‘79 OB NZ, its been awhile.
#1
‘79 OB NZ, its been awhile.
Gday,
Well, here I go after a rather long hiatus (to I at least) from this site. It’s fair to say that mid 2017 was, um, not good. My father-in-law, Alan, succumbed to a 21 year battle with cancer at the tender age of 71, he was an absolute gem of a man, and the main reason I became involved with classic cars and bikes, it is still so very strange not to have him around, still very raw yet. It feels so odd to walk into his workshop when Tanz and I visit her mum, Frannie, his tools lay amid the oil stained workbench where he stacked them, containers of this and that neatly woven amoungst each other, just as he last left them. He liked my 928, although, being a rather forthright man he told me what he thought before I purchased it... I gleaned a little more respect from him, when he first saw it, and have since found out he spoke at large about it to his friends, I know what he really thought, as there was always a space in his garage when we visited so it would not have to sit outside! Rest easy Alan.
Eventually when I wanted to post here I couldn’t, no matter what I tried I could not log on, eventually after I had given up for a few months an IT guru fixed the problem, thanks Robb! (apparently some computer keyboard language setting difference between our countries, weird as I have not changed my iPad here since I joined Rennlist).
Anyway, I look forward to my renewed involvement with this forum again.
A couple of pics on my way to a car show after Alan’s passing, a beautiful reflective drive through Middlemarch Otago, towards his old stomping ground.
Cheers, Kiwi.
Highlands Motorsport Park Otago NZ
Well, here I go after a rather long hiatus (to I at least) from this site. It’s fair to say that mid 2017 was, um, not good. My father-in-law, Alan, succumbed to a 21 year battle with cancer at the tender age of 71, he was an absolute gem of a man, and the main reason I became involved with classic cars and bikes, it is still so very strange not to have him around, still very raw yet. It feels so odd to walk into his workshop when Tanz and I visit her mum, Frannie, his tools lay amid the oil stained workbench where he stacked them, containers of this and that neatly woven amoungst each other, just as he last left them. He liked my 928, although, being a rather forthright man he told me what he thought before I purchased it... I gleaned a little more respect from him, when he first saw it, and have since found out he spoke at large about it to his friends, I know what he really thought, as there was always a space in his garage when we visited so it would not have to sit outside! Rest easy Alan.
Eventually when I wanted to post here I couldn’t, no matter what I tried I could not log on, eventually after I had given up for a few months an IT guru fixed the problem, thanks Robb! (apparently some computer keyboard language setting difference between our countries, weird as I have not changed my iPad here since I joined Rennlist).
Anyway, I look forward to my renewed involvement with this forum again.
A couple of pics on my way to a car show after Alan’s passing, a beautiful reflective drive through Middlemarch Otago, towards his old stomping ground.
Cheers, Kiwi.
Highlands Motorsport Park Otago NZ
#4
Welcome back! Remember fondly your Dad as you drive your shark through what I consider to be some of the best driving roads for a 928! Visited my folks on the West Coast last year and want to come further South next time. Will message you should we get that far
#5
Kiwi,
welcome back, both to Rennlist and to my neck of the woods. Sorry to hear about Alan.
Give me a call if you want to catch up. I have just got home from ChCh and should be around for the rest of the weekend.
Hope you avoided those workmates on your trip up.
Myles
welcome back, both to Rennlist and to my neck of the woods. Sorry to hear about Alan.
Give me a call if you want to catch up. I have just got home from ChCh and should be around for the rest of the weekend.
Hope you avoided those workmates on your trip up.
Myles
#7
Thanks ED, I thought far too long and hard about even posting this, but he really was a lover of cars, and he knew all about this site and it’s wonderful people via our chats together, respect to him, respect to you, again thanks.
Cheers Adam, and thanks again for that lovely pm, I look forward to reading more on that wee project of yours!
Thanks mate, I will always think of him (not my Dad but my father-in-law, that’s ok though no problem), you make sure you message me please next time you are down, always a bed, wine, beer or coffee!
Cheers Myles, yes I will call you, though it’s your car I really want to see! Oh and yes avoided any trouble😎
Thanks Richard, feel free to contact me next time you are down, wine, beer, coffee, a chat, I don’t mind.
Thanks Richard, feel free to contact me next time you are down, wine, beer, coffee, a chat, I don’t mind.
Trending Topics
#8
I've been wondering for a while about your whereabouts Steve, now we know, very sad news indeed, sincere condolences to all concerned. We've all experienced what your going through with loss and indeed first hand experience of this dreadful disease. I my self have some ongoing issues all of which fortunately are now in hand, also along with my dear brother.
It'll be a long hard and sorry slog, but you all will get through it eventually, alas though it's never the same.
Kind regard's and best wishes to you all.
Ken
80 928 S
5 Speed
UK
It'll be a long hard and sorry slog, but you all will get through it eventually, alas though it's never the same.
Kind regard's and best wishes to you all.
Ken
80 928 S
5 Speed
UK
#9
I've been wondering for a while about your whereabouts Steve, now we know, very sad news indeed, sincere condolences to all concerned. We've all experienced what your going through with loss and indeed first hand experience of this dreadful disease. I my self have some ongoing issues all of which fortunately are now in hand, also along with my dear brother.
It'll be a long hard and sorry slog, but you all will get through it eventually, alas though it's never the same.
Kind regard's and best wishes to you all.
Ken
80 928 S
5 Speed
UK
It'll be a long hard and sorry slog, but you all will get through it eventually, alas though it's never the same.
Kind regard's and best wishes to you all.
Ken
80 928 S
5 Speed
UK
One thing to come out of it all is the bond Alan has left us, the bond of family, we are so much closer now with family we would not normally have contact with from other parts of our country. In fact we (around 16 of us) are driving our classic cars the full length of the country in November this year in honour of Alan, Tanz and I are thinking of making it a charity run for Hospice. I will be documenting and posting this at the time, our 928 is ready to go!!
Happy to hear you have “popped” out the other side, I trust your brother has too.
Once again, thankyou.
#10
Thankyou Ken for your kind words, Tanz and I ease the pain a little by doing charity work for our local Hospice (Philosophy of care to Cancer patients and their families) it won’t bring Alan back, however, having gone through this we know how much any kind of support means.
One thing to come out of it all is the bond Alan has left us, the bond of family, we are so much closer now with family we would not normally have contact with from other parts of our country. In fact we (around 16 of us) are driving our classic cars the full length of the country in November this year in honour of Alan, Tanz and I are thinking of making it a charity run for Hospice. I will be documenting and posting this at the time, our 928 is ready to go!!
Happy to hear you have “popped” out the other side, I trust your brother has too.
Once again, thankyou.
Yeah, I'm relatively ok, have to get regular check ups, but there are more unfortunate cases out there than me.., as you have discovered !.
My brother was worse off than me, but he's now as ok, as ok can be, I must contact him.
Best wishes once more to you and your's .
Ken
80 928 S
5 Speed
UK
#11
Beautiful post...beautiful car...beautiful country. Two days ago marked the loss of my dad 15 years ago. He was 68...too young and unexpected. You've got some great ideas to show tribute to Alan, his interest in classic cars, and to help others. The time between feelings of grief will slowly expand, and the tears will eventually give way to smiles - fortunately the good times are what we remember most.
#12
Beautiful post...beautiful car...beautiful country. Two days ago marked the loss of my dad 15 years ago. He was 68...too young and unexpected. You've got some great ideas to show tribute to Alan, his interest in classic cars, and to help others. The time between feelings of grief will slowly expand, and the tears will eventually give way to smiles - fortunately the good times are what we remember most.