Site Update Log

Photos & videos that were added most recently to my gallery can always be viewed here.
  
1/11/2010 - Finished a few projects recently which are chronicled in my gallery - Palatov rear uprights and rod end replacement with a string alignment.  Took the car out of the garage on the coldest day of 2009 for a lap around the block and took some photos of that as well.  See the first two photos in my winter gallery.  Also stripped and powdercoated the rear pushrods that had tons of stone chips.

9/10/2009 - I recently took some photos of the Atom in a very remote wooded location near where I grew up in Wisconsin. No matter how far I've traveled, I don't think I've ever come across as beautiful a view. Only recently did I remember this spot from when I was a child and I'm glad I finally got around to taking pics of the Atom there.  View the album in my gallery HERE.  If you have a larger monitor (22" or greater), be sure to click the link on each album page to view the photo in full size for the best quality and resolution.

8/25/2009 - The 2009 Hot Rod Power Tour is covered in the October 2009 issue of Hot Rod Magazine.  They were kind enough to include a photo of me & the Atom in the magazine from the dragstrip in Bristol, TN.  Scans from the magazine can be viewed on the last page of my 2009 Tour gallery HERE (at bottom).

Also received a DVD of the 2009 Hot Rod Power Tour produced by Dave & Amy at ARS Promotions.  They were very kind and included several video clips of me & the Atom. See them here: Cherry Bomb's Matt Graves talking about my exhaust, Interview while unpacking the car in the rain, View of Bristol Speedway from the passenger seat.

6/20/2009 - I'm back from the 2009 Hot Rod Power Tour.  Just as I wondered how it could possibly be any better than last year, the trip surpassed it in every way.  A week spent with tens-of-thousands of other auto enthusiasts on a crazy cross-country road trip is a great way to spend a vacation.  Details with photos and video can be found HERE.

5/4/2009 -  Added photos of even more exhaust work (fabricated shield for Vortex muffler).

4/23/2009 - Added a few more questions to the FAQ page (painted panels & colors, and HP level). Added more photos of the airbrushing process.  Received a GM Performance Parts clutch, and I'll be documenting the clutch job in a new gallery here.

4/12/2009 - Finished one of the many winter projects on the list, and you can see the results in two new galleries: the airbrushing process, and green true fire paint job.  Added photos of even more exhaust work (Jet Hot coating, vortex conical insert, additional O2 sensor locations).  Added a few relavant quotes as well as another entry to the artists and craftsmen section of my About page.

3/3/2009 - Added a slideshow to the main page.  If you see any problems with it, please drop me a line.

2/23/2009 - Added a page with some fascinating history on Ariel and their prior vehicles.  Removed the stock supercharger pulley and installed a quick-change hub & lighter pulley.  Added photos of additional exhaust work, along with several other new improvements: hardened axle/hub spacers, rod end safety washers, and smaller mirrors (which can all be seen in the misc improvements gallery).  Also added a photo of what's under the hood/bonnet, and a shot of the bare Ecotec LSJ motor in the parts/misc gallery.  Added a few more links to some cool video and reviews.

10/25/2008 - Posted some photos and video from a HPDE/lapping event at USA International Raceway on 10/12/2008.  Added two albums to the photo gallery covering recent larger upgrades: brakes and exhaust.  Added some background on buying the car on the order/buying page, and also updated the stats page to reflect a handful of recent changes.

9/20/2008 - The Power Tour coverage in Hot Rod Magazine's November 2008 print issue includes a photo of my car and a nice and write-up.  Scans from the magazine can be seen in my gallery for the event HERE.

8/28/2008 - Added photos and video from an autocross at USA International Raceway on 8/17/2008.  Check out the in-car video from a very dusty spin.

7/5/2008 - Added more photos to my 2008 Hot Rod Power Tour gallery: day 3 summary video stills, long hauler group photo.

7/1/2008 - Added more links to other people's photo albums on my 2008 Hot Rod Power Tour page.

6/22/2008 - Added more links to other people's photo albums on my 2008 Hot Rod Power Tour page.  Got tired of having my signal bulbs keep rattling loose in their plastic sockets so I fabricated some steel sockets.

6/17/2008 - I'm back from the 2008 Hot Rod Power Tour and have had sufficient time to recover.  I had the best time of my life with tens-of-thousands of other auto enthusiasts on a crazy cross-country road trip.  Details with photos and video can be found HERE.

6/6/2008 - Added notification to main page that I'm participating in the Hot Rod Power Tour.  Been busy over the winter with some service and modifications to the car, the most visible of which is a second set of body panels in a new color.  Also added a few decals here and there.  Added a new photo gallery of the current state of the car.

5/24/2008 - Bought a different dashboard panel and fabricated a pair of windscreens for it.  Added some new photos to the Upgrades/Misc gallery - mounted the Autocom helmet intercom system tucked away under the dash, added 2 more power sockets.

4/27/2008 - Added some new photos to the Upgrades/Misc gallery - replacement steering bushing installation, Toyo R888 tires mounted, Aeroforce Interceptor gauge mounting.

3/22/2008 - Added several new albums to the gallery: front plate fabrication, Atom on lawn, winter in WI, and parts & misc.

2/10/2008 - Added to the FAQ page - see the question What's it like to get in one for the first time?  Two guys from the Atom forums have done a great job of describing it.

9/3/2007 - Added more photos to the improvements album: aluminum fender spacers and Hot Lap lap timer install.  Also added more items to the powdercoating album: front tray screws, rear tray fasteners & screws, and lighter socket & bracket.  Scanned and uploaded the alignment checklist and final inspection checklist to the build album.

8/21/2007 - Added a new powdercoating album, and more photos to the improvements album: brake bias control and bracket, steering wheel spacer, and a set of Falken Azenis RT-615 tires.

8/16/2007 - Added more photos to the improvements album: another camera mounting position, magnetic oil drain plug, and Speedbleeder screws.

8/13/2007 - Added photo album from a local car club's show that I attended on 8/12/2007.  Lots of beautiful cars were in attendance, the weather was nice, and the Atom brought home a trophy.  It was a good day.

8/6/2007 - Added photo album showing process I used to tint the lenses.

8/6/2007 - Added 2 new photo albums from recent events - Solo 2 Autocross and Car Club Cruise.  Also added a few photos of the on-car camera mount setup to the improvements album.

7/28/2007 - Added a number of new albums to the gallery, including photos from the drive home (Oregon to Wisconsin).