update on Mark's 930 fire loss

[krasuskyp]

I feel compelled to take a moment to share some of the sentiments made amongst the 57 great folks who have participated in Mark's campaign thus far.

In 4 short days, we have raised nearly $6,500!!! Amazing. Really drives home exactly how special the bonds are that we have all been fortunate enough to establish here. We share our knowledge, parts, tools, ideas, stories... and when one of our brethren falls - we are there to catch him.

I felt obliged to begin this endeavor when I'd heard what happened, mostly because Mark is such a great dude. I've not yet 'met' Mark, but we have known him on the 930 forum for ~7yrs now.

As the participation has grown, a very apparent common theme continues to resound: Mark is a great dude, and we want to help.

If you haven't 'met' Mark or 'know' him, hopefully these anecdotes provide you some insight (sorry there are so many, but that should tell you something about Mark, and - OUR COMMUNITY!!!):

"I have only been a part of pelican for a short time, and new to the whole Porsche world. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined that the purchase of a car could actually change my life, I am here to say that it has. I have met more wonderful people in the past few months than I ever would have imagined. All this being said Mark was one of the few who commented on my posting where I introduced myself to the P world. I would like to thank him for the warm welcome and wish you the best of luck on the new acquisition that will be in your future. My contribution may have been small but it was from the motor."

"Don't know the guy, don't read the 930 forum. Just wanted to help cause I know how I'd feel if my baby were gone."

"Mark, Though we haven't met, I feel a kinship with you, as I live in Washington as well. I no longer have my 930, but I was very active on the forums about 10 years ago, and I still visit the 930 site on occasion. I've enjoyed your posts and good humor. I wish you the best in recovering from this terrible loss and am pleased to participate in this great effort to help in that regard. May you live happily and in good health, and may you enjoy your new 930!"

"I've benefited a lot from Mark's posts. Just want to say, thank you."

"I've never met Mark but somehow feel I have form all the posts I've read over at Pelican and Rennlist. A lot of good/nice people are stepping in for Mark. A + effort!!!!"

"Mark, I don't know you or your life situation....I just know that the situation described sucks and hope this helps. ...pay it forward."

"So glad that I can help getting a great guy back his passion."

"I have saved way more than this because of Mark's advice."

"You'd do it for me, or anybody else.....so here you go my man."

"Happy we can help you in return for all the help you provide to us!"

"This is what we do."

"If there was ever a case for "pay-it-forward", this is it. Thanks for all your help on Pelican. Mark, your technical facts/opinions were always appreciated. Hope this helps fulfilling your dream once again."

"I am another person ( of many) that Mark has unselfishly helped without him ever knowing it. His knowledge and expertise has been freely at our disposal without any expectation or demands. I am more than happy to have a small way to give back and finally say "Thank you"!!"

"I appreciate how much you contribute and have benefitted from your enthusiasm, knowledge and humor. It is my pleasure to back up such a great group of people. This is a true example of community and one that cares for sure."

"Great to help fellow boost-brothers. Country of origin is no limit. Mark, and this forums users have helped me and many others. Glad to give something back for a great cause"

"This is a great way to help and show humanity to each other. I'm glad that I can contribute."

"I don't know Mark, so in a way I'm paying back to this valuable community. No other boards are like the PP board.

There has been many touching stories and events on this board, but I'd like to share two. Many years ago, a board member died and I don't think the board knew. Several moths later his wife posted about her late husband's Porsche project that was in pieces in the garage, and she asked the board what she should do with it. A group of fellow board members teamed up, and put the Porsche project back together again so the wife could either keep the car or sell it. I thought this was such an awesome gesture from "strangers" on the Internet, with a common passion. I have told this story in many dinner parties, and it always makes a great impression. These days the net is full of social this and social that, but I think this story really illustrate how the Internet can be a social medium.

The other story happened to myself, and is much less dramatic. I was about to start my first real project on my 930, and rebuild my transmission. I had lots of help from this forum, and of course I got the inspiration to do it myself from a thread here. I decided to start my own thread with all the details about my rebuild. When it came to the question amount the tools needed to separate the dog teeth, they were rather expensive at that time, I received a PM from dyekes saying that I could borrow his if I paid for postage. I was a total stranger, on the other side of the Atlantic, and still he would lend me his $4-500 tools. I thought that was really cool, and thought me an important lesson about trust in this otherwise cynical world.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this board is special, and the people in it, so I want to contribute to help keeping it special. I want to help Mark get a 930 again, and ease his pain for his total (material) loss."
and lastly...

"I have spent more than 100 bucks on dumber, more pointless shiit than this. Count me in!!! Put it in perspective guys, by the time you go out to a decent dinner and grab a few drinks on a Saturday night you spend over 100$. I'll sit home and have some pasta this weekend!!"

If you'd like, please add your own story, experience, or Markism you may have!

Finally, Jake mentioned he'd sourced a potential replacement candidate for sale for Mark... same year... same color... same interior. Nutty huh!?? And it's being offered below market to help Mark's cause... and well below our campaign target. We are well on our way to realistically getting there!... the continued efforts of this community will see to it.

Thanks for listening, gentz...

[jimtweet]

I dont know Mark, but are you still collecting? dont know why I didnt see this earlier,...

I have been on over 15+ forums over the past years, and by far, Pelican is the best and seems to have the best community of people willing to help others out.

Let me know how to donate.

[krasuskyp]

Hey Jim-

I hear ya - same here. 15+ years of manymany other forums... and this place sets the bar!

Thanks for asking - yes, the campaign link is:

Mark's Fire Recovery Fund | Help a Neighbor - YouCaring.com

The post has been stickied to the 911 & 930 forums:

Mark's 930-a-thon! *please read / please HELP*

And the original story began here:

Disaster strikes, I'm finished (GRAFFIC!!)

I think having the post as a sticky is great, but I also think many may miss it and just glaze over them. Dunno.

We're hoping to keep some strong momentum here, it's off to a really great start!

[jimtweet]

donation made

[matt930s]

It's at $6740.

Can we get it up to $7k by midnight west coast time?

MattR

[krasuskyp]

^there's the spirit!!!^

thanks guys...

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by matt930s

It's at $6740.

Can we get it up to $7k by midnight west coast time?

MattR

Weeelllllllll, Mr. "I'll throw down two times", Chris J., just raised the total to $7100.00 - booom!

[bbthomson]

I gave because I feel fortunate enough to worry about some random guy I have never met, who's 1st world toys were lost in a random accident. I consider myself lucky and think that $100 is a small price to pay for a random act of kindness. We all fear some random act will have some sort of affect on our lives and this is a prime example. It is not life or death but that does not mean it does not matter. Giving a $100 to the universe just feels good.

Brent

[cjannelli]

We'll done Brent! Perhaps a bit selfish on my part, but it does make me feel good to help out.
Best regards,
Chris J

[krasuskyp]

One of the coolest aspects of this to me so far is how it has grown to be an international endeavor! Off the top of me feeble noggin, participants thus far include:

- US
- Canada
- Denmark
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Australia

(please correct me if I ^omitted you^ - sorry!)

How cool is that!?

Just received another really cool anecdote regarding all this that feels good to share:

"Money well spent. It could be money pissed up a wall in a bar some night (gave that sort of stuff up a while ago), or it could be money WELL SPENT, like now.

Our race group had a similar event 2-3 yrs back. We have this (70 yrs old approx.) guy who has been racing his little car for years - like half a lifetime. He had been diagnosed with ill health, and at the same time sold some precious bits to fund a new motor. His car got rolled in an incident that had nothing to do with him. He had no more funds to repair it and it was really the end of his racing. Our group of 30 odd chipped in without him knowing and presented him with the funds for the repair bill.

We could chew this stuff back and forth - what if this, what if that. But at the end of the day, if it feels right, it is right.

It cost me a few hundred $'s to contribute to my fellow racers campaign, which really had no effect on my lifestyle - a tyre for the car maybe. He is still racing with us today and every time I see him turn up at the track I get a buzz from seeing the guy still out there doing it.

Money well spent then, and now.

Step up guys."

[krasuskyp]

Received a PM from a participant correcting my oversight - our global reach includes:

- US
- Canada
- Denmark
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Australia
- United Arab Emirates

Too cool!

Also saw another comment I wanted to quote:

"This is a few $s per participant that have no great significance in the grand scheme to an individual, but collectively we can make a real difference for someone who deserves a bit of support right now. Something you remember for a long time and get a good feeling about when the $s are long forgotten."

[Ronnie's.930]

I wanted to let folks on the 911 Forum know that one of the Turbo guys has actually purchased a replacement car (with his own money), and more help is needed in order to reemberse Jacob for it (so that Mark can then take possession of it). And in case any of you have not read Paul's write-up on the actual donation site page, I want to mention that if Mark takes possession of the car, and then sells it at some point in the future, the donation amount will go right back into charity (Mark is not just going to use it to buy hookers and blow!).

That car news is posted near the end of this thread -

Mark's 930-a-thon! *please read / please HELP*

[krasuskyp]

as Ronaldo said...

*TARGET REPLACEMENT CANDIDATE: ACQUIRED!*

Originally Posted by jwasbury

I bought Mark's replacement car today:



Car has tons of documented maintenance. Complete engine overhaul (case was split) at ~105k miles. A quick top end job at 137k (primary issue at that time was a broken headstud), with new clutch and trans rebuild. Current mileage ~143k.

How awesome are we!?!?!?!

What a truly tremendous community we have established and are ohso fortunate to be a part of - Jacob finding / buying this, and what we have accomplished towards this as of yet is a remarkable display of the tightly bound camaraderie we have formed amongst each other here.

We're $10,600 along and 94 participants deep thus far. Great work! Though, things seem to have somewhat stagnated a bit.

Here's to hoping that THIS will be a huge shot in the arm of this endeavor!!! Giddeup gents!!!

We don't have too too much further to go. We've found (and Jake's BOUGHT) the literal exact car Mark had - same year / color / interior / miles-ish / condition!!! And it was significantly below our target.

Let's get Mark IN THIS THING!!!

[sleepy911]

I remember when I was 16 and stood on the side of the road and watched my first car a 1965 bug burn to the ground. I too took the gamble (and thats what it is dropping insurance) and was devastated. I remember overhearing a fireman tell another fireman I had no insurance and him saying "what an idiot". you live and learn. From that point on I only gamble with my life.

[krasuskyp]

I hear ya sleepy, BTDT unfort... fire is a total hoor.

While not to the extent of Mark's loss, well maybe in relative terms... I had my '76 Westy go up (mag block!) in a total loss pulling into my highschool parking lot 1000yrs ago - didn't get a dime out of it. Seen in background har:



Further insult was that was not 2wks after we'd lost my dad suddenly (also which I didn't get a dime out of), which was the day after my 18th bday party - talk about kicks in zedick! 'Good times'.

That which does not keel you, only makes you stronger.

The meter continues to tick upward, we're @ $10.7k / 95 participants today!!!

Let's keep the momentum going folks! It's awesome to see the bar graph @ nearly 1/2 on the campaign page since I adjusted the target goal downward to reflect Jake's acquisition. Good show, Watson!!!