Page 35 - May2022

The Int erview, continued from page 34

Shortly after settling in Nashville, my first wife and I for as long as I can afford it!
began divorce proceedings so everything stopped
Q. Now I?m confused. I don? think you would describe
t
(again) until 1996 when life started, again, with a new
yourself as a Concours junkie, would you? Yet, the
wife, Carol, a tiny garage, six cars, and near panic.
Sprite, when finished, will certainly have that
After building a new house in ?97, I determined my potential, correct? Where do you draw a line between
skills were not up to the standards of the Sprite?s compulsive and pragmatic when maintaining, caring
potential so I looked for help. for, and actually using a classic like any of your
Rileys? In every concours car, there is a fine line for
A Riley Register member in Yakima, Washington had
an owner between pride and madness. Where do you
restored several Postwar Rileys and had seen my
see yourself on that spectrum?
project. We agreed on a plan and my brother and I
delivered the car. Within six months he had billed A. Completely Mad.
80% of our agreed resto costs and hadn't even
You are correct about my ?usual? approach to car
completed the chassis. We retrieved the car.
condition, maintenance, and use as I am a
A fellow local enthusiast had ash-framed body non-fussy collector who also recognizes concours
building experience and I traded a Lanchester for a quality and am an admirer. My conundrum is that
body. He did half the work (again) and said he?d the car?s influence on my life, its potential value,
used up the Lanchester?s value. I then moved the and the passion I have for it all, combine to make
car to a ?friend?s? shop on a ?sweetheart? cost deal me crazily dedicated to its perfect restoration. Until
and after a couple of years, wild billing, and some it happens, I won? know how or if I can balance
t
dreadful mistakes, the car came home again. that with my desire to drive it!
In 2017 I struck a deal with Safety Fast Restorations My hope is that my costs will not exceed its value
in Mansfield, Ohio, known for its Prewar MG and that reasonable use and care will allow some
restorations -- rather close to Riley technology. deterioration that?s possibly acceptable within that
There, too, I have encountered issues and COVID cost/value spread. I?m not driven by a profit motive
shut things down for at least two years, but some but I?m definitely against bankruptcy.
progress has been made and I hope to stick with it Concludes on page 36

In researching this interview I came across a Youtube video of a Sprite racer having custom metal work done. I asked Mike if
he'd seen the video and he replied: " Yep, that's my car. The shop restoring the car lost its bodyman due to sky-high pricing. Their
painter did good but not great bodywork so I financed his training course in Mass if he used my car to learn on! Still wasn't cheap
but an interesting gambit that got Carol and I to the area (I delivered and returned the car) for a Boston/Rhode Island vacation
including the last 2 states on my "visit" bucket list and the USS Constitution that was also on the list. More Ghosts?

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