Spencer's Corner
Aftermarket
"The Wonderful World of Mod'$"
III
Article and photos by:
Spencer Lynn
December 2009
Words and
photos by Spencer Lynn and Joe Portas
It is an intimate, tactile sensation as you grip an artisan sculpted, wood or
turned aluminum shift knob while snicking your Miata through the gears. I prefer
a spherical knob because it allows you the option of changing your grip three or
four different ways for better control or comfort. Because I enjoy driving and
shifting my MX5 so much, I have invested in a modest collection of both elements
in shift knobs for the change in appearance and feel.
Joe Portas, a Miata owner and enthusiast, is the founder of “KNOBmeister”. Joe has his own line of knobs he fashions himself including very handsome walnut and mahogany knobs. He also sells the Team Voodoo line, which includes the Magnum series. They are 2.1” spherical knobs with a ˝” neck. His knobs also come in the standard 1.8” size. They are turned aluminum and come in a variety of finishes, including polished, brushed, pearl, piano black, glossed, powder coated and flat textured and all look and feel great. Their colors include red, blue, green, yellow, white, black and the ever popular “8” ball. He offers additional variety of woods including Ash, Maple, Padouk, Koa, Purpleheart and Oak.
Aside from the terrific appearance, Joes wood line and the Team Voodoo’s metal excel in performance because their threading is deep making them mount low on the shifter shaft. The neck of the knob meets the collar of the shift boot avoiding that unsightly gap with some makes. There is no need for a short throw shift conversion if you run with Joe’s or a Team Voodoo, they’re low enough to allow you greatly improved “snicking” through the gears.
Another feature of his knobs is the addition of lead weight. The weight is important, as a heavier, low mounting knob gives you more positive feedback as you shift.
His knobs and Team Voodoo’s have a good, solid heft to them having been lathe turned from a solid billet of aircraft grade aluminum. Joe’s line and Team Voodoo’s are available at knobmeister.com from $40 and up without engraving. He can custom engrave your knob including your shift pattern or club name and the costs are very reasonable. I forgot to mention the Team Voodoo TITANIUM for $300, but that’s a car payment for some owners.
If you have
shopped the internet at all for aftermarket and custom gear shift knobs you know
the prices can be outrageous. That is why KNOBmeister is such a good find. Down
to earth pricing for the highest quality of workmanship. I truly found shifting
more enjoyable with Joe’s knobs and they look sensational. Joe Portas is the
owner and chief employee along with his wife, Mary of “Quality Images” and “KNOBmeister”.
The following is reprinted from the company’s “About Us” on the website.
(Reprinted)
JOE’S HISTORY
Quality Images started back in 1987 when Joe Portas retired from the daily grind of '8 to 5' and was looking for a way to use his talents and his time. He was recruited to make a number of custom furniture pieces for friends. Thinking that this would be
a good way to keep busy and to make a little money, Joe started a small in home business called Quality Images. The company prospered, but in a way that left little time for home activities and travel. Then, after the purchase of a new sports car,
QI took a different turn. Mary and he fell in love with their new 1991 Red "A" (package) Miata named "KNOBzilla". They became active with the local Miata Club and enjoyed the life style of a 'Peak to Peak' club member. On one of the clubs runs, a member saw Joe's custom laser engraved gearshift knob and requested one of his own! "KNOBmeister" division was born! Then another knob was made for another member. Then another, and on it went! People from other clubs found out that he could customize their gearshift knobs as well as make new ones from scratch. Name badges for clubs then followed! Internet service was introduced with this web site about the same time. Well, word spread around the sports car community and now Joe does a wide variety of products for not just Miatas, MR2's and JEEPS but many other cars both mundane and exotic!
A few years ago the pair bought a computer driven embroidery machine "Amy" and the fabric branch was born. VisorGloves and KnobGloves were the direct result of that purchase! Word of mouth has led the company to do many other custom products from judge's gavels to Glass Christmas ornaments.
His Universal Systems Laser Engraver is busy 17 hours a day seven days a week! He has been much busier now than he ever was working at a "regular job". Joe never thought that he would have customers on every continent except Antarctica! His and Mary's vacations now evolve around attending trade shows, national and lnternational events!
I thought Joe’s was a story worth telling because it is great doing business with a fellow Miata enthusiast. I had a slight problem in the threading of the mahogany knob I purchased from him and had to ship it back. Joe quickly fixed the problem and shipped it back to me at his expense. You can’t beat that kind of customer service. Joe’s website offers more than his line of gear shift knobs. He has other products including custom license plate frames, magnetic club event side badges for your Miata, Women’s Miata earrings, embroidered seat belt sleeves, glass ornaments with NA, NB, and NC Miata Christmas images, Miata visor plugs with a variety of images, club name badges and Miata lapel pins made from cherry wood which he sends one to you free with your purchase order. I’m sure that if you had a special request, Joe would listen and find a way to help you. He even provides a convenient and helpful list of other (some competitors) vendors on his website, as well as, a table of Miata clubs.
Let me warn you though, just in case there is a slight delay in processing your order, it may be that Joe and Mary are away traveling the world. But he will quickly get your order to you as soon as he’s back in town.
Joe Portas and
Knobzilla, his ’91, “A” package, Miata, displaying his magnetic, side badges for
clubs and events.
Joe beginning a
walnut knob.
Custom laser engraving.
Knobmeister’s cherry wood
Miata lapel pins.
Team Voodoo’s magnum, polished, aluminum
knob.
Joe also makes the badges for Miatafun. Christmas ornaments, and other items
like cups and magnetic signs.
Now jump into the drivers seat and go for a ride.
