"Featured Garage - April 2006".

[cartract]

Welcome to my "Corvette Garage"! For many years I wanted a "show" garage in my basement where I could easily have heating and air-conditioning. This garage is 32' L x 16' W. The "theme" for the garage is Corvette Racing. The floor is Race Deck...the colors I chose were red/white/black......with black around the perimeter, then 1 foot of red, then the center is 2x2 black/white checkerboard. I really like the floor for a show garage, but don't think I'd use it for and everyday garage, especially where we have winter!

The wall graphics are vinyl...purchased from a local graphic vendor. I chose the words and the colors along with the font. They are relatively easy to install with keeping them straight and the spacing of the complete words creating a small challenge...but with a ruler and a pencil....no serious issue! One ring includes the names of race tracks the Corvette raced at over 6 decades and the second ring of words are the names of the drivers who raced the Corvettes over the years. The black/white checkerboard border is actually a wall paper border purchased from Mid-America Motorworks!

The pictures/posters are simply Corvette racing artwork purchased over the years. I had them dry mounted and framed in bright red metal frames with non-glare glass.

The cabinets are white prefinished wood that I purchased from Lowes. I have lots of room for detailing supplies and some tools....nothing heavy as this is not a "working" garage. I had to hunt pretty hard to find the Red handles and knobs....finally found a place to purchase in MN on the internet !

I spend hours in here, especially during the winter months, detailing the Corvette. I have music but I should have made provisions for a wall mounted TV....I could have watched SpeedVision while messing around in the garage. I really enjoying being in the garage and "rubbing" on the Corvette....its a great way to relieve stress from the workday.

When I'm not working in the garage, I can be lounging in my recliner in the ajoining rec room looking through a glass door into the garage......my wife thinks I'm nuts but she enjoys bringing visitors down to the garage where I can be found most evenings!

Would I do it again....you bet! Only thing different would be two cars wide and a wall mounted TV.

Enjoy my Corvette Garage.....which I have dedicated to the Father of the Corvette and its first Chief Engineer....Zora Arkus-Duntov!

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[Administrator]

You did an excellent job on your garage. I like how you did the names of the tracks and drivers as a border - very nicely done.

[cartract]

The driver names and race tracks that make up the "word border" is simply vinyl graphics. I chose Silver-Gray for one line and black for the other line. The graphic vendor does them one word at a time....i.e. "Fellows" or "Lime Rock". The graphic is made of of three layers....the backing which the cut letters adhere to, and the cover on the face of the letter. To install....layout a straight ling on the wall....use pencil so you can wash it off. Then with the face side up....draw a line underneath the words....go end to end. The you make a "hinge" with blue masking tape and apply to the left vertical end of the word. Simply line up the mark on the left side of the graphic with the mark on the wall.......now using the hinge take the word from the right to the left to the hinge....peel the backing off the back side of the letters...be careful not to let it touch down on the wall until you have your line on the right side matched to the pencil line on the wall......once aligned....use a plastic squeegie to press the graphic to the wall. Rub over the graphic several time to secure it well....then gently pull the face off the front of the word graphic....this leaves the letters on the wall....perfectly spaced. To get the spacing between the words....I drew a vertical line on the end of the word....then I used a block to get the spacing using the line that I had drawn. It might sound complicated and difficult, but it really is not! I suggest get a few extra words to practice on before you really start your final project. Vinyl is not forgiving once its adhered to the wall....it comes off easy but you cannot salvage it! Good luck.

[millpond]

Great work on your garage--and a beautiful Vette to boot!

[Administrator]

If anyone else would like to submit their garage to be a future featured garage, please PM me.

Thanks