I am the Owner of Winning Attractions Street Rod Customizing in McKenna, Washington. I have Produced over 44 Customer Owned Best In Show Winning Vehicles & Countless Class Placers. I was on the Discovery Channels, "Monster Garage" on Build Team 16- Wedlock And Won! I had my early training from Ed"Big Daddy" Roth and my Mother, Sandy Carlo who raced in the early days at Lions Dragstrip in Long Beach California with Blacky Blackburn. I spent some time at Barris House of Custom out by the old Stonewood Shopping Center. I was trained to Pinstripe by Art Sommers in Los Angeles. Now that you have an idea of who I am, Here Is My Story!
After moving back from Fresno California after 2 years of the Sun, Heat, Rattlesnakes, Scorpions, Tarantulas and South American Wolf Spiders I was introduced by the old owner of Buffalo Restorations, to the new Owners - Steve & Irene Warren who as the old owner said " Well, The Check Didnt Bounce". They offered to set me up as their In House Upholstery Division and so I had a 2 bay area where I set up all my equipment, Shelves, Machines and Supplies. My first job was a 1956 T-Bird owned by a Mr. Zorens. It was for a Conv. Top. I was paid for the job, bought the top, and spent the next 9 months trying to get the technicians to finish repairing the Top Bows, Order the parts for it and fixing all the stripped out or broken parts before I could install the top. The car has been ther now almost 2 years as it came in 4/2. Other jobs came in during that time and Steve had me do the Black with Red Leather Custom Bench Seat and Door Panels for his Black Retro PU (Never Paid Me For The Work Or the Leather or Supplies). I did 90% of his dads 1954 Chevy in White with Red Leather pleated seats (Dad Never Paid For That Job and kept the dodge cargo van he wanted to trade me for to do the Job as well) Like Father, Like Son. Each happy customer job I finished was a joy to do but during the first 6 months they never wanted to sign the contract for my working on the cars there and yet kept a trikle of work comming in that they collected their cut on up front when it arrived I bid the Job, Submitted to them, They put 25% on top of it, Charged the customer, Took the cut first then paid me to do the job by either 50% down and bal. When finished or just paid. Problem with that is if they didnt have the car done for me to do my work then I couldnt Install anything. Take the 1964 Teal T-Bird owned by Mr. Spencer - He wanted a paint job and white upholstery. When I was paid for materials I ordered the White Carpet which was on order, The Vinyl, Materials, Buns, Rear Foam, Padding, Scrim and all needed for the job. His car came in on 2/9. They tore the entire dash and components out, Door panels, headliner and bows, Elect. Wiring, Trim, Seats and tor them apart as well, and ripped out the carpet in shreads. They were paid to paint the new door panels that I bought and all the trim. I did the back seat and foam, headliner in pinpoint, new bucket seat foam and upholstery but by the time they left - they still even today cant find all the missing things they tore out of spencers car and keep calling me on where??? The car sat out back in their yard filthy in its cheap enamal paint with dust specks. I Have Photos! The Balance of the customers were and still are very happy with my work. Thanks to: Mr. Zoren - 1956 T-Bird, Carpet, Red & White Embossed Seat Upholstery, Door Panels and Arm Rests, Back Boot Curtain And Trunk Carpet. Mr. Priest - 1955 Chevy Bel Air, Repair Pillar Posts and Re-Install owners welting around doors. Mr. Tony Poulist - Corvette Custom ColorHand Sewn Seat belts. Mr. McCreary - 1928 Chevy DoorPanels, Kick Panels, Back Panels and Pockets in Faux Brown Mohair. Mr. & Mrs. Miller and their 1956 Yellow Ford F100 PU - Gray Velour Upholstery with matching Yellow piping, New custom made foam buns, Restored seat base sand blasted and painted satin black, Charcoal Flecked Deep Plush Carpet with Battery Box Access. The 1948 Buick Roadmaster with 4- Door panels with polished stainless and 2 Door Post Panels. The Clown Car who I repaired the Ill Fitting Top the prior upholsterer installed. The 1967 Chevelle Interrior, The Nameless others like the Repairs on the Lincoln Lido, and finally the Photo of Steve Warren, Owner of Buffalo, AKA-The-Good-Guy and Just-One Guy, thru the outside window of his truck beaming on his black and red leather upholstery with flame accents that He Never paid Me For.in Closing I Have Fully Documented and dated proof with step by step photos of everything that I did while there up to the day that I Left with My 59 T-Bird whom the clearcaot was distroyed by the plastic tarp they covered it with - (9 Months and even though I had the power steering rebuild kit for it and needed the exhaust manifold gaskets done they never touched it!) A fella named Hamilton brought his 1970 Toyota Landcruiser to Buffalo and ended up removing it and taking it elsewhere where the body men laughed at the washers welded under the fender wells to close up the rust holes... The Shop used my Plasma Cutter to do the job right and now Hamilton is sueing Buffalo who is hiding behind a pseudo name of West Coast Classics saying he is not Buffalo. Use your Own Judgement in choosing any company and sometimes those who cant back up their claims and have to lie to their customers need to go back to being a Loan Officer at Key Bank where at least the customers money is backed by FDIC.
0 comments