Some call it work…
One of my largest influences growing up was my grandfather Frank Smalley who owned a automobile repair shop right below Watkins Glen Race Track. He grew up racing on all platforms and helped shaped racing as we know it with his uncle Lester Smalley.
Being in the Watkins Glen area, there was a large car enthusiast community which sparked my love for designing and modifying cars to not only look good but drive better.
My cars I have owned…
- 2001 Saab 9-3 Turbo (auto)
- 2005 Saab 92x Aero (auto)
- 2005 Saab 92x Aero (manual)
- 2010 Audi S4 (DSG auto)
- Current:
- 2005 Subaru WRX (manual)
- 2005 Mitsubishi EVO 8 (manual)
My two current cars have been the largest projects that I have tackled.
My Subaru WRX, had a electrical fire in 2022, which I was fortunate enough to save. But I had to replace just about anything that wasn’t metal in the engine bay, which gave me the opportunity to upgrade some things of course!
My 2005 Mitsubishi Evo was a car I bought with some issues and decided to repair them myself. This led to me taking the engine apart and rebuilding the head. While I was in there I decided to upgrade just about everything so it would handle more power down the road. This project would be the one I am most proud of because of how much work it took and everything I learned throughout it.
For my senior project I have been taking pieces of my Evo to take off and redesign to make them better. I started by skinning some parts in a carbon fiber but the others I plan to make will be fully carbon. (take a look at my current projects or my Instagram for that process!
From running to burning to a crisp to then coming back from the ashes like a phoenix. This is a before and after picture of the carnage that led to a fun winter car that I still drive! Definitely a love hate relationship I have with this car… fun nonetheless.
Since growing up with my grandpa having a 2005 Mitsubishi Evo 8 MR, it’s been a dream of mine to own one myself. When the opportunity arose to grab one I jumped on it and I will never look back! Undoubtedly the most fun car I have ever owned and probably will, for car people it easy to understand but its a drivers car and just raw. Here are some pictures of the build process because why not?
