As the Canadians took over, I was caught up in several assumptions, one was Bob genuinely had an interest in the motorsports industry, he had spent 100’s of thousands of dollars racing over the years. The second was the idea that he felt Doug was his path to 15 minutes of fame. Doug was decent but not even close to the kids racing in the south. I always said that the best sponsor was one that’s ego was as big as his wallet. Bob was after something, and it wasn’t being a successful racer. As the transition started my dad fired up the ole RV and headed back to Linda Street. His share of the program would mature Motor Sport Tools to become Metalcraft Tools. This included building a NASCAR style fab and manufacturing shop behind his house in Macclenny, FL. To close the deal for dad I had to sell 51% of Motorsports Training Center to Bob leaving me 49% owner of Motor Sports Fabrication with a guarantee that nothing would change, I would continue as business manager for the race shop and lead instructor for the training center, my brother Scott would handle marketing, and Carl Smith, would continue as my machinist, technically still employed, within days Doug, his wife Cindy, a longtime Raylene employee took over the Training Center leadership. Motorsports Fabrication had several race teams we supported, the business had several revenue sources, rental cars, racetrack support for teams that made up 50% of the income, building equipment for Motorsports Tools was 20%, selling parts made up about 30%. After a hap hazard business audit Bob instructed me to cut ties with all racing teams, the obligation to Circle Track had been met, I told him that we had 4 weeks till the race season ended, at that time I would let the teams know of his intensions. He reminded me that he had controlling interest. It all came to a head when Larry Beaver a close friend and customer for years crashed leading the points at Concord. He had no other option than us and I felt obligated to help, we jumped in repaired the car, Doug and Cindy ratted us out to Bob. I got wind he was coming; we worked all night got Larry fixed sent him home. Bob flew in from Canada snuck in the back door to find my team working on tools. Cindy didn’t realize we had already repaired it and sent Larry home. He was livid, his intention was to put me in my place, to exercise his authority as controlling interest, it resulted in a one-on-one meeting. In the meeting it became obvious we were all part of a scheme; Bob informed me that if I didn’t play the game his way that he would pay me out and I would lose everything I worked for. I had 24 hours to accept that I worked for him or else! To challenge my connection with our clientele, Bob had already sent letters to manufacturers, parts suppliers, and teams telling them that under his ownership Motor Sports Training Center would be the controlling entity with Motor Sports Fabrication no longer providing race services, selling parts, or doing performance vehicle repairs. As I walked out Garlene, Bob’s gorgeous wife was tanning in the parking lot, she told Bob always wins, that it is nothing personal, I would learn to except it. As I drove home that night I remembered the words of Lawrence Walker, every word echoed in my head from 20 years ago, “there for a minute I thought we was going to have to build another shit box.” Bob bought three things from me, $25000 worth of equipment, a teaching concept curriculum, and teaching aids perfected by my father somewhere on I-95 headed to Florida, a business name and logo he hated. The things he didn’t own were the imagination to develop any new training methodology, the ability to design teaching aids my dad and I designed and perfected. We were the sole instructors, had developed the marketing plan around our experiences, the fab business was built on my race craft, skills reputation, specific race services, and performance vehicle designs. The next morning, I met Bob at his motel told him that he was totally correct in his assumption that he was in control, I apologized for challenging his authority, but under the circumstances that I would be by Monday to sign over my shares and get a check from Cindy for my remaining shares. I told him that two leaders with two totally different styles of managing would just hamper the business model. Monday, I picked up the check already in an envelope from a business manager Bob flew in from Canada, the business manager informed me as he handed me the check that I had signed a non-compete and not to challenge it. I asked him in my sarcastic manner “where did you wake up this morning Wray, NC is a right to work state and I have the right to work! Anyway, Bob, as I handed him a copy of a letter, sent out notice telling all the Motorsports Fabrication customers that effective immediately they no longer offer the services Mark and his team as part of the business provided. At the end of the day all Bob got from me is a bunch of worn-out equipment, 5 years of building leases, and a sign on the wall, now all your talent is walking out the door.” I shook Wray’s hand and exited stage right.Within 30 days I turned the $50000 from the shares into Metal Crafters, bought all new tools and equipment, moved it into a 1500 sq ft shop two doors down from the Motorsports Training Center, that I had rented earlier that year to house GC and Tom’s program, I was back in business. As much as I enjoyed teaching, I was a racer, car builder and fondler of beautiful women. I had no desire to cross the training line at that time.
Note: Bob Raynor burnt a lot of bridges, in fact his business model looked like a how would they say in Canada, A beaver having sexual congress with a soccer ball. Hap hazard at best, then I realized when our local accountant told me they had claimed over a $1,000,000 worth of loses, no income to amount to on this side of the border, a schedule full of classes, no student’s tuition income, limited equipment sales, that the plan was to move profits from Canada to cover fictional expenses in NC. As all best laid plans, they got tired of polishing the apple before the shine wore off.