Congratulations to Frank Maslowski 2015 Robert Feddersen Memorial - FFR Legacy Award!

[Randy Jones]

Hi all,

On behalf of Factory Five and the selection committee, I would like to congratulate Frank Maslowski (frankeeski), the 2015 Robert Feddersen Memorial - Factory Five Racing Legacy Award winner!

Frank, sincere thanks for all you do for this community and for the selfless help that you have provided for so many.

R :D

[65 Cobra Dude]

Congratulations Frank!!!

Henry

[68GT500MAN]

Congratulations Frank!

[David Hodgkins]

Frank really is cut from the same cloth as Robert. I can't tell you how many guys have had their car on his lift, mine included. And of course, his car (MKIII) isn't done. But he's brought his welder over to my house 60 miles away to fix my son's '66 Mustang. The guy is supremo!

Congratulations Frank!

:)

[ehansen007]

You da man Frank! Congrats buddy!

[frankeeski]

It has been an amazing week! I don't quite know how to put into words exactly how I've felt since learning that I would be this years recipient of the Robert Fedderson Memorial Award. This is going to be quite long and probably a bit emotional so be prepared. To start, here is a picture of the Award finally in my shop with the car.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/20150620_152744_zpspmjsbseh.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/20150620_152744_zpspmjsbseh.jpg.html)

Two and a half weeks ago or so, I got a call from David Hodgkins. God bless him, but as he struggled to ask me about my weekend plans for the week of the 13 of June I didn't make it easy on him. Many times when David calls me and asks me what I'm doing on the weekend it means he needs a bit of help with his car, his brother's car or his son's Mustang. All of which I love to turn wrenches on. But this time when I asked "what's up?" Dave was a bit reluctant to spill it. To the point that I finally had to ask him to just "spit it out". He finally asked me if I could be in Boston for that weekend for the Open House. At this point I figured that they may just need help opening hot dog buns for the BBQ. After talking for a few minutes, Dave told me I was to be the recipient of the Award this year. The first words out of my mouth were; "you could have picked someone a bit less controversial". For those of you that haven't had much contact with me on the FFcars forum I tend to have strong opinions and this doesn't always mesh with others on the forum. But hey, that's who I am. Regardless, I made reservations and planned to fly to Boston for the weekend. I flew in Friday night late and left early from the airport hotel I was staying at early Saturday to be at Factory Five first thing in the morning. Any of you that were there probably saw me but I tried to keep a low profile until the time of the award. It was agreed that it would be a surprise for all of those attending the Open House. Minutes before the award, I found my way near the area the awards were being distributed for the Car Show. I want all of you to know what a special honor this is and how hard Randy and Julie Jones with Karen Salvaggio and David Hodgkins work with the selection committee for this award each year. I do not envy them and the selection process. It cannot be easy. Randy was a very close friend to Robert Fedderson and the emotions were very clearly present as he described Robert and the meaning of the award along with the selection of each years recipient. I am glad I didn't have to speak right after Randy, I could not have done it. David Hodgkins was handed the microphone and started the process of talking about this years recipient (yours truly) and thank God he didn't get carried away with emotion because again, I don't know if I would have been able to speak. Those of us in this community know what this award means and emotions are very hard to ignore. David called me forward and handed me the awards, man hugs and kisses for Karen and Julie. I wasn't kissing "the Wookie". After pictures they ask me to say a few words' and as you can tell from the novel I am currently writing here I am never short on words but I did manage to stay on point and thank all those involved and most importantly all of those in the community. Best I can remember I said the following;

"This award is very humbling. In my mind the only thing I have in common with Robert Fedderson is that my car is still incomplete. (Robert passed before he finished building his car) And that those that have come before me and those after me are much more deserving of this award than I am. I remember 20 or so years ago meeting Dave Smith and his brother Mark at the AHA show in Buena Park, CA. We call it the Knott's Berry Farm Kit Car Show. I know all of you at one time have heard these words from Dave Smith in some form or another. And that is ["this is less about the cars and more about the relationships. The cars bring us together but the people keep us together"]. This award is about the people standing behind me today and those of you that are here today. It's about the community. Thank You"


Below is a picture of my dear friend Dr. Karen and myself
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa78/frankeeski/Fedderson%20Award_zpsl2izdp83.jpg (http://s200.photobucket.com/user/frankeeski/media/Fedderson%20Award_zpsl2izdp83.jpg.html)

I know there are those out there, like myself, who thought that Jeff Kliener was going to be the honoree this year. Jeff sent me a PM not long after I had nominated him for the award thanking me for considering him. Before I could return his PM I had already heard from David Hodgkins that I was getting the award. I was in a very difficult position and chose to wait until afterwards to respond to Jeff. After the awards were all given out I spent some time talking with Jeff and having met him for the first time in person I will tell all of you out there he is just as genuine in person as he is here on the forum. Jeff is due, and I have no doubt will be nominated again this coming year for the award. I cannot think of anyone more deserving.

I do have a measure of guilt, in that, I always feel as though I do what I do for selfish reasons. I get to work on really cool cars, who wouldn't want to do that? The helping others whether friends or future friends is really secondary. I've met some truly amazing people in this community because of this "stupid car" (my wife Julie's words for the Cobra). And just as I said last Saturday, it's about the community. So Thank You, not just those who chose to nominate me for this tremendous honor, Thank You to ALL of you! Being a part of this community is one of the best parts of my life.

As as post script: I waited until today to post and thank all of you because I had to mail the award home. There was no way a pointed award shaped like a dagger was going to make it through the TSA screening. The award arrived yesterday afternoon at my office and opening the box I found it had been broken. I spent time this morning re-assembling it. Kind of sounds like building a car right? I wanted to include a picture of the award with the car so this is the first chance I've had.

[SoCalMike]

Congratulations Frank!

[Jeff Kleiner]

Well spoken Frank! One of the highlights of my Open House weekend was finally meeting you and having the opportunity to spend some time together. Congratulations my friend ;)

Jeff