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With a Little Help From My Friends

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.

Sport and Specialty - Bill Oakes and Mark Atkinson

Web site manager Bill Oakes and graphic artist Mark Atkinson

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


Vintage Sports Car Club Luncheon

Vintage Sports Car Club Luncheon

  I went to a great luncheon on Tuesday at D & J Bistro in Lake Zurich with a group of Vintage Sports Car Club members and friends. Food and company was great, and it's guaranteed that unique and fun cars will show up too. Here's a few and one of...

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What is the Digital Path Forward?

What is the Digital Path Forward?

Sports Car Market Magazine

There’s a genuine satisfaction in being asked your opinion on a professional topic. It usually means that your opinion carries some weight as an expert. When the request is from Keith Martin’s Sports Car Market, it’s particularly satisfying.

I was asked to join a roundtable panel of peers to discuss the effect of electronics and digital controls in the restoration industry. It was an interesting topic and I enjoyed researching and composing a response. To read the roundtable content, click on the images of the pages to read the PDFs, and thanks to SCM for the opportunity.


Read More of My Blog Posts


No One Races Alone

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...

read more
Breaking The News

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...

read more
More Cars, More Pages, More Videos, and More Fun

More Cars, More Pages, More Videos, and More Fun

More Cars, More Pages, More Videos, and More Fun

 

Sport and Specialty website

As “the web guy,” part of the fun is seeing the progress of the cars in the shop, even when I’m not there. While it’s great making pictures at the shop – and hanging out with the guys – to see updated images of projects is truly fascinating. What was a stripped-down empty shell of a car suddenly shows up in stunning pictures and videos of finished work.

So much has happened over the last few years in which I’ve been managing the website that it’s time again to change up how we present the finished projects.

You can still see some hand-picked favorites in the Concours Showcase, and you can follow along the progress of the cars In The Shop, but the On The Road category just got too hard to keep up with in the old format.

So now, you can scroll through the dozens of cars that have passed through the doors at Sport and Specialty as thumbnail images, then click on that car to get its “story” of how it made it back to the road.

At the top of the page, you can now trim down that list to view by car marque. Have a soft spot for Jaguars? Alfa’s? Healey’s? it’s there for you. For real fun, click on the “Other” category. Sometimes things just don’t fit in a category.

Another addition to the homepage is our new YouTube channel. You may have seen John’s two recent videos by The Envision Media team – if you haven’t, read up on John’s blog. Those videos, and more, will live on the YouTube channel. As they say, stay tuned.

Keep your eyes on the site, Facebook, Instagram, and now YouTube to follow along with the fun!

Enjoy.

Bill Oakes
Web Guy


Read More of My Blog Posts


No One Races Alone

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...

read more
Breaking The News

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...

read more
Updates, New Crew Members, Jaguars, Alfas, and Healey Eye Candy

Updates, New Crew Members, Jaguars, Alfas, and Healey Eye Candy

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 so the energy was even higher than usual.

Many, many updates to come about the work going on “In The Shop” but for now, meet the new crew member Jon Edwards and a his story. Anyone who has visited has probably also met Cameron Schmidt in the shop, but now he’s officially elevated to apprentice status so now you’ll see him getting his hands into the rudimentary details of the work around the shop. 

Oh, and about that eye candy…


Read More of My Blog Posts


No One Races Alone

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...

read more
Breaking The News

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...

read more
Engine and Brakes for the Mustang!

Engine and Brakes for the Mustang!

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 site. 


Read More of My Blog Posts


No One Races Alone

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...

read more
Breaking The News

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...

read more
Top 10 Sport and Specialty “On The Road” Cars in 2018 – It’s Been a Great Year

Top 10 Sport and Specialty “On The Road” Cars in 2018 – It’s Been a Great Year

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 back over 2018 we’re proud to see the cars that gained “On The Road” status in 2018. They included Austin-Healeys, Jaguars, Alfa Romeos, and even a small armored car…seriously. We made sure that every project got that special attention that their owners count on from us. We’re serious when we say that we preserve the art and soul of vintage sports cars. 

Take a look through our Top 10 “On The Road” cars list below. Just like our children, we really don’t play favorites, they’re all special to us in their own way. Also, make sure to check out our full list of On The Road cars, it’s one of our most popular pages on the website. 

Happy New Year, everyone!


 

#10 – 1965 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8

This car is another re-commission project, having sat for a few years. Some engine work, body work, and a fresh new top and set of tires has this one back on the road being enjoyed by its owner.

 

 

#9 –1966 Austin Healey 3000

With some extensive front end damage, this beauty got refreshed from head-to-toe. We repaired the collision damage and then freshened the paint, interior, and mechanical components to get this one back to the car shows. Make sure to check out the smiles on the owner’s faces as they show it off to their friends.

#8 – 1948 Triumph 2000 Roadster

This unique car came in not running and with overheating issues. Newly acquired by a Healey customer, we set about making it safe and reliable. First, we got all of the gauges working and made sure the doors opened and closed with regularity and then tackled the various mechanical issues. Read on to learn more about this project.

#7 – 1971 Alfa Romeo Kamm Tail Spider

This is a first year Kamm Tail 1750 Spider with only 4,829 produced. We had been working to slowly refurbish the car that would include a full engine rebuild in 2017 when I couldn’t help myself and bought the car for my personal use. You can see and read more on the website. 

#6 –1965 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider

This car belonged to our friend and Ferrari aficionado Tom Caulfield. We have been servicing the car for years, including an engine overhaul. The current owner, and another regular customer, recently brought it in for a few minor issues and a new exhaust. We also did a service check on this very original and really nice Duetto and got him back on the road. 

#5 – 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint

This car had been sitting for a quite a few years and been started but not used on the road for a while. It’s a really nice and well-loved car that had an older restoration but needed some service and refreshing.

#4 – Ferret Armored Car

We worked on a Land Rover last year for a customer who has some interesting vehicles. He recently acquired this Ferret Armored Scout Car that he hasn’t been able to get started and asked if we would like a go at it. After a fair amount of troubleshooting we got the six cylinder Rolls Royce gasoline engine to pop, but not run consistently. It was fun to have here for a while, but we don’t see a new niche opening up soon.

#3 – 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV Race Car

It seems that race cars are never really done and are basically new every two or three years. In 2017 I had an issue on the dyno and had to rebuild in a hurry. I got back to the dyno in June of 2018 where I finally got it dialed in, with great torque numbers and good peak horsepower coming in at 7200 RPM. A fresh clutch, gearbox rebuild, some fresh paint on the nose, and some early prep will pay dividends in 2019. Ready to go!!

#2 –1969 Jaguar Series 2 E-Type

This survivor car had been stored in a clean dry environment since the mid 1970s. We brought it back mechanically, got it running, and rebuilt the suspension and drivetrain. Now, with all new glass, trim, and a fresh paint job, the owner is all smiles and back on the road.

#1 – 1965 Ferrari 330GT 2+2

Enzo Ferrari himself declared the Series 1 330 GT 2+2 as his favorite and regular driver. This beautiful Ferrari is a complete nut-and bolt-restoration – and more. An unfortunate accident almost finished this car. It was rear ended and pushed into a telephone pole and ended up looking like a silver fortune cookie, with very few usable body components left. To read the rest of the story of this build, check it out in our Concours Showcase


Read More of My Blog Posts


No One Races Alone

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...

read more
Breaking The News

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...

read more

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