Mechanics near Daytona?

Chrystine Hanle · 05-30-2005, 02:46 PM

Can anyone recommend any good mechanics in the Southern Daytona, Florida area to do a PPI?

350HP930 · 05-30-2005, 02:48 PM

Anyone BUT Ryan Kennedy.

jacko241 · 05-30-2005, 02:50 PM

Not sure of any in Daytona, but Zotz Garage in Winter Park is excellent.

jacko241 · 05-30-2005, 02:52 PM

350HP, I don't know Ryan personally, but I race in the SCCA with him. Have you heard of bad experiences with his shop?

Shuie · 05-30-2005, 03:06 PM

When I lived there (early-mid '90s) there there was a genius mechanic in South Daytona on Oak Street between Ridgewood and Reed Canal/Spruce Creek Rd. The guys name was Jay Richardson. I got to hang out in his shop a few times when I was in high school before I could afford a 911 and the cars he was building then were a big part of me getting really hooked on Porsche. The last time I tried to look him up he had basically vanished, but it may be worth a try to ask around and see if anyone in the area still knows him.

350HP930 · 05-30-2005, 03:13 PM

Not hearsay, direct experience and observation. I used to do IT work for Bill Bean who was his partner for a while. Even Bill who I have a lot of respect for had to disassociate himself from ryan due to his business practices.

As far as purchasing a car that was modified by ryan, some of what I discovered on my car is laid out in the following thread.

Previous Owner = IDIOT (Rant)

Once I discovered some of the shoddy work and contacted ryan about getting some replacement parts for the damaged and missing items he had worked on he told me I was banned from his shop and to never call or come by his shop again. Despite my attempts to be polite and diplomatic about it ryan was a raging ********* about my bringing up any problems with his work.

As if my treatment wasn't bad enough, the PO of my car spent about $2K at his shop over a period of several months replacing nearly every CIS and CDI component in the car since it had a habbit of dieing every now and then. It was one of the main reasons the PO sold the car, he felt it was an unreliable money pit.

I ended up tracking the problem to a loose fuel pump relay in the engine compartment. Cost to fix it and give me perfect reliability: $0.

350HP930 · 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shuie
When I lived there (early-mid '90s) there there was a genius mechanic in South Daytona on Oak Street between Ridgewood and Reed Canal/Spruce Creek Rd. The guys name was Jay Richardson. I got to hang out in his shop a few times when I was in high school before I could afford a 911 and the cars he was building then were a big part of me getting really hooked on Porsche. The last time I tried to look him up he had basically vanished, but it may be worth a try to ask around and see if anyone in the area still knows him.

I knew Jay and would also recommend him but he left the daytona area in the late 90s for greener pastures.

I think he ended up moving to the atlanta area if memory serves me correctly.

So Sherman, did you go to Spruce Creek or Seabreeze HS?

Small world, huh?

Chrystine Hanle · 05-30-2005, 03:25 PM

Thanks for the suggestions.
Does anyone know of BMC Classics in New Smyrna Beach?
What's their reputation?
Is it worth pursuing one of their cars?
Hopefully, this Ryan guy is not connected...

350HP930 · 05:21 PM

The last I heard Bill Bean was letting silver star motors in ormond sell some of his cars on consignment. I have lost track of Bill over the years since he has moved and changed phone numbers but I would suggest contacting them and seeing if they could put you in touch with Bill.

Bill Bean would be the man to talk to about who could do a good PPI in daytona.

Chrystine Hanle · 05-30-2005, 03:36 PM

I have the number for Silver Star and will look to contact Bill.
You guys aren't going political on me about BMC, are you?

s2per · s2per's Garage

I just bought an engine from Harold at BMC. Very straight guy to deal with; kept his end of the deal completely.

Shuie · 04:34 PM

350, I lived about a mile away from Creek off of Taylor Rd, but I went to The Small School (FLHS, c/o '95) instead so I could play football for Wes Chandler. Bad mistake. Wes left after my sophomore year and I think we might have won 3 total games over the next two years. I ran with crowd from Seabreeze and another from Spruce Creek depending on who was having the best party. Man, sometimes I wish I could go back to that time for about a week.