As
much as I try, I'm unable to really capture Gary's energy,
personality, or history with mere words. Here's a guy, that once
waited for eight hours with me, at an upstate New York rest area,
while I was stranded with a borrowed BMW 2002. But it goes so much
farther than that.
The
back story: It was 2003 or 2004. I was asked to drive a friend's car
to Hartford CT from Baltimore MD, so that the folks at my
destination; “Sports Car Restoration”, could perform an estimate
on some minor touch up work. The guys at SCR live and breath 2002s.
Since I was having them do all the metal and paintwork on my own car
at the time, this was an easy favor. The car was already
beautiful...and remains so to this day.
On
the way back, it lost a head gasket. This was years before I owned a
cell phone. I called the guys at SCR using one of those “pay phone”
thinguses, and they said Gary (who was having them restore his own
2002) was on his way back to New York City, but hadn't left yet. Gary
got on the phone, asked where I was, and proceeded to drive about 70
miles to meet me. He then used his phone to call a flatbed truck, and
we waited. And waited. And waited. We followed the truck back to
Hartford in Gary's other 2002, and arrived around 10:00pm. After the
formalities of unloading the car and handing the keys over, he
offered me a ride back to New York, where he'd make sure I had a
train ticket back to Baltimore. I somehow arrived home, in the back
of a taxi, around 5:00am. Longest Day Ever.....and the beginning of
a lifelong friendship.
Now
that Gary and I have been friends for a few years, I realize this is
just pure, standard behavior for him. It's just what he DOES. I moved
back to Western Pennsylvania about six years ago, and (as fate would
have it) landed a job about 4 miles from Gary's farm in Evans City
(yes, film geeks.... THAT Evans City). I signed a lease and kept in
touch with him, occasionally seeing him during visits to the shop to
talk about our mutual love of 2002s. Gary still owns the very same
2002tii he bought new in 1972. One day, he offers up this tantalizing
statement; “You know, I have another one behind my barn. Are you
interested in it?” The rest is history.
Seven
weeks after I dragged the car from the back of Gary's barn, he and I
cruised on a seven hour road trip to North Carolina, for “The
Vintage”....an annual event focused on classic and vintage BMWs. As
we rolled in to the parking lot, there were standing ovations. This
car...and Gary... ooze positive energy.
Mojo
is its own fuel.
Along
the way, we talked about everything under the sun. Sex, Drugs, Rock N
Roll, Movies, Wine, Cars, Travel.... and we still haven't finished
running out of things to talk about. We made a superb traveling team.
I'm
as flattered by his desire to go with me, as he is for my request
that he be my running mate for this high mileage, high speed
tomfoolery. He said to me, after he made the decision; “Look! I
wouldn't go on a cross country trip with just ANYBODY, you know. I
rely on known talent, for such an adventure!”
Me
too, my friend.
Photo Credit: Linda Lovecraft
