Friday, March 14, 2014

Onward and upward

I’ve said this before, but I really appreciate everyone who checks out this website, reads the stories, and follows along with what I’m doing here.  I’ve met tons of great people around Kansas City at car shows, races, and other events because of this place, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.

But because of that, the announcement I’m about to make is bittersweet.  I am moving away from Kansas City.  Starting April 1, I will be the Senior Remarketing Specialist for General Motors at the Adesa Auto Auction in Nashville, Tenn. 

This is actually a really great position for me.  I’m sure if you’ve been here awhile, you know that I’m a GM guy to the core.  I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than mess with used GM cars all day.  I love the business, I love the product, and I won’t have to spend the rest of my life sitting in a cubicle.  Plus, everyone tells us that Nashville is a great city to live in.  I have to say, I really am excited about it.

I am going to miss Kansas City, though.  I have lived here for 28 years of my life.  My wife has lived here almost as long.  Both of us still have our parents and siblings here.  I have a ten-year-old son who is going to have to start over at another school.  These were major things we had to consider as this started to unfold.  But in the end we decided that the advantages of this opportunity outweighed the drawbacks. 

I realize that this is a little personal for a blog post here, but everyone has been so supportive and loyal that I feel like I owe you an explanation.  It is obviously going to impact what you see here.

Since I won’t be in Kansas City anymore, I’m obviously not going to be covering many Kansas City-area car shows.  I also won’t be doing the Kansas City car show calendar.  One of the big reasons I kept that up was so I would know where to go on the weekends myself. 

That doesn’t mean that the blog is going away, though.  I still intend to go to car shows, museums, and events when I can, and I still plan to write about them.  My domain name is paid up for several years down the road, and I have no intention of letting this place die.

To that end, I hope you continue to check in and follow along here, even if you are one of my Kansas City readers.  Like me, you’ll get to see places and cars that you’ve probably never seen before.  I’m going on a new adventure, and I want to take you with me.

Most importantly, I just want to say thank you.  There are more of you out there reading this blog than most people realize.  And when I’m out at car events around town, I hear nothing but positive comments from you.  Your support is the main thing that keeps me going here.  When I leave Kansas City, I am truly going to miss you.  But I hope we can still be friends, even if I am nine hours away.

Thanks for everything!

Craig

30 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the new position !
    You will be missed and I look forward to reading about car shows in the Nashville area here on your Blog.
    We may even put together a Cruise out to join you at one (or two) a year !

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  2. Congrats on the new job, and best wishes!

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  3. Congratulations Craig.
    But I sure will miss your car show schedule and coverage.

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  4. Congratulations Craig ! We're kind of going to be lost without your input and info . I guess we'll just have to go back to cruising Noland Road like the old days with no place to go and nothing to do when we get there ! lol Good luck my friend !

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    1. Haha--I think you'll get it figured out! Thanks you!

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  5. Congratulations, I will miss you updates around here... An seeing you slick little C10! Good Luck on you new adventure!

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    1. Thanks, man. You do a good job of taking pictures without me!

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  6. Congrats to you on getting a car guy's dream job. But who are we going to for car show info? Who will pick up the banner and continue the fight? UUUUGGGHHH - I have to look in the KC Star for info. Get the latex gloves and face mask out.

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    1. Thanks, Max! Be strong--you can make it through this.

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  7. craig, I'm a regular reader and infrequent commenter. don't get out to the car shows and cruises, so found this site to be so cool that I could see the cars, trucks, cruisers, hot rods - you name it - from the local area.

    thanks so much for providing this to us and best of luck in your new job and new town. i'll be checking in still because cool cars are cool cars and doesn't matter if they're in Ottawa, KC or Nashville! take care! - mike t.

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    1. Hi Mike. Thank you for your well-wishes and your continued support!

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  8. Mr. C,
    Congratulations on your new chosen position with GM. You will be a perfect
    fit and asset to them. GOD speed to you and your family and you begin your
    new venture. BHo will make the change fine as well as the family...now the family
    left behind...........they will also. Thanks for all the smiles you've put on the
    car folks here in the Kansas City area over the years. The "Basehor Boys" always
    enjoyed you coming to our events and seeing you everywhere in the KC area.
    Change is hard, but you will be very successful !
    Don - "Basehor Boys"

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    1. Thank you Don. You've always been a big supporter, and I really appreciate it. I hope you still come around after I leave!

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  9. Craig, I wanted to personally thank you for all you've done for the car community. I have always enjoyed your writings and coverage of the local car scene. I personally wanted to thank you for the press for the Mid-America Chevelle Regional. You have become a part and fixture of the scene here in Kansas City, and you will be greatly missed. I wish you the absolutely best of luck in your new position. I am sure you will do it proud. Thanks Again

    Rocky Hill

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  10. Craig: Really sorry to see you leave the area, you have been a real friend to car lovers will miss the information you provide to us each week and especially the car show info provided by you, I counted on it as the KC Star stinks!

    Best wishes and much success, the last part is inevitable, you are a quality person! Rock from the Northland!

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  11. Best wishes to you and your family in your new venture. I'll really miss the local coverage and the car show schedules but I guess I can cope. I'm sure you all will thrive in Nashville.
    JD in KC (1950 Black Packard)

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    1. Thanks, J.D. Hopefully when I come back to visit you have that other Packard done!

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  12. Craig, Just a weekly reader and have seen you at several shows. As a relocate myself to Kansas City, life is a journey with dress rehersel everyday. One does his thing as it fits his life, family and community. Enjoy the journey as I am sure you will visit K.C. with excitement to see and take in "home" once again! You will be missed!

    Take care, Larry Brott

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    1. Thanks, Larry. Our family is here, so we'll definitely be back!

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  13. You'll make a great addition to our GM family.
    Great job here!

    Blake Chaplin
    GM Fairfax Assembly

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  14. Craig - thanks for all you've done to keep us gearheads informed over the past few years; I find myself using this site every week so am bummed we're not going to have the resource anymore.

    However, I'm thinking about how easy/hard it would be to start up a new calendar site for car shows in the area. Do you have a list of contacts you've developed over the years from the various organizations? Either way, I'd be interested in talking with you about how the "mantle could be passed". If you're willing, shoot me an email at kmrohde AT gmail.com please.

    Thanks Craig! You'll love Nashville - it's a great town. Make time for day trips to the Coker Tire Factory and maybe the Borla one too - both fun gearhead trips!

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  15. Enjoy your new job. sounds like a dream job for a car guy.

    We'll miss seeing you at the cruises and seeing our cars on this web page. We miss a lot of cruises and shows during the year and this place was great for catching up.

    Take care.

    Pale Blue and Yellow Cuda Guys.

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  16. Craig,

    Congratulations on the new job!!! I wish you the best and you will be missed!!!

    Joel Krum

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