He had some neat stuff in the VX's early years. AKA Green Dragon..(Link below)
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...ge/1/ppuser/36
Printable View
He had some neat stuff in the VX's early years. AKA Green Dragon..(Link below)
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...ge/1/ppuser/36
ya, i was always a little jealous of his 'skid plates' up front...
I never got to meet Grandpa Bob, and I really never got to see him post as he had left the board by the time I got here, but from the pictures I've seen and the stories I've heard, I really would have liked to get to know him. Seems like a great guy who pushed his VX well past the limits that many of us have set for ourselves.
Anybody know him well enough to email/call him to see if he would want to stop by the site one last time?
I met Bob, last name Graber I think, at a So Cal Meet in Cerritos California, about a year after I got my VX. He backed the Dragon up the Isuzu headquarters front steps for photos, since they would not open on a rainy day for us. This site, in an earlier form, was full of his exploits. Bob fabricated all kinds of innovative mods and really used them. Bob and Tone were showing us what could be done.
I was wanting to get out of Cal after a lifetime in the La La Land so the wife and I took a trip to visit Bob in Carson City NV. Bob made (makes) a living doing plan check for cities and counties all over. He was expecting us and we passed going through town on a Harley Hog Day. He was a great host and we spent a few hours talking. Bob had pictures of wild horses grazing round his house in winter. The desert was not for us and we continued up to Astoria Oregon. Bob screened his calls and filtered his Emails . He seemed to be a private and focused person.
Bob was a benchmark and I was fortunate to have met him. I do not have any additional contact info, but I am sure he would welcome a contact from us.
Roy
I met and wheeled with Grandpa Bob my first year in Moab. A very cool guy who had a passion for his VX and wheeling. At 75 years of age he would attempt things that most wouldn't even think of. My first year in Moab GB signed up for every trail that I did and taught me a lot about the capability of the VX. As far as I know GB is still the only VX to complete the Rubicon trail...and he took no bypasses.
You may even see some similarities in his and my wheeling style...
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...ellsgate11.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/o...ndGemini-8.jpg
:bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy: :bwgy:
I met him at ZU ZOO VIII.Nice guy...heavy on the skinny pedal. Ha!
Someone broke down.He stopped to help and the ZU ZOO gang left them on the trail.It took hours to get everybody back!
He was furious!! He swore he would never come back...and hasn't.:(
Yep Scott, I was on that trail as well. Kind of sucked that a few people caused a huge cluster F...!
Last I heard was GB has been toughing out some health issues, and he had sold the "warthog". The warthog was used hard and took the punishment. GB had built a storage box in the rear that contained enough spare parts to completely rebuild a VX. The box doubled as a bed. The warthog had front ARB locker, custom front bumper, on board air, supercharger, cold air intake, power vault muffler...
Great great guy! This photo I had to mark out the words on my shirt.....this was in 2003
I wish we could get with him again!
Wow, what a cool guy and cool VX. Anybody know what became of him and/or his VX after it was sold? Billy how long ago was your info?
GB sold his VX a few years back. Don't know who bought it but I am pretty sure they are not a member here. The info on his health was from about 6-8 months ago when I last spoke with Spazz.
Another one of his nicknames was Bonzai Bob due to his heavy right foot!
Another person I wish would pop in from time to time and had some great mods on his VX is Swordy. He also was another who wheeled his VX hard.
Billy,Quote:
Originally Posted by Triathlete
I noticed Swordy was online just a week or so again...
I also met Grandpa Bob at the LA VX Meet 11-9-02. I think he said he had one of the first Alpine Superchargers and it got so hot it melted some stuff under the hood.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3218/LAmeet5.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...ameet2.jpg?608
Grandpa Bob and Swordy at the LA VX Meet 11-9-02 on the steps of the Isuzu Headquarters.
More Pics of Grandpa Bob's Rig
Is it just me...??
Or does Grandpa Bob have a touch of the Hugh Hefner look going on!
:rolleyes::p
jo
I was thinking the same thing...:yesgray:Quote:
Originally Posted by JoFotoz
LOL Yes!Quote:
Originally Posted by JoFotoz
Yeah, I met Bob at ZuZu VIII. Really nice guy.
I remember being in awe of him because I had seen his pictures conquering Hell's Gate. I always wanted to do Hell's Gate because of those pictures. To make a long story short, I took my VX up and out of Hell's Gate the following year.
I wish I could show you my picture because I'm really proud of it. It's the only picture I have of me coming out of Hell's Gate. I just can't seem copy it from the post. Anyhow, here's the thread if you want to see my Ironman do the deed. http://vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=8822 It's the 15th picture on Biju's post. You'll also see Victor and Billy conquering Hell's Gate too.
Peace.
Tom
p.s.
One of my favorite pictures of Tone is in the group too. He's in his Mercedes going down one of the ledges. It's pretty cool.
Here ya go Bro Tom...:smilewinkQuote:
Originally Posted by tomdietrying
[pics deleted - took a do over...:rolleyesg]
http://www.bijulab.com/images/moab/15.jpg
http://www.bijulab.com/images/moab/08.jpg
There...that's more like it...:yesgray:
Thanks Larry! Now, I'm going to try to make it my avatar.
Peace.
Tom
Larry,
Could you post that picture in the Recent Photos page? It was there an hour ago. It's no longer there. I need to get the URL address so I can make it into my avatar.
Thanks and Peace.
Tom
Go check your email...:naughty:Quote:
Originally Posted by tomdietrying
I cropped & re-sized it for ya...:yesgray:
In theory, it should be "bolt on perfect"...:smilewink
It's back up if you need it.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomdietrying