"If only you were nearer" Back on track! Apologies...

You've excelled yourself with this epic tale Bruce , after chatting with you last year about about the first 912 you nearly bought it's so good to see you finally getting the car of your dreams . Make my trip from Swansea to Kent to pick up a £350 sh*tter look lame in comparison !
I can't wait to see the next instalments cos I know things get even better

Just in case any of you missed this line, which I wouldn't blame you for if you're like me and just drooling over Brads craftsmanship, I thought I'd better show you what Mr Brad Sr. (Richard) is currently building himself.

Now, annoyingly, I didn't get to take any shots of the photo albums he showed me of his previous builds. This was, entirely, because I was just stood there in dumbfounded awe at the cars he's previously built. a few pages into the albums I could immediately see where Brad got his knowledge and skills from.

I strongly urge you to all take a bit of time to browse some of these albums I found online. Look at the bodywork, take time to soak in the incredible chassis work...you won't fail to be in awe. Especially when you think they were all built in the garage you've been looking at for the past page or so. Built by a man in his house in his own time with his own money. You'll not regret looking right here>>>>> www.picturetrail.com/55xvette

Unlike his previous builds, this one is going to retain all the patina. This makes me very, very happy because it looks fantastic just as it is.



You'd be a fool not to love a Chevy C10. Especially one built like this:

My visit to suburbia had shattered all my perceptions about life in North American 'Pleasantville'. I put my hands up and freely admit that I had this kind of place down as a clinical facade of Jones' and Jones' all living the perfect dream, assimilating the paradigm that they should all aspire to. How wrong was I?

Instead I found nirvana. Automotive nirvana.

Behind that garage door, that you could drive past every day for ten years and not know what happens within, a father and son create incredible cars. Sculptors, engineers, artists, mechanics, they do it all.

On top of that, they really are the nicest people you could hope to meet. Friendly, welcoming, humble.

Friends arrived during my visit there, they chatted, they worked on their own cars:




They joked and laughed with each other



Exchanged stories



And just hung out.




Beyond the cars, THIS is what I had come all this to experience. You can keep your Niagra Falls, I'm sure the view is magnificent, but times like the afternoon spent with Brad & Richard at their wonderful home is what cemented in my mind the things that made me fall head over heels in love with Canada. The people.

And I've got this guy to thank for it all. He took me in, let me become part of his home for a while, shared his life with me. Above and beyond the scenery and even the cars, it was he and his friends that truly made the trip so memorable.



James, thank you.

The ABSOLUTE fun lumps! Bruce you have knocked it out the park with this one mate

It's wonderful finding out where all the snippets and pieces which I saw on Facebook fit into the big picture

*n

After leaving suburbia, JP, James any myself headed back to Works Garage where we sorted a few things out, I got to have another look at *my* 912 and then we headed for a pub. Because James was driving this time, it was the first chance to have a few pints.

I have to say, the beer isn't really that great. We really are spoilt over here. I had the bar girl on the case and she kept giving me different pints trying to establish if there was a drink I'd really like. Don't get me wrong, all were drinkable, but none were that memorable and I certainly didn't have one that made me think I'd want more.

That wasn't really an issue though because I had great company and that was the most important thing. James and JP are exactly the kind of guys to spend time in a pub with and despite the lack of a really decent pint (I found myself on shorts after a while) the night was fantastic!

We said goodbye to JP and headed back to James' where I decided to get some photo editing done. I think the lack of sleep, busy days and maybe even some alchohol had a small part to play in me falling asleep quite awkwardly while trying to do so! (photo 'courtesy' of James )



Tomorrow James had to go back to work, (selfish guy that he is ) so this meant I was going to be left to my own devices.

I had a plan. Sort of.

It's amazing how a simple plan can change and turn into something far more amazing when you least expect it.

The next morning, over breakfast (obligatory pancakes and maple syrup - lovely pancakes cooked by James) we chat about my plans. I'd set the day to do some exploring because James was going to be heading back to work. We somehow get back onto the topic of the 912 and I start to list the order of how I'm going to tackle the project, "First off, source some floor panels and a replacement front suspension pan along with any other repair panels the car needs"

James responds, "You do realise Restoration Design is just down the road?"

"I did not know this"

So that's it, my most immediate plan is not to explore, but to head to Guelph to see if I can source some panels for the car.

If you were to write out a list of companies that make repair panels for Porsches, top of the list would be buying directly from Porsche. 2nd place goes to Restoration Design, apparently their panels are as good as it gets without going OEM (at a much, much greater cost). All the other manufacturers fall well below.

So, here I am thousands of miles from home, collecting a Porsche 912 in need of some new panels and the best place to source them just happens to be on the doorstep!

I fire up the sat-nav and point the Yukon towards Guelph.

The drive there is ACE! Nothing remarkable to anyone who lives in Canada, but every mile is a journey of wonder to me. I just love driving around Canada.

About 40 mins later (after stopping at A&W for a burger and obligatory root beer) I arrive. The side of a 914 nailed to an otherwise completely anonymous, anodyne building is the only real giveaway that I'd arrived. It's the sort of place that really easy to drive straight past...






I'm hoping they have what I'm after in stock.

As I head to the side door (main entrance) I note that there is nothing flash or fancy about this place. I'm feeling a bit underwhelmed, I guess I was expecting a bit more from a place with such a reputation. To be truthful, I'm actually a bit worried that I'll be leaving empty handed...is this really the place that comes a close second place to Porsche themselves for quality?



I'd be a fool not to at least find out.

I head in and look for the office/reception.

Woohoo!! There's more!! Best thing that's happened all weekend

Once inside, I navigate my way through the corridor to the office where I'm greeted by a guy called Peter. He looks like one of the workers, dirty hands, weathered shirt, safety goggles propped atop his head.

It turns out Peter runs the place. It's a family run business owned by his father, Mike who is currently in Florida buying another 356, and co-owned/run by Peter and his brother Alex.

Peter and I chat for a bit, he seems more than happy to spend time talking. Relaxed, laid back, the place has a nice vibe about it. It also has a resident dog asleep in the main office area.



This is exactly my kind of place!



Over to one side, Alex is on the phone to a client but he puts the call on hold for a second to come over and say hello. Like his brother, he's friendly, welcoming and more than happy to take the time to greet you. You don't get this kind of treatment in the UK.



I take a peek into the little display cabinet while Peter finishes his own phonecall before we head into the warehouse to look at some panels.



Phonecall completed, we head out into the warehouse. Past the packing area where orders are put together to be sent all over Canada, the US and beyond



We turn a corner and WHOA! Repair panel heaven!



"If you're not in a rush, you can come back to this in a bit. If you've got time, you're more than welcome to have a look around the factory and see stuff being produced?"

Yep, they are more than happy for me to just take a wander around the place and see how my panels are made. An opportunity I'm not going to turn down.

It all starts here with a huge roll of metal.



Which gets fed through a guillotine and chopped into appropriate sized pieces depending on which panels are being made at any particular time.




If this was the UK, I'd be confined to the office, not allowed near the panel store for health and safety reasons. Definitely not allowed free reign to wander, at my leisure, around the factory itself.

Another reason why I LOVE Canada. Common sense rules over regulations and red tape.