signs of mice or rats beyond the third or fourth day of setting out the D-Con. I have an antique car, and I use D-Con in it while it is in storage to guarantee against any damage to upholstery or insulation in the car.” 

3. Traps
“The best killer is the Victor snap traps with the 1-inch square plastic yellow tongue. It's more sensitive than traditional snap traps with the small metal tongue. I prefer a small smear of peanut butter in a center hole. You don't want much; just enough to give off the scent. The one downside of these traps is that if they sit long enough without a mouse going for the bait, crickets (and some small bugs) can eat all the traces of peanut butter without setting off the traps because they are so light. A combination of fabric sheets, snap traps, and building inspection and maintenance will keep your classic rodent free.”
“I have five classic cars and believe me, I have tried everything to keep the mice away. But I keep going back to the old faithful mouse trap. You have to keep an eye on them, but they do work. I also have a commercial pest control company put out poison. So far (keeping my fingers crossed) I haven't had much trouble or damage from the varmints. Years ago I made the mistake of putting the trap inside the car. It was nearly impossible to get the smell out of the car! Don't make that mistake.” 

4. Mothballs
“The ultimate prevention to mice invasion, or any other rodent invasion, is the good, old-fashioned mothball. By the first of summer the mothballs are gone. By opening up the car and taking a few rides, the smell is gone as well.”
“This is the second winter I've tried Bounce, in the car and under the hood. It worked OK last year, so hopefully it will continue to. But of course, there's that half box of mothballs spread around and under the car and in the far corners of the [old] garage, so it may be this combo that works. It sure keeps the chipmunks – destructive monsters compared to mice – out of the garage and from under the porch. “ 

5. Sulphur
“Garden stores sell granular or powdered pure sulphur. Mice, roaches and other vermin hate the smell. Cut an old pillowcase into 8" x 8" squares and put a spoonfull of sulphur in the center. Gather the ends and tie into a small pouch. Place these bags around areas that may have a mouse or bug problem.” 

6. Steel wool
“In addition to the soap and mothballs, I put wads of steel wool inside the pipes on my modifed '48 Willys Jeepster.” 

7. Other tips: Tape, jacks, ‘Tom Cat,’ lowered visors, no covers
“Don't forget to put tape over the tail pipe opening and the air intake. A friend could tell you a story about tearing down an engine and finding a mouse carcass on top of a piston.”
“I maybe go a bit overboard, but I'd rather spend a few dollars and be safe than lots come spring. I put my car up on jackstands so only mice that can pole vault or jump really high can reach it. I also put lots of Bounce sheets inside and under the hood. I set about four or five mousetraps that I check every time the weather is warm enough to walk over to the garage where I keep it stored (it’s only a 50 ft. jaunt, but at 20 below it seems like a mile ). I also, since no pets can get into my garage, set out about six little caps of antifreeze. Most of these can be used year after year and so far have been very effective, or maybe I'm just lucky. Either way, when spring comes and everything is the way it was when I parked it, I'm happy.”
“I reproduce interiors of vehicles; a procedure I inform my customers is to purchase "Tom Cat" mice packets. These are sealed packets (6/ box). Do not open the packets but place in trunk, under seats on floor, on top of the air filter cover under the hood. If packets remain closed the bait will remain fresh, if broken it will indicate the presence of an intruder,(who will not remain within the vehicle but leave and search for water). Remove the broken packet and replace with a new sealed packet. The indication of an open packet will remind one to view the vehicle more often. Unfortunately there is no inexpensive means to totally prevent the appearance of rodents, short of obtaining a complete air tight trailer; but this process has worked to assist in keeping the unwanted guests from a restored vehicle. I also recommend that vehicles not be stored in old barns or garages that present means for rodents to have access to the interior of the building. “
“This is not a method to prevent mice from getting in, but rather an extra precaution in case they do get into the interior. Mice have been known to 'nest' behind the sun visor and cause damage to the visor and headliner. Always lower the visor to eliminate the chance for the critters to establish residence on them.” 

“I learned not to cover the car because mice like dark areas to build their nests, usually out of the car's installation, hood blanket, seat cushioning material, etc. I live in Colorado and every fall mice and other critters look for a place to come in out of the cold. Anyway, I now leave my trunk and hood both open and no longer have a problem.”

1971 Chevelle Suspension

I've been driving the '71 Chevelle mostly these days, and wanted to get the suspension upgraded. What I mean is that I just wanted new stock components installed, not tubular A-Arms and poly bushings etc... I want a smooth quiet ride. I did have this annoying knock in the front end, which was eliminated after a new outer tie-rod end was replaced and and new ball joints were installed, both uppers and lowers. While I was at it, I had new control arm bushings installed in the upper and lower front, as well as the lower rear control arm bushings. After the alignment, she drives great again. I wish I could do more, but the pain in my neck and back really keep me from working on the car. I've had to have friends help a lot lately.

I've also been looking at new Camaros, not that I need one. I really like the 2013 over the 2014, but what I want is sort of specific: either a black or orange 2SS with the RS package, NO sunroof with orange or black interior. I waste a lot of time looking at these, but then I drive around in the Chevelle and forget all about it. I even toyed with the idea of trading in the Chevelle or 67 Camaro for one, but that is just crazy. I should just go for a test ride and get it out of my system. Bad idea.

Thousands travel to Nebraska for Lambrecht Chevy auction

PIERCE, Neb. (AP) — A handful of barely driven vintage Chevrolets fetched more than half a million dollars on Saturday at an auction that drew thousands of car buffs from around the world to a small northeast Nebraska town.

Bidders and gawkers crowded shoulder-to-shoulder for the auction in a muddy field just west of Pierce, a town of about 1,800. Spectators in helicopters and airplanes circled overhead as the lead auctioneer, Yvette VanDerBrink, inched down the auction line on a wooden platform hauled by a pickup.

Event organizers said an estimated 10,000 people traveled from as far as Norway and Brazil to see the sale in person, and more than 3,800 had registered online to bid at an auction website by mid-day Saturday.

The auction of more than 500 old cars and pickups was expected to continue on Sunday. Organizers said they hadn't yet totaled the bids for the roughly 50 most high-profile, low-mileage classic cars and trucks, which were auctioned on Saturday. As of midday, six of the most valuable models had sold for a combined $545,000.

The collection belonged to Ray Lambrecht and his wife, Mildred, who ran a Chevrolet dealership in downtown Pierce for five decades before retiring in 1996. Unlike most dealers, Ray Lambrecht stashed many of his unsold cars in a warehouse, at his farm and other spots around town if they didn't sell in the first year.

The first vehicle sold — a sky-blue, 1958 Chevy Cameo pickup driven 1.3 miles — secured the largest bid at $140,000. Another bidder spent $97,500 on a red and white 1963 Impala with 11.4 miles on its odometer, the manufacturer's plastic on the seat and a yellow typewritten window sticker displaying its original price: $3,254.70.

Lyle Buckhouse, a retired farmer from Hankerson, N.D., poked his head Saturday into a 1963 Chevy Corvair with 17.2 miles on the odometer. Moments later, the self-proclaimed "Corvair guy" was hunting eagerly for the bidder-registration tent.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Buckhouse said. "That's why I came down here. You just don't know what you're going to see."

Bob Esler, the owner of Bob's Garage in Westfield, Ind., bought a four-door 1964 Bel Air station wagon for $30,000. The car had 326 miles.

"This is one of the cars that I had my eyes on," Esler said, as he leaned against his new purchase. "I want to use it to haul all of my customers around."

"How are you getting it back home?" a friend asked.

Esler shrugged. "I haven't figured that out yet," he said.

Preparations for the two-day auction began in June. VanDerBrink, the auctioneer, said she took calls from as far as Iceland, Singapore and Brazil before the event.

The two least-driven cars, a 1959 Bel Air and a 1960 Corvair Monza, have one mile on their odometer. The oldest vehicle with fewer than 20 miles dates to 1958; the newest is a 1980 Monza with nine miles.

Some bidders used the auction to hunt for rare parts for their collector cars and trucks, while others came to watch the spectacle.

"What drew us here as much as anything was the story," said Ernie Turcotte, who drove with his son, Jeff, from central Massachusetts to look for fenders and running boards for his 1955 Ford F-100. "I don't understand how it even happened. But here they are."

Ray Lambrecht opened the downtown dealership with his uncle in 1946, on the corner of Main Street and Nebraska Highway 13. The U.S. Army veteran quickly established himself as an unusual salesman: He gave his lowest price up front, without negotiation, and encouraged hagglers to try to find a better deal elsewhere.

In 1954, he drove then-Gov. Robert Crosby down Main Street in a parade celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Nebraska as a territory.

The most valuable vehicles were stored for decades at a nearby warehouse, until a heavy snow collapsed the roof. Some were damaged, but many were saved and moved elsewhere. The models at the dealership were among the best preserved, even as the building gave way to bats and holes in the roof.

Ray and his wife, Mildred, retired in 1996.

Barrett Jackson Las Vegas

Yup, it's that time again. Barrett Jackson Las Vegas - September 26 - 28, 2013. Looks like poor coverage on the new FoxSports channel though....disappointing.

500-car 'barn find'

Field of Dreams: Sale of 500-car 'barn find' collection set for this weekend Lambrecht Chevrolet, owned and operated for 50 years by Ray and Mildred Lambrecht, closed its doors in 1996, sealing up a treasure trove of survivor cars. The Lambrechts, now in their 90s, held onto customer trade-ins and purchased outdated inventory to make room for new models. The extensive Lambrecht collection of survivor cars – including many with fewer than 10 miles on the odometer – will be auctioned this weekend near Omaha.

Barrett-Jackson Hot August Nights

No, I have not left New Jersey, but am watching the Barrett-Jackson Hot August Nights auction from Reno Nevada. Yes, of course I'm playing the Hagerty Fantasy Bid Game, and as usual am not winning.

What have I been up to?

Hmmm, now what have I been up to? Why no post lately? Well, there have have been plenty of post on one of my other blogs... http://s-10blazer.blogspot.com

Zach and I have been busy getting the 1991 S-10 Blazer put together, and that's why I haven't posted much here lately. I've decide to give each vehicle it's own little piece of cyber-space. Maybe this will work out, maybe not.