Henry Tran Stockton memorial drive Feb 12, 2006

Hello everybody, this is Si Nguyen from Orange County. PeterS has a good idea! We should do something like that. I would suggest that we take a group picture , and everybody can sign on a card ( or write whatever they want ), then I will frame the picture and the card together, and then present it to his widow. His kids will appreciate it too when they get older, knowing that their father had alot of good friends who still remembered him. I will bring a camera and a card for everyone to sign on. Hope everyone can make it. Ron, please call or notify as much people as you can up there, because some of your Stockton guys are not on FCHAT and may not know about this drive yet. Where's Henry when you need him! Man, Henry would have been on that cell phone nonstop calling everybody but their third cousin, and telling them the same thing over at least 3 times!
See you there, Si

 

I think a plaque or some kind of token to Henry's family is definatly in order, or at least a collection from the participating members in the drive to give to charity in Henry's honor.
Any thoughts?

 

Hi David, I have looked into getting a plaque like PeterS had suggested, but I could not find anything appropriate. All the plaques at the trophy shops just seems very business-like to me, not very warm or friendly at all. Plus, the plaques are difficult to write on or sign on by people at the drive. That's why I suggested a nice, large format group picture. I will frame it up real nice and with a large mat around it, and with an insert for the signed card on the mat. It would be a high quality frame too, maybe even more expensive than the average plaque. I will post a picture of it here once it's done and presented to Henry's widow, if this idea is OK by people.
About your suggestion of a donation for charity, I think it is a very noble idea too, but maybe we can skip it. Henry was very generous too; he donated tens of thousands of dollars to build a church in Northern Vietnam where his dad came from. Most people would not have guess it, but Henry was a religious guy too, just in a very quiet way. I can remember him being very proud that he got the Pope to sign his marriage certificate. Some of you might remember that certificate hanging in the laundry room next to the garage in his first house in Brookside. But knowing Henry and knowing his widow, I don't think they would want us to collect money in his name. I can't figure out which charity to give the money to that would be appropriate for Henry, except maybe that church in Vietnam. So maybe we don't have to ask everybody for a donation in his name. Let's just keep it simple, and have a fun drive.
BTW, I think anybody can come right?, Ferrari or not. I would love to see other cool cars there too.
Sincerely, Si
BTW, I will put the FCHAT logo and Ferrari logo on it too. This picture will be a real work of art when I am done with it, trust me, I am an artist, at least I think I am.

 

Hey Si,

What about having a Large White Frame Matting to be signed like they do for Weddings. It should be easy to get from Michaels or Aaron Brothers. Have it with one or two openings for photos (4X5 or so) One Of Henry & his favorite ride or rides, and the other with The Group. What do you think? I have a few Pictures from the last Sacramento run of Henry next to the 355, 512M & the Lotus. They are 4x6's. The only problem is I don't know if I'll be able to go. NO RIDE!

 

Hi Todd, that's a good idea! I was thinking of just one large picture of the group (so people's faces can be seen more easily) and one opening in the mat for the signatures, but I guess we can have 2 smaller pictures. OK, I will check at Michaels for any pre-cut matting ( and frame too). This will be the easiest way, and will save me from having to pay for custom framing. I will bring the mat for people to sign on.
Just show up anyway, I am sure there will be somebody to ride share with. You don't have to have a Ferrari. Any decent car would do, either that or a tow truck, or better yet, a police cruiser escort. Just show up , Henry would want that!

 

Ok - so to confirm what/where is the meeting point (address, close directions, etc.) and at what time? Further to that, what (in generalities) is the route?

--Dan

 

Hey Dan,

Stumbled across this on the FerrariPacific site:

"First Aniversary Henry Tran Memorial Drive. 10:00AM at the Brookside Cafe in Stockton, CA and a drive to the Tran Family home in Plesanton,Ca For more info, call Ron McDaniel (209)601-4302"

Not a whole lotta detail...

This is ~ an hour from me (Castro Valley) - 580 East / 205 East / I5 North / March Exit.

Brookside Cafe sounds like a good eats place. Just around the corner from In-n-Out and Krispy Kreme. Relatively close to the UOP campus.

-- Rick --
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I just talked to Ron and he told me to be at Brookside at 9:00 am and we will leave at 10:00.

I will be leaving the EB (thats East Bay) at about 8:00 to go to Brookside and have a spare seat if anyone needs a ride. PM me.

 

If there'll be any sort of caravan from the Bay Area, let's get the planning on that going... I would be leaving from San Jose (right around the Valley Fair Mall area), and the onramp to 280 is very close as well - It's a bit far for you guys coming from the city, N. Peninsula, etc., so we don't have to meet at Valley Fair...I just figured it's a landmark that everyone in the S. Bay knows and can easily find...

We'll figure something out.

 

Thank you very much for setting this up Ron!
Henry would be very happy to know that you and the other Stockton gang are going through all of this to keep his memory alive. It felt like yesterday when we all drove down to LA for Henry's funeral in that van. Thanks for the memories guys.
I will not miss this for anything. He was an incredible guy.
I got to know Henry because of FerrariChat. He mentioned building in Pleasanton and it turned out that he was going to be my neighbor just a few houses away. In addition, as I got to know him better, we had mutual connections from the past. It turned out that he was good friends and business associates with a few mutual friends.
My home (still under construction but about 95% completed) is just on the other side of Henry's home past the 16th hole in Ruby Hill. I promised a few people to give them a tour of the home, so anyone is welcome to stop by once we pay our respects to Henry and before we head out to Wente.
I hope you all don't mind that I'm bringing my silver NSX to the drive (my yellow widebody NSX still is not complete. Sorry Ron!).

As Ron stated, Wente Vineyards Restaurant in Livermore is about 5 miles from Ruby Hill, and has excellent food and scenery.

For those coming from the Bay Area, a good place to meet would be the Hacienda mall area in Dublin. It is right near the 680/580 interchange off the 580 Hacienda exit. You can't miss it, as it is clearly visible off the freeway. Perhaps meeting in front of the parking lot nearby Appleby's or Black Angus would work. Would sometime around 7:30 to leave around 8am work for everybody?

Take Care,
Joon

 

Hi Ron,
I think I will have a passenger, so please put down two for me.

Thanks,
Joon

 

Works for me.

 

Ron: I'll be there with my 360, no passengers. I tried to PM you but your inbox is full.
Thanks
Angelo

 

Hey Ron, you mispelled my name buddy! It is Si, (not Cee) . There is one more person coming that I know of, it is Quan Nguyen, Henry's brother-in-law, who is coming from Los Gatos with a Lotus Elise. That car used to belong to Henry too. Let's do a big group picture at the WenTe restaurant at lunch, in order to include all the people from the Bay area too.
BTW, anybody who can not be there but would like to sign the card for Henry, please let me know so I can include your name in the group of FCHAT buddies on the picture that is to be given to his widow. Henry had a lot of FCHAT friends outside of California too.
Thanks for planning this Ron,
Si Nguyen, in Orange County CA

 

I'm coming along in my 360 as well. I may have a passenger.

 

There's a Starbucks there as well!

Count me in.

-- Rick --

 

SPOKE TO HENRY MANY TIMES HERE ON FCHAT

A REAL GENTLEMAN........UNFORTUNETLY IM EAST COAST AND CANT MAKE IT, BUT MY HEART AND SPIRIT WILL BE THERE FELLOWS FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY FOR HIM.

BRUCE

 

THANKS RON...SHES ON BED REST TILL APRIL HERE IN ****TYY NJ

 

I'll second that - 7:30am on Sunday.

 

Hi Bruce, would you mind if I include your name among other FCHAT friends of Henry on the card to his widow? Some of his friends from Southern California and from other states can't make this drive either, but we want to include them in the card to show that they were all there in spirit. This is what's so great about FCHAT!
Si Nguyen, in Lake Forest, CA