Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 5-27-16 Online Edition

Local
Tampa Man Customized Car For Cam Newton
Council Votes 6-1 On BP Funds
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Mayor Bob Buckhorn ad- dressed the crowd on what he felt would be the best transition for the park, and briefly went over possible funding sources for the project.
On Thursday, the City Coun- cil discussed the Mayor’s plan to use $35 million awarded to the city as part of the BP settlement for the renovation of the park. After discussion, and some com- ments from citizens, the Council voted 6-1 to allow the use of the
BP funds for the park. Council- woman Lisa Montileone voted no on the funds, saying she wasn’t in favor of having funds diverted from her district for this project.
Councilman Frank Red- dick, who represents the district where the park is located, said $35 million hasn’t been invested in the West Tampa community for decades, and it’s about time.
“It’s a shame that park was al- lowed to decay for so many years, but to see this amount of money being spent for something in West Tampa is exciting.”
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
For more than two decades, Frank Parker has been designing vehicles and other transportation devices. He’s earned plenty of awards, and his list of clients con- tinues to grow.
Recently, Parker was contacted by a company called Monster Jams with an offer to add gold plating to a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 belonging to NFL quarterback Cam New- ton.
The car was featured in the Sentinel’s May 24th edition.
“I spent a week on Cam’s car. He had Monster Jams doing other work on the car, and they contacted me.
“I’ve done projects for Deion Sanders, actor Nicholas Cage, former professional
baseball star, Derek Bell, Hustler Maga- Frank Parker holds a “Best Of Show” trophy he earned zine publisher, Larry Flynt, and I’m proud during an event recently.
to have done a yacht, the Golden Odyssey, that belongs to an Arabian Prince.”
Parker said the plating started out as just a trade, and it quickly became a fad.
“I started out customizing boats for 20 years. I attended a class that taught gold plating, and I’ve been doing it ever since. My company, Goldman Kustom Plating, is a one-person operation and I do
all of the work at my home unless I’m requested to actually come on site.”
Parker said being a word-of-mouth industry, he had one of his clients recommend him to do a
Rolls Royce for the Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather fight.
“It’s not every day you get a call to gold plate a $750,000 Rolls Royce.”
On Newton’s car, Parker said it was supposed to be presented to him immediately after the Super Bowl, but Newton wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone after the disappointing loss.
“However, now Cam is looking at me gold plating some of his other cars. Also, the Arabian Prince has another yacht he wants me to plate for him.
Parker said fortunately, he’s never at a loss for finding more jobs and although he’s a one-man op- eration, he’s managed quite well to keep up with the demand for his services.
PAGE 10-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016