Sup? 

My name is Jamie Kelley-

I am from Asheville N.C.-

I have a Lowrider truck that is now in its 15^th year of progression-

"Schizophrenia" has gone through many different changes of style to be what it is today-

I started installing hydraulics in 1995-

I was the first in my area to have them-

I have gained all my knowledge from trial and error-

And believe me there was a lot of error-

I never had enough money to pay anyone else to do it for me nor did I have anyone to ask questions of.

All I knew was that I wanted to be different-

Styles seemed to trickle their way down from the west coast-

I saw cars that would change their stance in Lowrider magazine and thought: Damn that is the shit!

I started out with one pump-  (front suspension...straight up, straight down)

After frying a number of things, including myself, I finally got it working-

Up, down, up, down at every red light!

About a year later, I went to my first Lowrider show and saw my first hydraulic competition.I was hooked!

I then installed another pump, 3 more dumps,  and 7 more switches-

Again tons of  error!

Why do I continue to fry selonoids?  Duhhhhhhhh!!!

The next time I went out on the strip, there was another guy with hydraulics (suspension).  He had come from Flordia with this '93 Mazda and his setup was better than mine!!!

Up until this time I was the only one here with them- (remember we are talking about Asheville NC)

It was time for me to go back to the drawing board!

Determined!  I could not be another number!

All of my spare time went into think of new ways to accomplish this-

In Lowrider mag. I had seen a picture of a truck bed that tilted straight back-

I had to have it!!!

Then, I dealt with R/C Lowrider Hydraulics in AZ-

After describing it to them, they said a kit was available to make that happen..She went on to say that they have one that will even go left and right-  AWESOME!  If it wasnt for the cost.(about $1000 to my door) I was lucky if I had $300 to spread around!

So I ended up with the kit that would only go straight back-

When it finally came,  I couldnt believe my eyes!  One pump, one cylinder,  one dump, one switch and hose-  

Wait!!!  Something had to be missing!!!!!  How do I ??????????  Shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I figured if I was going to have to create something then it might as well be the left and right also-

Having just taken a welding class at the local community college I thought the worst that could happen is that I wouldn't succeed.  But, I had to!!!!

3 months later, I had a creation that would stand up and look pretty.However had many flaws!  It wasn't enough that the bed looked ok..Everyone wanted to see it work!  When I would try to show it, the problems came pouring out!  I tore it all to hell on a number of occasions- And it would be months before I had enough money to repair it-

But, in the back of my mind I hear: make it work or you have failed!!!   NO!!!!!!!

So, I completely re-do the entire thing using stronger steel and the knowledge of what didnt work last time- This is now in 1998-

This one was slightly better- (again, just a three stage)

It also had its share of problems..I started to analyze things more closely-

The next week, with the rack fully extended cruising through a parking lot I ran over a speed bump and knocked off the fitting from one of the cylinders holding up the 1^st stage (which keeps things away from the cab)-

Needless to say, it crashed...and right through my back window!

After I had calmed down and thought about it, I realized something :  Force takes the path of least resistance.  This is probably the most important discovery I had ever made in the field of mechanics; and it is not limited to mechanical attributes alone!   Later in life, I found out this was actually some mechanical law already in place-

Once again, I went back to the drawing board; this time taking into consideration all my potential weak links-

In 1999, I created a 4-stage rack!  To save room, the entire bed was run by one pump with a distribution center made up of 8 Reds dump valves-  Even though I was eventually successful with the plumbing, it was a nightmare!  This wasn't the most practical way to accomplish what I was trying to do-

On my first appearance at Nopi Nationals in Atlanta, there was a guy from Kentucky with a 4-stage like mine...just showing; not in any competion..but, neither was I-

He spoke to me about some he had seen in California that would spin!

My next project!!!!

Immediately, I began dreaming up new designs-

All I had ever seen in competion was suspension hopping and dancing-

I asked myself: What do people want to see?

Something different with reliable action!

So, I set out to build just that!

Keeping my show quality accessories like rims, paint, stereo and interior which I had toiled many hours on was also important to me-

However perfection took a back seat to image and style-

I figured individualizing my actions would be the best way to accomplish this..My goal was to create a 10 pump monster which would have not only completely independant suspension but a 6-stage spinning bed as well-

This project took from Nov. 2000 to September 2001-

At Nopi that year, I saw what a demand there was for this type of thing on the east coast-

 It may have already come and gone on the west coast..But the market is fresh here-  Here it is something that most people have never seen in person-

My latest creation is to re-arrange the theme of the truck..From Transformer to Schizophrenia!  My goal is to have two different personalities on one vehicle-

 Schizophrenia has 10 pumps, 22 switches, 22 selonoids, 8 batteries, 13 cylinders (etc.)

The paint job is House of  Color : ½ blue marble, ½ rainbow flake (split down the middle with a graphic crack for the transition line- A Skitzo Joker has been airbrushed on the hood-

There is a flipped color graphic design as well as different rims on either side-

A spiral graphic adorns the tonneau cover on the bed so it will present a mesmorizing  effect-

Then, there is the fire-ball which shoots 12 feet out of the center of my bed after a performance , the grand finale!  Another one of my little creations-  It is fired remotely with a airplane transmitter and receiver-

Finally, in early August 2004 another addition is complete!  I have created a four-way split on the top of the bed. The action is actually powered by a winch motor.  Each section is precisely timed to open and close properly.  On the surface, it may not look like it, but there are many engineering issues that have been solved.

For 2006, I worked my ass off!  New stuff includes a truxarossa effects kit (as might have been expected, nothing fit and several panels had to be made from scratch...)  Custom built doors (didn't want lambos like everyone else...no kit shit!)  ...And I picked up my first sponsor ever!  Alsa paint company gave me some of their new chrome paint and lots of extras (thanks:)  It took me weeks to get everything just so...even ended up having to completely redo one side!  GRRRRR!  But, once all was said and done...the entire truck was given a chrome base...then, I covered the driver's side with blue marble and the passenger's side with red marble~  A graphic crack seperates the colors and "2 FACE" dominates the center of the hood~

Update for 2007:  I am in the process of installing a 350 chromed out engine!  OMG!  Didn't ever think I would get around to it...I'm very excited to hear the rumble...plus, I won't be ashamed to open my hood anymore!

Where from here?  One last thing:  a new interior!  Some tweed and fiberglass work done in the theme of the truck "SCHIZOPHRENIA"!

Everyone has their own idea of what a Lowrider should look like...

This is mine... and I like to think of it as mechanical art-

 Peace-

 SKITZO