Hmm, perhaps some feel uneasy talking about how they got their cars? Some people may consider it bragging or showing-off, and no-one likes a big head
Anyway, FYI, I don't mind posting a brief history of how I got to owning mine. A quick timeline is probably easiest, but it's by no means EVERY important event in my life (as my wife would angrily tell you!!!!)
Age - Event
1 - Born 1st August 1971 and lived the first 4 years of my life in a caravan (I kid you not). My Dad worked at the local Dairy, and my Mum was and still is a part-time carer for old people. Was my family wealthy? Do wealthy people live in caravans?!
4 - My parents moved into a Council estate (government subsidised rented accommodation for our friends outside the UK). At least it was a house :licker:
12 - My Granddad brought me a BBC Model B home computer and the journey began. I often say if he'd brought me a Sinclair Spectrum or Commodore 64 my life would have been very, very different... the BBC was a 'serious' computer, not a games machine. I spent *many* a night learning it, playing, experimenting - the Golden Age of Home Computing I often hear it referred too.
13 - First noticed a Lamborghini Countach in a magazine. I was completely blown away by the sheer presence of it! :sun: Friends laughed as I said "one day, I will own one of those". "Sure you will..." I drew pictures of them every day. People were sick of me talking about Lambos. Ferrari? Sorry, they are for ponces! REAL MEN drive Lamborghini's, I used to say. Hehehe :finger:
17 - Left school with next to no 'real' qualifications, and took the first job offered as a 'data-entry bod' at a local Electrical company. Ended up setting up a network of Amstrad 1512's running Wordstar! DOS baby yeah!! Anyway, it was crrrrap money (£ 70.00 a week) but I got a good technical grounding in PC's - it was a new era back then. By the time I left 2 years later I had computerised their entire business and was in command of 3 people, with a budget of 10,000 per year to spend on IT. Not bad for an 18 year old! Still only earned 70 quid a week tho
but my Boss was a great guy who I have huge respect for. He taught me honest and integrity are the essence of success in business.
18 - I was head-hunted by the guy that supplied our Amstrad hardware - he wanted someone as his 'technical sales' guy. This was another way of saying "you will do absolutely bloody everything" as I soon found out. He was an awful Boss, but paid well back then (£ 200 a week plus bonus plus a company car) so I put up with his s#it.
He showed me that cheating and ripping people off was the fastest way to gain enemies
Eventually, I got fed up digging someone else’s ditch, and left aged...
20 - to setup a company doing it the way I wanted - all the good bits, with none of the bad bits. I started in a shed with £ 5000 pounds I saved up over my three year 'career'. Oddly enough, even with a shed, I soon built up a loyal customer base, many of whom are still with me to this day. Business and money wise, things moved veeerrry sllowwwlly...
21 - moved into my first brick premises in the centre of town. Gained a business partner (Neil) who was a customer at the time, but not very well with a broken back. He took a bit more of a 'back seat' in the business but was a valuable asset in that he didn't try and rip me off. Things progresses well, although we only made peanut money for the first few years.
24 - Moved into much bigger premises with the intention of growing the company. Took on more staff (5 extra) and Neil retired due to deteriorating health. Things began to pick up pace - I was 'in command' and had good staff. We began focussing on small business customers instead of consumers, and then it really took off, with 100% year on year growth for the next four years.
28 - Treated myself to my first REAL car - a 1994 Honda NSX
Absolutely superb and totally underrated. I have just sold it, and the buyer is now a great friend.
29 - Fulfilled the life's dream. Brought a 1999 Diablo SV with 5000 km on the clock (not even run in) and immediately added the Strosek conversion to the front. :silly2: Now the ‘car’ thing is done, I’m not sure where to go from here! Murcielago? Mcclaren? Probably not – I will invest back in the business, and possibly property. Plus I have a few web-ideas on the boil too…
I would welcome reading abridged version of other people’s ‘life-story’. Any takers?!
CA