A note of thanks from a good friend

One of our favorite customers sends us a thank you note

 

It seems as if Todd Buttrick has been a good friend since his first visit in November 2000.  He is just one of those likeable guys who get along with everyone and everybody who comes in contact with Todd enjoys hanging around him.  Soon after his initial visit, he came back to pick up FFR 2060, and the friendship was solidified.
 

 
Like all of our customers, we have appreciated Todd’s enthusiastic support over the years – we are honored, however, to call him a friend as well.  Recently he sent us some photos, as well as a letter of thanks that nearly brought tears to our eyes.
 

Excerpts of Todd’s letter:

To all my friends at Factory Five,

I don’t even know where to start. I was never one of those people that had wanted a Roadster ever since I was five years old, in fact, I can’t even remember how I got the bug.

 

My family moved back here to Connecticut in October of 1996 after my wife (Jillian) had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Jillian was only 38 years old at the time. We had two young girls and I needed help so I moved closer to our families which were both planted here in Connecticut.  We were a very active family with skiing, hiking, camping, tennis, fishing, etc.


Todd and Jill Buttrick
 

As my wife’s condition worsened, we gave up most of the leisure activities and had to … tend to her illness which had now become a daily struggle.  As hectic as things had gotten, I did manage to find some down time but I couldn’t stray far from home. I needed to find another outlet and tinkering down in the garage was just the ticket.  I needed to find a project I could sink my teeth into.
 

I read about this new company who was manufacturing a roadster kit up in Wareham Massachusetts and it was under $10 grand. “That’s it… I gotta have one of those!” 
 

It was a hard sell to my wife, mostly because she didn’t understand the whole kit car concept and we were a bit strapped after moving into a new house. It took several glasses of wine to convince her, finally (her mother) slurred “Oh go-ahead, let him have the damn car thing”.

So I’m off to Factory Five for a tour. While there, some self-proclaimed vintage-kit expert was giving FFR a hard time about the quality of the kits. I was most impressed how the Smith brothers handled the whole situation by always taking the high road. The rest is history.
 


With Dick Smith and old #198

I poured myself into the new project which kept me close to home and kept me sane through some pretty difficult times.  I never really believed in things that were ”meant to be”… until that project.

My wife was overcome by her illness in March of 2001, but before she passed she joined me for a go-kart ride up and down the street.  She was my everything! 

 

I didn’t work on the car for a couple of months afterwards but soon realized it was just what the doctor had ordered. I met Rich Gagliardi down at NAPA while buying some parts some months before. He was building an FFR in the next town over and we quickly became best friends. He took me under his wing and helped me out when I was down and out.
 

I’ve met many incredible people since then as well.  Dave Smith helped me fight for the breast cancer cause through Factory Five while having to deal with his own family illness. What a remarkable man. My outlook on life has changed forever. Thanks Dave.

 

I now have over 50,000 miles on the roadster and drive it whenever possible. It’s my therapy. It’s my escape. It’s my indescribable passion and the entire experience was certainly “meant to be.” After five years of driving, I still sit and stare at the car while it’s sitting in the garage.
 

I’m not sure if I had more fun building the car or driving the car. I will build another car someday but I can’t seem to stop driving this one to afford the time to build another.

 

 

One thing is for sure there will always be at least one Factory Five with me for the rest of my life…and a long overdue…Thanks FFR!!

 

Todd Buttrick

 

p.s. I also must thank the two most important people in my world - my daughters, Alyssa and Jenna.  Without their strength and support, I would never have made it through these past years.  They are my guiding light and my reason for being.
 

Because of our friendship, and with our deepest regard for Todd and his wife, we created the Team Jillian trophy – a traveling trophy annually awarded to the East Coast’s Challenge Series winning driver.
Todd and Tatiana Cheney at the 2002 FalFest