Eurowerks Member Spotlight: Sprstu

[The_Stig]

This week we get to know a guy who has been around the club for quite a while, he's classy guy so long as he didn't eat Taco Bell the night before. Say hello to Stuart!



What's your real name?
Stuart Smith

Im on the right


What does your screen name mean, and why did you choose it?

Sprstu = Super Stu.
It was my nick name in soccer. I played varsity soccer since I was 14 and on many occasion was able to do some pretty crazy, and superman-like, things on the field. It was also the name I used on my first AIM account and Lycos Email.

What kind of job do you have?

I am the General Manager of Punch Pizza Grand Ave. Come by and see me, Ill buy you a beer!


Current Garage:


I started my life in the Euro scene with a 1981 Rabby Caddy 1.6D. It is my child. I bought off Ebay back in December 2005 for right about $1100. I picked it up and drove home from New Mexico; I had the use of just 3rd gear (4th if I was lucky enough to find it) and reverse, there was no heat and the front suspension was non-existent. It was one hell of a 1300mile trip home.




It is completely rust free, LE9C, LX model that I have poured my soul, money and life into. I have learned more about cars and how stuff works because of this thing than I ever thought I would. I have rebuilt the engine from the crank up, replaced the head twice and have done the timing belt 5 times. This truck has left me stranded more than a dozen times and there was an entire year that every time I drove it I knew it was going to explode, die, let me down or rattle something off. It was the most fun I had ever had on city streets every time I drove it.

As it sits now it has a all sorts of goodies on it: starting with my favorite bit, the Turbo. I used a KKK K03 turbo and manifold from a MK3 TDI along with the late model 1.6TD intake. To cool my charged air I have a Mazda 323GTX intercooler up front and a maze of 2.5inch piping to and from.

I chose the K03 instead of the typical T3 Garret because I wanted something that would spool off idle and be safe around 15PSI. The Larger T3 found on other 1.6TDs are dogs at low RPMs and never really gives any power until youre out of revs. The K03, being the size of a Large JawBreaker, gives me 10PSI instantly and stays put safely at 15PSI through the whole range. Custom 3" down pipe leads into 2.75" straight side dump exhaust.

Using a 1.6TD injection pump and a set of AAZ (1.9TD Canadian) injectors for fuel delivery, I'd be safe to about 25PSI and about 90HP. Right now I've probably got 75WHP, which really isn't very much but considering stock was 36WHP I think its pretty fun.

Other crap includes a brake booster delete using a '76 rabbit oil pump and booster block off plate and a GTI 22mm Master cylinder. A 5spd ACN from a MK2 Golf GL keeps my revs low at 70mph and helps me net roughly 55mpg. 210mm clutch and flywheel from a Mk2 to keep all that extra power under wraps. Battery relocated to a tool box in the bed along with my wiring and switches for a custom glow plug system. Oil cooler (warmer?) from a Cabby helps keep my temps inline along with the larger Cabby radiator with side overflow. Custom built coil-overs for the front with Carrera Coils and Koni Yellow Adjustable, out back I have some Air-Cooled Beetle Air shocks and 3" lowering plates. MK1 Scirocco leather seats, Black GTI Dash and Gauge Pod center console round out the interior.

I think thats about it, I have touched every single bolt, nut and piece of this truck, I can truly call it mine. Some day I will take it all apart again and mediablast and paint the whole body, but for now it will be my home-depot truck and sunday driver. This summer marks the longest time it has stayed on the road without any which-up, I got it going before EW5 and it hasn't had an issue yet, I will put it away for the winter happy and in 1 piece.



My daily is a Candy White Mk4 TDI 2dr Golf. I had wanted a 2dr TDI since 2003 and now I finally have one. Again, an Ebay purchase, this time from Dallas, TX.




Currently it sits on Audi TT fat5's, Nuespeed Race springs and Koni STRT struts. Performance wise just some PowerPLus 520 injectors and a 2.75" straight through exhaust from Tim's, Cat and Muffler delete. The future includes a SouthBend Clutch, Bigger Vnt17 turbo, Malone Chip and if I go crazy dual FMIC from a TT. I would also like to have a set fifteen52 18" RML Snowflakes, I hope they make a 17" version, however.

For now though it needs to stay safe and sane as it is what gets me around and to work. I always wrestle with the idea of dumping some serious cash into it and really make it nice and faster(ish) but I need to have something reliable, sadly. When the turbo fails or clutch goes out I will replace with better stuff, but not until then. I like it now, it averages 47mpg and my mom can ride in it and not think Im a total hooligan. Next week though, when the snow tires go on, I will be adding an Atlas Evolution Skid plate. Not that it makes the car any better, its just a cool piece of armor to throw on a golf making it winter proof. I would like to also find some nice Eibach Sport springs for the winter to get my up off the ground, but for now I will be re-installing the stock springs for added ground clearance.


In the Garage, and always a project, is my '84 GTI. It was a wrecked car (deer collision) that Logan (Wireclimer) and I rebuilt with the help of 2 donor Rabbits and a Cabby. We shaved the side markers, re-skinned the roof and gave it rounds and short tail lights.
It is mostly stock except for a Webber down draft carb, Pace Setter header and some Raceland springs. We want to use is as an AutoX/RallyX, something we've been trying to do for 3 years now. It currently has a set of 205/60 Falken Azenis on Snowflakes.

Previous cars:

My first car was a sweet Kia Sephia. I worked really hard when I was 14-16 and saved enough money to buy a nice car. I then decided to buy a mediocre car that had 7 miles on it. I crashed that car 14months later in an ice storm. It was not a classy place to start your automotive years, but it sure was nice having a brand new car at 16.

I moved into a Subaru Legacy after the crash. I will forever have a place in my heart for Subaru's because of it. I will someday own an STI or WRX Wagon. More people should drive more Subaru's.

I sold the Legacy to my little brother (who then wrecked it) and bought a 91 Eagle Talon TSI AWD. It was a piece of shit. I have a story about it, but Ill leave that for another day.

I ditched the Talon and took ownership of my Grandpa's 89 Sentra, such a great beater car. 3Spd Auto FTW. it suffered from Crank walk and one morning on my way to work it decided to puke a piston into the oil pan. Much smoke and laughter insued.

When I could afford it again I traded up to my second brand new car, a 2003 Focus ZX3. To this day I think this may have been the best car I have owned, it was fun and sporty and totally reliable. it took me back and forth between Austin TX and the cities on many occasions. Somewhere after I bought the Focus I also bought a Mazda 323GTX, which was a money pit and a mistake.


I threw more time and money at that car than I care to admit and really got nothing out of it. I "owned" it for 5 years and drove it maybe 1000miles. I sold it to Eric Austin (EWAustin) who then sold it to Craig (MrScary) who then sold it to someone else. It was a shame that the GTX never really found a home that would appreciate it, I fear that it will be the GTX in my history that I look back on and really wish I would have kept.

My little brother then totaled my Focus and I had picked up a Toyota Tercel for like $200. What can I say about the Tercel? It was a Toyota which means it started every morning and got me where I needed to be. It netted 40mpg and never left me stranded, all I had to do was put gas in the tank and oil in the engine. Simple machine.

Next came my Jetta TDI, I bought it from a family friend who upgraded to a Mk5 TDI. I put close to a million miles on that Jetta (50xxx miles in 2 years), a few thousand dollars in parts and then sold it back to the same family I bought it from where it is living its life as a commuter car between here and Brainerd. Im sure it had close to 300,000 miles on it today.




If you could have just one car, what would it be and why?

Being a car guy I get this question a lot. I could never truly answer anyone when they asked me, what people want to hear and what the truth is are totally different. People want me to say something fancy like Lambo BlahBlahBlah or Ferrari SuperThing, but in reality I would never choose something like that.

The way I always try to look at it is; if I was trapped into just one car forever, what would it have to be and do for you? It would no doubt need to be interesting, a Toyota Avalon is going to cut it here. It should also be mostly reliable, safe, easy to move kids and pets, comfortable on long trips, track capable and not get terrible fuel economy.

Now given the lame and mostly real world limitations I always set out for myself, I think the only true answer I could give: WRX Wagon. Not only does it meet all real world needs but it does so in such a fun little package. Potentially you could AutoX it on Saturday, RallyX it Sunday, take the kids to school 5 days a week, drive to work and take out a client if need be, cart you and 3 other people on a road trip in relative comfort, tackle all weather conditions known to man and still net roughly 25mpg daily. I mean, what else could anyone ever need out of a car!?

I used to say S4 Avant, because lets face it, what Euro guy hasn't wanted an S4? But truthfully its so much more luxury than it is anything else. Sure it has 2 turbos, but with a body weighing in at nearly 4000lbs it is not the most nimble of creatures. And yes it would be more comfortable to use on trips than a silly Japanese CarUV, but with all Audi's there just isn't any soul or fun behind that leather steering wheel. Not to mention the abysmal economy and ridiculous maintenance costs. I think the WRX would be a better car to be trapped in than most anything on the planet.

That or a Nobel M400.

Tell us an interesting/funny story about yourself.


I was on my way back to my dorm at St Thomas one early morning, I had to park my car a few blocks away as I did not have a parking permit for campus. I got about 100ft from my car and felt a terrible feeling in my guts. You know the feeling, after a late night TacoBell excursion and a few shitty beers, its the wake you up from a coma rumble, something wanted out. I did the only thing I could, I bit my lip and started walking faster. I tried to jog a little but just a few steps in and I knew I would shit my pants if I moved too quickly. I had a total walk of about 5 blocks back to my room, it might as well have been 5 miles. I wasn't going to make it.

I call my friend Jen who lived in the girls dorm that was on the close end of campus, I told her I needed to meet her in the lobby in 90 seconds and that it was an emergency. She was waiting for me at the door when I briskly walked up, I didn't say anything just that I need to get into her room NOW. I b-lined for the bathroom in a hot mess, she thought I was being chased or in some kind of danger because I was in such a hurry and couldn't speak. I started taking my pants off before we even entered her room (apartment style dorm)

I ran through the room with my pants falling off my ass and straight into the bathroom. Jen followed me and I slammed the door in her face and proceeded to have the loudest, smelliest and most uncontrollable shit of my life. That scene from VanWilder where that guy is dumping into a garbage can, that doesn't even tell half the story here. I was crapping so hard that I felt bad for the toilet. I started cursing and chanting, words of hope and support, Jen must have thought I was trying to exercise (or summon) a demon. I have no idea how long I was in there, maybe 5 min, it could have been a decade for all I knew. When it was over I just sat there for a while reflecting on the past and how much life three was to be had out in the world and that one stupid Chalupa could have ruined it all for me. I felt so calm and light, so much stress had been relieved, I felt like I could do anything, even fly.

I cleaned up my ass, the toilet seat and threw away the now empty paper roll and exited the bathroom. I started to thank Jen for helping me out and thats when I realized we wernt alone; her mother, father and siblings were sitting on the couch. Jen's Grandma had died that past evening and they were all heading to the hospital together. I turned on the bathroom fan, closed the door and quietly made my exit. I didn't hear much from Jen after that morning.


Hobbies:

I snowboard and play soccer and am a pretty good distance runner. I cook for a living which means that everyone I know usually wants me to cook for them at home, I cook a lot of small "parties" for friends and families. I like to brew my own beer and am capable of making Soy based Bio-Diesel.

How did you first hear about Eurowerks?

Like most people, my first Euro Forum was the Vortex. I ended up following then helping Joel Erkkinen with his Zombie Rabbit and met Kris in the process. Kris mentioned EW and said I should join, I told him that I was on too many forums already and didn't have space in my life for another one. Little did I know that it would become my one and only major forum. I joined march of 2008 and have been on almost every single day since.


If you could make a change to Eurowerks, what would it be and why?

The photo uploader. I know its supposed to be just a general document uploader and that everyone in the world uses Flickr or PhotoBucket, but I would love for there to be a better, and useful, photo upload and storage service on the site. I have had many frustrating conversations with my laptop about death, burning and stabbing over that goddamn uploader.


Cliffs:
Stuart Smith
AIM Handle
Pizza Joint Manager
Rabbit Caddy, turbo diesel
Golf TDI
All sorts of cheap cars
Something fun and practical.
Almost shitting my pants in public
Kris told me about EW
GodDamn Photo Uploader.

[Digital K]

I have a set of brand new injector nozzles for your aaz bodies I'll trade for....?

Great poo story.

I love the truck. Its those small battles that make for a great car relationship

[MrScary]

Hooray, I got mentioned! I also wish I could have kept that GTX. Glad to have you around Stu.

[vweezly]

Yay stuart!!!

[Stumanbmx]

Hey my name is Stuart to!

Love the Caddy.

[JohnB123]

Your poop story is epic...lol

[Die Frau]

Glad to have you around Stu!

[mrkrinkle]

Twas nice getting to meet you during the Burnsville Prokart league last winter.

That has to be the best poo story ever, BTW.

[sprstu]

Thanks everyone! Im sorry I wrote a novel, I didnt mean for it to be so long.

Hey my name is Stuart to!

Love the Caddy.

I think there are 3 Stuart's on here, strange to have a rare name show up multiple times in a small community.

[JTapper]

Glad you're around, Stu!

Oh, and I'll admit. Every time I hear the name Stuart, I think of this:

[aja]

Thanks everyone! Im sorry I wrote a novel

I am so glad you wrote a novel! (I think yours is actually longer than mine was, thanks, whew). I mean hey, we are trying to get to know you, so the long version is most definitely encouraged. nice to get to know you. I love your practical approach to the only one car question. I might be stealing that one.

~b

[schwarz kaninchen]

Great poo story, reminds me of the Jeff Daniels scene from Dumb and Dumber haha. On a side note I picked up stuarts tercel, been a great car and has got me through the winters so that the Rabbit can sit in the garage all winter nice and comfy haha. Good to have you on here Stuart!

[9jetta6]

nice funny story about shitting. reminded me of dumb and dumber. and now as i just read the bottom post someone else said it too. love that caddy too seems like a fun truck.

[Audiphile]

Punch Pizza rocks I will stop in for sure!

[grape ice cream]

everytime i've been to punch pizza its been really good!
diesel FTW