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Hell Bent Garage Reemergence?

Hell Bent

As many know, my shop has gone through a few iterations. I’ve let it sort of fade to the back burner over the course of the last two years between family issues, moving to Texas, moving back to Florida, and then partnering up with two separate businesses. Well, the time has come to pull this one back up to the front burner, I think.

1603 Tattoo

With 1603 Tattoo now up and running under the direct supervision of my good friend and business partner, Skip, our focus is being shifted the the salon boutique we’re also opening soon.

Metamorphys BLB

Metamorphys Beauty Lounge Boutique (BLB) will be a fantastic spot for clients to come and be pampered. Whether it be color, cut, or what have you, they will have it done with style, grace, and a glass full of wine! Tentative opening in mid-November, so be on the look out! (Website coming soon)

That said, I might as well just dump an extra heap of responsibilities on my plate and revisit the shop that got me where I am today. I’ll maintain an appointment only basis, focusing on low volume turnout and extreme attention to detail. I’m excited to get back into the shop and turn some wrenches again! Hopefully, I’ll also be writing more articles for Revved Mag in the near future, too.

So, keep your eyes peeled for occasional updates from Hell Bent Garage!

Stuck between a rock and a hard place

Earlier this year, I began dating the most amazing woman. She has this awesome 3 year old son that I’ve become incredibly attached to. I recently moved them in to my cozy, historic Ybor home.

Seriously. Look at this place.

Seriously. Look at this place.

But now, I’m being forced to make a decision for our financial future. Do we stay here where I love the location, or do we move into the home I purchased last January? I love the other home, but it isn’t exactly in the nicest of neighborhoods. Luckily, both the previous owners and my current tenant have had no issues due to location.

Fixer upper

Fixer upper

This other home is very cool and since I bought it with cash, we will be able to live rent free. It also has a large detached workshop that would allow me to close my current off site shop rental. Combining both would save me about $1800/mo. This would also allow me to put money into the home and remodel it for the next few years in an effort to possibly turn a profit. Or who knows, maybe the neighborhood will improve further and cause us to stay? I just don’t have the money to invest into the home to suit another possible tenant’s happiness while paying for a rental myself.

Either way, moving into this home will save us a ton of money each month and since li’l man isn’t old enough for school yet, I don’t have to worry about school zoning and quality.

Revved Magazine and VQ35DEs

A good friend of mine for the past 15 years or so emailed me earlier this year asking if i would be interested in writing for the magazine where he works. I agreed and really enjoyed this article.

http://www.revvedmag.com/engine-tech/engine/tech-10-tips-for-building-a-powerful-reliable-nissan-vq35de/

Be sure to check out Revved Magazine for future articles!

I promise i’ll update more frequently than just “yearly”

Oh, Ybor.

Oh, Ybor.

Ybor City. The true melting pot of Tampa. This past year of moving back and settling myself in has really come with some amazing highlights. People that were once labeled as friends can now be called family. Some that were just acquaintances have been upgraded to friends. Hell, i even met all new folks! With these winds of change, can also come heart break. I saw friends die, business opportunities comes and go, and made some amazing decisions. One of those is forming a partnership with Skip Sampson in the 1603 Tattoo Collective Studio. While the team (Marcus, JC, Skip and Panda) is slaving away in a temporary location, work is underway for the new facility. I can’t reveal any details yet, but you better hold onto your butts! This is going to be huge.

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This year also brought about finding myself and working to better my shitty habits and taming *some* of my vices. I’ve officially quit smoking, lessened my drinking, and am waging a battle against ‘dad bod’. This came with really trying to get involved in more physical activities. And with that, i began learning the basics of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with my good friend Dee Mckinzie at Ybor City Jiu Jitsu Club. These guys are stellar! Dee has taken me under his wing to get me up to speed before i dive, head first, into the classes.

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Things also changed in my personal love life. Go figure. I happened to find someone with an equal distaste in AC/DC and it just so happens she kinda pretty, too.

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So far she’s put up with my drunken rants and wild hijinks. She’s winced when I mentioned doing hood rat things with my hood rat friends and worried about me when I bought a dual-purpose dirt bike.

how sweet is this thing?!

how sweet is this thing?!

But, this is what she’s signed up for! We’ll see what kind of trouble I can get myself and her 3 year old son, Robbie, into.

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so, there’s that. I’m sure this update will make both of my followers jump with glee to know that I’m still alive. I’ve just been busy living life.

Tides of change

Lots have changed!! I know I’ve said that a few times, but it seems to never settle. I am officially back in Ybor city, Tampa. My father’s house in Texas, after being ransacked and pillaged, has been remodeled and sold. I’m so happy to put that year long nightmare behind me. I managed to make some amazing friends while in Texas, at least. So now I’m back home and trying to get business of the ground. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!!

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Lone Star Pro Am Round 1 Top 16

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This weekend proved to be an interesting one for drivers. A fast course, coupled with a tough line definitely separated the men from the boys. Adverse weather conditions late into qualifying certainly posed issues for Kevin Williams and Fielding Shredder. The track has become insanely slick now and will certainly provide for a dangerous Top 16 bout.

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Our sponsored car piloted by Fielding Shredder of Shredder Racing qualified Top 16!

Garret Hoyt, Dewayne Ramsey, William Little, Josh McGuire, Ben Green, True Taylor, Chris Tyrone and Mario Gomez make it to Top 8!

Mario Gomez beats out Garret Hoyt, William Little takes the lead over Dewayne Ramsey, Josh takes the win from Ben Green, and True Taylor forfeits to Chris Tyrone due to the wet conditions for the Top 4 spots

Mario Gomez, William Little, Josh and Christ Tyrone battle it out for the Top 3 spots

Mario beats William, securing a podium spot. Chris spins out his first run against Josh, giving Josh a strong advantage. Josh wins the round and faces off with Mario Gomez in the battle for First Place.

Vying for 3rd place spot, Chris comes out of drift after entry trying to compensate which ultimately will give William an advantage. Chris goes off track, giving William the 3rd place spot.

Mario Gomez, the Texas native, goes against Josh (who apparently just moved to Texas) for 1st and 2nd places.  Josh puts some distance between the two cars while leading the round. Upon switching positions, Mario spins while leading, and Josh wins 1st place!

Congrats to Josh McGuire for first place, Mario Gomez for 2nd and William Little for 3rd!!

Fabricated Motorsports presents:

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So, i’m in Houston (well, LeMarque, but close enough) again and at GGP for the first time since 2005. The last time i was here was so i could embarrassingly drive my way to NOT gain a Formula D license. But hell, we were all young and dumb and i had never driven the car i built until that weekend. That was one hell of a shake down run that showed not only are alignments important, but so is tightening the jam nuts on all your suspension arms.

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2005

This time, i am here to pitch my new business venture, Hell Bent Garage. I whipped up some sweet trophies for the round’s winners and am officially sponsoring Shredder Racing‘s car for the season. It’s awesome to get back in the saddle again after a 2 year hiatus.

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So, get your asses out here, grab a couple stickers and a cup of cold Dos Equis from my tent! I’ll be parked next to Kareless Original Clothing‘s booth.

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oh, the tides of change

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So much has been happening in the past 8 months that i have neglected this site, and i apologize. Between moving to Texas, used for housing by some awful drift-groupie broad, getting my deceased father’s affairs in order, revamping his house, setting up shop (Hell Bent Garage), another amazing 8 Ball Rally in the works, sponsoring Shredder Racing‘s Pro Am series car, building my own 240SX… the list goes on and on. I promise to update this site more so that both of my blog’s followers are kept abreast of what’s been going on out here in the Lonestar State.

Lone Star Bash 2013

boy, was this a rowdy one! pics and stories to follow soon, but for now, here’s the facebook link to the event with other attendee’s photos: Lone Star Bash

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Register for the 8 Ball Coast 2 Coast

Time is running out!! Registration for the 8 Ball Coast 2 Coast poker run closes on 3/31/2013

http://www.8ballcoast2coast.com