This post will be a little unusual for this forum but bare with me. My name is Travis and I'm posting from my father George's account. Many of you probably know my dad finished his MKIV roadster build this past year after laboring on it for 12 years off and on. He had a couple of little accessory projects left to do on it (is a build ever really complete?) but it is a beautiful, complete and functioning roadster. I wanted to pass along some sad news, my father passed away a couple weeks ago after a long battle following a heart attack. I thought that this community ought to know, as he had always spoke of some great relationships he has built with many of you via this forum during his roadster building adventure, and had the pleasure of meeting with many of you in person along the way. I think he spent just as much time researching on this forum, and sharing his knowledge, as he did turning wrenches on the car. I plan to take care of this car in his stead and make sure it is always in good condition. It will be nice to take it out for a drive from time to time and think of all the hard work he put into it and the pleasure he got from bringing it to completion. I'm attaching a picture of Dad with his completed car, I hope that his build success inspires many of you to enjoy your builds and see them through, no matter how many years they take to complete. For those of you who are interested, his obituary can be found below.
Travis, please accept my condolences and thank you for taking time to share your loss on the forum. Your dad gave respectful and considered comments to many here, including myself. He will be missed.
I am glad you want to keep his car, it will be a beautiful legacy. This forum will be here to support you and the car.
With regards,
Nigel
Mk.4 FFR supplied Right hand drive
Received 12/2012 completed 12/2019
Gen1 Coyote / TKO600 / IRS
Lots of mods to make compliant for Australian design rules
Travis,
I am both shocked and saddened by this news. It has been a year ago, almost to the day (February 20th), that I delivered your Dad's car to him after doing the bodywork and paint. We met up at the halfway point between us in Waynesville, NC to trade off. Here we are after swapping trailers and securing the car for it's trip the rest of the way home. He was so excited to actually see the car---the very first Mk4 delivered to a customer--- with all of it's color!
My sincere condolences to you and your entire family. I enjoyed my frequent interactions with your Dad and will miss getting updates from him. He was a good man and I can only imagine how much he will be missed by all of you.
If I may, your Dad had at least two wonderful builds; he build a beautiful car, and it sure sounds like he built a wonderful son!
My most sincere condolences on the loss of your father. I have no words that can mitigate your loss. However, I hope the memories of your father and perhaps his wonderful roadster can help sustain you during the most difficult times. All the best to you and your family, you will be in my thoughts.
Sorry for your loss,
I’m just beginning the journey of a build myself and appreciate all the old timers like your father sharing their skill and experience with us noobs! Note to my wife and family: share my roadster experience in my obituary one day… Great picture of your dad there at the beach!
So sorry for your loss Travis. I lost my Dad forty years ago and still think about him everyday. Looks like he built a killer car. Welcome to the family. Let us know how we can help.
FFR 5385 MKIII. 302, 3-Link. All legal in MA 1/7/2012.
Travis, very sorry to hear about your father. Thank you for sharing his obituary, he sounds like someone I would have really enjoyed meeting. Enjoy his beautiful build, it is something special.
James
Mk4 Roadster #9974 - Picked Up 1/2021. Complete kit, Gen 2 Ford Coyote / TKX, IRS. Completed 9/2023
I want to offer my heart felt condolences to you and your family, and all George's friends. Your Father had a dream, like myself and many others, and he fulfilled that desire to build it. I hope you were involved along the way. He's no doubt a winner! I'm sure you're a great son and one he was very proud of. By you choosing to keep and drive his dream, that cements his legacy to you and others in the family. Enjoy the ride and share his story along the way. And don't forget to smile BIG as you do, your Father would want that! All the best to you and yours...
Doug
Dj or Doug or TheLateDude
----- #19 of 25th Anniversary MKIV 9769 -----
Build Link: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/show...-Slow-Progress
Ordered: Oct 07, 2019 / Production: Dec 28th, 2019 / Shipped: Jan 19th, 2019 First Start: In the future... / Graduation: Even further in the future...
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your dad and I exchanged many messages, and I always enjoyed our conversations. As you can see, this is a great community that is made so by men like your father. He will be missed.
Travis, very sorry for your loss. Condolences to you and your family.
Your dad & I joined the forum and were starting our builds about the same time, so we watched each others posts and exchanged comments and ideas often. I distinctly remember some of the great customizations he did on his build and he was always very helpful.
The forum lost a valued member. R.I.P. GWL
F5R #7446: MK4, 302, T5 midshift, 3.55 Posi IRS, 17" Halibrands
Delivered 4/4/11, First start 9/29/12, Licensed 4/24/13, off to PAINT 2/15/14!! Wahoo!
Travis, thank you for leaving your note, and informing us all of the loss of your father, someone who is known to many on the forum. I appreciate being able to read his obituary, and love the line, "his favorite project in life was his family". It's a great tribute to someone with a lot of accomplishments, not the least of which was his MK4. Condolences to your family, and my wishes that his memory will bring you and your loved ones a sense of peace and joy through the passing of time.
John
MK4 #7838: IRS 3.55 TrueTrac T5z Dart 347
The drawing is from ~7th grade, mid-1970s
Meandering, leisurely build thread is here
So sorry for your loss , he built a great family as well as a great car , you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Originally Posted by GWL
Hi guys
This post will be a little unusual for this forum but bare with me. My name is Travis and I'm posting from my father George's account. Many of you probably know my dad finished his MKIV roadster build this past year after laboring on it for 12 years off and on. He had a couple of little accessory projects left to do on it (is a build ever really complete?) but it is a beautiful, complete and functioning roadster. I wanted to pass along some sad news, my father passed away a couple weeks ago after a long battle following a heart attack. I thought that this community ought to know, as he had always spoke of some great relationships he has built with many of you via this forum during his roadster building adventure, and had the pleasure of meeting with many of you in person along the way. I think he spent just as much time researching on this forum, and sharing his knowledge, as he did turning wrenches on the car. I plan to take care of this car in his stead and make sure it is always in good condition. It will be nice to take it out for a drive from time to time and think of all the hard work he put into it and the pleasure he got from bringing it to completion. I'm attaching a picture of Dad with his completed car, I hope that his build success inspires many of you to enjoy your builds and see them through, no matter how many years they take to complete. For those of you who are interested, his obituary can be found below.
Travis, I am sorry for your loss. I actually shared a connection with George outside of the FFR world. Your brother in-law Bobby and my son Ethan cycle together here in DE. George and I connected here on the Forum once we made that discovery and he had an open invitation to stop by when he visited in Lewes to share our FFR experiences. Sadly, this will not happen now. Again, let me express my condolences.
I too am very sorry for you and your family Travis. Lost my Dad one year ago to an acute MI as well. I think about him every day. I am praying for you and your family.
FFR MK4 Roadster (9945) complete kit, delivered 12/4/2020, First start and go kart 5/7/2021. Legal 8/14/2021, Paint finished 7/18/2022 (Viking Blue). 347BPE CI, TKO600, Moser 8.8 3link 3.55, Halibrand 17x9 17x10.5, power steering. Carbon Fiber Dash. Carbon Fiber trans tunnel, adjustable Kirkey Lowback Vintage seats, Vintage gauges, RT drop trunk mod, FFmetal drop battery mod and trans tunnel, Forte front sway bar. Forte mechanical throttle linkage, RT gas pedal. www.covespringsfarm.com
My sincere condolences to you and your family. I am awaiting my Factory Five kit to arrive in June, and plan to experience the fun that your Dad certainly had building his car. I am 64 years old with two fine sons, and things like this enter my mind now and then-what if I am no longer around in a few years, would my boys sell the car, or would they keep it? Either way is fine with me, but hearing that you want to hang on to your fathers car and keep it in the condition he would have kept it in certainly is making him smile. I lost my Mom in November, and saying goodbye to our parents is tough. It brings a stark reality that we are on this earth for a very short time, so live each day to its fullest, which it sounds like what your Dad did. Enjoy the warmth of his memory when you drive that car.
It's wonderful that your Dad was able to cross off an item from his bucket list. Not everyone can do that.
The accomplishment of building his beautiful Cobra must have made him very happy.
289 FIA Complete Kit, ordered September 2021, received February 2022
My plan is to build a tribute to CSX2345 as it raced in Europe in 1964 (with a few personal touches). Follow along as I fulfill a lifetime dream.
Follow my build #10295 https://www.instagram.com/ffr289fia/
Guys, thank you for the kind words and thoughts. Jeff, thanks for that picture, it will go great in a collection of pictures we are putting together to tell the story of his car build from beginning to end.
Guys, thank you for the kind words and thoughts. Jeff, thanks for that picture, it will go great in a collection of pictures we are putting together to tell the story of his car build from beginning to end.
-Travis
Travis,
I have others both during delivery as well as throughout the body and paint process. I think your Dad had all of them but I’ll be happy to send them if you like.
When you go out for a drive in the car, remember, he'll be right there with you, smiling and enjoying the ride.
If Brute Force doesn't work, you're not using enough of it. Basic Stuff: MK4 Complete Kit #8439, Wilwood's, 17" Halibrands. Extra Stuff: Stainless brake and fuel lines, Breeze cooling, Battery mount, SS Roll Bar. Old Fart Stuff: Heater, Seat Heaters, Footbox Fresh Air, Stereo, Keyless ignition, Power Steering, Hyd Clutch. Young & Dumb Stuff: 427w Dart, TKO600, 3 link Moser M9/Ford 9", 3.5:1, Eaton TruTrac Posi. Graduation Thread
Travis, sorry about your loss. These silly little cars bring a saying with them and I have heard it my times, especially when you attend events like The London Cobra Show or pick a Cobra club near you. The saying loosly goes "It's not about the car, it's about the people, we are one big family" It seams we lost your dad and by the comments above and I'm sure more to follow, we've gained another. Welcome and your honoring him by continuing to enjoy his car and dream. God speed George! If you have any questions about the car or the community please don't hesitate to ask, I'm sure you'll get an answers.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I also lost my dad too shortly after staring on our own car. He got you all the way there: don't let it sit. Plan some adventures with it even if they are not grand in scope.
Sorry for your loss. I had not met your Father, but as others have sad he raised a great Son and built a wonderful car. Think of him while you enjoy it, I'm sure he will be happy with that.
Mk4 9735 complete kit delivered 11/29/19 Gen 3 Coyote, Tremec TKO 600, Moser 3.55 First start June 25, 2020 First Go Cart July 20, 2020
Condolences on the loss of your father. I am sure he was a wonderful man who will have left you with a lot of good memories. Please take great car of that awesome car and think of him every time you fire up that engine. You know he will be riding with you every time, sir.
Thanks: 
Likes: 
Reply With Quote
All the best to you and yours... 
Originally Posted by GWL
