For some time now, many of our customers and shop fans have commented that we should have a cable show. I even replied to a request from a casting agent, as I thought hey, this could be fun. Obviously, that never happened and most people I’ve talked to said it’s...
With a Little Help From My Friends
Ten years used to feel like a lifetime, these days it seems like the blink of an eye. (except for April 2020, it felt like a lifetime—but I digress.)
My ten-year ownership of Sport and Specialty has been equal parts fun, aggravation, gratification, and education. With all of this new awareness of the role of small business in the news today, it has really had me thinking about how much goes into making a small business successful. There are few mom-and-pop grocery stores and drug stores left, as most lost the struggle to compete against the chain stores and their corporate marketing, finance, IT and HR support.
In a previous life, I once had those resources available to help my corporate business compete and grow in the marketplace. As a small business owner you need to know how to advertise, budget, use technology and manage people, among other things, to simply keep the doors open. I soon learned that while I had some skills, many others either had to be learned, or sourced to others that are either smarter, or more talented than I am. No shame here.
Fortunately I have been blessed with some amazing and talented friends that have helped Sport and Specialty by providing an extremely professional look and feel that I certainly couldn’t have done alone.
Our internet and web presence had been provided by Bill Oakes, a long time racing partner and friend. His expertise and creativity are why our website looks so polished and professional. He and I collaborated in designing the site some years ago, but Bill has been the point-man in keeping it fresh and technically up-to-date. Something many small businesses fail to do once their sites are launched.
My other friend that brings unique talent and professionalism to our party is Mark Atkinson. Mark is another racing friend and my one time driving student who is a graphic artist living in the Minneapolis area. Mark designed the Sport and Specialty logo, as well as manages all of our ad work. He too keeps things fresh, bright and looking polished.
While I’m calling out these two guys, I would be remiss in not mentioning that virtually everyone I know has contributed something to my small business. Heartfelt thanks to my work family and team, my wife and family, the many Facebook supporters, and my industry peers, all too many to name here.
So thanks to all of you for providing the motivation, guidance and emotional support to keep the wheels moving ever forward at Sport and Specialty. Our growth and success as a small business is certainly not all my doing, I got a lot of help from my great friends.
Read More of My Blog Posts
Stardom Isn’t Easy – My Time in Front of the Camera
No One Races Alone
A few weeks ago I got involved in an online conversation where someone claimed that the only reason we can’t go racing is that organizers would demand a driver’s meeting, and if we could just do the meeting on our phones we’d be just fine to go racing again. I quickly...
Cars and Stars, The Amelia Island Experience
I’m still recovering from the automotive love fest and spectacle that is the Amelia Concours d’Elegance 2020. It's been held rain or shine for 25 years now. Amazing! Estimates for the first event in 1995 was 2,000 people, I read they expected 20,000 for this year. It...
Breaking The News
Over the past week I had two customer visits from two different types of customers. It got me thinking about the differences between the two, both really nice guys who want work done on their cars. The main difference is that for one, it wasn’t his first rodeo with a...
High Quality Work Won’t Go Out of Style
I had the opportunity to spend time with my friend Tom Yang over the past few days. Tom is a considerably experienced Ferrari specialist and restorer who shares a common passion for doing things right. Tom has a great website you should check out. We’ve shared ideas,...
The 2019 Drive Out and Pop Up Car Show
Our second annual Summer "Drive Out" was great fun, looks like we're on to something here. Great weather, great friends, and some pretty great cars made a fun day at the shop. I need to thank the Sport and Specialty crew, Ken, Ryan, Kathy, Bill, Max, Jon,...
The Sport and Specialty Drive Out & Pop Up Car Show
Reserve Saturday August 10 for the second annual Sport and Specialty Drive Out and Pop Up Car Show. Bring any marque, model, or year of car, but get there. Daily drivers welcome! A Portillo’s catered lunch will be available, along with the usual subs and things....
Updates, New Crew Members, Jaguars, Alfas, and Healey Eye Candy
As official Content Strategist (Internet Guy) and photographer for Sport and Specialty, I get the pleasure of spending time at the shop to catch up on the newest work and meet the newest crew members. This last trip was preceding VSCDA's Blackhawk Classic...
A Winning Blackhawk Vintage Classic with VSCDA
Last weekend was the annual Father’s Day VSCDA Blackhawk Vintage Classic. After a Spring of rain, cold, and snow, it was a real pleasure to get out with a minimum of precipitation and a maximum of track time. Ron Soave and Jeff Poracik did an exemplary job as race...
Engine and Brakes for the Mustang!
What goes must stop. Ryan Vetter got a crucial delivery for Jim’s 1968 Mustang. Now we can do measurements and build arounds. We’re not in British Leyland territory with this one. Make sure to follow the Mustang's progress in our In the Shop section of the...
An Anniversary at Arizona Auction Week
This year marks the fifth year I’ve ventured out to Arizona for the magic of auction week. In 2014 I brought the 100R out to offer at Bonham’s and became smitten with the cars, sights, and people. It helps that I have close family here that I love spending time...
Top 10 Sport and Specialty “On The Road” Cars in 2018 – It’s Been a Great Year
It's that time of year to reflect on our accomplishments in 2018, and it was a great year for us at Sport and Specialty. We worked, we played, we raced, and we even hired a new operations manager for the shop! Things are already looking great for 2019, too.Looking...
The Ferrari 330GT 2+2 goes home today! One of our finest total builds.
Must be our week to send home some beauties! Our customer drove his Ferrari 330GT 2+2 home today! One of our finest total builds. Took home his parts car too. Glade loved the test drives. To see the history of this beauty, make sure to see it in our...
The 2018 Sport and Specialty Drive Out – Cool cars, nice people, fun projects!
Thanks to all who attended our first ever "Drive Out." The impromptu car show was a great success and the weather couldn’t have been better. This will be an annual event I think. I need to thank the Sport and Specialty crew, Ryan, Bill, Max Lindsay, Glade,...
Carry Your Weight: How We Keep a Healey Balanced During Restoration
There are sand bags hiding in these two Healeys. We're not waiting for a flood or storing for the sandblaster, we’re making sure that everything is in balance. To get the lines and gaps right you really need to weight a car’s chassis when you do a total...
It’s Insurance Review Season: Do you even know what the limits are on your policy?
Write this down on your car’s to-do list: Check your classic car insurance coverage. Today! Do you even know what the limits are on your policy? Do you know what the current value of your vehicle is? If your car gets hit, will you be able to fix it or will...
A Fast Five – Learning to How Balance My Passion With My Livelihood
Hurray! In a few days I will celebrate five years as a small business owner. I often believe I have made it over the hump, but I know enough to never become complacent when moving forward. I hear a lot about “Living the Dream,” but there are some days I...
“Cars Yeah” Podcast Featuring Sport and Specialty
I was honored to be interviewed by Cars Yeah's Mark Greene, "an incurable automotive enthusiast interviewing successful automotive entrepreneurs who live a lifestyle around their passion for automobiles" for his latest podcast. You can find the full...
The 2017 Austin-Healey Conclave
A quick wrap up from my trip to the 2017 Austin-Healey Conclave - in short: another great event, organized this time by the Texas Austin Healey Clubs. A quick wrap up from my trip to the 2017 Austin-Healey Conclave - in short: another great...
Arizona Auction Week 2017 Wrap-Up
After spending some time studying my new Hammer Price app (a must-have) and going through some of my auction notes for the week, I have come to some of the same conclusions I did last year—some marques did well, and others lost a little ground in value. it...
My Annual Arizona Car Week – Trending 2017
Ever since I sold Mark Baker’s 100R Healey at Bonham’s Auction in Scottsdale four years ago I eagerly await coming back to Arizona for my now annual trip to the land of auctions and car shows. Once here, a common question I get from old and new friends...
New Year’s Resolution: Don’t Touch It!!!
The majority of our restoration work at Sport and Specialty doesn’t drive or roll into the shop. Most of our work is pushed in on a transport dolly and unloaded unceremoniously in a variety of mismatched wood and cardboard boxes. Sometimes we even see...
The New Sport & Specialty Website is Here!
Last weekend we pulled the trigger and launched the latest iteration of the Sport and Specialty website. All of the digital switches fell into place and with a sigh of relief a year’s worth of effort came to fruition. We had put together a simpler site...
Love to see these kind of smiles!!!
We delivered this beautiful BJ8 Healey to David and Ellen with a mini mechanical restoration. Full engine and all accessories rebuild with a new wiring harness. Good for many more thousands of miles of fun! Read More of My Blog...