I needed to have a couple of wisdom teeth removed and a good friend of the family is an oral surgeon in Cocoa Beach. So 2 weeks ago I pulled my Marauder out of storage and took off for Florida. I left at 1:45 on a Tuesday and pulled in their driveway 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. OH, I should mention I stopped in Louisville and had dinner with Bill and TJ (Lmark) on my way! Grabbed a quick shower and off to the surgeon's...
Wednesday was pretty much spent chillin and sleeping off the drugs. Thursday was another relaxing day ... Friday I got up and left by 11 or so and headed south to meet up with the South Florida guys at their Friday night cruise in. It was great to meet everyone and put faces with names. Had a great meal and lots of laughs!
Drove back to Cocoa Beach late Friday. Got up at 6, drove an hour up to Orlando and went to a cars and coffee... HOLY CRAP! 350+ cars and nothing low dollar by a long shot! Around 11 I headed over to another friend's parent's place in Orlando for lunch. After that headed to a Cars for Cancer show at a medical center... DAYUM! HIGH DOLLAR cars... we don't ever see Lambos, Ferarris, Bugatti's, Benz's, BMW'S like these... How about a row of new McClarens!!!! Unreal... at 4 I headed out to yet another cruise in... about 150 cars in a great little town... had a fantastic time... until I left to go back to Cocoa.... pulled away from a toll both, 1st gear shifts to second, and BAM... No more... trans died on the highway at 9 or so p.m..
I still had 1-2 and reverse and only 20 miles to go so I limped her back. Now what? I'm 1500 miles from home, broken trans and a modded car... Here's where this group and the car world in general are amazing. I posted on FB what was up and the calls started flying in. Amazing how many people were at the ready to help me out. The next 3 days were unreal.
First things first, we gotta get the trans out. So go buy tools and do it in a driveway? Pay a shop to do it? Rent a shop? My friends took me buy their mechanics place on Sunday just to see if he was there... he was. Told him my story, no hesitation at all. Where's your car? At the house (5 miles away) Go get it, there's a hoist and my tools are right there. Yep, this guy that just met me allowed me to use his shop and his tools. If you are in need of an honest shop Advanced Auto Repair Group 428 Richard Road | Rockledge, FL 32955 Call (321) 631-9666 ask for Richie or John. Trans is out on Sunday, now to figure out if we build it or buy a used one.
Found a used one, low miles, not far away... yeah till they figured out I was stranded and the price went up by $300... Umm, no. so back to friends and FB. The entire time from the moment I posted on FB people were constantly reaching out to me. The ones that matter to you guys are Marty O and Landy. Most of you know Marty from Moe's Speed Shop in Ga. Marty was on the phone and willing to do whatever I needed to get me back on the road. Many probably do not know member Landy. He has moved on from Marauders but is very active in racing and was very active with Marauders in the past.
In talking with Landy, I was going to have his guy rebuild my trans but he was very sick and could not do it. Landy did not stop for me though, he reached out to another buddy of his who was actually closer to me and got me in touch with him. Marc Medeiros at American Motorsports. Marc said that they use a shop by the name of Bronco Johns transmission in Orlando. So off I went. Got there at 11:45 on Monday, they called me at 12:45 so I could review the damage and approve repairs. 3 p.m., they called. Trans was ready! Went back, picked it up, was pleasantly surprised at the price. So if you are in Florida, looking for performance parts or service PLEASE remember to check out American Motorsports 4130 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804 (407) 290-1010 ask for Marc If you need transmission work done and want someone you can trust to build you a stout trans give Keith or John at Bronco Johns a call 2021 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804 (407) 428-0056
The next day I put the trans back in, test drove and packed up to head home. I gave Marty and Jeff a call and decided to swing by the shop so they could make some adjustments to my tune. We ended up spending the entire afternoon together and then grabbed dinner.
I spent the next day on the road stopped by another friend's house in Nashville on the way back. Then picked up another transmission for a project we are building here at the shop in Lexington. The guy I bought it from (craigslist add) asked if I was ever in the area in the spring time.... I asked why... he said because every spring he and his other car buddies spot a big group of Marauders all over the place between Louisville and Lexington!!!!
The long and short is this, 10 days, 3500 miles, two teeth pulled, transmission replaced, and countless hours laughing and meeting new and old friends that I KNOW I can depend on. That type of security can't be described in this day and age. THANK YOU, to all of you that in any way made my trip a great one. Can't wait to see you guys and gals in Louisville!
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Those were the days......... 
Originally Posted by martyo
The twins
