Zack is a rare breed; an Arizona native! In fact, he has lived in the same neighborhood in Glendale all of his 21 years, only moving once; "3 streets north." Along with that sort of consistency and dedication, he has been dating the same girl "since 7th grade and [we] still amaze each other every day!" He says, "she is finally starting to learn what tool is what in the garage, so I don't have to get out from underneath my car every 10 seconds!" And don't forget; Maggie Dishman drove her very first event in January, and in the rain, no less! That has to be tough on a newbie, and though frustrated, with her first cone and a spin, I would bet we are going to see her out there again!
Zack got interested in cars back in 1995, "when I used to walk in and see my dad watching an old TV show called 'Legends of Motor Sports.' It had this old British guy [David Hobbs], who would talk about old rally events, races, and German touring cars! After that, I fell in love, and in 1999 got a 4 wheel drive TC3 RC car that I would race at 'Scottsdale RC Speedway,' where I learned about driving lines and how to set up suspension." Zack also tells us that in 2001, he saw "the world's greatest movie; 'FAST AND THE FURIOUS,: and then fell in love with "real cars."
His first car was a non-running straight 6 Ford Maverick "that I decided to sell and buy a different car." He went to an auto action and placed a bid on a old International Scout, but lost that auction and then "settled for a VW bug instead; which was the best decision I have ever made," he says.
"I first bought the car in 2004 at 15 years old from a guy in Mesa. He did a pan-off restoration that needed to be completed, [and] had replaced both floor pans and the dash. He had plans to restore it to original, [with] the interior cloth picked out and everything else, [but] for personal reasons, he sold the car. I bought the car without any interior, without any chrome, [so] it was ½ of a brand new 1967 VW bug! I remember at 16 years old, [when] I got my first job at Goodwill, working all summer just so I could buy a set of wheels. Months later, I had chrome rims, however I still wasn’t finished moddin' it out. I always get asked at car shows, 'how long did it take you to finish it?' I laugh and say 'finished?? It will never be finished, as long as there is something I could make better, stronger, faster, shinier.'" He has won over 7 first place trophies at different car shows around Arizona. and "my best is FIRST PLACE at HOT IMPORT NIGHTS!" Impressive!
You're all most likely familiar with Zack's car by now, since he has been showing up at our events for quite a few months, starting in 2009. Before that, though, the VDub was a show car. "The shows were on late Saturdays nights, [and] by the time I got home everybody was in bed. So, I would set the trophy in the middle of the floor. That way, as soon as they woke up, they were sure to see it!" He continues on to say, "this bug has been a huge bonding project between me and my dad. I love it while we are working on my car! My dad will tell me stories of him as a kid working on bugs when he was my age, being a 'old school tuner,' tinkering, trying to make these little imports fast[er]!" Very cool.
Zack is a real car guy: "I don't drive to go to some place; I drive for the joy of driving. When you are able to hear the gear shifts, the motor, the suspension all working together, it's magic!" Despite its show car status, he says, "you may think I like music with all the speakers you see in my car, but believe me, I drive 80% of the time with them off so I can meditate with the hum of the engine." He tells us of his best friend Tony, aka "Yang," who drives a 4-door G35 that has a matching "Meatball 1000" sticker on the side. "I don't even know how we became friends... we just kinda "clicked" I quess. We love going on totally random cruises, [and] one time at 11:30 PM, decided to each take our cars on a cruise through the twisties, and up the back way into Prescott. It was all good till it got to 23 degrees!" Yup, real car guy alright!
Other than autocrossing, Zack plays the ukulele, and "I love to dance. My girl friend used to be a cheerleader in high school, while I was the school mascot!" He was a model for 2 years at Elizabeth Savage Talent in Scottsdale. and got voted best male dancer in high school. He also paints with acrylics, and is a junior at Glendale community college: "I call it 'high school with ash trays.'"
Zack tells us that "it wasn’t until 2008 that I got into the performance side of VWs; doing exhaust and air cleaner first, then suspension, sway bars, bigger motor… As time goes on, I keep gutting it more and more." He says, "if I was to describe my car; short wheelbase, stiff ride, loud engine, no a/c, no power steering, no abs, no tcs, no disc brakes, cable clutch; [it's a] rear engine with swing axle, [so] there is no predictability. One minute it's awesome and gripping, [and] the next it's powering over and sliding! Sometimes you hit the brakes, and it pulls right, the next time it pulls left!? It never gets old! It keeps you on your toes every step of the way!" Zack vehemently says, "if you like technology; Gps, power brakes, heated seats, a quite ride; then DON’T GET AN OLD VW!"
Ah, but it is a labor of love and dedication, my friend. Perhaps a bit of twisted ambition, but still, it is pretty darn cool to have a young man come out and give it his best in a car that's twice as old as he is! Yes, that's a 43 year old car! I mean, just think, with all the new stuff out these days, Zack has decided to stick with an old friend, much like he and his best friend, and his girl; they just seem to fit! Yeah, he is one lucky guy alright. Of that there is no doubt! :)
Zack got interested in cars back in 1995, "when I used to walk in and see my dad watching an old TV show called 'Legends of Motor Sports.' It had this old British guy [David Hobbs], who would talk about old rally events, races, and German touring cars! After that, I fell in love, and in 1999 got a 4 wheel drive TC3 RC car that I would race at 'Scottsdale RC Speedway,' where I learned about driving lines and how to set up suspension." Zack also tells us that in 2001, he saw "the world's greatest movie; 'FAST AND THE FURIOUS,: and then fell in love with "real cars."
His first car was a non-running straight 6 Ford Maverick "that I decided to sell and buy a different car." He went to an auto action and placed a bid on a old International Scout, but lost that auction and then "settled for a VW bug instead; which was the best decision I have ever made," he says.
"I first bought the car in 2004 at 15 years old from a guy in Mesa. He did a pan-off restoration that needed to be completed, [and] had replaced both floor pans and the dash. He had plans to restore it to original, [with] the interior cloth picked out and everything else, [but] for personal reasons, he sold the car. I bought the car without any interior, without any chrome, [so] it was ½ of a brand new 1967 VW bug! I remember at 16 years old, [when] I got my first job at Goodwill, working all summer just so I could buy a set of wheels. Months later, I had chrome rims, however I still wasn’t finished moddin' it out. I always get asked at car shows, 'how long did it take you to finish it?' I laugh and say 'finished?? It will never be finished, as long as there is something I could make better, stronger, faster, shinier.'" He has won over 7 first place trophies at different car shows around Arizona. and "my best is FIRST PLACE at HOT IMPORT NIGHTS!" Impressive!
You're all most likely familiar with Zack's car by now, since he has been showing up at our events for quite a few months, starting in 2009. Before that, though, the VDub was a show car. "The shows were on late Saturdays nights, [and] by the time I got home everybody was in bed. So, I would set the trophy in the middle of the floor. That way, as soon as they woke up, they were sure to see it!" He continues on to say, "this bug has been a huge bonding project between me and my dad. I love it while we are working on my car! My dad will tell me stories of him as a kid working on bugs when he was my age, being a 'old school tuner,' tinkering, trying to make these little imports fast[er]!" Very cool.
Zack is a real car guy: "I don't drive to go to some place; I drive for the joy of driving. When you are able to hear the gear shifts, the motor, the suspension all working together, it's magic!" Despite its show car status, he says, "you may think I like music with all the speakers you see in my car, but believe me, I drive 80% of the time with them off so I can meditate with the hum of the engine." He tells us of his best friend Tony, aka "Yang," who drives a 4-door G35 that has a matching "Meatball 1000" sticker on the side. "I don't even know how we became friends... we just kinda "clicked" I quess. We love going on totally random cruises, [and] one time at 11:30 PM, decided to each take our cars on a cruise through the twisties, and up the back way into Prescott. It was all good till it got to 23 degrees!" Yup, real car guy alright!
Other than autocrossing, Zack plays the ukulele, and "I love to dance. My girl friend used to be a cheerleader in high school, while I was the school mascot!" He was a model for 2 years at Elizabeth Savage Talent in Scottsdale. and got voted best male dancer in high school. He also paints with acrylics, and is a junior at Glendale community college: "I call it 'high school with ash trays.'"
Zack tells us that "it wasn’t until 2008 that I got into the performance side of VWs; doing exhaust and air cleaner first, then suspension, sway bars, bigger motor… As time goes on, I keep gutting it more and more." He says, "if I was to describe my car; short wheelbase, stiff ride, loud engine, no a/c, no power steering, no abs, no tcs, no disc brakes, cable clutch; [it's a] rear engine with swing axle, [so] there is no predictability. One minute it's awesome and gripping, [and] the next it's powering over and sliding! Sometimes you hit the brakes, and it pulls right, the next time it pulls left!? It never gets old! It keeps you on your toes every step of the way!" Zack vehemently says, "if you like technology; Gps, power brakes, heated seats, a quite ride; then DON’T GET AN OLD VW!"
Ah, but it is a labor of love and dedication, my friend. Perhaps a bit of twisted ambition, but still, it is pretty darn cool to have a young man come out and give it his best in a car that's twice as old as he is! Yes, that's a 43 year old car! I mean, just think, with all the new stuff out these days, Zack has decided to stick with an old friend, much like he and his best friend, and his girl; they just seem to fit! Yeah, he is one lucky guy alright. Of that there is no doubt! :)