By now, the news is out that Farnbacher Loles Racing, based in Braselton Georgia, combined with Farnbacher Loles Motorsport on Miry Brook Road in Danbury Connecticut, are no more. Many folks I’ve spoken to are still in disbelief about the financial misconduct by the company founder and team principal.
Over the past three or more years, members of the Porsche Club of America have enjoyed events at their Miry Brook Road facility, including the annual PCA Zone 1 Tech Tactics. We have become friends with members of the staff through participation at PCA Club Racing and Driver Education events and through services performed by the Motorsport shop. Considered by many to be one of the premier Porsche tuner shops in the Northeast due to the facilities and quality of workmanship performed, the absence of Farnbacher Loles Motorsports to the New York, Connecticut, and surrounding PCA Regions will be felt heavily.
Additionally, the fans of Farnbacher Loles Racing have followed the birth and success of the team in the Grand-Am Rolex and ALMS race series. We celebrated their outstanding finish to the season when the 2009 Grand-Am Driver Championship was awarded to drivers Leh Keen and Dirk Werner. Along pit row, the view will not be the same without the imprinted awning that protected ‘Race Command Central’ from the sun and rain, along with the #87 and #86 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars bearing the name Farnbacher Loles Racing.
So what now? The Georgia based race team has been completely dissolved. What happens to those left behind on Miry Brook? Do the lives and dreams of the employees come to a halt? In a word, no. Recently, I sat down with Spencer Cox, former manager of the Club Sport division in Danbury, to ask that question. Thankfully, all is not lost, at least for those of us who have come to respect the reputation and the workmanship performed by the men and women on Miry Brook Road.
New Home on Triangle Road For Porsche Service Work
Spencer greeted me with the same warm, friendly smile often seen at the track and at the shop. Despite efforts to grasp the impact of what has unfolded over the last 4 weeks; his disposition was one of calm and clear determination to move ahead. He guided me through the new location on Triangle Road in Danbury, a 10,000 square foot facility that was intended to be the new Farnbacher Loles BodyWerks Paint and Collision Center, along with a new Northeast home for the race team. When news of the demise of the race team hit, those plans became obsolete and Spencer immediately put together his own plan to regroup and rebuild. With the building now available, Spencer secured this location, at least for the short term, bringing along nine key technicians and support staff from the Miry Brook Road shop. After all, everyone had been affected and by now, they have become like family. Gathering up all their personally owned tools and equipment, Spencer’s aim was clear. “As long as I have these [hands] and my tools, I’ll continue to do what I love and provide the same quality work as before.”
SpeedSport Tuning Returns
“After 30 years in the business, starting as SpeedSport, long before joining Farnbacher Loles, we have built and maintained a loyal customer base that trusts our work and will continue with us. That’s all we need, and we will grow from here.” While the Farnbacher Loles brand was close to a house-hold name in the Porsche tuning and racing circles, it was originally built on the quality work and superb attention to detail performed by the technicians and staff of Spencer Cox and SpeedSport Tuning. Without the specialized skills and the sweat of the technicians, the reputation would not have grown as it has. “I will reinstate SpeedSport Tuning on Triangle Road. The name was untarnished for 15 years and is well known and respected by anyone who has been in this industry for more than five years.”
The new facility for SpeedSport Tuning is ideal. The grounds offer ample parking, and the building hosts a comfortable customer reception area with plenty of room in the back to work magic. They will offer the same services as the previous shop; performance tuning and regular service on Porsche, Audi and VW, in addition to continued support for Club Sport clientele in Club Racing and D.E. The set-up of the facility is well thought out and the crew is ready to get into action. While I was there, the shop already had cars delivered for winter storage and work was being scheduled for off-season modifications. Plans are also underway to participate in the 2010 PCA Club Race at Sebring scheduled for February. Spencer and his crew are resolute that no moss will grow under their feet during this reorganization.
With the shop open for business, Spencer and the crew welcome your calls and invite you to stop by and visit the new location on Triangle Road, Danbury, Connecticut. The web-site is up, but not yet updated (they are focused on getting the shop up and running right now) and they can be reached at 203-917-9888.
Today’s post was written by Jakie Buys, Editor METRO NY Region monthly magazine, The Porsche Post. Jackie can be reached at PCAPost at optonline dot net or by commenting below.
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[Photo Credit: Jackie Buys 2009, Metro NY PCA]
