Made the first of my rounds today.

Zeke · 12-27-2011, 12:06 PM

I saw a couple of interesting things. First stop had this Alfa coupe being readied for a track day tomorrow at Willow Springs.

2nd stop was at a company that calibrates the autoclave where carbon fiber layups are made for a undetermined (unknown to me) brand of formula race car. No, I don't get to see the shop side there.

At the third stop I saw a Z06 that had been clipped front and rear, a new GM turbo diesel mount midships with billet one-off multi link suspension front and rear with inboard horizontal springs and dampers. This one is bound for SEMA 2012. It has full CF body front and rear sections. The fuel cell is in the now unused tunnel. This car is still a moncoque car with a new rear portion off the bulkhead. Amazing.

For obvious reasons I can't say where these cars are. I just go by couple times a year and knock on the door. I don't know why they let me in.

But, no jobs today.

Zeke · 12-27-2011, 12:30 PM

Oh, and I will tell you that is not the car nor the building. With 25 Ferraris inside and a 512 sitting in the doorway fresh from Colorado, taking out my phone to snap pics would have been quite the faux pas.

KFC911 · 12-27-2011, 12:33 PM

Good luck in your search Milt...someway, somehow, this is gonna work out for you!!!

tevake · 12-27-2011, 12:43 PM

So this can be a challenge. Your experience and contacts are what create opportunity. The doors that you know about and open to you are those that are in the world that you know and are trying to move on from.
Got to look elsewhere to find change.
I on the other hand would be stoked to get in there for a look around.

Cheers Richard

Zeke · 12-27-2011, 12:49 PM

This is just a warm up run. I didn't even take resume's with me.

But, at the calibration place, my friend's partner asked if I had a card. I told him I had cards, but they were for home improvement/doors and windows. I said that I thought they might not be appropriate as I'm not looking for that kind of work.

My plan is to ask each person I can find in my network if they've heard of anything. They don't really want/need a resume' because they know me in some fashion.

So what is an idea for a sort of calling card?

12own911 · 12-27-2011, 12:57 PM

Don't forget about Linkedin. You can hit them up too...

As for calling card, I would print up cards for the position you want or with just your contact info and you can write why you are leaving the card.

vash · vash's Garage

damn..zeke. i thought you were retired. sorry. i must have missed it in the other thread.

have you ever looked into being a CalOsha safety inspector? the two i know are retired carpenters that got out of the trades with bad elbows, shoulders and knees. i think you need some certificates or something. i dunno. (need me to ask?)

great luck with the search!!

Zeke · 12-27-2011, 01:15 PM

vash, I'm still unclear on the hiring of 66 YO seniors. I got a lead to work at a university in facilities up the freeway about an hour in traffic and that was the first thing I asked, "They hire old men?"

I was told yes. That's not what you normally hear, is it?

AFA certs, go, I could get any ICBO cert for the general stuff. I won't qualify for specialized like electrical. I don't think that's for me anyway.

Head416 · Head416's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

So what is an idea for a sort of calling card?

Not sure, but it should be fiberglass and custom!

tevake · 12-27-2011, 06:32 PM

Oh yea, I almost forgot your great design work on the front and rear bumpers. you could surely sell many of those if you went into production. I bet the second time around you could get them ready for production much more quickly than the time It took the first time around.

I would imagine that once you got the molds ready for production you could find someone there to do the production work.

I think that the design is worth moving forward.

Cheers Richard

pwd72s · 12-27-2011, 06:37 PM

My thinking as well...let your resume' be your 911 project...

rfuerst911sc · 12-28-2011, 03:23 AM

Your calling card should just be a picture of those bumpers you made !!! You are a highly skilled individual and ANY employer would be lucky to have you on the payroll. Good luck in your search. I'm a firm believer that good things happen to good people and you are good people !

onewhippedpuppy · 12-28-2011, 04:07 AM

You should consider getting some sort of "jack of all trades" business card made. Something vague enough that it would fit the bill for anything of interest but still provide contact info. Also consider making up a portfolio of the cool stuff you've done over the years as your resume, a small collection of color prints neatly organized into a packet that you could hand out would be great. Happy hunting!

sammyg2 · 12-28-2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

vash, I'm still unclear on the hiring of 66 YO seniors. I got a lead to work at a university in facilities up the freeway about an hour in traffic and that was the first thing I asked, "They hire old men?"

I was told yes. That's not what you normally hear, is it?

AFA certs, go, I could get any ICBO cert for the general stuff. I won't qualify for specialized like electrical. I don't think that's for me anyway.

Just an FYI if a prospective employer even mentions your age, he might be breaking the law. Lots of rules against age discrimination. Don't let them get away with that stuff.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

I saw a couple of interesting things. First stop had this Alfa coupe being readied for a track day tomorrow at Willow Springs.

2nd stop was at a company that calibrates the autoclave where carbon fiber layups are made for a undetermined (unknown to me) brand of formula race car. No, I don't get to see the shop side there.

At the third stop I saw a Z06 that had been clipped front and rear, a new GM turbo diesel mount midships with billet one-off multi link suspension front and rear with inboard horizontal springs and dampers. This one is bound for SEMA 2012. It has full CF body front and rear sections. The fuel cell is in the now unused tunnel. This car is still a moncoque car with a new rear portion off the bulkhead. Amazing.

For obvious reasons I can't say where these cars are. I just go by couple times a year and knock on the door. I don't know why they let me in.

But, no jobs today.

Alfa Romeo GTZ! This baby falls in the high 6 figure value catagory. The TZ stands for Tubolare Zagato (sp?). Equipped with a 1600 or 1750 cc 4 cylinder engine tuned and tweaked to the limit. Very, very neat cars!

Zeke · 12-28-2011, 01:32 PM

Spent the day under a 914 cutting out rust, so I didn't get a chance to knock on doors. However, the word gets around on the 914 World and that's how this gig came about.

But, it's early in the afternoon today and I'm pretty wiped out. I gave up after about 5 hours sitting in the engine bay on the floor. Got to let this welding thing go away too. Unless it's on a bench. Again, I'm under a car on jack stands welding upside down.

mossguy · 12-28-2011, 01:37 PM

Milt, would owning a rotisserie be a good idea under the circumstances?

Joeaksa · 12-28-2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Head416

Not sure, but it should be fiberglass and custom!

Nope... carbon fiber!

Zeke · 12-28-2011, 02:58 PM

Not for me. And this dude has a lift sitting disassembled in his shop. But, he's had some medical issues this last year and has had to slow way down. I'm glad he feels good enough to get his teener running again.

You know, getting a car with interior, glass and suspension up and on its side is not easy. It's not even a good idea. You see, most cars get a new front pan or other common repairs while still a viable running car.

Anyway, it's a physical game and I'm not really looking for too much of that kind of work. I don't know what's out there, but I'll know when I find it. I would consider buying a small business as well.

I could have bought a decorative hardware retail store for $16,000 a few years ago. The model wasn't right; no website and pretty much a special order outfit. I saw two things that kept me from taking the business: the lack of Internet sales and the thought that the economy was boiling over.

Good thing because the main competitor went out of business in 2010. I went over to Lomita CA today and looked for a couple of wood related businesses that I used to deal with. Both gone. It's still very lean out there.

Oh, and that Corvette I saw yesterday? It's currently not being worked on due to a lack of funds from the owner. The Ferrari place? 2 guys working in the shop and in the half hour I was there, they did nothing. No work, just lots of cars covered up. That's how the owner pays the rent, storage. Another not-a-good-sign.

notfarnow · 12-28-2011, 03:03 PM

I'm surprised you don't have a long order list for the Carrera bumpers you did up. Be great to see a backdate kit for the 964 too... or is there no money in it? What kind of margin would there be in producing a relatively complete backdate kit, or even something like the 911 cab hardtop that Thom made a small run of?