It's in the summer of 1997. I am dismanteling my '85 Kadett for rebuilding a new one. I just bought me a newer model as I got a company van. A van? Yes, a Hyundai 100, but it's El Cheapo for now. I sold the Kadett to a mate and put al my plans on hold. But not for long. In the summer of '98 I decided to get a new car, but rather something newer, more modern. I saw this Corsa at the dealer, a showmodel. All options and a nice price. But they also just got this '95 Tigra in. I took it for a testdrive and I was sold right away. I showed to my mon, and she offered to buy it and pay her back, this would save me a lot of interest. So, when I got back at the dealer, I told him the car was sold. This was proabebly the fastest sell he ever made. I turned out he was the boss of this dealership. And because of a noise in the rear exhaust, I got a new Irmsher damper for some extra money.
The tuning virus is fact.
Few weeks later the car has a set of modest Mattig angy looks, white side indicators, Jamex lowering kit, red brake calipers and drums, K&N induction kit, front strutbar and the badges removed. My firts meeting is at Baarlo, an oval racetrack with 1250 Opels. I am liking this very mucho!
For his hobby, my father drives this '56 Opel Record Olympia. Here we are in front of the dealer where I bought my car.
One of my collegues at my parttime job drives this Corsa Sport edition. It's funny, when you sit in the car, everything is the same. Except for the seats in the Corsa. They are a lot better than mine. Where are my Cobra seats and TRS harnesses from the Kadett...?
1999. Then things go wrong, a few times. First I am the last car in a crash, then I get rammed by a Volvo and last but not least after a cold night when the streets are slippery I hit a Fiat Panda. Besides my car, it is mainly my ego that gets dented.
This same year the car is getting the Shelby striping and the head and tail light getting masked.
2000 & 2001. A one arm wiper made by Leo and a BTCC like rear wing is fitted.
On the holidays the Tigra is in it's element. The montain roads of Italy, Austria and Switserland, the autobahn of Germany or the small islands of Holland, he likes them all. Rain or shine, the roads are mine.
2002. Next I give the car a Holden look by these striping just like the HSV cars. Holden badges finish the job.
2003. Another job means that the car is getting a APEX XForce coiloverkit. Adjustable in height and rebound. The handeling in the corners is amazing and I realize when I loose control now with these speed there is no holding on anymore... And this becomes reality sooner as I had expected :-(
Sparco Roadster seats and harnesses and some other Sparco goodies. Working at a Sparco distributor has it's advatages!
On the 5th of June I am getting in contact with a Mercedes Sprinter and I loose. 2 weeks before my holidays! Damn! My dream turns into a nightmare. Thanx to my sister in law I still can go on holiday because she lends me her Megane Station.
And the tiger? Well, you can read all about that under "Project Fenix."
At the last meeting this season the car is now quite ready, but drivable. Excactly 6 months after the accident. Despite the terrible rain there are still 12.000 people at the former F! circuit of Zandvoort. And at the first meeting the next year on the TT circuit os Assen there are 31.000 visitor. This promises to be a hot tuning season.
