Please graduate #7079

[Sapper 3]

It's been a great project and I'm sure I'm not really "done" but now I’m just going to enjoy the ride. I planned the construction for about 13yrs and when I was assigned to DC as a staff guy I knew I'd have most weekends off, so when I redeployed from Iraq in Aug 09, I placed the order for #7079 and a bunch of parts over 3 states, loaded up Molly, my 10 yr old and headed for Factory Five on 17 Oct 09. Work started on 19 Oct 09. Jan '10 was first start, June '10 she was safety inspected, licensed and tagged in Virginia. During my next deployment in '11 I sent her to Jeff at Whitby Motorcars for body and paint work and redeployed a year later to pick her up and put her on a ship for Germany... my current duty station. Jeff, hat's off to you and your team. The body and color couldn't have turned out better! She arrived unscathed a few weeks ago. A week after her arrival Molly and I took her out on the autobahn on my birthday for the first time.... what a great maiden voyage! Thanks to all the forum members for your great advice, my friends who help with the heavy lifting along the way, lots of great vendors who went out of their way to provide great customer service and reliable delivery... lots of deliveries!
Dale

[Hammink Performance]

That looks great! Congratulations!

[Mad Dog]

Very cool! Congrats!

[AZPete]

Dale, it's beautiful but I guess lots of people have told you that in Germany! I'm jealous that you get to open it up on the Autobahn. We are often amazed by the attention the roadsters receive here in the USA but I think we would all like a few stories of the reactions you get in Germany.
Congrats!
Pete

[CapeCoralCobra]

I have wondered how that color would look on a roadster and now I know; it looks great! Congrats, very nice.

[McObra]

Congratulations! A great looking build!

[Sapper 3]

@AZPete, So far there haven't been any "accidents", but on my recent trip on the autobahn has caused similar effect I noted back in the states. Passers-by rapidly decelerate crane their necks and wave. I noted a wife and older daughter smacking the fellow driving obviously telling him to slow down as they smiled and waved. I've had a fork lift driver bump the road curve as he drove by in the opposite direction while giving me the thumbs up and a big fellow nearly drop his stacked boxes he was carrying on the side walk as he was trying to find my Brrraaaaaaaa exhaust note several cars behind him. My most interesting to date is when I went to get the car from the shipper. While most cars come of the truck transport into the wait storage yard they parked The Roadster in the inspection bay overnight and I didn't get an email I got a call the shipper. When I finished picking up at the "receiving" I then had to take her to the German inspection and registration station. During the registration the matriarch of the office noted what my registration. In German/English speak she said, Has du eine Cobra? So, when I told her about the FFR she came out to see and after many "Ooo mein Gott, ist es shun" she told her 3 other employees to go look. Then over to the inspection area. Before I could get out of the car two inspectors came out to look. They were great to work with, but at first the very tall inspector said, if you can get out of that car I can get in.... I said sorry, what? He said he needed to drive the car.... I don't think that's a normal part of a "normal" inspection so I replied, I'll do whatever's needed, but would prefer that no one else drive the car. He and his boss talked in German for a minute or two then he came back and said he would sit in the passenger side while I drove. So, we left the parking lot for a "test drive". He had me line up in a 200ft parking lot (not a lot of room) and said I needed to back up to the curb then accelerated to 20 and hit the brakes to test them... At this point I should note he wasn't wearing his seat belt. So, I complied and backed to the curb and then asked with a smile.... are you ready? He'd never stopped smiling from the moment I'd started the car 5 minutes ago. When he said yes he was ready I punched it!!!! Leaving a 10ft black streak I think I made it to 30ish when I hit the brakes. Now, I could see his head hit the back of the Kirky seats upon acceleration then his hands went to the dash as I hit the brakes. I looked over at him and said well..... With a huge smile he gave me the thumbs up and said PASS! No kidding an MP drove up next to us and I guess he figured out what was going on as he never made any indication he wanted me to talk to me as well idled out of the parking lot and back to the inspection bay. When we got back there were two other fellow German inspectors. Once they directed me over the inspection pit all three of them looked at everything. I was in that bay for what seemed like 20 mins as they chatted away below, beside and around me. They lifted the front end then the back end pulling on the tires and tie rods. When they were done the guy that road with me leaned down and said you come inside now, alst ist gut. I'm hoping to find a car and coffee club soon so there maybe another story or two to tell.

[AZPete]

Great story, Dale. alst ist gut! Thanks.

[GWL]

Enjoyed the story and pictures. Great work on the car.

George

[riptide motorsport]

Looks great...Congrats!

[Raceral]

Great car, And thank you for your service..

[C6ZZ]

Hello Dale. Great looking car! Thanks for the stories as well.
Enjoy!
Andrew

[jlfernan]

Very nice! Great color.

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2561/jorgec.jpg (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=111)

[Rome]

gorgeous, congrats/.///

[Movieman]

You thanked the people here but I think I can speak for everyone here and say "No, we thank you every day."
We don't see our service people every day, we don't talk about them every day but you are in our hearts and thoughts every single day.

[3yearplan]

As the others, your story was great, but your service to our country is the best gift we could ask for. As a former service member I respect your time away from your family, friends, and our country, especially during the holidays. Please send more great stories of your time in Germany with your fantastic car.

Thanks, Mike

[Sapper 3]

Story update... I was on a controlled section of the autobahn recently and moving into an exit lane to the right to leave the bahn in a kilometer or so when I was blue lighted by the polizi. I didnt even know the where back there! I thought crap, they got me! Caus I was speeding! So, I pull over and hit the flashers, turn off the engine and put both hands on the wheel and wait! You see here in Gemany the polizi have many more rights than you do. I've found them to be professional, well educated and mostly polite, but it's good to be on your best behavior with them. These two guys get out after a minute and very slowly walk up to me. I have 3 forms of ID and my registration at the ready. They strike up a casual conversation with me, quickly discover I'm an American asking several questions about the car...they are never interested in my IDs, walk around he car chatting away with each other and wish me a "gut tag" and tell me to use my blinker to change lanes in the future! I should have asked to get a picture with them before they left!

[WIS89]

Dale-

Great car and terrific stories already! You did a really fine job on the build, and it looks like Jeff did his usual terrific job finishing her up. I hope you get lots of chances to drive her while you are over there, and keep sending us some cool stories.

As other have said, thank you for your service, and if I am correct about that ring on your finger... Beat Army!!

Regards,

Steve

[JL1958]

Beautiful car and great stories. As a military brat, I thank you and your family for your service.

[stevem]

Thank You for your service. Hope you get enough time to drive it!