well, it looks like this will be my first year in 3 that i'll be missing the Dragon.... there are TONS of reasons, but the most important ones are:

• car is STILL downed, not getting much help diagnosing problems.....
• stereo has still not been completed, over a YEAR later - we've changed a lot of things around, gone through a number of different designs and installers, added some more cool stuff, etc....
• moved too far away to drive the car up there if can actually get the car done by then, and then be concerned about it performing well on the Dragon
• i graduated from Clemson in May of 05, so i have a job now, which isn't a big deal to get out of work, especially for a car-related event (i do the same thing i did before - aftermarket performance parts sales), but my girlfriend is still in school in VA and that's right in the middle of studying for finals and what not.... i love you guys and wanted to hang out with everyone i met last year, but going up there "by myself" isn't going to be as fun as when we took the weekend off and enjoyed the time away from school and work....

i dunno, i'm trying not to be all sentimental and what not, but its hard not to, especially with knowing that i haven't driven my car in over 6 months, haven't driven it HARD in almost a year - the Dragon last year - and will be missing out on talking to all the good people i've met since buying my car in August 2003....

so much has gone wrong for me in the past year that i hoped to have the car ready and done for LAST year and it still hasn't happened yet (see the thread i made about all the problems with the motorwork in the Performance:Drivetrain section ), and i know i can get it up and running, it just takes money, and one of those major problems WAS the money situation....

but anyways, just wanted to say how disappointed i am that i won't be attending, and i hope everyone is safe up there, i'll be ready for the Fall on the Dragon if that's still going on.... it won't be the same though, but i guess this sort of thing happens....

 

I guess I might miss you a tad... prob not real bad though.
Stay in touch!