Hell Bent Garage Reemergence?
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.
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 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.
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
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.
Be sure to check out Revved Magazine for future articles!
I promise i’ll update more frequently than just “yearly”
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.
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.
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.
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?!
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.
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!!
Lone Star Pro Am Round 1 Top 16
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
oh, the tides of change
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
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
8 Ball Coast2Coast generation 2 flyers are out!
So, we’re nearing the big day!! Register at http://www.8ballcoast2coast.com before March 31st to guarantee your spot!!
8Ball Coast 2 Coast Website!
8 Ball Coast 2 Coast
That’s right you hell raisers! The new 8Ball C2C website it up! Register, flip through a few pics, connect with us… you get the idea.
Register for the 8 Ball COAST 2 COAST
Remember, kiddos: Registration ends March 31st for the 1st Annual 8Ball Coast 2 Coast Poker Run!!
8 Ball Coast 2 Coast flyer
Here it is, kiddies. The official flyer for the greatest poker run the world has ever known.
Front
Back
8 Ball Coast 2 Coast
Hey, do YOU like 80’s themed poker runs? Do YOU like Spring Break in Daytona?! DO YOU WANT TO SCORE SOME SCRATCH?!?!?!!
Us, too.
Click for Official Facebook Page
Welcome to the First Annual 8 Ball Coast 2 Coast Rally!!
This will be a 5 stop poker run from a currently undisclosed starting point (TBA shortly before event) and ending in Daytona Beach on Saturday, April 6th, 2013. Each stop will be ran by one of our AMAZING title sponsors!
Sponsors include:
Pabst Blue Ribbon
SPOT’s The Bricks of Ybor
1603 Tattoo
Redline Design Custom Vinyl
Blasfome Clothing
Rev Works
And more to be announced!
This event will also include a 5 item scavenger hunt. Each item (of which there is only one of – so get there first!) will be worth a wildcard on your poker hand!!
Each paid entry (one entry per driver/car) will get you a custom 8 Ball Coast 2 Coast t-shirt, sticker, flyer and other misc shwag! Each sponsor will also be handing out their own brand on nonsensical shwag for you to covet until the end of days!
Note: If you are a passenger in a car, you cannot participate in the poker hand unless you also purchase an entry. One poker hand per paid entry (cards to be supplied day of event)
Click to enter >>>Enter Now! <<< Click to enter
Rules of the event:
This is a poker run, not a race. 8 Ball coast 2 Coast, its affiliates and sponsors will NOT be held responsible for any/all legal troubles your dumb, speeding ass gets into. Got a speeding ticket? Sorry for your loss. Hopefully you get the best poker hand and will be able to pay for it.
Paying your entry fee does NOT guarantee that you’ll win big money. But, it WILL get you plenty of awesome, useless stuff (t-shirt, stickers, etc)
Best poker hand at the end of the rally yields 25% of entry fees collected. (example: 100 entries = $5,000. 1st place winner would win $1,250.00!). 2nd place wins 10% and 3rd place 5%
One entry fee = one poker hand card. Have four people in your car? One entry is cool, but only one person can get their card filled out. Passengers can also pay entry if they wish to participate in the poker hand portion of the day. If they don’t wish to, that’s cool, they can just ride along for the antics. Each poker card MUST be stamped at each stop in order to qualify to win. Yes, we have custom stamps at each stop so you can’t cheat.
Scavenger hunt: There will be 5 items sprinkled along the way with vague details as to their whereabouts. Be the first to find that item and snatch it! Bring it with you all the way to the end, and earn yourself a wild card on your poker hand! Find all 5, and have the highest hand of the day! (Must still have a completed poker card stamped at each poker stop. We can’t have you just out there looking for my shit)
Hotel details to be announced soon.
Email any questions to: 8ballcoast2coast@gmail.com
RIP Yellow Lab Volcano
Sad to say, but it was doomed before it was ever started. Our good buddy from America’s top hat, Sasha, opened up his newest shop iteration: OnPoint Dyno
Much to the chagrin of the Ziptied community, he strayed away from our recommendations of calling this new facility, “Yellow Lab Dyno”. Such a shame. Sure, his shop name brings to mind young, slender women gallivanting about on their tiptoes to some glass armonica whilst being thrown by some big dicked Russian of equal stature, but YLV just DOES something for us instead.
mmmm… sugar plums
That being said, We wish him the best with this new endeavor. Sasha offers mobile dyno tuning where he “brings the party to you!”
Contact him via his FB fan page: HERE
And then lament the awesomeness that could have been “Yellow Lab Volcano”
RIP 2012 – 2012
I’m back, and running on borrowed time
So, been away from the site for a bit (not that i contributed much in the first place), but I needed to handle some shit. Between a divorce, a death in the family, and then pops being in ICU for a bit, things have been hectic. But, things progress and i’m moving along. Living in Ybor City, FL, has shown me a few things.
1) you can always get stabbed anywhere at night
2) tranny hookers are willing to trade Checker’s chicken sandwiches for BJs
3) the human liver is able to sustain an immense amount of abuse for days at a time
So, keep an eye out for me. If tits are involved, it’s a sure thing that i’m close by…
HOLY SHIT IT’S FALL ALREADY
So, you better truck your happy asses over to BLASFOME and score some of the new hoodie line.
Black hoodie season is upon us.
Join Blasfome in the black hoodie movement this Friday October 12th, and be guarded against winter woes with three new hoodies.
The Keystone Hate design, Blasfome Wreath and Logo have been immortalized in fleece this season with a special twist on each classic design.
Blasfome has taken a secondary approach to the design method with the introduction of Blasfome Reflective Paint into their prints.
“There is an abundant amount of skateboarders, BMX riders, bikers, snowboarders, and drunk night-time wanderers in the Blasfamily.
This season we have taken extra measures to keep the family safe. Each hoodie design has reflective night-time safe print, guaranteed to keep you safe from unfit drivers.”- Blasfome designer/owner Dave
To add to the Blasfome Reflective Paint detail, each hoodie is paired with a secondary print. The Blasfome Logo hoodie bears the classic Keystone Hate Design on the back of the hood. The Blasfome Wreath Design is adorned with “Blasfome” printed down the sides of each sleeve. A large ‘Blasfome” is printed on the back of the Keystone Hate Design hood.
This collection speaks volumes. You’re going to be seen, and its clear whom you’re reppin’.
Ken Block drifts…. Irwindale?!
So, this little diddy is short, sweet and rock fucking solid. Get ready for your pants to get super tight up front!
Big thanks to the HOONIGANS for getting this out there!
Interpretative Butter Dance…?
I have seen many things in my days. I have seen death, love, hate and fear. I have seen souls lifted and hearts crushed. I have seen the downtrodden and the rich in spirit. What i have NOT seen, is a fat woman continuously fall into large bricks of butter while putting on some retarded artsy dance.
God, please just kill us all. We don’t deserve to live.
WATCH THIS VIDEO (and help my buddy Andy win something cool)
My bro Andy managed to bust out another sweet little video, this time playing around in a skate park with a bitchin’ R/C car.. czech it out for yourself!
whoisdurdan 