September '08 ZOOM - Robbie Ferguson (Microzuk)

How does it feel being honored along with the past winners?
It feels great, and it's an honor even to be considered!

So tell us about you. Who are you, where do you live, and what do you do for a living?
My name is Robbie Ferguson, I'm a 23 year old college senior living in Lynchburg, Virginia. I have been working at the local True Value about 6 years now, I work mostly in the equipment rental department fixing what the customers break. Basically I work on power tools and small machines all day.

Tell us a bit about your family.
Dad is a machine operator at a local printing company, and Mom is self employed. I have 2 brothers, both older than me.

How did you get started in Suzuki's?

I bought my first Samurai in January of 2004, with the intentions of using it as a cheap beat around rig so I could concentrate on building my 340 Duster.

That didn't really work out, and 4 years later I'm on my fourth Samurai while the Duster sits much as it did then.

When are you going to go to Flux Core and get rid of the Tig ?

Well, I tell yah it would be nice to be able to weld outside without porosity problems, but I really prefer the cleanliness of the Tig process. Guess you could say I'm spoiled.

How long did it take you to build your Zuk to what it is today?
Short story: I started the real build of it on the 1st of July this year.

Long story: I bought this Zuk back in January of this year (guess I have a thing for buying rigs in January, eh?) with intentions of using it as a mild daily driver (sounds familiar huh?). It got lockers, small swamper's and a skid plate. July is when the SPOA, 32's, etc. happened.

Any changes in store for your rig?
I've got to build a nice cage, rear bumper and gas tank skid for it still. And I need to finish my front winch bumper!

If you could have anybody else's Zuk, who's would it be and why?
I've always had a thing for BlueRidgeRunners old grey Zuk, it seemed to work well for him and I just loved that things stance.

What has been your best wheeling adventure besides Shoe Creek

Years ago stuck on a local mountain trail with a blown tire on a stock Isuzu Rodeo with nothing more than a stock bottle jack and lug wrench, in the dark with one dying flashlight. The truck was less than a foot away from a 3 foot drop off and kept sliding down the mountain and off of the jack..closer and closer to the drop off. It was an interesting predicament and my first real wheeling experience!

If you could go to any place in the world to wheel, where would that be?
I would love to wheel Tellico, but with parts of that starting to close, I don't know how feasible that would be. Other than that, it would be attempting parts of the Hammers and of course Moab.

Who are you closest to in the Zuwharrie community?
I have personally met R/T, BerryBlonde, VA88ZUK and shopped at Flintstone Mart, owned by sammi_davis, lol. Me and Anarchy Joe have ran Pott's a few times as well.

What other toys/hobbies do you put a lot of time into?

Old Mopars have been a hobby of mine for years, along with firearms. Mopars mostly involve time and some money, while guns like to take little time and lots of money!

What is it about the Zuwharrie.com BBS that brings you back for more?
There is a immense knowledge base here at Zuwharrie, and it has taught me a lot about these little rigs over the years. Other than that, there is a camaraderie here that rivals all others.

What about the Zuwharrie Event would you like to see changed?
I have never been to one.

But I would like to change my bosses mind about not letting me off of work though!!!

Contact Information:
Name: Robbie Ferguson
Zuwharrie user name: MicroZuk
Nickname: Robbie, Rob, Neutron
Email: SonOfFergusX@gmail.com

Main Vehicle Specs:
Year: 1986
Make: Suzuki
Model: Samurai
Color: Light Blue

Driveline:

Stock Carbeurated 1.3
2inch mandrel bent exhaust and turbo muffler
K&N filter
stock trans
5.14 Calmini's in t-case
twinsticked on homebuilt arms
ZuCrew supplied poly mounts

front/rear 5.125 r&p
lockright front
rear Trail Tough HD hybrid with "Miller full spool."

Steering:

Toyota Celica steering box
Rocky Road mounts hanging the Celica pump
Rocky Road full high steer.

Suspension:

SPOA
front Ford towers
rear homebuilt mount
DT3000 shocks

Tires/Wheels:

15x8 steel's with 2.5" back spacing
Super Swamper radial 32 10.50

Armor :

Just a Trail tough belly skid for now

Interior :

Stock jacked-up seats
no carpet

Exterior :

Custom body work on faded blue paint.

Recovery gear :

Warn m8000 winch (coming soon enough)
Hi-Lift
lotsa straps, shackles etc.
spare birfs, shafts, u-joints etc.

Best Modification:

Lockers bar none!

Worse Modification:

Everything works pretty well so far.

Future Mods: Build a good cage, gas tank skid, rear bumper and finish my front bumper. I also need a better PS pump setup.

Other Clubs: None

Comments: Earnhardt! WOOOO