I was an engineer in the auto industry. I take my hat off to anybody that can work in a cubical, it just wasn't for me.

Now own/operate a Honda motorcycle dealership.

"If you love what you are doing... then you'll never work another day in your life."

 

My father-in-law is a dentist and he does all types of manual labor. Sounds like your dentist is a wuss!

 

Retired corporate pilot, 40+ years of trying to keep other people happy and now trying to decide what to do to keep ME happy. I've seen most of this country from 40,000 feet and now would like to see some of it from the ground in my 62 Vette.
Bud

 

Retired U.S. Navy CWO4. Was in Submarine repair for just about all of 31 years (thus my nickname).

Almost exclusively Fast Attack: 585-688 class. Worked on everything but the Nuke Plant.

Now a DOD contractor working on new Submarine communications systems design in Newport RI.

 

Bob, are you on Rt 3?

If so, I pass your place ever day on my way to work. I should stop by some time.

 

I own/operate a company that provides services to car enthusiasts

 

I always avoid posting to these "what do you do?" threads because it usually gets tossed back at me, but here goes.

I "do" the lawyer thing, have worked at large law firms (litigation, corporate transactions, regualtory - all in the area of insurance) and have worked "in house" in corporate legal departments, where I am now.

I just turned 45 but have a 5 and 7 year old, I don't see retirement any time soon (can't see how to retire before your last kid comfortably clears college) so it's off to work I go for now . . . but I enjoy what I do, thankfully.

 

Well here goes............

Played minor league baseball right out of high school and then realized I was never going to make any money so I went to college and then into the Army. 101st Airborne out of Ft. Campbell KY to West Point as an instructor and into Nam. Came out and went to work at Prudential Insurane, Newark and then into a consulting position for Exxon, Florham Park. Was recruited to consult for a high tech training company out of Oakbrook Il and then eventually got the boot. Had been to culinary school along the way so I bought and open a large restaurant in central NJ for 5 years. Sold that business and back into high tech with a small private start up. Got my Master's in 2003 and now I'm thnking maybe semi-retirment mid-next year. We're now 150M annual sales, 600 people world-wide and looking at an IPO later this year or early next. (I'm a major shareholder thank you very much)

But life had no meaning until I met Wendy and married her in 2006. She wants more Vettes than I do and drives them all - and very well too. We love it here in Indian Wells, California, living in a Golf Country Club Community. You know Kal-i-forn-ya the official land of fruits and nuts.

Life's REAL good

 

Hay Rich, I'm one of those nuts but you can leave the fruit in SF

 

I've got family in Kearny ( Hudson ), Fairfield, Morristown, Basking Ridge, and then down the shore in Toms River and Bayville. PM me your company info and I'll see if I can drum up some business.
Don

 

Do not leave out the Flakes! (just like cereal)

 

Sr Electronic Audio System Eng.
25 Years with the Live Sound Entertainment Casino Industy, Retired. Worked with and traveled with Frank Sanatra as well as many other "A" acts. Many after a show lost nights of party-ing and wondering who drove me home.

Part Time past 20 years:
Represent Yamaha Professional Audio Mixing Consoles in the South New Jersey area for reapair as well as there other Pro Audio Live Sound Equipment.

This affords me Corvette ..Show and Repair Time.

 

Trained as a lawyer, went into practice with my dad and uncle. My dad thought it was a good idea for me to handle his (and other partner's) trial work in addition to mine. After six long years I had enough and thought I would step away for awhile. Opened a restoration shop in So Cal specializing in luxury cars of the thirties and ended up doing it for 16 years. In my spare time (?), was asked to paint 2 show vehicles for GM Product Development,which led to 2 more for GM Truck and Bus Group, and 2 more and on and on for commercials, sales brochures, a TV show, auto shows etc (long commute from San Diego to Detroit). That led to involvement with a project with GM and the New York City Transit Authority to combat graffiti. Helped develop and ran the project until they sold the bus division to Greyhound. NY was an extremely finicky customer and had to give them a total over several years of 1500 coaches painted with an anti graffiti paint inside and out. These projects would last about 3 to 4 months a year. Extremely challenging but rewarding. Did some other paint consulting, plus a number of cars for show.

Remarried a pretty good girl who just so happens to have a hobby that could be worse than cars-horses. Said goodby to the car business and now with my wife we represent banks and asset management companies in the management and sale of foreclosed properties. A bit jealous of you guys that are retired and can work on cars all day. Someday-Jim

 

Mr. Bopp, your reply would have been shorter if you listed the things you haven't done/accomplished. Sounds like a rich and full life experience with an IPO exclamation point. Very nice!

 

Thank you kind sir. Didn't mention that I worked as a butchers apprentice, truck driver from NJ to Florida or a auto mechanic with one of my best friends - my Dad.

Now I'm thinking of learning to play golf. But I still think it's how hard you hit the ball. Damn..........

 

THink I have posted this before, but what the he**. I sell used machinery for a couple large manufacturers. You might know one of them as Cat. I'm under contract to sell their manufacturing assets once they are finished using them. Usually they are just replacing for faster machinery or it is because a part or family of parts have been outsourced to a supplier, therefore they don't have a need for the machine any more. I stay pretty busy and travel a few days every week. If there is a Cat plant or major supplier by you, I have probably been there. In my other 1% of time during the week, I help our sister company run auctions of manufacturing plants going out of business or downsizing (this is where I say.....give me a line on a closing plant, if we get the deal, i'll send you a nice check )

Someone else mentioned 3.35/hr. I remember those days washing dishes. Man did we have fun. That was in 1987. I just found my w-2 from then when doing my taxes. I would have never guessed I would have PARTS of a car that were worth more than I made in a year. Boy how times change.

 

My long deceased father-in-law was a dentist (a cheap one to boot) and he worked on his cars, had a woodworking shop in his garage, helped me on several remodeling jobs and the two of us helped his son build a quad-level house, I was often amazed at his ability to get his hands clean for his next day at the office as this was long before the use of latex gloves. Your dentist most likely makes so much money that it is easier to buy everything for top dollar. Maybe he would be interested in my 67 small block car for 250k????

 

So your the one that responsible for all of our jobs going over seas,the mortgage crisis, the downfall of the American auto industry,and four dollar a gallon gas. Your not alone Jerry. After whats happened to this country the past 7 years,I'm with you 100%.

 

Thirty eight years in newspaper business. 28 as a news photographer, currently in production/publishing. Three years Army, 17 years Coast Guard reserve. Retired military, 2 years to go on the civilian job. (unless I'm laid off).

Just hoping my ship comes in before my dock rots!

Dave

 

Was in the RD lab for 31 plus years.... been building street rods full time....7 days a week for 6 years.....Built and raced cars and motorcycles forever.....