[Hal Copple]

Thanks for mentioning it. I was kinda suprised myself. Several months ago, i noted that they were soliciting pictures of cars of our military, so i sent in some stuff. I live near where the Mel Gibson movie "The Patriot" was filmed, so the authentic homes and log fences and cabins and such are a wonderful back drop for photography, i sometimes take my car out there for a some photography. Same place my daughter had her HS pictures taken.

I shoot with Nikon, Minolta, Hasselblad, and my favorite and trusty Asahi Pentax, bought in Vietnam in ' 71, and taken by me all over the world. One of the only possessions i still have from that time.

Anyway, i sent them some nice Hasselblad enlargements, along with some other 35mm track pictures. I doubted they would put my sort of car in amongst the Muscle Cars they feature, and forgot about it. Actually, the other stuff was much better, but they needed something that would not be lost among the background of log cabins and such.

I have found the timeless appeal of these cars to be a powerful force. My car was featured in Richard Griot's catalogue a year ago, and he still uses some comments of mine in every issue. Plus had a letter in Autoweek last fall, about my car's use as a daily driver.

When i order some part, i send a picture of my car along with the order, and when i call back to Pegasus, Canton, and others, and say "this is Hal in SC, the SPF guy" they are happy to remind me that they have a picture of my car up in their office.

It makes for really personal service. Patty at Canton wrote me "i got the picture of your engine, i want one of the car!"

Liana at Griot's sent me one of their chocolate Cobra's. The Lass at Pegasus tracked down a custom German washer for me, as a favor.

All in all, it is nice to let folks who help me out with this or that know that i appreciate it. Plus i like seeing my SPF in Ron Davely's calendar. Twice.

I am pretty sure when some one at some place pulls one of my Hasselblad enlargements out of the big envelope i send them, they show it to the office staff and comment "you know, these really are handsome cars.

Thanks for the opportunity to brag....