Let's Make Mr Motor Face Happen!

You may have seen my video explaining my situation. My name is Zoe- I'm a Part 107 Drone Pilot and long time drone sports competitor and passionate pilot. You may have seen me in various videos on YouTube , TV, or rocking a drone and goggles in the real world.  Some say I've helped the drone community, having helped usher in 3D Drone Flying & Giant Drone Racing... now I'm turning to that community for support to keep doing what I love and am passionate about!

Living in Santa Cruz without a proper income and not being able to hold down a traditional job due to health is unsustainable- over the last 5 years my rent has gone from $1200 to $1675, and now to $1750 for a small one bedroom apartment. With my previous drone sponsorship's it was just barely doable, now it's impossible and I'm facing the reality I'll need to leave within the next couple of weeks.

Realistically I need to stay close to the bay for medical treatment from Stanford. The complex nerve damage and issues I’m dealing with has made it hard for me to find a specialist and I’d really like to not have to find another after having some limited success... after the nerve block diagnostic in august life had been “bearable” and would like to keep going down that rabbit hole. Moving away from the bay area would mean needing to find another specialist- I have my next appointment with mine on November 1st and will ask her for recommendations to  specialists in any areas of the country I might be investigating to move to if I can’t find a way to stay in the bay. Unless I can find a place below market rate in the Bay Area, and in a couple weeks at the most.... it's "Game Over"... so maybe another route.

An idea that has been floated by a few people has been to get an RV and “RV” life it since I can’t do vanlife. This might work- logistically it’s difficult and would require finding an RV, or  being able to afford one. Buying one the used market- I don’t have the cash to do it… and doubt I can come up with enough to make it happen in time to move all my mission critical stuff into one. Without directly asking, a fan "Bubbleheadbiker" reached out in another comment on my video:

I followed up with bubbleheadbiker, getting his email and calling up to meet the man behind the name- Steve. He went on to explain that he'd like to extend the offer of donating his RV with the blessings of his wife. The machine needs a bit of TLC- but if we can make it work it's mine. Am a bit flabbergashted and humbled by the offer- though it's going to be a bit of a logistics nightmare given the time crunch I'm dealing with.

RV- 2007 Shasta Cheyenne - 3900 miles, sitting in Yucca Valley. Sitting for 4 years, was running when parked. Needs fuel lines cleaned and the tank dropped. Should be a “simple fix” to get it running. Machine also needs a bit more TLC, top deck air conditioner is broken, the generator doesn’t run(clicks, could be a simple wiring/solenoid problem)



Given the mileage of the RV and the condition, it’s a pretty good deal and I’d be silly to try to not make it work. Issue being it’s 9 hours south of me. I’d need to get the money together to repair it, and get it current and running(4 years out of reg, it’s gonna costs a little $$$). The fact that Steve and his wife would part with it for “Free” is amazing, and if it’s fixed up could make for a good mobile home base.

Goal would be to get it running, and to move it to a friends ‘locally’ to work on further and setup for living/touring. Since it’s been sitting the biggest issue is just replacing some of the basics and giving the machine a bit of TLC, the transmission and motor block plus all the critical components should be in good shape. 

Logistically it’ll be a nightmare to make work- though logistically life was already a nightmare. My gut says to go with this plan. It allows me a home on wheels, and I could potentially drop anchor with friends and fans across the US… and still look for a more permanent home while allowing me to potentially “stay” near the bay area for medical treatment as needed.

Besides getting an offer for a location below market rate locally, RV life might be the best option… and as a drone pilot yearning to see the world… it’s incredibly enticing. This might turn out to be a great life opportunity if the logistics can be worked out.

How you can help - I need startup funds to get this project going, and either way will need funds to help move/get settled into a new place. If we can raise enough in a short enough time we can make this work... Funders will get naming rights to Mr Motor Face- and if you donate I'll put your logo somewhere on Mr Motor Face. If you want to get funds to me faster you can donate through PayPal at [email redacted]

Other ways you can help? Anyone near SoCal in the Yucca Valley area that has experince working on Diesel motors, Triton V10. I'll need help getting it running, but since it was running when parked- and only has 3900 miles- it should be doable. I'll also need to get tires done in the area before heading back to the Bay Area- have a local mechanic willing to help get things running in tip-top shape from there. 

Also- just your messages of support... This is a really chaotic and "scary" time of my life right now and I'm entrusting the universe to help make it work. This solution gives my life a little bit of breathing room, and turns what I feel is a bad situation into a interesting life opportunity. 

Now that Mr Motor Face has a name, we can't fail- let's make this happen! Thank you all for the support!

"I'm a big advocate of choosing what you want to do and making a plan to do it. Most people don't get what they are capable of simply because they don't design and follow a plan to accomplish it." - Chad Kapper