February Member Spotlight: Ron Popesh

Ron Popesh is a BAMF, plain and simple. He's also in the February Member Spotlight. Check out our Q&A with one of iRace's most hardcore members! If anyone knows "de way", it's this guy.

I present to you, in all his glory, Ronald "Poppy" Popesh. 

How old were you when you started being interested in cars?
I've been interested in cars pretty much my whole life. Most of my toys as a little kid were car related. Matchbox cars, Stompers, and later on R/C cars. I was really into racing those for several years.

What cars do you own?
I currently have a 2011 5.0 Mustang, 1963 Ford Falcon Wagon, and a 1973 Mach 1 Mustang. I also have a few daily drivers and several donor/parts cars.

Which do you prefer: Imports or Domestic? Why?
I prefer Domestic, because it's what I grew up knowing. I do have a few imports on my list of cars to own, though.

​What is your most current project? How long have you been working on it?
My most current project is building my new shop/house, I started on that last fall. Previous to that I finished up the 73 Mach 1. It was a 6 year project, that I went halves on with my dad. It got stripped down to nothing and spent 3 years on a rotisserie. We did everything ourselves from replacing A LOT of sheet metal, all the body and paint work, building the engine, all new interior, etc.

What was your very first car?
My very first car was nothing cool, just a 1984 Mercury Topaz. It was a decent car at the time, though.

Do you have any end goals you'd like to mention?
End goal....so many. To start with, I have to get going on my building once the weather warns up. My goal is to have my shop to where I can get a project in there by fall to work on next winter. The hard part will be deciding what to start on. I want to put some better internal parts in my 5.0 so I can turn up the boost (only at 10psi now). I'd like to be able to make a good number on the dyno and run a decent quarter mile with it. I also want to do Drag Week and run the Texas Mile at some point.
I want to get the Falcon Wagon built and driving, still unsure what direction that's going to go. Small block/5 speed I'm thinking. My dream car is a Royal Maroon 1969 BOSS 429. I currently have collected the parts to put a complete engine together, so that and the TKO600 I have from a previous car might be going in the Falcon until I find a suitable '69 Fastback and get it built. I bought one a few years ago, but sold it because it was just too far gone, rust wise.