This is how I describe myself currently. Retired things get mothballed, put out to pasture (figuratively) or scrapped.
Jim and I plus the other two partners sold the Assets of Crystal Lake Automotive, inc.
Closing was actually March 25th. Couple of months of "consulting"
I always loved my various positions in the Automotive industry. Fortunate to have spent quality time with quality people.
Our Industry was/is evolving to the point that to maintain Insurance repair programs you have to beg or be a Multi Shop organization.
We came out of covid in a healthy Physical/Financial position.
Strong crew, no debt, some cash in the bank.
Our small shop business plan was being made obsolete by the Insurance Industry and the major consolidators.
Jim and I were getting tired of the battle and did not want to essentially start over again by expanding, buying or building multiple locations to maintain market viability.
I am not a Multi shop type manager, takes different genetics. Me being a tender, young, 72-year-old may have had an influence also.
New company is Classic Collision. They have several key senior employees living in Minnesota as they have some roots to ABRA.
Corporate HQ is in Atlanta.
Todd and Michael (former partners) remain plus a majority of our previous staff.
What I am learning is that I will NOT outlive my projects. The list is LOOOOONG!
Still, now have an actual trash container and a Rolloff for scrap at the "Treasure Chest" in Farmington. Purging!
More freedom on weekdays, continue to have a Companion for my wife at home.
Must act on my daily "things to do" list, far more productive.
Sold three 1968 cars, working to thin out my substantial Suburban inventory and dispose of three G-body Elcamino parts cars.
Also 1956LT4, 1966 Elcamino, 1968 Biscayne post (blue) projects, make progress on a couple of upgrades to Biskwik, Plus several Suburban, Silverado upgrades in the works.
Not even counting other family members cars to play with.
Plenty to do.
Thanks for the support over the years, means a lot.
Would like to be more active in Club, however, my wife is fortunately still at home with her dementia, I am primary companion weekends, evenings and overnights.
Best to all of you,
Karl
BLyke said
Jul 10, 2022
Thank you, Karl, for the update and the great service you have provided to the community
Thank you also for all of the Boetie Bruch's that helped us get through Januarys
jim larson said
Jul 11, 2022
Enjoy your new directed focus. Thanks for the great help and wonderful experiences. Take care
Larry Lucast said
Jul 11, 2022
Congratulations! Enjoy the freedom to do more of what you have intended to do.
You have been an invaluable friend to the club and many of us members.
Derek69SS said
Jul 11, 2022
We wish you the best!
Thanks for all the years of providing a great location, and wonderful hospitality for the BowTie Brunch!
Lost in the 60s said
Jul 11, 2022
Keep purging until you get enough room to have the Bowtie Brunch at the Treasure Chest. If you need a hand filling roll-offs, let me know...I can bring a "few" items to contribute too...
more ambition than brains said
Jul 11, 2022
Working on an addition to the TC, should be interesting.
Would love to continue to host something.
Karl
Lost in the 60s said
Jul 11, 2022
I think a Pot Luck style brunch would be fun too. No need to bring in a caterer.
Larry Lucast said
Jul 12, 2022
You have us spoiled, but I think we could do a pot-luck like Mitch says. It is the gathering, not the food (although that is always great) that we all enjoy.
Jon H said
Jul 12, 2022
Congratulations Karl, best of luck in your future ventures.
Chris R said
Jul 13, 2022
Good luck Karl. This reads almost like a good bye but I know thats not the case & we will see you around. Thanks for hosting the Bowtie brunch all these years. Since the very beginning actually. Im pretty sure that first January meeting is where is came up with the club name & some other basics. Lots of good memories from passed events there.
more ambition than brains said
Jul 13, 2022
You are correct, not a goodby.
Actually, another new adventure.
Don't know how I had time to go to the shop (CLA) as it was.
Maybe by fall I will have things a little more under control at the "Treasure Chest"
Selling stuff, buying stuff, working on multiple priorities.
Much FUN!!
Karl
bowtie said
Jul 15, 2022
I saw something about that. I have heard of Classic. Lots of consolidators coming into or trying hard to quickly grow their footprint in this area. I'm happy that you got what you wanted/needed for something you invested a lot of your life in.
Enjoy your new found time, you deserve it
more ambition than brains said
Aug 18, 2022
My new-found time, which I seem to have little of, is being spent "Culling the Herd"
It would seem the Kieffer family, and I have a special bond.
Chad Kiefer, Dereks older brother is now the proud owner of a pair of 1968 B-bodies.
The wagon was dragged back from Oregon, Post Car (Barney Fife) car was from northern Minnesota/North Dakota. Barney has 140mph speedo and some spotlifgts. That is four cars over the years.
My white ElCamino was originally DereKs. The pristine Dodge hauler is Chads, Trailer is "Brother" Carls. One of these days I will meet Carl as he likes 1958-1964 B-Bodies.
Seems like a good start.
Uh, what's with the '70 Chevelle in the last pic ?????
Derek69SS said
Aug 19, 2022
Chad needed more cars.
You've met Carl, he used to come with me to the first few Bowtie Brunches way back almost 20 years ago... he was a teenager then.
That Dodge is about to get re-bodied. Chad bought a very clean low-mile original-paint 1/2-ton 2wd for about what the paint and materials would cost to re-do the body on that one. He'll swap that complete body onto the 3/4-ton 4x4 diesel chassis, and have a really nice, clean (and valuable) truck... it will be a shame to cut the perfect shiny bed that's never hauled anything for the gooseneck hitch though.
more ambition than brains said
Aug 19, 2022
I did think I had met him, just don't "know" him Yet Chad shared his plans on the Dodge. I feel the same way about my older "Burbs" and Silverado's 2003-2006 were the best years! 70 Chevelle is Duanes from TSI, Big Block manual, disc brakes. Chads cars were buried pretty deep, had to move a LOT of stuff.
Still scrapping four Suburbans out before the next Season!
Good to be us!! Karl
-- Edited by more ambition than brains on Saturday 20th of August 2022 06:48:13 AM
BLyke said
Aug 21, 2022
Couple of nice 68's you sent off to a new home, but there's only so much time, room, energy and cash.
Unemployed(underemployed) and on a fixed income.
This is how I describe myself currently. Retired things get mothballed, put out to pasture (figuratively) or scrapped.
Jim and I plus the other two partners sold the Assets of Crystal Lake Automotive, inc.
Closing was actually March 25th. Couple of months of "consulting"
I always loved my various positions in the Automotive industry. Fortunate to have spent quality time with quality people.
Our Industry was/is evolving to the point that to maintain Insurance repair programs you have to beg or be a Multi Shop organization.
We came out of covid in a healthy Physical/Financial position.
Strong crew, no debt, some cash in the bank.
Our small shop business plan was being made obsolete by the Insurance Industry and the major consolidators.
Jim and I were getting tired of the battle and did not want to essentially start over again by expanding, buying or building multiple locations to maintain market viability.
I am not a Multi shop type manager, takes different genetics. Me being a tender, young, 72-year-old may have had an influence also.
New company is Classic Collision. They have several key senior employees living in Minnesota as they have some roots to ABRA.
Corporate HQ is in Atlanta.
Todd and Michael (former partners) remain plus a majority of our previous staff.
What I am learning is that I will NOT outlive my projects. The list is LOOOOONG!
Still, now have an actual trash container and a Rolloff for scrap at the "Treasure Chest" in Farmington. Purging!
More freedom on weekdays, continue to have a Companion for my wife at home.
Must act on my daily "things to do" list, far more productive.
Sold three 1968 cars, working to thin out my substantial Suburban inventory and dispose of three G-body Elcamino parts cars.
Also 1956LT4, 1966 Elcamino, 1968 Biscayne post (blue) projects, make progress on a couple of upgrades to Biskwik, Plus several Suburban, Silverado upgrades in the works.
Not even counting other family members cars to play with.
Plenty to do.
Thanks for the support over the years, means a lot.
Would like to be more active in Club, however, my wife is fortunately still at home with her dementia, I am primary companion weekends, evenings and overnights.
Best to all of you,
Karl
Thank you also for all of the Boetie Bruch's that helped us get through Januarys
Enjoy your new directed focus. Thanks for the great help and wonderful experiences. Take care
You have been an invaluable friend to the club and many of us members.
Thanks for all the years of providing a great location, and wonderful hospitality for the BowTie Brunch!
Keep purging until you get enough room to have the Bowtie Brunch at the Treasure Chest. If you need a hand filling roll-offs, let me know...I can bring a "few" items to contribute too...
Would love to continue to host something.
Karl
Good luck Karl. This reads almost like a good bye but I know thats not the case & we will see you around. Thanks for hosting the Bowtie brunch all these years. Since the very beginning actually. Im pretty sure that first January meeting is where is came up with the club name & some other basics. Lots of good memories from passed events there.
Actually, another new adventure.
Don't know how I had time to go to the shop (CLA) as it was.
Maybe by fall I will have things a little more under control at the "Treasure Chest"
Selling stuff, buying stuff, working on multiple priorities.
Much FUN!!
Karl
Enjoy your new found time, you deserve it
My new-found time, which I seem to have little of, is being spent "Culling the Herd"
It would seem the Kieffer family, and I have a special bond.
Chad Kiefer, Dereks older brother is now the proud owner of a pair of 1968 B-bodies.
The wagon was dragged back from Oregon, Post Car (Barney Fife) car was from northern Minnesota/North Dakota.
Barney has 140mph speedo and some spotlifgts.
That is four cars over the years.
My white ElCamino was originally DereKs. The pristine Dodge hauler is Chads, Trailer is "Brother" Carls.
One of these days I will meet Carl as he likes 1958-1964 B-Bodies.
Karl
Uh, what's with the '70 Chevelle in the last pic ?????
Chad needed more cars.
You've met Carl, he used to come with me to the first few Bowtie Brunches way back almost 20 years ago... he was a teenager then.
That Dodge is about to get re-bodied. Chad bought a very clean low-mile original-paint 1/2-ton 2wd for about what the paint and materials would cost to re-do the body on that one. He'll swap that complete body onto the 3/4-ton 4x4 diesel chassis, and have a really nice, clean (and valuable) truck... it will be a shame to cut the perfect shiny bed that's never hauled anything for the gooseneck hitch though.
I did think I had met him, just don't "know" him Yet
Chad shared his plans on the Dodge.
I feel the same way about my older "Burbs" and Silverado's 2003-2006 were the best years!
70 Chevelle is Duanes from TSI, Big Block manual, disc brakes.
Chads cars were buried pretty deep, had to move a LOT of stuff.
Still scrapping four Suburbans out before the next Season!
Good to be us!!
Karl
-- Edited by more ambition than brains on Saturday 20th of August 2022 06:48:13 AM