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Testimonials
May 16, 2008
Jim, My ’84 runs better than ever! Thanks for providing such great service. The little stumble from idle is gone, throttle response is great.
Phil ScearceMurfreesboro, TN
Phil, When these care were built they were completely assembled and sealed before they were ever run. All cross-fire injected engines can benefit greatly by a proper tuning and throttle body balance.
Enjoy your ride!
Jim
Just To Say Thanks
May 10, 2008
Jim, just a short note thanking you for your help on my "ZR-1 episode". I was really down in the dumps over this situation and you provided a much needed "therapy" opportunity. I appreciate you letting me participate in the C5/C6 goings on including set up and working with the BGACC bunch - a great bunch of folks. Meeting all of them was a pleasure and thanks to your guys for taking the time to help out on the exhaust install. Getting the contacts I needed for my Z06 problem was invaluable and probably wouldn't have happened so easily without your barbecue attracting so many VIPs including Wil Cooksey who also went to bat for me. So overall you pulled another one out of the hat for my benefit and it won't be forgotten. Thanks again for an outstanding effort on my behalf. CULater,
Breck AlbertsTucson, AZ.
Thank You Auto Masters,
April 10, 2008
My wife and I moved back to Bowling Green after a 31 year absence. First we had to get settled in, then you start the search for good reliably services. Our 2002 Avalanche was in dire need for a complete work-up. 100,000 miles and nothing more than oil changes so you can imagine the shape it was in. Auto Masters went over the vehicle to see what all needed to be done. I knew it was going to be a long list. I remember Jim’s words:
“This is what I would do if it were my vehicle”That’s what you want to hear! The truck runs great now!
Thank you again!!
Joe and Susan EasterlingFrom: Dr. Gary Yarbrough
April 02, 2008
To: Jim Van Dorn
Jim,
I want to sincerely thank you for doing such a great job on my 1990 ZR-1. I thought I’d send you my story, so that you can post it with your testimonials.
I had hoped that buying my ZR-1 from a major GM dealer that is very active in the corvette community would guarantee me that the car would be 100% working and without issues. Being new to the ZR-1 scene and a bit rushed during my test drive, I didn’t know everything to look for when I went to see the car, which was around 400 miles from my hometown.
I noticed when I bought the car that the vacuum line running from the secondary pump to the plenum was routed incorrectly but otherwise, the engine bay look fairly clean. I also thought the car wasn’t running as strong as I had expected. However, I negotiated a really great price for a ’90 with 48K miles, so I happily bought the car.
After a week of driving my ZR-1, it was clear that the secondary valve system wasn’t kicking in properly. I did some searches to get an idea of what my problem might be and to look for shops that could work on the LT5. I was thrilled to find you so close to my home. I gave you a call and arranged to take the car down to Bowling Green.
You met me on a Saturday morning and even managed to anticipate that I would arrive an hour early due to the Eastern versus Central time zone difference between Louisville and Bowling Green. We had a great conversation and I felt good leaving my new car in your hands. At the time, I forgot to tell you that my oil pressure gauge had failed after we first spoke.
You kept me updated on what the car needed and had it ready in a week. When I picked up the car, I found the engine bay in great shape, with the vacuum line properly routed. You also picked up on and fixed my oil pressure gauge issue. After a month of driving the car as it should be, all I can say is WOW! The ZR-1 is an amazing corvette!
Thanks again, Jim for such great work! I’m looking forward to getting your “Street Skinner” package sometime in the next couple of years.
Best Wishes,
Gary Yarbrough, Ph.D.
Official C5/C6 Registry
June 20, 2007
Mr. Jim Van Dorn
Auto Masters
790 Interstate Drive
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Dear Jim
On behalf of the entire Official C5/C6 Registry, we would like to thank you and your staff for your hospitality and the fabulous authentic barbecue dinner! You sure know how to throw one heck of a party! The band was excellent and definitively kept the crowd rockin’! The food was outstanding! Be sure to thank Greg London AKA General Custer for all the time and effort he put into smoking all that delicious meat. He did an awesome job and is certainly a barbecue chef extraordinaire!
Our members kept commenting on what a wonderful time they had at the party. They really enjoyed listening to the band, visiting with friends and checking out the Corvettes inside and outside your garage. It was definitely a memorable occasion for all who attended!
Jim, without you helping us get started at the Labor Day event back in 1997, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We really appreciate everything you have done for the Registry! We want to say a BIG C5/C6 THANK YOU for making this the best Birthday Bash kick-off party ever, and we look forward to doing this again with you and General Custer next year!
C6Ya!Dan and Jake, Directors
Official C5/C6 Registry
From Johnny B. Biffle
Nashville, TN
I have posted a couple of times about the missing and stumbling and stalling that my '91 was experiencing at RPM's below 3,500. I knew I had at least one leaky injector, and then the Map Sensor shorted out and displayed the Service Engine light.
I was fortunate to be customer number one at the new Auto Masters in Bowling Green, KY. I purposely waited to get my ZR1 repaired until Jim Van Dorn opened his new shop. It was worth the wait! Jim is pure Gold (and Purple)!
His great little Beagle greeted me when I arrived and helped to make me feel right at home. Jim has done a great job building his shop and made it very comfortable for his customers. He has a couple of top notch techs under his wing and they dove into the numerous issues I had with my '91. I wanted the injectors, fuel filter, plug wires, and O2's changed. No problem, but Jim completely tested the vacuum system, secondary actuators etc., etc.and then he programmed a prom, for me to play with, based on his racing experience with the ZR1.
My clutch issues, which I thought was the slave cylinder, turned out to be the Stage II clutch disc from Carolina Clutch. It was just wrong, and would not work in car. Jim couldn't stand that the car was not right, and worked very late one evening doing and R&R on the clutch. Now I can drive it as designed, smooth!
She was running like a dog when I took her in, now she runs like a scalded dog!! I picked it up last Thursday evening and after a brief but spirited test drive around the Corvette Plant, I loaded her on the trailer and took her to the NCCC auto cross event in Huntsville, AL. There were about 40 cars there including 3 new Z06's, numerous C5 Z06's. I was wearing my sticky tires, but only one 04 Z06 wearing stickies was getting around the track any faster that me. (1/2 seconds count) My '91 was running great! It has been a long time since she ran that well. She lived up to the name my wife gave her, FASTZR1!
Thanks to Van Dorn and his team at Auto Masters getting me on the road again! He should do very well in Bowling Green, the home of the Corvette!
JohnnyB
FASTZR1
From: Mo Weldon
Caldwell Banker
Legacy Real Estate Group
Hi Jim
I just wanted to write a quick note to say thanks for working on my yellow Z06. This is my first Vette, and it has been a dream my entire life to own one.
To find a shop who has extensive knowledge of my car, and GM’s history in developing it, is a terrific addition to owning a Corvette.
I’m looking forward to bringing my car back for the next service and many years to come.
Mo Weldon
From: Don Crimmins
Jim
Having your 1990 ZR-1 breakdown when your eleven hours from home is not one of the top ten things that I want to happen to me. Thanks to you and your staff I was able to drive home safely and with confidence. Thanks again for your help.
Don Crimmins
From: Doug Johnson
To: Corvette Enthusiasts (public list)
Hello Zroners,
Just wanted to finally bring you up-to-date on the insurance settlement
on the Beast and the build plans for the Beast II.
As you may remember, my 1990 ZR-1, #596, Manual A/C, steel half-shafts, Black Widow Streeskinner LT5, and custom Pearl Mist Yellow paint job was crushed by an 8-foot diameter live oak tree during a Tornado here in Jacksonville, Florida on the evening of Jan. 2nd.
I contacted my local insurance agent and reported the situation to them. Just days later, I received my check from the underwriter in the amount of $45,000.00, and the underwriter sold the salvaged Beast to me for 10% of the claim, or $4,500. No hassles, no games, no lies - straight forward, friendly, and sympathetic. And they still are paying me $20/day for 30 days car rental.
The fact that was able to receive a $45K settlement on a '90 ZR-1 with 120,000 miles I owe entirely to Jim Van Dorn. When he finished the custom work on my ZR-1 in Feb 98, he suggested that I get the car appraised and have my agent write me a 'stated-value' insurance policy.
If it were not for Van Dorn's advice and Auto-owner's excellent coverage, I would now be out of the ZR-1 hobby. The $23K book value on a nice '90 ZR-1 would have barely paid off my $19500 note on the car. Having just bought a new house, I would have hesitated before buying another one totally on borrowed money.
As it is, after the note was paid on the Beast, I still had $26,500 in cash. I found a '93 ZR-1, 60K miles, very clean, with no engine or tranny. The Black Widow, ZF, 4.09s, GS Brakes, 5-spoke chromes, and new BFGs on my Beast are undamaged.
As you read this, the Beast is on its way to Van Dorn's facility where the dead Beast and the '93 will be morphed into a new and spectacular Beast II. And, I'll have a clear title and a ton of spare parts from the former Beast's wreckage.
For many reasons, I feel blessed by the entire episode. First, that my wife and beautiful babies were spared any injury when the tree went thru our house. 2nd, that Auto-Owners proved to be the kind of insurance company that we all hope for and seldom get, for the expression of support and affection that my family received from the ZR-1 Net members, and finally for JVD's friendship and counsel. Not only did he initially build me one of the neatest ZR-1s on the road, he also helped me make sure an act-of-God did not inadvertently take it away from me.
JVD has said the Beast II will be delivered to me at the ZR-1 Net/Registry Gathering to be held during May at the NCM. I hope all of you can be there with me (holding me up) as I act like a new father waiting for my new 'child' to come off the trailer. :-)
Sincerely,
Doug Johnson