MajorLeeGassole
04-08-2013, 12:19 PM
They say it never hurts to ask...
28 Jan 2013
I was on the phone in West Virginia with my mother in my hometown in Connecticut, trying to figure out what to do for my father’s 70th birthday. He’s been working on a Factory Five Racing (FFR) Mark II Roadster since 2004. I asked her, “Why don’t we ask if FFR will send down a mechanic or two to help him with the build?” She figured I was being sarcastic, but here is the email I sent to FFR after hanging up the phone:
Dear Factory Five,
My father purchased a Factory Five Mark II Roadster some years ago. He lives in Connecticut and actually picked up the kit with a few friends and a box truck. He owned his own business and retired a couple years ago. While he was working, he had MAYBE one day off a week. This allowed him to take care of all his other projects and TRY working on his FFR Roadster when he had a chance. He is SO close to finishing the car every year, but one thing or another always pulls him away. My mother suffered for a number of years with excruciating pains that severely limited her mobility. She still praises how he is such a wonderful husband for all he did, and still does, for her.
They say it never hurts to ask, so here goes: my father turns 70 this year and I wondered if Factory Five could surprise him with a handful of mechanics and finish his car with him during a weekend. It really is THAT close to being completed. The bare fiberglass body is still on the body buck in the adjacent garage bay, but a running chassis would blow him away. I know this is a really outlandish favor to ask, but he never asks for anything and is impossible to shop for anyway. I'd love to see him only having to decide on a color for the car and not have to worry about the rest.
Thanks for your time,
Tom
8 Feb 2013
I never heard anything from FFR, so I followed up on 8 Feb and got a response. They were extremely busy, but would try addressing my email in a week or two. No one responded in February, so I emailed them one last time on Friday, 1 Mar. I received a very apologetic email from FFR three days later on Monday. FFR clearly states they do not build cars, but were kind enough to help out by getting me in touch with a local garage.
1 Mar 2013
Since FFR does not do actual work on owner's cars, they got me in touch with Tony Zullo from ZZ’s Custom Exhaust in Massachusetts. The response I got was amazing and better than I could have expected.
…I would love to help you out. I’m sure I can round up 5 or more guys that would love to help from here.
I just need you to let me know what the status is of the kit and what we can use for tools. I would love to donate a day of hard work to help you guys out. Give me a call so we can talk further.
22 Mar 2013
My oldest son and I traveled from WV to CT on 22 Mar. My mother saw us arrive and walked out to the garage where my father was working on the car. We opened the door and told him we had nothing to do that weekend, so why not drive to CT. This is the first time I had been to CT in probably two years.
We brought everything into the house and finally talked my father into coming inside. We sat him down, cameras rolling, and handed him a Mission Impossible-esque dossier with all the emails, notes, and miscellaneous information we had gathered since this covert operation started. After 8 minutes or so, he looked up and said, “So you’re telling me these guys are all showing up this Sunday?” Needless to say, he went from building a car to cleaning the garage. We spent the rest of the afternoon and a few hours Saturday making room for everyone that would be showing up the next day.
24 Mar 2013
After a few dozen emails and a couple phone calls over the last 20 days, 9 mechanics arrived shortly after 7AM. They told us, “We had nothing better to do on a Sunday.” There were guys from ZZ’s Custom Exhaust and SMG Motoring, both out of Massachusetts and all of them travelled roughly 3 hours that morning.
All the mechanics were eager to get their hands on the car. My father gave them a list of things that he knew needed to be done and they were off. It looked like such a hectic pace, but they all knew exactly what they needed to do and had the motor running in two hours. They worked on the engine, wiring, attaching all the aluminum, grinding the seams on the fiberglass body, etc. The entire body was sanded and all the pieces were shaped to fit from their rough cut. I think I heard someone say there was roughly 65 combined hours put into the bodywork.
There were a few minor delays when we needed more sandpaper, a new battery, timing light, fresh gas, etc. but they kept finding things to do. It didn’t matter if it was on the To Do list – you simply could not get these guys to stop working!
There were a couple adjustments to the clutch and power steering and we were off for a test ride! My father: strapped in, coddled in new leather upholstery. Me: sitting on cold aluminum with a piece of duct tape for a door. What a ride!
They were going to adjust the body for the side pipes, when they noticed the A/C hose didn’t pass their quality control standards. That had to be adjusted, have some heat shield applied and then they continued with adjusting the outlets for the pipes. No matter how big or small the discrepancy, their attention to detail was unfaltering.
When all was said and done, everyone said their goodbyes and they were off for their 3 hour return ride. We had such a good time that day and made friends we will never forget or be able to repay.
I caught my father sneaking out to the garage Monday morning at 7am. I think he had to reassure himself that Sunday actually happened. I think he summed it up perfectly in his thank you to them:
I'm still trying to figure out how to express my feelings - to you and all the guys, and Tom and Brendan - for what is easily the most incredible day and the best gift I have ever received. What makes Sunday extra special is that nine guys I never met were willing to travel a long way, as well as Tom and Brendan, to "help me" make a giant step toward completing my MKII. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart which you touched forever with your generosity in giving of yourselves and your talents.
Kathy and I were overwhelmed by your genuine friendliness and you made us feel as though we were hosting family. It was as though we knew each other all our lives. That made what you did with the MKII even more meaningful. I think Kathy is going to try to adopt a few of you - I didn't ask who. We miss all of you in the way you do when family leaves to return to their home and it may be some time before you again enjoy their company.
Now, I would never have thought I'd be driving the MKII Sunday. I was out in the garage for weeks and Friday afternoon someone opened the door and there stood Tom and Brendan. It didn't take long for Tom to tell me what was happening Sunday. Saturday became cleaning day so people could move around the MKII and body.
Hearing the engine come to life was better than I imagined. What a sweet sound! Honestly, I wasn't sure what that first kart ride would be like. What a blast!!! That really got my juices flowing to finish the assembly and "git er done". Paint too. I'll never find the words to tell all of you the thank you I feel inside. I will never forget all of you and the Sunday we spent together doing something we love to do and enjoying being together - like brothers. Every time I see or do anything with my ride you will be right there too. (O.K., I went out early Monday to see if the MKII was really "together")
A million thanks to everyone.
My very best,
Dan
His car is scheduled to be painted in the next few weeks, but he STILL won't tell anyone the color! I'll post some project pics later today when I get a chance. Hope you all enjoyed the story.
28 Jan 2013
I was on the phone in West Virginia with my mother in my hometown in Connecticut, trying to figure out what to do for my father’s 70th birthday. He’s been working on a Factory Five Racing (FFR) Mark II Roadster since 2004. I asked her, “Why don’t we ask if FFR will send down a mechanic or two to help him with the build?” She figured I was being sarcastic, but here is the email I sent to FFR after hanging up the phone:
Dear Factory Five,
My father purchased a Factory Five Mark II Roadster some years ago. He lives in Connecticut and actually picked up the kit with a few friends and a box truck. He owned his own business and retired a couple years ago. While he was working, he had MAYBE one day off a week. This allowed him to take care of all his other projects and TRY working on his FFR Roadster when he had a chance. He is SO close to finishing the car every year, but one thing or another always pulls him away. My mother suffered for a number of years with excruciating pains that severely limited her mobility. She still praises how he is such a wonderful husband for all he did, and still does, for her.
They say it never hurts to ask, so here goes: my father turns 70 this year and I wondered if Factory Five could surprise him with a handful of mechanics and finish his car with him during a weekend. It really is THAT close to being completed. The bare fiberglass body is still on the body buck in the adjacent garage bay, but a running chassis would blow him away. I know this is a really outlandish favor to ask, but he never asks for anything and is impossible to shop for anyway. I'd love to see him only having to decide on a color for the car and not have to worry about the rest.
Thanks for your time,
Tom
8 Feb 2013
I never heard anything from FFR, so I followed up on 8 Feb and got a response. They were extremely busy, but would try addressing my email in a week or two. No one responded in February, so I emailed them one last time on Friday, 1 Mar. I received a very apologetic email from FFR three days later on Monday. FFR clearly states they do not build cars, but were kind enough to help out by getting me in touch with a local garage.
1 Mar 2013
Since FFR does not do actual work on owner's cars, they got me in touch with Tony Zullo from ZZ’s Custom Exhaust in Massachusetts. The response I got was amazing and better than I could have expected.
…I would love to help you out. I’m sure I can round up 5 or more guys that would love to help from here.
I just need you to let me know what the status is of the kit and what we can use for tools. I would love to donate a day of hard work to help you guys out. Give me a call so we can talk further.
22 Mar 2013
My oldest son and I traveled from WV to CT on 22 Mar. My mother saw us arrive and walked out to the garage where my father was working on the car. We opened the door and told him we had nothing to do that weekend, so why not drive to CT. This is the first time I had been to CT in probably two years.
We brought everything into the house and finally talked my father into coming inside. We sat him down, cameras rolling, and handed him a Mission Impossible-esque dossier with all the emails, notes, and miscellaneous information we had gathered since this covert operation started. After 8 minutes or so, he looked up and said, “So you’re telling me these guys are all showing up this Sunday?” Needless to say, he went from building a car to cleaning the garage. We spent the rest of the afternoon and a few hours Saturday making room for everyone that would be showing up the next day.
24 Mar 2013
After a few dozen emails and a couple phone calls over the last 20 days, 9 mechanics arrived shortly after 7AM. They told us, “We had nothing better to do on a Sunday.” There were guys from ZZ’s Custom Exhaust and SMG Motoring, both out of Massachusetts and all of them travelled roughly 3 hours that morning.
All the mechanics were eager to get their hands on the car. My father gave them a list of things that he knew needed to be done and they were off. It looked like such a hectic pace, but they all knew exactly what they needed to do and had the motor running in two hours. They worked on the engine, wiring, attaching all the aluminum, grinding the seams on the fiberglass body, etc. The entire body was sanded and all the pieces were shaped to fit from their rough cut. I think I heard someone say there was roughly 65 combined hours put into the bodywork.
There were a few minor delays when we needed more sandpaper, a new battery, timing light, fresh gas, etc. but they kept finding things to do. It didn’t matter if it was on the To Do list – you simply could not get these guys to stop working!
There were a couple adjustments to the clutch and power steering and we were off for a test ride! My father: strapped in, coddled in new leather upholstery. Me: sitting on cold aluminum with a piece of duct tape for a door. What a ride!
They were going to adjust the body for the side pipes, when they noticed the A/C hose didn’t pass their quality control standards. That had to be adjusted, have some heat shield applied and then they continued with adjusting the outlets for the pipes. No matter how big or small the discrepancy, their attention to detail was unfaltering.
When all was said and done, everyone said their goodbyes and they were off for their 3 hour return ride. We had such a good time that day and made friends we will never forget or be able to repay.
I caught my father sneaking out to the garage Monday morning at 7am. I think he had to reassure himself that Sunday actually happened. I think he summed it up perfectly in his thank you to them:
I'm still trying to figure out how to express my feelings - to you and all the guys, and Tom and Brendan - for what is easily the most incredible day and the best gift I have ever received. What makes Sunday extra special is that nine guys I never met were willing to travel a long way, as well as Tom and Brendan, to "help me" make a giant step toward completing my MKII. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart which you touched forever with your generosity in giving of yourselves and your talents.
Kathy and I were overwhelmed by your genuine friendliness and you made us feel as though we were hosting family. It was as though we knew each other all our lives. That made what you did with the MKII even more meaningful. I think Kathy is going to try to adopt a few of you - I didn't ask who. We miss all of you in the way you do when family leaves to return to their home and it may be some time before you again enjoy their company.
Now, I would never have thought I'd be driving the MKII Sunday. I was out in the garage for weeks and Friday afternoon someone opened the door and there stood Tom and Brendan. It didn't take long for Tom to tell me what was happening Sunday. Saturday became cleaning day so people could move around the MKII and body.
Hearing the engine come to life was better than I imagined. What a sweet sound! Honestly, I wasn't sure what that first kart ride would be like. What a blast!!! That really got my juices flowing to finish the assembly and "git er done". Paint too. I'll never find the words to tell all of you the thank you I feel inside. I will never forget all of you and the Sunday we spent together doing something we love to do and enjoying being together - like brothers. Every time I see or do anything with my ride you will be right there too. (O.K., I went out early Monday to see if the MKII was really "together")
A million thanks to everyone.
My very best,
Dan
His car is scheduled to be painted in the next few weeks, but he STILL won't tell anyone the color! I'll post some project pics later today when I get a chance. Hope you all enjoyed the story.