May 2008 LXOM: JonW

[DMAG]

I have to start by saying that SoCalLX is THE BEST group of people that have ever assembled as a car club! I am totally blown away by the rally that took place to get me here. It also goes without saying (but I'll say it anyways) that LXForums is by far the best online car forum there is. I have yet to see another online forum where people will quickly step away from the car issues and address real personal issues to assist members in need. This simply does not happen anywhere else like it does here!

I'm not a high poster, but I've been here (and the other forums) for quite a while and I try to do what I can to help the community. I'll try not to drag this out, but to tell you my LX story, I need to step back a few years.... After having lurked here for a few months, I signed up to DodgeMagnum.net (before it was called LXForums) in June of 2004 at the same time that I placed my order for a Silver 2005 300C. I was already a regular over at one of the other 300C online forums but I knew that these Magnum guys had some good stuff going on here!

I took delivery of my first LX in August 2004 and shortly after, a few of us 300C guys had the first ever SoCal M&G. The only problem was that the cars were few and far between, so there was only 4 of us there!

I took an interest in organizing some of our early meets. Over the next severalmonths, we had additional SoCal M&G's for the 300's that grew in size each time we met. In June of 2005, we had our first M&G where we invited the local SoCal "Magnum Owners Club". We met at House of Brews in Huntington Beach right around the corner from my house. While the 300's had all pulled into our meeting place one by one, the Magnum's had assembled a few blocks away so that they could steam-roll through the parking lot one after the other in a very fashionable grand entrance style. Yes, the group of 300's were impressed! The combined 300 & Magnum M&G was a huge success with close to 40 vehicles present - the largest single LX gathering to date. From that point forward, all of our M&G's were for all LX vehicles combined.



For the next two years, these types of events continued to take place all over SoCal and I tried to attend as many as my work and family schedule would allow. Sometimes I was helping with organization, other times I was just attending. I went to meet & greets, car shows, track days and anything else LX related that fit into the schedule. Heck, it even seemed like my driveway was being used for M&G's at times!

During this whole time I have also had my own StarMobile that I utilized at events for getting people all the latest flash updates for their vehicles. I know people often have issues getting the updates from their dealer, so I've always liked helping with this where I can. I'm a tech guy, so it's just the kind of thing I like to do.

In October of 2006, I was fortunate enough to get myself into a 2007 Inferno Red 300C SRT8. (That's my 9 year old modeling with the cars).



Fast forward to around April 2007 when our good friend TMagnum (Tom) stepped up to form the local SoCalLX group. I was eager to jump in and give him a hand with anything that I could do to assist in building a true SoCalLX identity. I started by setting up the SoCalLX website and calendar that we use to post and track our events (and also used for Spring Festival registration). I then saw a great opportunity to turn all the StarScan flashing I was doing into a fundraising opportunity. The support from the SoCalLX members to do this as a fundraiser was nothing short of incredible. By doing the flashing on a donation basis, I was able to send $1000 to the Orangewood Childrens Home!!! (Have I said how great the SoCalLX members are???) We also continued the charity theme by doing Toys-for-Tots drives at two M&G's as well. We will continue these charitable activities for 2008 and I hope I can find some additional opportunities for our group to participate in.



Thank you to all of you who have supported me. I love being a part of such a wonderful group of men and women.



(Here's a few random pictures of me and my ride...)

[CANDYAPPLE]

Congrats...nice write up. Seems I often vote for the eventual winner!!



Cheers CANDYAPPLE

[nhdave]

Congrats Jon. A champion among champions.

[bruno]

Jon,

Your LX biography clearly tells much of the story about you and all you have generously done for members of the LX community and beyond.

I want to add what a humble, generous, caring person you are as well. You are often the one behind the scenes, invisible to many, yet you provide such incredible services to those who simply ask.

Thank you, Jon, for just being you! Congratulations on a most deserved recogniiton from your LX peers. I honor you and I'm proud to have you as my friend.

Oh yes...you also have the most beautiful Inferno Red 300c SRT8 that I have ever seen! Keep on using that detail spray!

Well wishes to you!
bruno

[FlyByU]

Congrats JonW, well deserved.

[Big D]

Congrats JonW

[bandaid]

The support that you received in this vote speaks to the respect the membership has for you. It is a small token of their appreciation for what you do for your fellow LXers and your community. Even your write up demonstrates your modesty as you talk of everyone but yourself.

Congratulations on a well deserved honor.

[fnkychkn]

big dancing rats for you, Jon.



glad i finally got to meet you in Irvine. hope to see you again next year.

[The MagWag]

Congrats Jon!

[lowriderman3]

Congrats man! Well deserved! Awesome writeup!

[STAGE 3 R/T]

Congrats well deserved!!!

[Mighty Noid]

Jon... What can I say but CONGRATS!!!

You will always have my support!!!

[GoofyTimL]

CONGRATS JonW! Somehow I missed that you got an IR SRT8! Where the heck have I been? The Silver One was sweet, but I certainly understand the attraction to the Inferno Red whether or not it's an SRT8!

Here's hoping we can meet up again some day, and not just outside of Beach Burgers.

[Fondy]

Congrats Jon I had no idea of all the good things you have been a part of. and you are right this place is awesome!

[Tmagnum]

Congrats Jon, very nice right up and I'm glad to have been there for the ride.
You've been a true pioneer of the LX community and a major part of SoCalLX growth.

I'm glad to call you Friend !!!


Now lets get back to work...............