...I grabbed the mouse and found some time to "play".
Yeah, I know I razz him once in a while, but deep down I love the kid. He never ceases to make me proud of him.
Just thought all of you here who've met Gump over the last few years at meets might enjoy a sneek peek at this one. Over the weekend we bought him a red '96 Neon and had it delivered directly to the repair shop for some minor repairs. He's happy! Tomorrow morning I'm off to get him some new tires and unleash him on the unsuspecting public. He'll be happier.
Next week, he's getting a little bit of a makeover...so much for vacation.
He don't know about this part yet. Think he'll be happy still?
Pics when it's done...the hoods gonna scare ya! Rapid
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Looks good, Ray...but those white doorhandles almost invite themselves to be a pair of eyes!
Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
So, is Pioneer sponsoring his car?.. the paint job?.. free sound system? I'm guessing you are painting a scary "Vampyre" on the hood? You have to write it huge on the side so people will know what it is?
I like the paint effect (very much) and am sure the hood will kick butt ... but ... the text (any text) is cheezy IMO.
Hmmm .... a young kid in a red sports car painted all evil like .... how many times a day you think he'll get pulled over? hahaha
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
Man if you were still in Ga I'd come up and help you with it!!
Posted by Nancie W. Phillips (Member # 3484) on :
Gumps gonna squeal like a girl!...
Posted by Nancie W. Phillips (Member # 3484) on :
I guess he doesn't know he's gonna be on 'Pimp my Ride' "Rapid style"?... Heck, he doesn't even know that he has a ride, does he?
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
I thought it was Ray who squeals like a girl... LOL! Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Almost did when the repair bill came in, Brudda Bruce. Minor repairs turned into major overhauling and the car's been tied up at the shop for weeks. Sheesh.
Off to get it inspected this morning then into the shop it goes...finally.
Rapid
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Hey Rapid, My brother probably test drove that car in the Belvidere plant!
Posted by Dale Flewelling (Member # 2577) on :
Now the fun begins Ray! Getting to work on the paint will take yur' mind off da' repair despair! ( hehe...been there) Wishing you well on the project. It looks kewl!!
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Well, mother nature decided to throw her hat in the ring tonight and cause some more delay on this project. After fussing the body work and getting it all set up to shoot, some nasty thunderstorms decided to wreak havoc with the electricity late today and we had to put it on hold.
Guess I'm gonna have to prove the old "Rapid" nickname again. It's now officially a rush job since we'd planned on have it ready when school starts Monday morning...hood included.
If it ain't one thing, it's something else.... Sheesh Rapid
PS: Mark, we ditched the "Vampyre" on the sides. The vanity plate was available.
[ August 25, 2007, 10:05 PM: Message edited by: Ray Rheaume ]
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
I met Gump at Looney. Good kid! I wish him well with his new wheels!
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
DONE!!!!
Happy...but I need a nap. Rapid
Posted by Harris Kohen (Member # 2139) on :
hay ray, is that vinyl?
hahahaha!!!!
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
holy flaming eyeballs! i bet he is stoked! looks great ray! now go take a nap.
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Man, that guy needs some Visine. Hey looks great Rabid. Glad you ditched the lettering on the sides....the graphic looks much better uncluttered. Good job! Love......Jill
Posted by Sam Staffan (Member # 4552) on :
I was looking forward to seeing this one get done. Great job!
My question - Ray, what inspired the hood? Something in particular?
Or just what you were feeling at the time for being under pressure to get this (I'am assuming no-pay) job done. Posted by Nancie W. Phillips (Member # 3484) on :
Hey... Havin' GUMP for a kid (and havin' him HAPPY) is great pay! Huh, Ray?
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Sam,
Couple of inspirations for the hood. Gump's been using the nickname "Vampyre" online for a while, so going in that direction was inevetible. The car being red only made things easier since the base color for the "blood" was there and he had some ideas about the hood.
The overall design was pretty much set for a while, but not the hood. I recalled seeing a picture of a ram that Mike Lavalee had done that looked like it was stretching through the tailgate of a truck (amazing design) and wanted to try something along that line. Once I drew it out on the hood started it, I kinda went off in another direction and added a little more color to it.
Pressure? Kinda hard to explain.
First and foremost, this effort was for my son because I love him and he's earned it, but it was also for a lot of other people, too. His buddies in school, many of my friends in town, my customers...even my wife...everyone was expecting that I would do SOMETHING to his first car since he was a little kid.
Once in a while I get very determined about a project. With the delays in the repairs and the goal of getting it ready for this morning, no one put the pressure on more than I did to myself. In a weird way, this one has been seen coming for a long time and now that it's done, I feel like it'll put the years of speculation to rest. I set the date and, come hell or high water, it was going to be ready today.
Nancie, "Havin' GUMP for a kid (and havin' him HAPPY) is great pay!" All he ever has to do is say "Thanks,Dad". I'll take that over money any day!
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)