Jim Gorbet

Email: jimgorbet@yahoo.com
Town & State: Yukon, OK

Website: http://www.tubulardynamics.com/

Type of car:
Body: Still searching for the right body
Chassis: Fiero tube and custom Tube
Engine: 1988 BMW V12
Transmission: Audi 5000
Starting Date: January 2003
Projected Finished Date: January 2008

Influences: Ron Fletcher and the other builders at Lambolounge
Occupation: Industrial Engineer
Hobbies: Race cars, Microcontrollers, Replica cars

Hello,
My name is Jim Gorbet I was born and raised in Kansas City MO. Were I attended high school and went on to college to become a machinist. I worked for Koch Supplies for 5 years building prototype machines for the meat packing industry then I began traveling and repairing meat packing equipment. In 1998 me and my wife decided to start a family and move to Oklahoma City OK. O.K.C. is my wife’s original home and I believed it to be a great place to raise a family. The move to Oklahoma came with many sacrifices including leaving behind many friends and family. Since the move me and my wife Shannon Gorbet have had 2 of the greatest little girls Kaylee and Abby, I believe the move has been the greatest move I have ever made.

My main life long hobbies include Kart, Midget and Sprint Car racing. I believe I have spent nearly every Saturday night of my life at the dirt tracks in the Midwestern US. My father raced sprints even before I was born. When I become 10 me and by brother began racing Go Karts on a National level. In 1994 we decide the sport was getting to expensive. We believed we could build our own chassis of a better design. This sounded like a great Idea so we did it and went on to win 3 national championships are first year. Me and my family went on to build our own designs to help pay for the expensive sport. In 1997 my father decided to make it a full time business. Now my brother works for Layne machine were they build race transmissions for IMCA modifieds and even some of the Winston cup teams. My brother is now a Midget race car owner driven by life long friend Greg Lueckert which they compete in the USAC, and MARA Midget race sanctions. Every once in a while I still like to go back and jump into the drivers seat.

I have always liked cars and In January of 2003 I bought a friends unfinished and unstretched IFG Countach. Then I found Lambolounge. I stumbled across the V12 Idea on the lounge and decided that this way the way for me. But I had a problem. There is no way to fit this awesome engine into my Countach. I thought about ways of making it work “such as stretching the Countach”, and then I decided to sell my Countach, keep my Fiero tub and to build a Diablo roadster. On May 3rd 2003 a very nice gentleman from North Carolina came out and bought my Countach Body. And now I’m in search of an affordable Roadster body.

In my first 5 months I have mainly been acquiring parts. I have the BMW V12, Audi transmission, brake upgrade system using C5 vette rotors, and a stripped down Fiero tub that I started with my Countach. I purchased a set of weld wheels with the original sized Countach tires but I’m reluctant of how these monster 15 inch wheels will look on a Diablo. My brother has my engine and transmission at his machine shop where he is building the adapter plate, flywheel, custom axles and mounting the Fiero alternator and ac compressor. I have been looking at the Haltech Engine management system and have spoken to them on the phone and they said there EK11 system will run the BMW V12 engine. I am very fortunate for my resources and am on a very tight budget. People may laugh but I’m trying to keep my budget under $20,000. I plan on doing 100 % of the car myself including all the suspension, headers, paint and I am even considering buying a sewing machine and trying to master the art of interior.

Over the years I have picked up many skills in the Fabrication and machining processes. Thanks to the Lounge I hope to share my knowledge, and be able to share wisdom with the other builders of Lambolounge.

Later,
Jim Gorbet