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History of My Sailing
I thoughly enjoy sailing now. I just started in 2004 when I found a cute little sailboat at an auction. I'd
always wanted to learn to sail, and the price was right. The first time out I sailed 5 miles up the Maumee River and
back. I was hooked, I had to have more. The wife, Debbie, and I bought a new Hunter 170 in 2005. We sailed
our H170 at several places in 2005. Then in 2006 we kept her in the water in Sandusky across from Cedar Point Amusement
Park. I sold her in the spring of 2007 and purchased a new Precision 23 for 2007 and beyond. This year, 2009,
I want to sail on several overnight cruises around Lake Erie.
My Work History
I graduated first in my class from Four County Joint Vocational School in 1978 after completing two years of electronics.
I worked 6 months for Kent Moore Industries as an electronics tech where I mostly repaired new electronic ignition test equipment.
In my last month I worked with the design engineers on an ignition tester for Yamaha motorcycles - my design was used for
the test probe.
From there I worked for Unisys Corp. 21 years, starting as an electronics tech. I spent
time as a sr. electronics tech, a technical manager, and as a sr. support engineer. That location was the Unisys repair
center for this half of the world.
The past eight years I've been an IS manager for three automotive
manufacturers: Alex Products, A-Stamp Industries & Autocoat LLC. In 2008, I accepted a promotion to Director of
Materials and Information Systems & Technology.
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My Background
I've always been a car guy. My first car was a 1965 Falcon 2-door, six cylinder & 3 on the tree. After
that I owned several Mustangs. A 1968 coupe that I totally rebuilt. The result was a black and silver beast
powered by a 428 w/dual four barrels. I sold that car to buy a 1970 Mach 1. It already had a nice paint job and
a built up 302. All this car needed was a 4.57:1 gear installed to make it run. While owning that Mach 1 I purchased
a 1970 fastback w/351 & 4-speed. I also had a 1968 fastback w/302 & 4-speed. It was destroyed in an accident
when a Pontiac pulled out in front of me. At the same time I owned a 1972 Chevelle SS 454. I was on my way to
pick up a couple pushrods for it when I wrecked the 68. I sold the Chevelle to buy a 1970 Torino Cobra w/429 & 4-speed.
I had found a 1973 Mach 1 w/351 CJ a year before that. I built the 1973 into a road handling beast. I owned it
for 16 years. During that time it had been showed & raced, and appeared in two magazines. In 1992 I started
dirt track racing in the stock class. The following year I moved up to Super Late Models. So for about 9 years I drove
dirt track super latemodels & modifieds. I had the pleasure of winning several times. I've had my 15 minutes
of fame in magazines, autograph sessions and radio interviews. Fun stuff. I totally rebuilt a 1973 Corvette in
2000. I had made a promise to myself that I would have a Corvette by the time I was 40. I made it happen, although
when I drove it on my birthday in October I still needed to paint the hood. At the same time I was driving a 1984 Porsche
944. I had always wanted a Mazda Miata. So in 2001 I bought one for my birthday. Gotta love zero percent
interest! I still have the Miata. I helped my son, Steve, rebuild a 1954 International r-100 pickup as his first
car. We converted it to disc brakes and changed it to a 12volt system. I got hooked on sailing in 2004.
Now I'm a sailor.
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