PROGRESS REPORT ROARING FORTIES, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
When Robert Logan took the monumental decision to ship the Roaring Forties production from Melbourne, Australia to distant Cape Town, South Africa it was inevitable that there would be some teething troubles, delays and communication problems given that car building is a complex business and accepting the fact that a new factory had to be leased, painted, wired and that new jigs, etc, had to be made.
Robert is here for two weeks to assist with his wide knowledge of his own car and it goes without saying that he found some faults and glitches, but luckily minor and I think the term ‘fine tuning’ is appropriate.
Robert is neither a partner in nor a director of Robbie Senekal and his partner’s company, the Classic Auto Manufacturing Company (CAMCO) but has commissioned the company to build his car on a sub-contract basis.
I have joined the company on a mornings only basis, for now, and will assist Robbie with setting up the parts department, parts sourcing, cost control and assisting him with general administration and streamlining production. I’m employed directly by Robert and he will be paying my salary from Australia. On a weekly basis I’ll be E-mailing him reports and pics of progress.
Yesterday was my first day and I really enjoyed working with Robert when we started setting up the spares department and packing parts into the sealable plastic sleeves. I was amazed at how well he knows his car, in fact every nut bolt, part, procedure, etc. I say this because bosses often rely on their technical staff to know all the technical details. His build manual is the best I’ve ever seen (even better than mine, he he, he!)
Roaring Forties customers who have ordered cars can rest assured that all is now up and running smoothly. An advantage is that both Robbie and I as well as Norman Lewis who is heading up the electrical department and Keith Bright who is making the fiberglass bodies as well as all of Robbie’s staff have been around the GT40 block before with GTD/CAV space (tube) frame and non-authentic stainless steel monocoque and the Superformance authentic MK11 monocoque.
An interesting common denominator is the forces background. Robert, Royal Navy; Robbie, an RSM is the South African Defence Force; Norman Lewis, RAF; US distributor, Hershal Byrd, US Army (Vietnam vet) and police and UK distributor, Rick Chattell, is also ex-services. I’m in the petty cash league having been a police reservist (hobby bobby) in the 1980s. A most noticeable feature of people with this background is the importance of discipline, respect and punctuality.
Robert is a dead honest straight shooter who speaks his mind when he has to and for that reason it’ll be a pleasure working with him as it will be an open and transparent relationship with RF customers benefitting by purchasing high quality cars built by the Australian/South African ‘partnership.’
When I signed up on www.GT40s.com over two years ago who would ever have imagined all this, starting CAV in 1999 and ending up with a deal with the very man who motivated the creation of the website. They say that truth is often stranger than fiction!
Greetings,
Andre 40
When Robert Logan took the monumental decision to ship the Roaring Forties production from Melbourne, Australia to distant Cape Town, South Africa it was inevitable that there would be some teething troubles, delays and communication problems given that car building is a complex business and accepting the fact that a new factory had to be leased, painted, wired and that new jigs, etc, had to be made.
Robert is here for two weeks to assist with his wide knowledge of his own car and it goes without saying that he found some faults and glitches, but luckily minor and I think the term ‘fine tuning’ is appropriate.
Robert is neither a partner in nor a director of Robbie Senekal and his partner’s company, the Classic Auto Manufacturing Company (CAMCO) but has commissioned the company to build his car on a sub-contract basis.
I have joined the company on a mornings only basis, for now, and will assist Robbie with setting up the parts department, parts sourcing, cost control and assisting him with general administration and streamlining production. I’m employed directly by Robert and he will be paying my salary from Australia. On a weekly basis I’ll be E-mailing him reports and pics of progress.
Yesterday was my first day and I really enjoyed working with Robert when we started setting up the spares department and packing parts into the sealable plastic sleeves. I was amazed at how well he knows his car, in fact every nut bolt, part, procedure, etc. I say this because bosses often rely on their technical staff to know all the technical details. His build manual is the best I’ve ever seen (even better than mine, he he, he!)
Roaring Forties customers who have ordered cars can rest assured that all is now up and running smoothly. An advantage is that both Robbie and I as well as Norman Lewis who is heading up the electrical department and Keith Bright who is making the fiberglass bodies as well as all of Robbie’s staff have been around the GT40 block before with GTD/CAV space (tube) frame and non-authentic stainless steel monocoque and the Superformance authentic MK11 monocoque.
An interesting common denominator is the forces background. Robert, Royal Navy; Robbie, an RSM is the South African Defence Force; Norman Lewis, RAF; US distributor, Hershal Byrd, US Army (Vietnam vet) and police and UK distributor, Rick Chattell, is also ex-services. I’m in the petty cash league having been a police reservist (hobby bobby) in the 1980s. A most noticeable feature of people with this background is the importance of discipline, respect and punctuality.
Robert is a dead honest straight shooter who speaks his mind when he has to and for that reason it’ll be a pleasure working with him as it will be an open and transparent relationship with RF customers benefitting by purchasing high quality cars built by the Australian/South African ‘partnership.’
When I signed up on www.GT40s.com over two years ago who would ever have imagined all this, starting CAV in 1999 and ending up with a deal with the very man who motivated the creation of the website. They say that truth is often stranger than fiction!
Greetings,
Andre 40