Shawny D. ChiefSac

Lovesac Rally Car Auction on eBay...No Reserve!!!

 
That's right. I'm selling it. Buy a piece of me--a piece of Lovesac. I just can't do it anymore (at least, not for now). 3 kids plus the car being located 2000+ miles from my home just doesn't add up anymore. Check it out clicking this link to eBay!  And here are even more pics than you can find there....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Race-ready VR-4 AWD rally car located in SLC, Utah. #729 of 1000 Mitsubishi VR-4 Galants ever built in 1992 for the specific purpose of rally homologation. This was THE world champion rally car model of the early '90's. It is also 100% street legal. The car runs great, right now! Buy it and get into rally racing--which has been the single most fun thing I have ever done in my life....I just cannot afford to do it anymore (for now). I am auctioning the vehicle, no reserve, because I know that if I don't I will never sell it, and just find a way to keep racing (and spending $). It must go! Checkout all of the photos, including even more photos available on my blog (go to the lovesac home page and click on "Shawny D's Blog" at the bottom left corner of the lovesac home page). The pics should say it all, but I have a complete rundown of parts and modifications listed below.

This car is built for durability and tuned for speed. I have not had it on the dyno, but have street-raced a 2010 Evo X from a dead-stop and pulled ahead at around 50 mph. This VR-4 has every modification already made to obtain a NASA rally log book. I am even including things like safety triangles, fire extinguishers, and the spill kit making the car ready to race right now, as-is, with no other parts or modifications necessary. Having had to relocate out east, racing out west (where my mechanic and co-driver are located) is just not a practical option. The car just passed emissions and safety inspections 2 weeks ago, and is currently registered in the State of Utah. I have the title in-hand. The car is located (and can be seen) at: Action Auto, 495 East, 3900 South in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bill Talbot, the head mechanic, knows everything about the vehicle and can answer any question. The shop number there is 801-268-1359.

The car has only been driven in 2 or 3 races and was never wrecked or even jumped. Before that it was somebody's "grocery-getter" up in Idaho. The motor in the vehicleis the stock model, but has been replaced by my mechanic--not the original motor. Overall, the chassis is in great condition. The interior is race-car-stripped and seam welded. The full roll cage follows the FIA standards recognized for both Rally America and NASA sanctioning bodies. The cage has extra supports and taco joints in key spots. The cage is painted silver, and padded to meet FIA standards. Seat mounts and seatbelt mounts are all welded in and follow FIA standards.

The car runs great, but shows some smoke through the exhaust--which is in part due to the fact that it is tuned rich, ready for high RPMs pushed by its oversized turbo. The DSM-link tuning software and laptop usb connector is included. and is sold as-is, no warranty. There is really only one small dent in the front right fender--the rest of the body is pretty clean. There are a couple of chunks missing from on the bottom plastic rocker panels--to be expected from normal gravel-rally use.

Here is a list of all of the improvements and parts included, with a rough retail value associated with them just for reference (keep in mind that none of the items listed include all of the mechanic's costs of installation, etc.)

- Custom FIA log book approved roll cage: $3000

- Custom all-steel skid plates: $1500

- Entire car race interior-stripped for weight & seam welded throughout ($NP)

- Custom steel light-bar / push-bar (pre-wired for 4 HID lights): $500

- Racetech racing seats, mounted: $2000

- RJS 5 point harnesses (brand new! one race): $350

- 12 spare rally tires (4 mounted on black steel rims) some new: $2000

- 4 spare street tires (mounted on black steel rims, nearly new): $600

- 4 rally tires mounted on Galant rims (on vehicle): $1000

- 4 core aluminum radiator, high capacity w 3 electric fans ($400)- T3 Hybrid Turbo (stock turbo included as spare part): $400

- DSM-link tuning software: $650 (including the next 2 items listed below)

- GM Mass Airflow (MAF) conversion

- ECU socketed for DSM-link tuning software

- New solid rubber racing engine mounts (installed): $100

- FIC 950 oversized fuel injectors: $300

- Walbro high pressure racing fuel pump: $100

- Racing AWD mud flaps: $150

- Speed jack (custom install): $150

- Shovel, emergency triangles, fire extinguishers, glass-breaker, spill-kit (and other rally necessary items): $400

- Terratrip 202 rally computer (vehicle calibrated) $650

- After market oil gauge

- After market boost gauge

- Dual trip odometers (Ltd. Edn. VR-4 stock feature)

- Custom tool bags mounted in trunk (with quick removal wing-nuts)

- Stock brakes

- Stock transmission (4wd)

- 4 wheel steering disengaged

- Note: The light bar IS included, but the actual HID lights meant to mount on it are NOT included--auctioned separately

- Note: The Go-Pro cameras that appear in some photos are NOT included in this sale.

It runs great, right now. It HAS had various problems at races causing us to withdraw. In the last two races, the pressure built up at redline and blew off turbo hoses, which just needed to be hose-clamped back on--killing our time. A real bummer. I think that probably the best thing for the vehicle as it is would be to replace all of the turbo pipes with either custom hard-pipes, or single-length braided hoses (right now a couple of the key hoses have 3 sections)....other than that, the car is ready to roll. 

The car is sold as-is, with no warranty. For pick up only (SLC UT) --no delivery. 

Available for review at Action Auto: 459 East 3900 South, in Salt Lake City, UT 84107.

Call Bill Talbot at Action Auto, the head mechanic (and rally service team) with any technical questions: 801-268-1359. 

Email me, Shawn Nelson, Chinanelson1@yahoo.com, with any comments or questions. May the best bidder win.

 

Papaya Milk: A Recipe Best Enjoyed on a Couch

Every time I go to China there are a few things that I seek out, but usually don't find a good version of....its a bit of a craps shoot when it comes to Chinese street food. Odds are much better in Taiwan (where I spent 2 years of my life as a missionary, and fell in love with the food), but I seldom have cause to go there.

One of these unbelievably awesome Chinese treats is Papaya Milk. Sounds simple, but it is usually poorly executed. Yesterday I was walking through the world famous Stew Leonard's (Guiness' world's largest dairy store), where I discovered a pile of Papayas--which, in my opinion, are relatively useless in other forms, and mysterious to most. Papayas just aren't very good on their own...but the Taiwanese taught me how to do it right.  Here it is...

1. ICE: 2-3 inches (blender) of chopped ice.

2. SWEETENED-CONDENSED MILK: About 1/5 a can of sweetened-condensed milk. (Yummmm)

3. PAPAYA: Scoop the seeds into the disposal, then spoon out one-half of a very ripe papaya into the blender. (Find one that is quite large, soft, and even showing a little bit of shriveling on its peel).

 

4. SPLENDA: Add 1-2 tablespoons of Splenda. As my amazing wife taught me: Splenda makes all fruit taste better. Period.

 

5. MILK: Fill the rest of the blender up (about one inch from the top) with milk. Whole milk to taste better--skim milk to pretend you wanna be healthy.

6. MORE ICE: This is where most of the stands on the street in China get it wrong. Make it as sweet as ayou like, but a drinks not a drink if it ain't a cold (I mean really cold) drink....and ice in China is like good street tacos in Connecticut: somewhere out there, but hard to come by.

7. BLEND IT: Keep in mind--this is not meant to be a "Papaya Shake" this is "Papaya Milk." Blend it smooth and make sure its not too thick.

 

Papaya Milk makes a for the MOST refreshing summer drink / dessert / enjoy-a-movie-kicked-back-on-your-Sactionals beverage. (That's actually exactly what I'm doing now, even as I type). I don't think the Chinese probably invented it--but I'll claim to have perfected it.

-- Shawny D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS: Wanna make it more tropical? Add some fresh mango in the 2nd batch. That's right--four of us killed the first batch and the 2nd one (with mango) was even better (according to some)....I like the original.

...More recipes to enjoy on a couch to come.

Behind the Scenes at QVC...Are Sactionals!??

Today I am on QVC with Lovesac for my first time where I actually have TWO airings in one day. I have literally been sitting here in some lame plastic-leather chair outside of the QVC green room working on my laptop since my first airing at noon, today, having woken up at 5am just to drive 3 hours from Connecticut to Pennsylvania, with the highlight of my day being the award winning cheesesteak sandwich I ate at some non-descript PA diner at 1:30....all the time wondering why this entire lounge is not all Sactionals (instead of this lame furniture). 

In fact, the green room is worse--that place sees a 24 hour endless stream of entreprenuers and paid spokespeople changing clothes, doing hair, blotting makeup, schmearing bagels, and schmearing the furniture awaiting their big moment of TV magic. (That furniture is, well, not washable, changeable Sactionals...let's just put it that way).

I'll be here until midnight, as my 2nd airing falls within the "Anything Goes" show with my favorite host (female) Shawn. That's right, Shawn & Shawn, slingin' Sacs on TV.

But I digress.  The FIRST time I ever came to QVC, I was amped up and nervous, and genarally off my game when a dude wearing a headset claiming to be a producer here got all excited about telling me that he's been a Lovesac customer for a long time and that he was excited to see us finally on air here. Justin, it turns out, wasn't just your typical "dude, I have a Sac man" groupie, but a full-fledged Sactionals home. Justin called his wife at home, who emailed me proof, and later came in to say "hi" too, seeing as she, too, works backstage at QVC as well....a regular home shopping family. 

 

Whenever I meet these forward-thinking people who are clearly living on the cutting edge of furniture with-it-ness, I love to press them for their own stories of how they use their Sactionals--because I always learn something new about my own product. 

These two videos just say it like it is--totally unscripted.

 

--Shawny D.

Free Money at Lovesac Stores NOW

In the spirit of funding our various forms of government - who exist to enforce overly burdensome regulations which strangle growing businesses while protecting the inefficiencies and worst practices of big companies who export jobs to other countries at an alarming rate while avoiding tax obligations in this country - it’s time for a promotion to celebrate paying taxes and more importantly celebrating the government returning some of what you paid (without interest).  Let's give customer's their hard-earned tax refunds back in the form of life changing furniture.  

Effective immediately (for a very limited time) any customer spending her tax return at Lovesac will receive a discount equal to the local sales tax and if she purchases a minimum of 4 & 5 in Sactionals with covers...available IN-STORES ONLY. As a company we still will pay sales tax on these purchases however the customer pays a total price as if they were no sales tax applied. Amen.

 

-- Shawny D.

Introducing: Pepper D

I'd just like to indulge myself for a moment in a celebration of the latest introduction to the second generation Lovesac family....Pepper D Nelson. We always wait until the baby arrives to decide on a name, and this time we even waited until the birth to discover she was a girl! Given her coloring, and her obvious tenacious will to be born, "Pepper" it was. Let me explain...

Pepper was born less than 48 hours ago on March 8th, 2012 in Greenwich Connecticut. Tiffany (my amazing wife) was so bent on starting the clock ticking on the requisite "two-nights stay" at the hospital that I swear she MADE this birth happen at 5 minutes before midnight. 

You see, when we checked in at around 10pm on Thursday night, the check-in nurse checked her out and explained that from what she could see it would take another couple of hours of her exherting herself, walking around the hospital, in order to move along the birthing process.                                                            

We left the room, Tiffany now dressed in a hospital gown and sneakers, walked around for 15 minutes then Tiffany headed straight for the stairs. I tried to keep up for the first five minutes. 3 flights of stairs, down, then up, then down again more than half-a-dozen times. I took a breather on the last two laps but Tiffany was determined...and I believe the baby was equally determined to be born because against the nurse's most educated guessing, about 30 minutes later, at 11:55pm, Pepper was born according to plan.  Immediately after it all, and Tiffany looks more beautiful than ever. (She really is my hero)

Instantly I have 3 of the most beautiful girls in the world under one roof and I couldn't be more thankful. Pepper's older sister, Lucky, is almost 4 and, according to her, is totally ready to take care of her little sister singlehandedly.

...It'll now be up to me and Duke (2 years old in June) to balance this place out...but, to be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WELL WISHES AND SUPPORT THUS FAR!

--Shawny D

 

BTW: In a couple of weeks I'll be launching a new blog called "Life on a couch." Stay tuned to learn more about Pepper D and the whole Lovesac fam...and more importantly, share YOUR own stories about YOUR life on a couch.