History
In the early 2000s I was a youngster who for some unknown reason (having being raised solely by females who had no interest in cars), became hooked on anything automotive.
At 12 years of age, my mum had broken up with her partner at the time and I was quite attached to him and upset at his leaving.
Before he left, out of guilt or god knows what- he didn't really care all too much for me, but he handed over the keys to his beat up old 1989 Honda Accord.
It was a manual and no one at home knew how to drive it.
I remember watching my dad's feet when I was younger and him driving a manual so one day I hopped in after school and began driving it around our property.
Within 20 minutes or so I had the physics of it mentally down so it all became natural after that.
To fund my car, seeing as we didn't have much money, I got my first job at 12.
I'd make about $50 a week, with that, I paid for school stuff, $10 went to petrol (which I had to get in a jerry can since I was too young to drive to the gas station) and the rest went on parts or things like one cheap spanner at a time.
I self diagnosed and taught myself what was wrong, the Internet wasn't what it is today. Plus I'd pick the brains of my friends dads who had hot rods.
I managed to put new shocks in, replace the sump gasket, set the timing and give it a big service as well as replace the clutch cable since I was shifting so violently fast like a lunatic (I was 12 cmon).
We finally drove it with mum in the front seat to get a roadworthy certificate. The guy failed me on a brake light and seat belt. I was quite sad because I didn't have any money left over and mum was flat broke doing two jobs too at the time. But for some reason he put a new belt in and light bulb for free and passed me eventually.
That car was a bucket of garbage but, it taught me the value of things, and to look after what you have.
The MR2 in the pictures was always my dream car.
Growing up in New Zealand we had a paradise of Japanese performance cars.
There were tuning shops on every corner and every second or third car you saw made 400+ hp LITERALLY!
The MR2 was from a DVD made in NZ called high octane.
They modified it over the course of the films they made.
I borrowed each DVD off my friends to watch them and was mesmerised by the car. It's lines, engine, interior, plus the massive $50+k of sponsor mods on it made it so attractive.
Eventually at 14 by the time I had my 3rd job working overtime and nights and in between school, I bought a non Turbo MR2 from a dealership. Unfortunately it had a blown head gasket and major issues and basically flogged me off- I was too young and naive to take it further.
Later on I quit school at 15, got another job paying a massive $7 an hour, saved up and bought a turbo MR2. I finally had my dream car!
Plus it had literally just had a new turbo fitted. The owner showed me the receipt and he had just picked it up. I dropped him home, blew the engine on the way back to my house... turns out the garage didn't do up the cooling hose properly on the turbo.
Again I was too young and naive to do anything about it.
Eventually things took drasticallu worse changes in my personal life, I sold the car.
As with most enthusiasts, I wait for a better tomorrow to revive that dream :)
Modifications
MR2 GT 1989
Rebuilt forged engine
Race valve springs and cams
Top mount turbo manifold
T3/T4 Turbo
Big injectors etc
Link computer
450RWHP
18x9.5" rims, 305/35/18 rear tyres
285/35/18 front tyres
TRD GT2000 Widebody kit
Security tinted windows
Carbon Kevlar bucket seats
Custom audio install
Neat "factory" look modifications including Trust pillar mount gauges
Rebuilt gearbox with LSD and heavy duty clutch
TEIN Adjustable suspension
Nolathane suspension bushes
Braided brake hoses
4 piston Willwood brake upgrade
3" Mandrel bent stainless exhaust with titanium tips
GReddy 3 layer metal head gasket, high flow thermostat, Alloy 3 core radiator.
Complete dash and interior instrument light bulb change to LED red
