February 2006 LXOM: iRock

**DMAG** · 02-02-2006, 10:43 PM

Written by iRock

Oh yeah this is going in the blog. It is just overwhelming. I really was never disappointed to lose because it was always one of my friends that won but I am realizing this really is an incredible honor. Thanks so much to the friends I have who are always quick with the kind words and support. Thanks to the guys that created this site, what luck to have found it, you always continue to keep it a nice place to be. Thanks to the sponsor, Josh and High Horse, the honor is enough but a prize is always nice as well.

So here's some background. I grew up in a tiny rural community in Washington state, where I was the youngest of four siblings. 2 girls, 2 boys. My parents had a family grocery store/gas station. The best thing they ever did is never told us girls we couldn’t do anything the boys could do. My love of wheels started early. This is Mom and me and even at that age my siblings were taking me for rides on that go-cart. I finally go big enough to ride it myself and when I was older they let me get my own mini-bike. 2 whole horsepower! My gosh!

My first Mopar was a 1965 Belvedere when I got out of high school in 1977 that I just loved. I used to do burn outs every time I left work at my dad’s store. He always got a kick out of it. I had to help my dad work on it some and I am OK with leaving the monkey-wrenching to my husband, Rick nowadays. I always hoped to have another one but we just have given up on having a muscle car until these Magnums came along. He has always had Chevys. He keeps saying, "Do you realize this is my first Dodge?". This is our 3rd brand new vehicle in 25 years of marriage, both previous Chevy SUVs. Rick called me at work the day he saw the very first commercial for a Magnum and told me he saw a wagon I was going to love. We fell in love with the looks but thought they were out of our price range and was afraid of the fuel consumption. We were going to get a Lexus R330. Looked closer at the Magnum and we knew this would be our next car. Rick said that we would have to just drive it on weekends and special occasions. I said, “No way, I am driving it every chance I get.” We had resisted sitting in one but finally we test drove one. It was all over. 3 days later we haggled with our local dealer. I told Rick to pick the color as long as it was a variable of gray. Finally I took a deposit in to get the ball rolling. The dealer said not only did they have us in the order bank, but the order was already placed on the 16th of March. 2006 R/T RWD Gotta have a Hemi. Magnesium Pearl, no roof rack but a sunroof. No GPA. U-Connect. Built on 4/22/05 and shipped out on 4/24/05. We first saw it May 9th after the dealer was closed. I got teary eyes it was beautiful. We picked it up May 10th.

Rick and I have been married 25 years, since 1980. We have been through sickness, health, poorer and richer. We have lived up to the vows. We have ran a business together for 15 years and then got real jobs. I was able to go from office manager in a family business to graphic design which I really love. Rick works with Mega Machines at an open pit mine. People at work asked me "Is that your husband's car?" Heck no it's all mine! Rick always had muscle cars when he was younger and he is thrilled, too. He really gave it a work out during the test drive and was very impressed. He kept saying this is the coolest car we have ever owned.

At first I was scared of the beast, especially the first time I tried to pass and I felt like the thrust was going to pull the steering wheel right out of my hands. Now I am most comfortable in it and think up all kinds of reasons to run errands. After driving SUVs I love the way you can swoop sideways and run on the freeway when you need to get around the left lane Louies. The comments and looks you get are quite fun too including the woman who stalked me to stop me and tell me how much she loved my car and the young teenager giving me the thumbs up. I can truly say owning this car has enriched our lives and stirred old feelings in us that we never thought we would have for a vehicle. It is like being teenagers again. I am also getting the mod bug and slowly convincing Rick.

The camaraderie here has been immeasurable including the kindness shown to us and the fun. Not to mention the sheer knowledge here is invaluable. Thanks to all the ladies and gentleman, it’s been a hell of a year and the next one looks even sweeter. I’m not going to mention favorites because it would be all of you but I feel I have been blessed by knowing you and sharing highs and lows. My goal this year is getting to meet face to face and see the cars! It was such a thrill to finally meet Mike and have someone to sit with me during a difficult time when Rick had his back surgery. Picture this - Seattle 2006, sitting in a hospital waiting room worried about your mate, look out the window, all the nondescript vehicles when all of a sudden here comes a red Charger gleaming under the night lights. I go out and throw my pack in the back, jump in and there he is Mike aka Butweet - finally a face to face meet with an LX friend. A quick hello hug and we are off to dinner. Thanks to Kathy for a loaner husband for dinner while mine was in the shop, I wish you had come along. It was like having a family member sit with me and reassure me my husband would survive and sure enough it turned out fine.

I get this question a lot. Because I believe they see it on my face and the way I talk about my Magnum, people say all the time, “You just love that car, don’t you?” Yep, Gawd I love this car! It's a passion. Nothing relieves that tension like the feel of the throttle and sound of that roar and the feel of that thrust. It is truly intoxicating. I can only liken it to the thrill you feel when you meet a new love. And there’s nothing better than sharing it with people who feel the same. So sorry for going long with this but as the people around me know, don’t get her talking about that car. Mere thanks isn’t enough to show my gratitude for this award but it’ll have to do. And good luck next time to my fellow contestants every one of you deserves a turn here. I don’t drive fast I fly low. My name is Shelli and I live every day with Magnumitis. Life is good.

**done** · 02-02-2006, 10:52 PM

Bout time you got it, way to go.

**Jaak** · 02-02-2006, 10:54 PM

Yeah, everything you said...

It's not just a car. And this isn't just a forum.

Congrats again Shel, great read, and a great LXOM!

**Pheobus** · 02-02-2006, 11:16 PM

Congrats again. Very good write-up.

**magnumdude** · 02-02-2006, 11:49 PM

You deserve it Shel. Nice write up....now you HAVE to go the march meet! I want to shake your hand. And yes, I'll also share a hotel room with you!! LOL

**fnkychkn** · 02-03-2006, 12:03 AM

great write up Shelli. a good read as always. you keep this forum smiling

with your wit and charm. on this day, you are most deserving. well done.

**HEMIwoman** · 02-03-2006, 12:06 AM

Well said Shel...very well said.

Again, my congrats.

Hugs,
Sue

**Hazman** · 02-03-2006, 12:16 AM

Congrats Shelli your the best !!!!

**Dupie24** · 02-03-2006, 01:23 AM

Congratulations, your posts always give us a fresh insight, kindess, humor. Thanks Shelli

You gotta make the March meet! It's gonna be huge and you can meet all of us at one place! Plus you get to drive on a long road trip in your Magnum! Now how can you beat that?

**Cucamonga Red RT** · 02-03-2006, 01:41 AM

Congrats Irock...you Rock!

**northeastern08** · 02-03-2006, 02:26 AM

Again...Congrats and well deserved iRock

**BUTWEET** · 02-03-2006, 02:48 AM

What to say....what to say? You know I'm both proud and happy for you. Rick obviously knows what a good catch you are. (He's kept you around all these years.) We too, know what a wonderful addition you are to our LX family. You are very deserving of the award. Congratulations Shelli.
Meeting and spending the evening together, was all my pleasure. Maybe next time, our better halves can join us! Kathy says "you're welcome," for the loaner husband. She doesn't want to hog a good thing!