This afternoon at approximately 12:15 PM EDT, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Jeremy Rooney, a.k.a. “Mr. Dude”. Based on an exchange of PMs, emails, our phone conversation, and some additional information that came to light today regarding Mr. Johnston’s whereabouts,
I am happy to say that “Mr. Dude” is decidedly NOT Mr. Johnston. Jeremy and I spoke for about 20 minutes over the phone, and we are planning to meet in person tomorrow for lunch. I could be in for an a&&-kicking, but if Jeremy is half as pleasant in person as he was this afternoon on the phone, I have no worries. ;-)
To Jeremy:
I am truly sorry for posting the thread that compared you to Mr. Johnston. You have demonstrated restraint, grace, and professionalism throughout the past several days, which are truly rare qualities these days under any circumstance. More than any single thing you provided in your defense, it was these qualities that convinced me you couldn’t be Mr. Johnston, no matter how bizarre the similarities of circumstances which led me to my original (and erroneous) conclusion. The fact that you gave me an opportunity to explain myself and overlooked my error in judgment is a testament to your character. You are to be commended. I would be gratified if you will accept my apology and fortunate if I can earn your friendship.
To the members of 924board.org, Rennlist and Pelican:
Many of you have rallied to the defense of one or the other side these past days. While it was gratifying to receive many supportive PMs and emails (as I’m sure it was for Jeremy as well), nothing would be better than for us all to go back to being Porsche enthusiasts, rather than combatants in what turned out to be a fruitless exercise in frustration and anxiety. I am angry with myself for being duped by Mr. Johnston, and I am frankly embarrassed for allowing my anger to cloud my judgment and cast aspersions on a fellow enthusiast. I expect some of you will hold me in contempt for some time, which I accept and understand. I will do my best to learn from this experience and to continue to contribute productively to this community, which I thoroughly enjoy. I would be gratified if the community will accept my apology as well, and I will do my best to earn that measure of grace.
To the admins of 924board.org, Rennlist and Pelican:
I am truly sorry for the controversy and distraction that resulted from my post regarding “Mr. Dude”. Notwithstanding, given the history and what was at stake, and the fact that Mr. Johnston is still lurking in these forums, I sincerely appreciate you all allowing this to run its course. Earlier today, in a very odd and unexpected twist, the activity and visibility of these threads along with the help of other forum members led directly to new information regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Johnston. Tomorrow, I am scheduled to visit the appropriate law enforcement agency in order to file a criminal complaint and turn over the documentation we have amassed over the past year. In all likelihood, that action will severely curtail my pursuit of civil remedies.
In conclusion, I sincerely hope this closing comment does not come across as flippant, but I thought maybe a good way to end this whole mess is with some p-car lovin’. Here’s the ‘80 EuroShark on the way back from Cali in the Panamint Mountains:
