Garry Bopp
07-10-2014, 08:21 PM
I spent Monday after the Carlisle show at Mark Dougherty’s shop for a suspension tuneup, which turned into a 14 hour day as numerous suspension components had “issues”. Details in a previous post. Mark and his boys really did some nice work on my coupe. The steering finally has an “on center” feel and tracks straight down the road … less tramlining on ruts, etc. On the track at Mid-Ohio, I felt much more confident in the corners and the coupe is noticeably quicker than last year. One thing that Mark didn’t fix and would make my coupe quite a bit faster is … the driver! I’m the first to admit that the coupe is still faster than I am!
My next stop was Wareham, MA and the home of Factory Five. I showed up on Wednesday morning to replace my lexan hatch, which had recently developed several cracks that continued to grow everytime I got out in the sun. They had the glass hatch, hardware package and instruction sheet ready for me. After a Factory Tour and visit with Dave Smith, I got to work. The new glass hatch fit my early coupe (#031) very well, though it sits a little high on the passenger side. Thanks to Dan G. and Dave C. for help when it was time to lift the new hatch in place and adjust the hinges. I love the new look!
While in the area, I re-connected with a friend from my Air Force days, Richard Teixeira. He was kind enough to put me up at his lovely home for 4 days. One night was spent with mutual friends Bill and Jean Anderson and Joan Hulme, at their cabin on a lake in Greenville, RI. I also shared a breakfast with the “ROMEO” group (Real Old Men Eating Out). Great friends, great food, lots of laughter. Fun times!
The Factory Five Open House was great fun, though attendance was down, due to an unfavorable weather forecast. I was thrilled to have my coupe in the showroom during the Open House, along with the new 289 FIA/USRRC car. I spent most of my time in the showroom, answering questions, letting folks sit in the coupe, taking pictures. I was still inside answering questions during the awards ceremony … Sally Bean came looking for me and asked why I wasn’t outside because I had just won “Best of Show-Coupe”. I answered, “I’ve been busy selling coupes”. As it turns out, a young man named Matt and his wife had come to the Open House, specifically to get information on the coupe. I received a message from Matt recently, telling me that he had just ordered his coupe kit!
Garry
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014002_zps29ff3f8b.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014002_zps29ff3f8b.jpg.html) On the lift at Mark's shop.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014014_zpsbeecb4be.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014014_zpsbeecb4be.jpg.html) Brendan, hard at work on my rear suspension.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014005_zps0413e795.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014005_zps0413e795.jpg.html) Luke Skywalker, aka Mark Dougherty, wields his light sabre on my front suspension.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014017_zpsd47955bc.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014017_zpsd47955bc.jpg.html) New glass hatch ready to install.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014023_zps9f67e4ff.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014023_zps9f67e4ff.jpg.html) Early morning at the Open House, before people started crowding the showroom.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014029_zps11aab5aa.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014029_zps11aab5aa.jpg.html) Sign says it all!
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014028_zps147141ae.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014028_zps147141ae.jpg.html) 289 FIA/USRRC car prior to unveiling ... perhaps the world's worst kept secret. LOL!
My next stop was Wareham, MA and the home of Factory Five. I showed up on Wednesday morning to replace my lexan hatch, which had recently developed several cracks that continued to grow everytime I got out in the sun. They had the glass hatch, hardware package and instruction sheet ready for me. After a Factory Tour and visit with Dave Smith, I got to work. The new glass hatch fit my early coupe (#031) very well, though it sits a little high on the passenger side. Thanks to Dan G. and Dave C. for help when it was time to lift the new hatch in place and adjust the hinges. I love the new look!
While in the area, I re-connected with a friend from my Air Force days, Richard Teixeira. He was kind enough to put me up at his lovely home for 4 days. One night was spent with mutual friends Bill and Jean Anderson and Joan Hulme, at their cabin on a lake in Greenville, RI. I also shared a breakfast with the “ROMEO” group (Real Old Men Eating Out). Great friends, great food, lots of laughter. Fun times!
The Factory Five Open House was great fun, though attendance was down, due to an unfavorable weather forecast. I was thrilled to have my coupe in the showroom during the Open House, along with the new 289 FIA/USRRC car. I spent most of my time in the showroom, answering questions, letting folks sit in the coupe, taking pictures. I was still inside answering questions during the awards ceremony … Sally Bean came looking for me and asked why I wasn’t outside because I had just won “Best of Show-Coupe”. I answered, “I’ve been busy selling coupes”. As it turns out, a young man named Matt and his wife had come to the Open House, specifically to get information on the coupe. I received a message from Matt recently, telling me that he had just ordered his coupe kit!
Garry
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014002_zps29ff3f8b.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014002_zps29ff3f8b.jpg.html) On the lift at Mark's shop.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014014_zpsbeecb4be.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014014_zpsbeecb4be.jpg.html) Brendan, hard at work on my rear suspension.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014005_zps0413e795.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014005_zps0413e795.jpg.html) Luke Skywalker, aka Mark Dougherty, wields his light sabre on my front suspension.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014017_zpsd47955bc.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014017_zpsd47955bc.jpg.html) New glass hatch ready to install.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014023_zps9f67e4ff.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014023_zps9f67e4ff.jpg.html) Early morning at the Open House, before people started crowding the showroom.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014029_zps11aab5aa.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014029_zps11aab5aa.jpg.html) Sign says it all!
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r102/theboppshop/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014028_zps147141ae.jpg (http://s142.photobucket.com/user/theboppshop/media/Eastern%20US%20Tour%20June%202014/EastCoastTourJune2014028_zps147141ae.jpg.html) 289 FIA/USRRC car prior to unveiling ... perhaps the world's worst kept secret. LOL!