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Let me be one of the first to say it... It's been another wonderful year for the staff of tt.NET to be hosting one of the most dynamic groups automotive enthusiasts on the internet. You never cease to amaze us with the new banter; good, bad and otherwise, year after year. It keeps us motivated to try and provide a more dynamic environment for your enjoyment and to continue to grow the more precise knowledge in the FAQs and the neverending supply of information found in search. It is truely amazing what can be found here. For me at least, the year in review is mixed. I got burned out working for a French company doing overall lame programming work, but it paid the bills at the time. War and the French didn't set well with me either, so I bailed once my contract term was finished. In retrospect, probably not bright, but then again, life isn't meant to be boring. I went out and ran in the 120MPH average class at BBORR in April. I ran PCA Mayfast in May, some other track events along the way in the summer and fall. Overall, not the worst year for track time. I got 300 Degree rolling down the track with my partner in tt.NET and 300 Degree Steve Simmons. Our work on the nProbe product has hopefully opened a door to a new level of future Nissan maintenance and tuning (yeah, it's not just for the Z32 guys!). Getting backed by JWT, SGP, Specialty Z, and others outside the Z32 community has been a great success for us. Our planned future enhancements for the nProbe series should be very interesting as well as some other things I've been wanting to get off the drawing board and into your cars and my own. Speaking of, the Green Queen's title is now mine, I have a Tahoe to haul it, and I have a nice little 280Z I need to get cleaned up for a fun touring car that's been sitting in the driveway. Oh, I finally got my hottub project running this year (I got a 9'x9' Calspa for the removal of it from the donor and a bottle of expensive scotch). What a blessing that is, took a bit to refurbish, but if you have the means to own one, I highly recommend it. I spent a little time doing some technical writing in August telling a 24(B)illion dollar a year company how to spend their money in 2004-2009 to better prepare for business continuity. Fun. Also my last real work for the year. Hopefully something will change on the job front in January or I will really start to feel the pinch of the economy on myself and my skillset... and some of these 'fun' things will just become property and find a new home so I can get on with the more important aspects of life. Like maybe a family. My current girlfriend and I have been togther for closing in on a year and a half... I have to say I love her very much, and she 'understands' my addiction (I'm blessed this time around), so this shouldn't stay static too much longer w/o screwing something up. Her family is great, I finally got to go to NYC proper in the fall for her mom's wedding. My family loves her. NiXit even likes her. So, I guess that's settled. ;-) I got to return to Japan for the 3rd year in a row with 'Mad Mike' to see the Ultimate Z crew, Mr. K, and all the other Nissan brass and crazies. Every year there is something new and wonderful and I definitely hope that it's a trend that continues to grow (yes, my trip report is almost completed, I'm on the last day right now). I think that pretty much wraps up my year, I might have a little more news in the bag, but it's not time to give up everything until it's a done deal. I'm not sure what direction it's going at the moment, and I'm mostly keeping it close to the vest because of the nature of it. So what's happened to Greg and Steve? I can't really talk for them, but Greg and his lovely wife will be parents in the summertime (just in time for ZCON2k4!). Greg was promoted to Area Technical Manager for his company and has been solidly kicking ass in his profession. The Blue Beast had been dismantled for most of the year and his post this morning shows some forward progress on getting it back on the road. He's discovered some time lately to help get some new features into the software here (the n00b stuff, the message previews, the image previews, etc) as well as doing a lot of code efficiency things you'll never know are happening but make this place better in the grand scheme. He has also increased his stock in Nissan with the recent acquisistion of a Inifiniti G35 coupe (complete with the whale tail, etc) as a high speed baby hauler. I have to admit I enjoyed driving it around even if it is an autobox. The two hugh ass dogs are still in the loop... at least the new kiddo will have something to ride around the back yard. ;-) Steve has been latched down with a technical infrastructure company for the past year and has turned a couple corners as well. I'm glad to see he's settled into a groove, it really helped get 300 Degree moving forward at an acceptible pace, although there were some other 'sacrifices' along the way for him. He and his wife are in the process of building a larger house moving out of a very comfortable home. Always a big step no matter how long you've been married, but definitely a good one! He sold off his 2+2 200MPH project car that had sat stagnent for too long because of employment issues and is on the list to get a Z33 Roadster. So he'll be staying in the Z family as well... So what's on the horizon? Hard to say really. tt.NET/350Zforum.com continue to grow at their own paces. I think the big deal right now will be our planning for another big dinner thing at the ZCON in LA this summer. SeedyROM and the left coast crew are helping coordinate everything and I'm not going to divuldge any details yet, but this is going to be something worth the trip to attend... The Japanese are going to be there as well.. I think Nissan is shipping in 15 cars and they are bringing about 35 members from the Ultimate Z crew, and probably some others from other clubs. So be ready for that action as well. Well... that's about all the news fit to be print on Christmas Eve Eve. We wish you all the most happy holidays no matter what diety you believe in, no matter where you are, no matter what you're doing. If you're serving to protect our country overseas, protecting some other country's best interests and keeping their peoples safe from harm as you would for us at home, thank you very much for the work you do. I hope you get to see your families soon enough, I know they miss you very much... not the easiest time to be away, but it's something that must be done, so the greater sacrifices of the past year will not be forgotten. Just do us one big favor. Be safe out there, no accidents, no losses of cars or lives please! Happy Holidays to you all!!! May you get everything you want under the tree and have a healthy start to 2004!!!!! The tt.NET staff thanks you all for your participation in making this site what it is... the BEST! ;-)
Later
   If you need Z32/Z33 work done in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, I've done most everything from oil changes to engine rebuilds. E-mail me for a quote please. When was the last time you *really* did something with your Z to call yourself a Z enthusiast? Member #1 PETZ
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01:56:46 12/24/03
