Mikelly

We've got the same conditions in Va. as well... It's pretty nuts and my lawn also looks like crap... My well hasn't run dry... YET!!! Mike

It was good seeing you guys yesterday... on the way over to Jamies (Actually made it to his street) got a phone call to rescue my nephew. He was stranded with a relay in his under-hood panel (the fuel pump). I ran him to the parts store and had him on his way...Gameplan was for me to run by Jamie T's place, grab him and come back to the show... That obviously didn't happen! Mike

They own it. I wrote it and they published it. I can't "republish" the contents as they are portrayed in the magazine once they "buy" the article. Mike

Time and Money. The Rigging up the floor of the tunnel for smoke is very time consuming and the cost to set it up and then run tests would have impacted our ability to test the parts... Remember, we got 28 test done. We'd have gotten 1/4 of those tests completed had we used smoke. Mike

Don't know about the track.. I know richmond dragway is open most of the year, but I don't know what's on their schedule this weekend. If I go, I'll leaving from home and going straight there. However, Jim M. told me about a "ferrari of washington" track event at Summit Point and I may go up there and play with the Ferrari boys! Mike

I may well cruise down to this... Of course I won't have the Zcar with me yet, so my little black daily driver will have to do. Mike

Those numbers came from Nissan. I'm not at liberty to say how they were gotten, but they were provided to me. I did not obtain them... Ask Nissan Sport! As a note of comparison, My 996TT with GT2 Rear wing is pulling similar numbers to the NISMO 350Z... That NISMO package is no joke gang! Mike

Porsche 996TTs have them... I have to make sure not to crack the pipe on the oil tank on mine every time I change oil! Mike

That airdam, in a modified state, was on Roddy Sugg's car. Mike

I sent the guy a note asking if it sold or not. Haven't heard back from him. Mike

Welcome to the world of idiots... They're breeding too! Mike

The Vortex Generators actually helped smooth out the turbulance created as the air packed up around the windshield and went over the roofline. The trip strip, Vortex generator and either the 5.25 inch spoiler, APR rear wing, or the whaletail would make a formidable combination for those areas of the car. Couple that with a modified Type3 Airdam with the grill openings closed off and some ZGflares, and you'd have a pretty "aero-friendly" car... Add coil overs to get the car on the ground a little lower and things would be even better. Mike

Here are the links to the video clips we linked in the article... #27 #26 #24 #22 #21 #16 #15 #14 #13 #12 #11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRvNUeBv-Rg #10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOe-whJo1h8 #9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4mQR147U1A #8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3vj6bVuDvY #7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltG3OhCSaNU #5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfhKqSzcvMw #3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t10WZyru-Mw #1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwJpffO_ec0 I didn't get all the tests on tape, as there were several times when I was involved in other activities, like working on other cars for prep, or just discussing things with Bob Smith. Mike

So therefore we're making the category open to the public. Please go online to NissanSport and check out the video links and other related data. Also, note that there was an error in the spreadsheed. I sent them the wrong sheet in a JPEG, then sent them the correct RAW data that they had. Unfortunately due to a mix up in communication and my stupidity for creating a JPEG of the WRONG data in the first place, the data on the stock Z is incorrect. The CD was higher than it should be. They will print a correction in the next issue. Mike

I own a company that supports Federal Gov't contract support in the IT, Process and analytical fields, as well as secure construction consulting. I've been in the environment for 21 years, 10 of which as a civil servant, and 9 working for other companies, helping grow their business bases. Now I do it for my own Company, Brickner, Kelly & Associates. Shoulda done this a lot sooner! Mike

Yea, Jon, That's why I only take a paycheck as the president of my company, up to $25K. The Payroll tax alone (15.2% mandatory) was insane. Once we pull my business partner off contract, we'll recognize another break on HIS 15.2% payroll tax, which offsets his "employee" salary. Employees truly have no idea the cost to an employer to "own" a company. Until you have set one up, and run it for a year, you have no idea what it's all about. A good lawyer, excellent CPA, and great bookkeeper have been the best "partners" to add to our extended family! We just met with another large company today, and along with the great news that we'll be adding another TWO employees at the beginning of the month, it looks like we'll be partnering with yet another large prime contractor in the gov't contracting arena! Been a good week so far!! Mike

Good for you... Enjoy the life less lived! Now about that Business owner tax break thing... For Every $100,000 I make in profit, I PAY UNCLE SAM 40%... That's FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. THAT's a BREAK? Um, Yea, what a deal! Mike

That's the exact argument I used with myself when I bought my 996TT! Sure, it would be better to put that money into my investments, but hey, I could be gone tomorrow, so I'm enjoying it today! Mike

I know what has worked for me, and I've seen others fail on both sides. It's up to each person to make that decision, and what works for some doesn't work for others. Not everyone is cut out to be their own boss, but like I said in my second post, every situation is different. Mine works for me... YMMV! Mike

That's all? Heck, Talk to us when you've reached a file cabinet full of receipts, like PParaska! Oh, wait, er, that was ME that had that cabinet full of receipts! Mike

Every situation is different. I made a decision a while ago not to let the company drive and consume my life. I have a business partner and we both love to play and enjoy life. So, we made the decision to move the office OUT of our houses, and to hire our assistant some help. We've also made the decision to start grooming our day-to-day replacements... Sara and Justin are both young 20 something professionals who are extremely squared away. I'm paying $10K annually for each of them to get their masters degrees. At the end, when they graduate, they're committed to five years working for me. As the company grows, I'll make sure to have others on the same program. I gotta believe we're doing something right, because I've done more track weekends this year (So far 5 and I have another at the end of this month) and have taken more trips and vacations this year than ever before. We took $12K and turned it into a $2.5M gross business in two years (October 15th is our 2nd anniversary!). We also provide some of the best benefits in our industry! Surround yourself with smart people. Empower them and trust them. Reward (minor) failures and big success, and do NOT micromanage. If your company grinds to a hault when you're not there, you're doing something wrong. It should be able to run if you're in the office next door, or at Watkins Glen doing a track weekend. Mike

I work on a gov't project 40 hours per week, and then run my company during the afternoon/evening hours... I get to work by about 630 and leave by 3PM most days, get home, and then it's on the phone or the pc, or driving into our new office in town. With 14 employees (And more on the way) and five contracts to staff work on, it's a great gig, but extremely busy at times. Fortunately we only pay once per month, as payroll runs about $130,000 per month!! If we did it weekly, I'd have to hire a fulltime book keeper, instead of paying a service to help process it! When I'm not doing that "stuff", I'm working on building my dream garage, or playing with my dirtbikes, or going to track events... Or hosting cookouts for friends and family... Mike

Glen's car looks sooooo much better now that he's finished the paint and body work... Let's hope he keeps it off the guardrails at the baybridge from now on! Ric, Your car is looking awesome man! Mike

I was fresh out of the local college, and working for the gov't making $14K per year and 160 mile roundtrip commute. Every year I'd strategize and say "next year I want to make $XYZXZ.QQ amount. Finally when I left and became a contractor/consultant I decided to start shooting for six figures by the time I was 40... I'd set a very high amount (Was making $53K at the age of 30) and by the time I was 37 I'd met that goal... Now days I shoot for "what we're gonna bring in "this month". The goal is to stay motivated, stay focused, and determined. Above all else, go to where the work is. Find work you enjoy doing, and give it your all. As to comments about the illegal aliens, let's keep on track and away from politics... They're a reality, so deal with it. Last bit of advice I'll give... DO NOT work for someone else all your life if you want to eventually own that beautiful home or exotic supercar. You'll never make more than your boss, so keep that in mind when you set your goals and expectations. Mike

You have to register as a business with them, provide business cards/letterhead and other things like a Tax ID and such... I went last year and will go back next year after the youngest turns 21. It's gonna be the "boys" going to vegas for the week... Mike I don't know how you do it man, in one day??? This show is Gi-HUGE!!! Oh, and the models ROCK!!! Mike