[svobud]

I was out driving the Cobra this afternoon. Beautiful day and my weekend off, so I just couldn't pass up the opportunity. I woke up around 4:30 pm ... ran around in the shower .. then fired up the FFR. My plan was to run up to Kennesaw for a bite of breaksfest/lunch/dinner .. whatever, it was my first meal for the day. Afterwards, I would come home and mow the grass.

I did just that .. but on the way home, I stop off at the QT for 12 pack of coke. As I'm leaving, there's a guy looking over the car. We chat for a minute - and he leaves. I walk around the to get in the car and another guy comes up - wanting to chat. This is the interesting part (sorry to bore ya up to this point).

The guy comes up and asked 'did you build it yourself?" . I tell him 'yeah, it's a kit car'. He asked if it was fiberglass or aluminum. I told him it was fiberglass. He states, "I just had one delivered to my house a couple of weeks - but it's aluminum - and I still have to put an engine/tranny in it. I wanted one in alum because I've had Corvettes before - and always had bad experiences with the fiberglass." Then he asked, "let me ask you something, I paid $XXX amount for it .. was that a good deal?" I'm just looking at him - blank stare. This has got to be one the most interesting questions I've encountered. My reply was, "did you buy a Kirkham?". He replies, "yeah .. I think that's what it is. I flew out to Utah and checked them out - talk to this guy, such-n-such. I thought I was getting taken on the price, but after seeing their facility - I thought it was well worth it." I told him, "you got a good deal." He starts asking how much I was into mine for ... I told him. He about choked .. and asked why mine was so much less. I explained to him that he had purchased what many consider to be one of the 'top of the line' - and mine is what most people on a budget build. Completely two extremes. He asked what kind of frame it had. I pulled the hood off. He looked at the frame and said, 'well, mine looks just like it, but it's not black like yours. I think it's stainless.' I just chuckled to myself. I guess someone who doesn't even know what they're buying can still have the ability to recognize quality.

We chatted a bit more. He starts telling me how he still needs to find a motor/tranny/etc. I asked if it had ghost stripes, he said he ordered it painted (I forgot to ask what color). I asked what engine combo he was going to use, and he said he was unsure, but would be using a 6-speed. For some reason this prompted me to ask, "you using a Ford or Chevy motor?" He replied, 'I only know Chevys - so I'm going to use a Chevy motor. I don't plan on selling it, so I want something I will feel comfortable with.'

By this time, there was literally a crowd of people around the car - including 4 or 5 local PD/Deputies. One of which I recognized and spoke to. I turned back to the new Kirkham owner and shook hands - told him where I lived and asked that he stop by sometime. Hope to see this guy around more often.

Anyway - interesting conversation ...