Grabercars Magazine Photoshoot
sgraber - 21/1/08 at 07:24 PM
Yesterday was a big day for La Bala. A photographer drove out from California to shoot the car (among other assignments including Barrett-Jackson
Auction) and we scheduled for 3pm Sunday.
The photo session, located in the desert mountains northeast of Phoenix, Arizona took about 3 hours, during which time the car was driven and posed in
many different positions.
I wasn't able to take many pictures of my own because I ended up being the 'photo bitch' and had to position the car, drive the car,
light the car, etc.
The photographer, who was driving a brand new Viper from the press pool was super impressed with the car and really enjoyed driving it. He felt the
car was very responsive and connected to the road and way more fun to drive than the Viper with smooth suspension and not bone jarring like the Viper.
That definitely made me happy. It was a highlight to be a passenger as he took it to redline in the first 3 gears flying down a remote desert
rollercoaster road. I wish I had a video of him yelling 'woohoooo!' 
[Edited on 1/21/08 by sgraber]
givemethebighammer - 21/1/08 at 07:38 PM
The car looks great, and I'm very envious of that blue sky. 
russbost - 21/1/08 at 07:57 PM
Congratulations Steve, well deserved!
donut - 21/1/08 at 07:58 PM
Fantastic design, nice colour, well done!
dave1888 - 21/1/08 at 08:00 PM
awesome car
Simon - 21/1/08 at 08:03 PM
Steve,
Great news for you and the car, which is very sweet
Your footer says:
"Quickness through lightness"
Are you really an American, or a European. That definately is a philosophy from this side of the pond
ATB
Simon
TGR-ECOSSE - 21/1/08 at 08:06 PM
Nice car. Nice weather. Its snowing here just now 
worX - 21/1/08 at 08:08 PM
Congrats and all the best Steve!
Steve 
David Jenkins - 21/1/08 at 08:20 PM
I do like that design - clean, simple and totally unfussy.
Are you sure you're not British?
Only joking - well done Steve!
sgraber - 21/1/08 at 08:22 PM
Thank you all. When the magazine comes out in March or April I will get permission to reprint and post up the article. (good or bad.)
The weather here is absolutely perfect. As usual for winter in the desert southwest. Lovely roadster weather.
I'll try to make a nice video one of these days coming up.
Avoneer - 21/1/08 at 10:24 PM
Congrats mate - that car has turned out soooo nice.
Do you have any moe pics of the arse?
Pat...
P.S. - I think you've lost some of your hair with all that open air driving ;-)
Benonymous - 21/1/08 at 10:27 PM
The car is looking superb Steve. I have followed La Bala since you started posting about it on the MR2 forum. I had a supercharged AW 11 at the
time.
I certainly hope this shoot brings your project some well deserved publicity. Have you sold any kits yet? Just curious.
niceperson709 - 21/1/08 at 11:07 PM
Looking very good Steve I look forward to seeing the article
just written a short piece about your car at my blog Steve
Cheers
[Edited on 21/1/08 by niceperson709]
sgraber - 21/1/08 at 11:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Avoneer
P.S. - I think you've lost some of your hair with all that open air driving ;-)
You know the main reason for hair loss in men? Too much testosterone. That's right. I am more manly than you.
I've had a number of inquiries regarding the turn-key version, but without a finished car to show and drive it's been understandably slow on
the up-tick. I have until recently been focused heavily on the prototype development but now that I have all the interior pieces finished and the rear
valance done and the windshield frame completely re-done for a new piece of glass I can say that were someone desiring of a turnkey La Bala I would
not have a problem producing one in short order.
I've always been of the mind that slow-in/fast-out works best and I am definitely not upset or worried about starting out with a low number of
people interested in those turn-key kits. It will happen. The response of the few people that have driven the car in the flesh convinces me that
it's just a matter of time.
The plans for the chassis are selling well all over the world. No British buyers yet which is unusual. Maybe nobody in the UK wants to build a middy
from plans? Seriously, you probably didn't know that I offer the plans to build the chassis. I have not been promoting that much either. Mainly
because they aren't quite finished and at the moment I am selling them at 1/2 price with the promise to deliver all the missing sheets at no
additional charge when they are completed. But why advertise too much? I am not dependent on any sales to survive. BTW you don't even have to buy
a Bala body with the plans as there is no precondition with plan sales. However I would like to think that people will want to buy the bodywork since
I think it looks nice.
WRT the comments about quickness through lightness I do feel a strong bond to the British when it comes to this. I don't know how the concept of
performance became so perverted towards 700Lb engines and 4,000Lb sports cars. Weird to me.
Sorry for rambling on, I am quite tired today and in a weird mood.
David Jenkins - 22/1/08 at 08:44 AM
Weird is good...
02GF74 - 22/1/08 at 09:32 AM
lovey car and ;lovely weather, not like here.....
sgraber - 23/1/08 at 07:31 PM
I shot a video walking around of the car showing some of the details close up. It gives you a better feel for the detail work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSAnyQrABrM
Enjoy!