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| THE LOBBY A gathering place. Introductions, sports, showin' off your ride, birthday-anniversary-milestone, achievements, family oriented humor. |
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#1
05-11-2013, 04:50 PM
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MY BEST SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY
Hello and good tidings to all Pontiac fans wherever you may be. My name is Cary Hopkins and I have a story to share with you. My son, Joe Hopkins (aka Kokamo Joe) has documented the frame off restoration of a sure enough 1969 GTO on here. I say sure enough because it's a real GTO, not a clone like we see so many of nowadays. I feel that he did a professional job. As you may know he did this without my knowledge. It took him well over a year to complete this painstaking task. I work with Joe and see him almost everyday. We both associate with the same people, be it family or friends or clients. Lots of my (our) customers are best friends away from work. Together we manage ALine Auto Parts and Outdoor Power in Liberty Hill, Tx. I run the parts and Joe does the outdoor power. In the span of this year plus restoration roughly 100 or so people knew what he was doing under my nose. All of these people, including my dear wife Kay of 37 years (Joe's mom), my daughter, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, friends, clients and just about everyone I know kept this secret all that time. I had no clue whatsoever! It's been several weeks now since he presented this car to me as a surprise gift for my 55th birthday. I had a 1969 GTO EXACTLY like this one when I was in high school and afterward (another story). Joe wanted to re-create that for me and he did one heck of a good job to impress his old man. The enormity of this project still leaves me in awe. It gives me a new purpose to enjoy my God given time left on this earth. This man(still a boy to me cause I'm his father) sacrificed many many manhours, thought, late nights in the shop including every evening, weekends, vacations and days off not to mention a whole bunch of money. He won't admit it but he probably came close to a divorce over this because he had a passion. Bear hugs to his wonderful wife Linda. I feel like I am the luckiest man on earth and that I have the best son and the greatest GTO anyone could ever have. I love this car and it ain't gonna go anywhere. Someday when I'm gone he might get it back! Thanks for reading my post and may the PONTIAC FORCE be with you! Turn it on, wind it up, blow it out, GTO!
Cary Hopkins |
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#2
05-11-2013, 05:39 PM
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Congratulations
How about about a picture with you and your new ride? patrick ps leave some tread on the rear tires. 
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#3
05-11-2013, 05:47 PM
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Congrats to you and your son. Wondering how many times the project came close to being discovered ?
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'68 GTO '69 Corvette '75 Cadillac Coupe Deville TOM |
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#4
05-11-2013, 05:52 PM
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Wonderful story. I hope you and the bride have many joyous moments in the GTO.
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#5
05-11-2013, 06:06 PM
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Watta terrific story !! It presents the strong bond that you and your son have. Sounds like you brought him up right.
Jim
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65 Catalina sedan. Allen Thomas Performance 495. KRE Heads at 310cfm ported by SD Performance, ProSystems Dominator carb on ported Victor intake, P-Dude custom grind hydraulic roller, MSD ignition, 3.50 Moser/Ford rear. F-Glass front bumper by son Rob, rear by the old man and joint effort for trunk lid. 3950# w/driver. Best of 9.5761/139 on 175 shot, 6.01 /114 in 1/8. |
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#6
05-11-2013, 06:26 PM
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Congrats Cory, that is one beautiful GTO. Your son documented the entire build in the 68-69 GTO section on here, and we all watched in wonder of his skills and generosity.
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#7
05-11-2013, 08:39 PM
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This was one of the best stories I've followed in years. I won't be forgetting this one for
a long time. Enjoy the car I hope it gives you as much pleasure that the first one did.
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#8
05-11-2013, 08:42 PM
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Great story and Glad he shared it with us.It was alot of fun watching the progress.
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72 Luxury Lemans nicely optioned  Best so far 12.40 Milan Dragway 2025 I am the Thread Killer! |
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#9
05-11-2013, 09:47 PM
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Welcome Cory. Yeah, many of us here watched his progress. You are not the only one that can hardly believe what he accomplished in one short year!
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Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
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#10
05-11-2013, 09:50 PM
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....and here's the link for those that did not see it...
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=694660
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Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
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#11
05-11-2013, 11:52 PM
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Welcome to PY Forum and the Wild World of Pontiacs , Chopkins .
 Your son really climbed all the mountains and sailed all the seas on his journey. The whole thing was amazing to follow. Enjoy your New Ride ! 
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#12
05-12-2013, 12:17 AM
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Thanks for posting the link. Your son's work is un-freegin-real !! Lotta love in that goat.
Jim
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65 Catalina sedan. Allen Thomas Performance 495. KRE Heads at 310cfm ported by SD Performance, ProSystems Dominator carb on ported Victor intake, P-Dude custom grind hydraulic roller, MSD ignition, 3.50 Moser/Ford rear. F-Glass front bumper by son Rob, rear by the old man and joint effort for trunk lid. 3950# w/driver. Best of 9.5761/139 on 175 shot, 6.01 /114 in 1/8. |
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#13
05-12-2013, 03:47 AM
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Cary,
That son of yours is a piece of work. So is your car. He graciously allowed us to be a part of this great escapade. You & your wife are to be commended for raising a guy like that. Welcome. Charles |
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#14
05-12-2013, 06:33 AM
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Welcome, and congrats on the sweet 69. I really enjoyed following your sons amazing progress on your GTO, he does awesome work.
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The beatings will continue unless morale improves. 69' Judge R/A III 4-speed, Mayfair Maize/black interior. |
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#15
05-12-2013, 07:41 AM
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Welcome Cary & congratulations on a great car & an even better son!
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Some guys they just give up living And start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home from work and wash up, And go racin' in the street. Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - 1978 |
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#16
05-12-2013, 08:42 AM
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Welcome to the family. Followed your sons thread from beginning to end. Car is one of a kind and so is Joe. Now go out and enjoy it.
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#17
05-13-2013, 08:04 AM
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Congrats!
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1971 Pontiac GT-37 Car is a junk yard dog and maybe one day will be restored. 
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#18
05-13-2013, 09:12 AM
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Congrats Cary! Glad to hear you liked the surprise! Joe put a ton of effort into the car. A frame off is not for everyone, and a true labor of love. Glad to say I helped with a few parts and advise along the way. Great job Joe!
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#19
05-13-2013, 09:15 AM
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Welcome to the forums, That car's a looker. Enjoy it like it was intended to be.
Mike
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so many pontiacs, so little time.................. moderator is a glorified word for an unappreciated prick.................. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." --Albert Einstein "There is no such thing as a good tax." "We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." - Winston Churchill |
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#20
05-29-2013, 11:45 PM
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Welcome to the forums Cary, we all couldn't wait for Joe to unveil the car to you. The time and detail he put into documenting his progress was amazing and an inspiration to us all. Quite a special son you have there (and a helluva nice GTO too!).
Dave
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2 wrongs don't make a right, 3 lefts do. 4 lefts make a NASCAR race but who cares? ---------------------------------------------------------- 2004 Grand Prix GT daily driver 1974 LeMans GT 455 |
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