Body Issues

Isn't it funny how beauty really is in the eye of the beholder? I look at that picture and see a well loved, beautiful rock buggy named Lemon Joy. Now, most everyone else sees an old Bronco that has been beat to hell. I loved the abused body panels that were held on by zip ties which flapped in the wind once we got over 50 MPH on the highway. I really have enjoyed all the times people have looked right by her because she couldn't be more than a beater. I've loved the feeling of having a "secret". The secret in this case being how amazing that battered old Bronco is on the rocks. I love Hans Solo's comment about "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts". My sentiments exactly!

With our last few trips, it's become very apparent that we needed to get some more body protection. Having reached that conclusion, we contacted a good friend, Jeff, about doing some cosmetic work on our girl. He had picked up some sticks of tube this winter for us and is hands down the best welder/fabricator we know. Jeff builds rock buggies and rat rods for a hobby and does metal art work for a living. After settling on a good weekend, Chris took out the sawzall for it's finally attack on Lemon Joy. Here she is loaded on the trailer...NAKED!

And here is the new and improved Lemon Joy!! Look at all that sassy tube everywhere! It took Chris and Jeff 26 hours crammed into 2 long days and 4 sticks of tube for this masterpiece. They were working in a shop in 102* weather and everytime I walked down to check on them, they were laughing and having the time of their life. It was really quite fun to watch them work together as they are quite similar. Both crazy with some funny nerdy tendencies! :)

This is by far my favorite picture so far. She looks so skinny which is quite ironic seeing that she sits on full width axles!! I am so thrilled with the job Jeff did. We met rock crawling and immediately clicked. He's one of our favorite wheeling buddies and it was really priceless to have someone work on the girl that knows her and has seen her at her best. Now all we need is to go wheeling and see how all that new tube holds up against the rocks!