Experienced Ferrari Mechanic Needed

hey guys,
Gran Turismo has grown to the point that one full time mechanic (and one part time grunt) can no longer keep up with the demand. ideally the candidate is north of Toronto, east or west, as the shop is in Alliston and a daily commute from the city itself is doable, but a bummer...
however, if the right person wished to relocate, i do own the large 3 bedroom Victorian that sits on the property, which could be rented, on a payroll deduction basis, for well below market value. it will be available June 1/09 for approximately $1200 all inclusive. i also have 'call' on a nice, small one bedroom with a balcony that is a 3 minute walk from the shop with a Tim Horton's in between. it would be available at $750/month all inclusive. whether on your own or with your family, it is a great opportunity to get out of the rat-race. ask some who came on the GT spring drive...it's nice up here.

at present, we specialize in cars from the 70's and 80's but we're 'engaged' in the process of adding diagnostic equipment that will bring us up to the 360 series. i'm just trying to decide whether the SD2 or the ST5 is the best compliment to our Snap-On 2500, which we use for our customers non-Ferrari vehicles. we have a Sun Distributor machine, a Kwik Way valve grinder, a Blast-it-All media blaster, a Van Norman hot water jet washer, a Rotary SPO 9, a 60" scissor lifter, etc. we are fully outfitted and constantly adding new gear. the shop is always clean, bright and organized with great bench and storage space.

we also always have project cars that can be worked on, so the amount of money that can be earned is really up to the individual. currently, as time allows, we are restoring/repairing/refurbishing/repainting the following:'74 308 GT4 Euro Spec, '75 308 GT4 US Spec, '75 365 GT4 2+2, parting a '79 400i and rebuilding an '82 400i stick. there is lots of work for someone who wants it... 'racking up hours' is not a problem here.

the financial package is negotiable, based on experience, but will certainly meet, or more likely exceed, the numbers that i hear about 'out there'. tell me what you're worth, and why, and we'll go from there. we're a young, growing shop with big plans for the future, so get on board now. i am not looking for an apprentice to disassemble, sandblast, etc. that will all be done for him. i'm looking for a Number#1 to step in alongside the existing 'team'. i'm looking for an open heart surgeon, not a parts washer.

i'll include some pics of the shop, which many of you have been to, so if you know the right person for this opportunity speak up, chime in, and by all means, let them know. best to contact me by PM or through the website contact form.

thanks,

brett, www.granturismo.ca
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i guess i should have mentioned, considering it is the Canadian section and not just the Ontario section, that Alliston is just 45 minutes north of TO.


oh ya, i almost forgot...bump.

: )


brett, www.granturismo.ca

 

the house for rent on the property is now available Nov.1 '08. i just spent $5000 freshening up the interior. it's really nice up here...
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Nice pad!

 

thanks Vasco. i new i could count on you. you're like money in the bank.
my place is just 2 doors down and i don't miss the 180km roundtrip commute to my former office one bit.
no offence to the city dwellers (different strokes and all that...) but when i'm down there now i really feel like i'm in a meat grinder.
it's been 5 years since i left south Etobicoke and Little Italy/Portugal before that. i liked my time there, but not nearly as much as my 5 years in MTL, and once you leave, there's no going back.
all the best buddy,

brettski

 

Hows the hunt going Mike and Brett?

Chris

 

hey Chris,
no luck yet, but i confess that F-chat was the only medium i used as a means of advertisement. we're 'holding the fort' though and i'm enjoying my increased time on the 'floor'. my role was always to include substantial time spent on disassembly, cleaning, blasting and painting, along with parts orders, marketing and acquisitons (finding/buying project Ferrari's). Veronica does the estimates and keeps the books and Mike is 'the guy' who makes 'em 'sing and dance'. i just wish i could clone him, that's all.
all the best...and didn't you promise us a visit... ; )

brett

 

Yes Brett good memory, will ring you up once I can find time between work and wife. Oh and FChat haha

Chris

 

thanks to those who PM'd me regarding the opportunity at Gran Turismo...the position however, is yet unfilled and still available.

if you are somebody, or know somebody, well versed in Ferrari's of the 70's and 80's, then please call me or have them call me.

for those north of the 401, the commute is doable... and a peice of cake for anyone further north than that.

the ideal candidate though is someone who is already had enough of the city and is looking for the right opportunity to justify a move north.

you real estate dollars go along way up here but if you're not looking to buy the rental house pictured above can be available with 60 days notice.

and the roads to test drive Ferrari's ?... just ask anyone whose been to one of my drives.

we've added a full benefits package since i first posted the thread...including, pharmacuetical, dental, disability, etc.,...solo or for the family.

tons of work guys, lots of money...

thanks,

brett, www.granturismo.ca , 705-435-1990

 

I vote for ............... NEWMAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(i'd say hes a shoe-in)

Chris

 

i must say, that was actually pretty funny Chris...

 

made me chuckle

 

Newman?

 

He already asked a year ago, too far and not enough dough. Ford treats me well so I would be silly to leave the comfort zone. Besides I work on Ferraris and other exotics there anyway so its the best of both worlds. Thanks for the vote!

 

Paul / Brett,

With Newman on your team you would have every TR and Boxer in the country coming for a carrier upgrade. Imagine the possibilities? Give Paul the house and make him a partner.

 

actually, Brian and i just added the Sask. black/tan '88 Testarossa to our combined collection...
we'd been on the look out for a black/tan TR for a while but figured with the dollar the way it was that we'd have to wait...but...
'lo and behold' a clean one shows up here in Canada...so why not ? i really dig the wheel upgrade and the 'package' was complete...service, books, tools, jack roll, the works. we gave him what he asked and he offered to pick up the shipping...nice.
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Brett, a little of topic..do you only work on Ferrari's from the 70's and 80's?..any work done on cars in the 90's (ie 355's). Just asking for future reference. Thanks

 

Sharp T/R Brett. Is it going up for sale in the near future?

 

we've made the choice to limit ourselves to the 355 and older...we know we can't be all things to all people and there are already lots of good guys working on the newer stuff. thanks for asking and if you're ever up this way then feel free to drop in.

thanks. we're looking at this one as a keeper...but it will really depend on how much we love it.

 

Brett, I could work for you but I'd have to give up all of my guns.

 

yes Jim, we have designated Gran Turismo as a Gun Free Zone...otherwise i'd be happy to have you on board.

you spent a week in the shop, what did you think ?

...and thanks for the PM's so far guys but please keep them coming.

brett

 

I am the "Chief Mechanical and Technical Engineer" for the 1965 SRP Huron Formula V Team....does that count?...think of the marketing potential....and you could announce my arrival to Gran Turismo on FerrariChat ...and then someone could start a thread to tear apart my resume....but of course we have the pictures of me getting hugs from our famous driver!

Just sayin' hi Brett

Beev

 

the potential would be limitless Beev...think about it...

you and me standing around talking about our dream cars all day while Mike does all the work...what could possibly stop us with that formula ?

always good to hear from you...stop by soon, there's some interesting new stuff in the shop.

um, by the way, do you know any good mechanics looking for a change of pace 'up there' ?

 

yes I know some good mechanics here (one in particular that is a master coachbuilding restoration guy + mechanic), but i do not know how committed he is where he is currently employed ...I am away right now but I will check in with them when I get back next Thursday (lecturing at U of Guelph OGRA road management school)


beev

 

Well Brett, I was referring to Canada and its gun laws not your shop!

Just to let everyone know Brett invited me to come spend about a week helping out with the work on my car (1975 365 GT4 2+2). I am not a professional mechanic but would call myself a very capable DIYer. I do all my work on my own cars and have tackled everything from oil changes to suspension rebuilds to making new wiring harnesses.

I think working at Gran Turismo would be a great job for a lot of reasons. It is an excellent shop and a good place to work (great lighting, running water, internet access etc). The personalities of Brett, Mike, and Veronica fit together very well. Mike is an excellent mechanic and easy to get along with. Brett has a great business sense and is not afraid to get his hands dirty doing some of the grunt jobs. Veronica keeps everything organized!

In my time there I did spend some time looking around Alliston. It is a neat town. Unlike a lot of small agricultural towns that are slowly fading, the Honda plant has been a big boon to the local economy. It would be a great place for someone’s spouse to get a job and I hear they are planning to expand.

I hope Brett can find another person to work with him in the shop.