EPISODE 3: The Forgotten (Part I/V) Once in a while it happens to us all. Caught up in a rush, that calm dexterity gets lost, and with just a little too much force a drawer gets pulled. There's no time to think. In a burst of adrenaline you lurch forward! You almost lose it! But just then, as you're dropping it, your weight shifts. Like some kind of a miracle - it's caught... It's just then, as your heart is still pounding, that it catches your eye... Treasure!!! For a some, it's money. For others, long lost notes. For me, in the dark cavern where the drawer once rested, were these... (Part II - continued below) <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?ref=ts#%21/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
EPISODE 3: The Forgotten (Part II/V) (Part III - continued below) <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?ref=ts#%21/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
EPISODE 3: The Forgotten (Part III/V) The pile grew as I dug behind the next drawer below. In these drawers were years of customer records. Like any filing cabinet, a few details had slipped out of the system over time. Once removed, it's anyone's guess where they came from.. So, now the question is, what are the stories behind these cars and their owners? Did anyone else work on these cars? Was more custom work done on them later? Before? So far, it's still a mystery. (Part IV - continued below) <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?ref=ts#%21/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
EPISODE 3: The Forgotten (Part IV/V) (Part V - continued below) <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?ref=ts#%21/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
EPISODE 3: The Forgotten (Part V/V) Until next time... <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?ref=ts#%21/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
EPISODE 4: A Promise (Part I/III) A Promise kept... (Part II - continued below) <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?ref=ts#%21/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
EPISODE 4: A Promise (Part II/III) [FONT=Verdana, serif]Many have driven by in the past few years and wondered what was inside the old Wild Child's building. I get reports from the neighbors constantly about people trying to look inside the windows. It's always a tense moment when I pick up the phone to that kind of news, but when they start to describe what the people are driving it always puts my mind at ease.. The funny thing is, I'd been wondering about the same thing. I've been in schools, living in other cities periodically, for a long time. Word on the street was the shop was in bad shape. When Pop closed up he was done. He locked the door and didn't look back. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, serif]He had duties; his mother was dieing (needing 24hr care) and didn't want to go into a nursing home - enough said. The place went up for sale; I hated it, but understood a duty's call. It had to be done. I was 21 or 22 years old, and there wasn't anything I could financially do to save the situation. So, I did what had to be done too; I backed his principals and told him I loved everything about them. It was the right move to back him in a hard responsibility, and I'd do it again... Selling the building would have been a smart financial move to secure funds for his responsibilities and survival - until everyone tanked the real estate market... Not being able to physically maintain the place himself, or financially maintain it with the responsibility of his mother on his retirement, you can guess what happened next.. No one could get a business loan. It all seemed clear. To me, when this all began, before the recession, Wild Child's was assumed lost. The ship was sinking and I didn't have the labor power to get the water out with only a small bucket. I'd have to let it go under, get a plan together, and come back later to dive down and raise it from the bottom. One day, when the time was right, I'd start over. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, serif]I kept it to myself; [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, serif]I waited, and I saved. Years have gone by. I'm not the type that can work on a cheap project. If it's worth doing it's worth doing right - and right now. I couldn't work on any cars.. I like it too much; I'd become engulfed and spend all my money. [/FONT]I needed to save, and that meant avoiding temptation. A lot of people I grew up around just didn't get it. Some got mad, and many mouthed off about my disappearance - but I couldn't tell anyone the plan. I tried to tell a few the details, but admittedly they were lofty goals. Those I told acted like, "good luck with THAT...." Thoughts like that are too contagious, and so I just kept things to myself. The ship is raising and it'll surface soon, and I just wanted everyone to know. I don't judge anyone's reactions, believe me I understand the anger about the place closing and falling apart, I felt it too. When I recently walked in, before all was said and done buying the place from Pop, I couldn't believe it... So, believe me - I know. However, thanks to a lot of help, we've got the place to a point where we can say something positive. Come on over, we could use a hand. It might take a while to get her back in shape, but that's what we do right? Here are the pictures everybody... (Part III - continued below) <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-...s#!/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
EPISODE 4: A Promise (Part III/III) So, to all those that wanted to know, "what are they hiding in there?!"... One of Darryl Starbird's missing customs (lost 33 years?) ...a little flake in the kitchen ...and Ray Farhner's Louver Press - Anyway, there's a teaser. We still have a lot to dig out and move though... We're renting another building to put everything in so we can do heavy construction over here. We'll sprinkle updates between some more old picture posts as we move more stuff out. But, since it might get off topic inside the shop, I'll just go ahead and start a thread on the Garage Journal. When I update it, I'll post a notice in this thread for anyone who wants to follow us in our progress. Until then.... The Revolution: Wild Child's Custom Shop - on The Garage Journal (Part III/III) <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?ref=ts#%21/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
You got it man. I was hopin' for an invite. I might be one of those "peeky in the windows people" your neighbors are talking about, ha!
EPISODE 1: Masquerade, of the building construction progress, is fresh up on The Garage Journal! It's 3 parts. Enjoy friends! http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105339
A hint on the next episode. Before I post it, to those that haven't seen the articles on Ray Farhner's Corvette Outer Limits - check em' out. Ray Farhner's Corvette - Part 1 Ray Farhner's Corvette - Part 2
Still looking! I appreciate every post you've done, actually. I don't have much time to reply, but I do steal looks at the HAMB, and thus, your thread. ~Jason
If at all possible, I will! Good luck on the shop! When you guys get all set up, I fix all sorts of computery goodness if y'all need help with that. ~Jason
Grim, Great undertaking, look forward to many episode(s) ...grim energy... "It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we achieve great things" - Roosevelt </PRE>
Scheduled Programming Interruption Sorry for the delay friends.. To those who haven't heard, someone tried to take some of our own this past week. A 17 year old girl, texting while driving, crossed over on Oak street head-on. In the process, our demolition trailer and one of our trucks was totaled. Everyone was injured, except the texter, but everyone is alive and out of the hospital. Heads up for texts friends... Wild Child's will be updating soon. <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like-box href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?ref=ts#%21/pages/Wild-Childs/130345530376900?sk=info" width="292" show_faces="false" stream="false" header="true"></fb:like-box>
Congrats on taking ownership of the shop, Justin!! What a legacy! Wish you all the best of everything. Might be tardy, but I'm following this fantastic story!
I just came upon your thread and wanted to thank you for such an inspirational posting....I wish you the best of luck, with that and some hard work there is no doubt you will be a success!
The Jalopy Journal
