CR II update

dscott · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 08:09 PM

I thought I would let everyone know the progress I am making to get CR II up and running.

The move has been ongoing for 4 weeks now. 14 semi loads so far from the main building and 4 more to go. I haven't even thought about the other building yet but I estimate at least 15 loads from there. I have 6 people full time dedicated to the move.

We have the upholstery shop up and running so things should start moving through there pretty soon.

The welding shop is setup and we starting welding our first Cobra frame today. Badlands doors are also being produced.

I have been working with the vendors daily to establish a working relationship with them. Since the history with CR is very poor this has been a real problem at times. The company that was doing the wiring decided they didn't want the business so I had to find a new supplier which I did. I have been ordering parts every day to fill the many backorders and I have shipped some parts but there is alot to go.

The phone has been ringing off the hook every day. I took over 1000 calls in the 1st 3 weeks.

Jay @ Classic by Elite has been a blessing. He has been taking most of the calls lately which has allowed me to work on getting the business up. We had a lot of trouble with the web site. It was shut down for spamming which I understand came from the CR webmaster. Jay's web guru fixed it and has started on a new site. We will have some of the old site there, the tech area was used by many of the Sebring owners much the same way this site is for Cobras. We will have that back up. Jay has been working on many other areas also, advertising, brochures, etc.

I have a 100 x 120 pole shed that we are using for cold storage of the larger items. We have been working on that getting all the racking built. We built some from wood and some are steel. I also have an old dairy barn which is about 160 x 50 with 2 isles running down the center. We have filled 1 isle so far with old parts and molds.

Hours have been long, my ear is a permanent red color from the phone. I broke down and got a cell phone after I swore them off about 10 years ago. I am taking all the old CR computers and trying to make some sense of the data and what is useable. I have files from hell. There are over 20- 4 drawer cabinets full!! Books, manuals, files, parts, vendors, employees, trucks, trailers, forklifts, racks, buildings, welding, upholstery, fiberglass, etc. I absolutely love it. I'm having a good time, doing something I really like, and my wife still loves me even though I only get to see her about 1 hour a day.

Everything is falling into place. We will hit our goal of filling all backorders within the 60 to 90 day period. Some minor gliches but all in all everything is good.

I have a few pictures to post that shows some of the progress.
The first one is of some of the wood racks we built.
Don

dscott · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 08:12 PM

some of the metal racks

dscott · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 08:17 PM

Is this a mess or what? We've used about 200 pallets over and over.

dscott · #4 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 08:18 PM

This is the welding shop

Art Burtt · #5 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 08:21 PM

Hey Don as you walk down the pathway of life don't forget to stop and smell the flowers,and all work and no play will make Don a dull man!!!

Snake · #6 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 01:03 AM

Hey Don! I think your doing a great job. I know that Ed and Jay plus everyone else that is helping you out will make Classic Roadsters II a (Big Success). Keep up the good work buddy...and thanks for all the help threw my build.
Latter Buddy.
Snake/Gerry.
P.S. Lets get it on!!

rdorman · #7 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 08:56 AM

I am sure all of you will do a great job. Couldn't think of a better group of guys to take over CR.

Now you need a show on like Orange County Choppers. I could just see you now!

Rick

dscott · #8 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 07:43 PM

Wouldn't that be cool. DOUBLE VENOM television. We could call it DVTV. Or maybe Don's cool Cobra show, biker babes, bikinis, tatoo's, beer, torches, air tools, wrenches. I can see it now!! We'll be famous like Jesse James and all his choppers. Now I have to think about where the 1st tatoo will be. Maybe my butt! I've taken it in the shorts so many times that would be a good place to start.
Don

Excaliber · #9 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 07:55 PM

DVTV......now that does have a ring to it!!!! ha ha, darn, I'm STILL chuckling over it.

Ernie

Double Venom · #10 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 08:27 PM

Thou shall not take the name of "DV" in vain!

DV....Now I'm going to be up all night working on a pilot! Don, ya gonna be up around 4am?

rdorman · #11 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 06:05 AM

I'll watch!
Rick

dscott · #12 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 10:33 AM

DV, I didn't know you went that way. Is that an American Airlines pilot or Northwest?
Don

TomH · #13 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 11:03 AM

Now we know why America West pulled out of CMH!

dscott · #14 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 02:45 PM

Here's my main shop. We started moving things out and setting up racks.

dscott · #15 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 02:49 PM

We are setting up 2 more rows of racks once I move the 34 out of the way. The shop will be used for all the small parts and shipping/receiving.

dscott · #16 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 03:01 PM

This is currently my dyno area. I will be setting up more racks in here to. This area will also be stocked with engines, trannys, front and rear suspensions and other mechanical parts.

dscott · #17 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 03:10 PM

This one is for DV. My new toy!! nah,nah,nah. I have one and you don't. Roses are red, violets are purple, sugar is sweet and so is my new smithy!

BrianR · #18 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 04:55 AM

Great job you guys! Keep the updates coming, it's fun to see the reincarnation take place. Someone should really call the Discovery Channel!....CR TV with DV & DS...whoa yea!

jwinkler · #19 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 01:38 PM

I like it! Especially after seeing the bar that was set by "American Hotrod" (if you can call figuratively putting the bar in a groove in the floor setting it!) - I can't believe Boyd Coddington and team can possibly be as inept as they were portrayed to be.

Did anyone else watch that? Was it editing in an effort to make what was really no more than the bolting of (off the shelf fiberglass, no less!) pieces onto a frame and painting it seem exciting? Is it possible that America's premier rod builder really doesn't know how to fill a radiator without trapping air in the system, and doesn't check for spark at a plug when a crate motor won't start?

The Discovery channel could practically make a show about almost any one of the recent threads!

JLW
(So say I, but nobody's asking!

)

petek · #20 (**permalink**) 09-06-2003, 02:35 PM

Again, best of luck ... and man, does it look like a LOT of work (and yet, a lot of fun)!