Had to share

[SS427]

This is video of our shops next door neighbor and customer Evelyn Brandt Thomas taking a ride in her 2013 converted Camaro driven by Nationwide driver Justin Allgaier. She, brother Glen and her nephew Rick (who is also a customer) and through their company Brandt Consolidated, Sponsor the #31 Justin Allgaier Nationwide Camaro. We restored a 63 Chevy II for her a couple of years ago and to say Evelyn is a gearhead would be quite the understatement! She is 90 years old and still works 5 days a week and can even drink and party Annie under the table! Rick bought and converted the 2013 Camaro to look like the racecar and presented it to Evelyn at the Bristol track this past week. Then they roasted her later that night at her B-day party.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx-5IHvdfyI

She had quite a Birthday week as she also got to throw the first pitch at last weeks Cardinals game.

http://brandt.co/FeaturedVideo/tabid/334/language/en-US/Default.aspx

[Postsedan]

Priceless <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif Thanks for sharing <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Dan

[Plowman]

She is so cool too.

[Bill Pritchard]

Wow.....that lady has much to be thankful for! To be that healthy, sharp, and full of life at that age is truly a gift.

[SS427]

She is indeed a remarkable woman and is one reason why I love my job! She hired me to restore her mom's original owner 63 Chevy II 4 door 6 cyl car as it had been in the family all it's life. I tried to delicately explain to her that even a driver quality restoration would cost her about $50k to restore on a car that was only going to be worth about $8k when done to which she replied, &quot;are you assuming I cannot afford it?&quot; to which I replied, &quot;no but you did not get where you are today by being foolish&quot;. Likely a dumb thing to say in retrospect especially where sentiments are involved. As she walked out the door (at age 87) she turned around and said it was one of the last things on her bucket list and shut the door behind us. Ann and I got on the phone and called all our existing customers and asked if they would mind us not working on their cars for a short time. We worked three solid months, 14 hour days with only 2 days off and finished the car (sans a couple of bolt on items) in time for our open house to surprise her. We unveiled her car at the open house and let her start the car for the first time (prior to the open house). When I turned around to talk to her after she started it she was crying, smiling but at the same time crying. It was all over then and every ounce of effort had paid off. Today there is very little we wouldn't do for this woman and she has been one of the kindest people we have ever met. She has opened a lot of doors for us as well. This city (Springfield) and certainly this town will lose a lot when we lose her. Thanks for letting me share. We have been truly blessed with some great customers and friends in this hobby and business.

[scuncio]

Inspiring.

[Xplantdad]

Awesome Rick and Annie...you rock!

[Tenney]

Too cool! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif

[markinnaples]

That/she's amazing. God Bless her.

[RPOLS3]

Very cool.

Jake

[earntaz]

What an AWESOME story -- good on ya' ...

The TAZ

[PeteLeathersac]

Cheers to a very cool lady!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[parkbrau]

Great American. Great story! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif

[Bill Pritchard]

Great story, Rick. Proof once again that, as much as we all love these old hunks of iron, it's really about the people <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif

[Shevelle]

Now that's my kind of Lady! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif
Thanks for sharing Rick <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif