News
Congratulations for winning the April 2009 Zuwharrie Owner of the Month!
How does it feel being honored along with the past winners?
I ‘m pretty surprised to be nominated and accepted for the Zuwharrie owner of the month. I am very flattered that I was chosen, it surprised the heck out of me, and really made my day *Big Grin*
So tell us about you. Who are you, where do you live, and what do you do for a living?
My name is Mason Lykins, I’m from eastern Washington (west coast). I am pretty easy going and eager to help just about anybody (Danette says I am way too eager to help). I love the outdoors, the warm sun and of course wheelin’ with family & friends.
My former career was supervising high steel construction crews and job sites, and I absolutely loved it. This is how I picked up my nickname, the guys on the crew wrote “Sky” on my hard hat because I loved the heights. I used to take lunch on girders or beams and always volunteered for the “spooky” stuff so they started calling me “Sky” it sort of stuck though the years.
Tell us a bit about your family.
I married my best friend Danette about 12 years ago, and consider myself to be very lucky. We’ve both been through a lot, and we continue to be very close. I’m happiest when she is with me; wheeling, camping hanging in the garage, or just kicking back around the house. Danette fully supports the Samurai; she’s gone as far as buying used greasy parts for the Zook, and bringing them home in the back of her new trailblazer. Of course she knows she’ll be stealing it as soon as the parts are installed!
We have three great kids, Jaren, 17, Dylan, 14 and Jessica 12. I ended up getting pretty lucky there too. We are family as well as good friends, we all work on the zook together, wheel together and just have a good time. It was great teaching them all to weld, grind and use power tools. It’s also great to be able to see the kids drive the Samurai after we spent a summer building it up.
How did you get started in Suzuki’s?
Well it’s kind of a long story but I’ll try to cut to the chase. My mother and I went shopping for a new car hers was about finished. We were cruising lots when we came across a beautiful Samurai. The Samurai was gloss black with tinted windows, 31’ M/T’s and all the trimmings. It was the best looking samurai I had ever seen. I hadn’t said a word, but my Mom had noticed me drooling and said “I wish I could just write a check and send you home with that” She had tears in her eyes. We drove home in her new mini van that day but I never forgot the Samurai.
My father grew up in climax Colorado, and owned a military jeep as a kid. I grew up listening to stories of his wheeling adventures; the most famous is when he climbed over the top of the climax ski tow and ended up stuck at the bottom on the opposite side of the mountain. That was 20 years ago and I had wanted one ever since.
How long did it take you to build your Zuk to what it is today?
I picked up the Zook in pretty rough condition about two years ago; my wife was shaking her head, and my neighbors were gawking. Getting it in safe, wheel able condition took about 5 months. It took two years to get where it is at now, and will be a life long hobby (probably never finished)
The suspension was a pretty scary homemade missing link setup. The suspension from the frame down was a total loss except for the springs (YJ). My son actually removed the winch mount with a crescent wrench (no joke).
I did a lot of research here on the boards and decided the quickest way to get it street able as quick as possible was would be Trail Tough’s deluxe SPOA YJ kit, and complete high steer. It took about 9 months to get the vehicle on the road, and trail worthy. Since then I have been upgrading as my health and funds allow. So To answer the questions I would say 9 months to get it reliable and worthy of a very difficult trail, and two years to make it comfortable for me.
Any changes in store for your rig?
It’s funny you mention that, at the moment I am in the middle of a 1.6 8v swap (thanks turbodrabbit). The front clip is in the garage and the Zook is in the driveway.
Along with the 1.6 I will be installing rancho 6 way manually adjustable shocks in the front, and rancho 9000k in-cab adjustables in the rear.
I will also be adding Sidekick disk breaks, and a grant steering wheel. As funding allows I will be sending off a kick case to Scott at rock4xfabrication to have him build a shogun box, and I will also be adding Toyota axles.
If you could have anybody else’s Zuk, who’s would it be and why?
This one is easy hands down I would want NCZuk’s (Art Lilley’s) Popsicle. IMHO it’s a legend in the Suzuki world, and is known all over the world. Not only is it well known, it is also a well-built very capable good-looking rig.
I am not sure I would even drive it if I owned it. I would take it to shows and special events in honor of Art, and all of the soldiers who sacrificing so much to protect our loved ones, and our way of life. I would to teach everyone that there are real people behind the media and the hype, and just what they sacrifice on a daily basis.
What has been your best wheeling adventure?
Whew! There have been a few. The best was the last trip we took in November. I was invited with a few friends and my oldest son Jaren to take a trip up to the mountains for short trail run – Turned all nighter.
It was an easy drive right up to the snowmobile cabin and the day was turning out really great, and really cold.
After we had lunch we had the brilliant idea to drop off the backside of the Tampico ridge down into the Rimrock area we ran into about an inch of frozen snow that made the going treacherous, of course as soon as we got down of the mountain it had melted and became a 2 inch layer of slippery sticky goo.
Two winches, a battery, an alternator, a flooding carb, a tree on top of zook, and 20 hours, we were nice and snug at home with good friends and a good adventure behind us. The trip could have been disastrous if it hadn’t been for the friendly attitude, and “git-er-done” mentality of the entire group. We all had a good sense of humor and a few good laughs; even though we were beat down tired.
If you could go to any place in the world to wheel, where would that be?
I would have to say Australia warm sun, warm water, any type of terrain you could ask for, and isolation. You can wheel all day, end up on a deserted beach with warm water to snorkel, a campfire and stars to stare at during the night all topped with good warm weather, and no crowds. You can’t beat that!
I would of course, have to take a few good friends, and Danette with me to really enjoy it. Even if we had to wheel rentals I’d still love to go.
Who are you closest to in the Zuwharrie community?
I’d have to say Spinnaker, A.K.A. “Tim” Tim is just over the mountains from me, he PM’ed me and invited me to a NAXJA (Cherokee) event up in the Little Naches near here. It turned out to be a great event, and an even better time. Tim and I had the only Zooks up there a out of about 100 vehicles. We spent the weekend wheelin; and had a real blast showing the Jeeps that the Samurais could not only keep up, but hold their own very well. We also hooked up a few months ago at the Puyallup swap meet. Another huge event with people from all across the state. There were lots of Zook parts, and some high profile vendor slots. It was a kick. Tim treated us (my wife and son) like family. It’s nice to meet people in the Samurai community face to face. There some really good people out there, Tim included
What other toys/hobbies do you put a lot of time into?
I used to do a lot of water skiing, hunting, fishing, and running R/C nitro trucks. Now that I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and I am starting to slow down I spend my spare time wrenching, and the good days wheeling. On the worst days I spend most of my time here on Zuwharrie helping out fellow members when I can, asking the questions I haven’t seen answered, and reaming of my next trip, or upgrade.
What is it about the Zuwharrie.com BBS that brings you back for more?
I have to say the sense of family, and the good-natured people both on the board and behind the scenes. I haven’t seen a more dedicated online community for any hobby or pastime.
I found the Zu before I bought my first samurai. Without this community I wouldn’t have had the knowledge, or determination to get my samurai where it is today. It’s a safe capable rig both on and off road. I owe all of that to the Zuwharrie community/family.
What about the Zuwharrie Event would you like to see changed?
As for the Zuwharrie event itself, I wouldn’t change a thing it seems that it is a pretty successful even the way it is.. Of course everyone says they would like to see it closer to the west coast, Me I would like to see a sister event on this side of the country, planned and executed by the people who plan the Zuwharrie event over there
Contact Information:
Name: Mason Lykins
Zuwharrie user name: Skyman
Nickname: Sky
Email: Sky@skyscomputers.com – sky@zookdawg.com
Main Vehicle Specs:
Year: 1986
Make: Suzuki
Model: Samurai
Color: Red
Driveline: Kick 1.6 8v, Samurai 5 speed, 4:1 transfer case, 4:30 differential gears. Extended slip yoke for the rear, and two Drive shaft spacers in the front.
Steering: Track/Kick power steering pump and box, shimmed drilled and cooled, with a Trail tough High steer arm, drag link, and tie rod.
Suspension: Trail tough’s Delux SPOA YJ kit modified to fit my needs with a little more up-travel, and a bit better shackle angle. Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks all the way around
Tires/Wheels : I am running 33×12.50 BF Goodrich Mud terrains, on Eagle bullet hole aluminum rims with 3 ½” backspacing,
Armor : Home made rocker skids, Home built rear bumper with LED’s
Interior : Generic APC Racing Suspension seats, pioneer CD player with MP3,full rear seat. Teddy Roosevelt CB with 100 watt linear, (soon to be rhino lined with 5/8 thick rubber matting for sound proofing and floor protection), Fire extinguisher, First Aid kit, and an Emergency survival kit.
Exterior : Lexan windshield – that’s about it.
Recovery gear : Old School Ramsey 9000lb winch, Hi-lift jack, misc. chains, chokers, clevises etc
Best Modification: The addition of the YJ kit with missing links front and rear., it’s what helped make my rig capable as a wheeler.
Worse Modification: I would have to say the seats. I tore up the stock mounting to put them in and was rushed for a trip the next day. I buggered up the floor pan on the drivers side, and blew a couple holes with the welder. The seat is tilted too far back, and very uncomfortable. Until I take the time adjust them and do it right it’s going to be a backache hehe. We were better off with JX seats from a tin top.
Future Mods: Rock4xfabrication Shogun crawl box, Toyota axles, possible frame stretch
Other Clubs: N/A
Comments: This site and the Samurai saved my life in a kind of way. I had a couple of really hard winters with my R/A and had spent months either in bed, or laying on the couch wishing I had the strength and fortitude to do something-heck anything!
Physically I was in some pretty dire straits, my legs had atrophied, I was walking with a cane, and hadn’t driven in nearly a year.
I desperately needed something to keep me occupied and to look forward to. At the time I had nothing. I started researching Samurai’s to kill time and found Zuwharrie. After browsing through a few builds I thought to myself “I’ve found it, I’ve finally found what I want/need to do”.
This site gave me the courage to go out and buy a Samurai, and the knowledge to finish it. The next few months I spent building up my stamina and strength slowly pecking away at the Samurai spending as much time on it as my body would allow (with a LOT of help from my three kids).
By the time we were finished I was in shape, and able to drive again. I built up my stamina, and had the energy to spend a day behind the wheel. If I hadn’t found this site or the Samurai, I’m really not sure which direction my life would have taken. Looking back makes me realize just how lucky I am. Not only to have spent the time with my kids building something we can share, but earning back the ability to take care of myself.
Thank you all for the site, the knowledge, the friendships, and the family. I am honored to be a part of it all.
–Sky