I am two days late with this post, but I finally hit 15+ years on MCF!!! And this is the last of the badges I can get from MCF for length of membership.

I bought my Monte in late August of 2008. But I did not join MCF until April of 2010. And when I bought that Monte, I planned on it being a daily driver (other wise, I really wanted a modern/late model GTO, but I did not feel that would not have been a practical car for winter driving). I parked the Monte for winters, only temporary until I was ready to finally retire me current daily driver. What little did I know, I started a process that turned that Monte into a summer only car.
I started researching mods for the 3800/W-Body in general. I spent a lot more time on an Impala forum (party because back then MCF seemed a bit slow to load, something that has since changed). @ChibiBlackSheep likes to brag that he poached me from there to be on MCF lol.

In the years to follow so much has happened. Some highlights:
- Really expanded my friend list lol. Some friends I made as a result of my Monte have become extremely close friends.
- I became a regular at the GM Nationals in Carlisle PA. Over the years I got to meet @MAMONTE, @turbo monte, @MnteCrloSS47, @SnakebiteSS, @rednightmare, @Montess2k,
@Leprechaun93, @ZIPPY02 and so many others over the years!
- Going to Carlisle I got to meet @Donutboy97 and a group he hangs out with from New York known as "The Monte Hunters".
- I got to be a part of the Monte meets in Michigan that lead the way to @06mistreSS starting the MMCC (Michigan Monte Carlo Club). And I try to make one meet a year. As a result of going to those meets, I got the meet @06mistreSS,
@Tadcaster, @Monte SSV and the late @STUMPMI. I miss David/Stumpmi, he made a statement that has stuck with me "it is good to be part of something bigger than yourself". He was a nice guy and full of interesting life stories.
- Thanks to a Monte Carlo friend (not on MCF) with a 1973 Monte, my blue Monte got to be part of the indoor Piston Powered Autorama in Cleveland Ohio two different years.
- Somewhere along the way, I become a moderator of MCF and later an Admin for this site.
- Have been to the Monte Nationals under the original club two different times. Thanks to that I got to meet @Mels SS and the late @P343
- Had a new home built in 2020.
- Had my dream garage built in 2024. I am still finishing things in it (like adding electrical).
- I missed a chance to buy a locally sold Novi Paxton kit for the 3800. Back then I was saving to build the home I am now in. Years later, I never would have imagined buying an entire car for the purpose of getting that kit. And the car I bought to do it was @ChibiBlackSheep's black Monte! To this day, I still find it hard to believe. This Monte was the one I admired doing many of the mods I did to my blue Monte.
- I have since been enjoying various work on the Black Monte as much as my Blue Monte.
- Having that Novi kit, I made friends with a couple other W-body Novi owners to only learn one of them lives a few houses away from me (walking distance). That one happens to be a Grand Prix Daytona edition owner.
- Not just did I get to meet @Jeffs02rwdSS in person when he was passing through the Cleveland area, but I am currently storing his custom RWD 2002 Monte Carlo in my garage. I got to help him be a part of that Piston Powered Autorama for 2024! I also got to enjoy a weekend of car fun with Jeff switching his Monte from it's carb to a Holley Sniper fuel injection kit!

15+ years is a lot! I have interacted with many others online and find it amazing the things I have done and people I have met all because of a car purchase in 2008! Amazing. And I look forward to continuing to do fun things and meet other people in the years to come!

I am certain I have missed mile stones and people I should mention. So if I did miss saying something, leave a comment and share a memory! Heck, even if I called you, comment and share a memory.

 

Some interesting reflections for sure, I am thinking there must be more, but not enough time to get them all. Cool that you are in that 15 year group. Similar for me and I only a 10 year with the badge but really 12 now this coming month.
Yeah Mr. RWDSS is a cool guy we have shared some stories and a meal or 2.
I am still happy this site is up an running.
I got a chance to meet some of the folks on here back when I went to Louisville. I was working in TN and made the trip up to see the National MC group.
P343 was there and Mel too. We shared some falsehoods.

 

Congrats Jason! When I couldn't dedicate the time to being admin, like I used to. I knew the right thing was to step aside, and pass the steering wheel on. You, Mike and I discussed it behind the scenes. And you were an awesome choice. You and Mike have been a great pair of admins. With all the knowledge, experience, and dedication. I miss my old Monte, and wish I still had it. Minus the electrical issues.
But Wow! 15 years. Way to go man! You're awesome!

 

Congrats!!

This has always been a very friendly forum and your post certainly underscores that.

 

No doubt there are tons. I could probably go on for days with each detail lol!

Thanks Lou! I certainly want to see MCF continue. Other platforms have definitely taken some light from all the forums and sadly that also takes away a LOT of valuable knowledge. This is why a thread I created a couple months ago I hope helps gain MCF more google searches for 3800/W-body topics as well as preserving this old tribal knowledge.

100%! Buying my Monte in 2008 was the start of something that has now been years of fun. MCF plays a supporting role to all of that. And this was not the first time I built a reflection thread based on hitting those milestones. It is weird to take a step back and go "wow, seriously it has been this many years". I hope to meet many others I have interacted with online and share more positive experiences.

 

One of the best co-admins and friends I have. I still can't believe I actually sold the black car, but was put in such a hard place and really had no other option. You can't imagine the joy I know that it is still being taken care of in the ways that I would, and that I can still see the car and know about its adventures.

 

Thanks for the kind words Mike! Some days I still cannot believe I own your Black Monte. It took a few days to get used to when the car first arrived in my driveway.