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  #1  
Old 07-07-2010, 12:30 PM
Smitty Smitty is offline
 
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Default G&W moved from Staunton back to Waynesboro

I don't know how many people are aware of G&W, but it's owned by a man who was a dealer under Max Hoffman. He now only collects and brokers very fine examples of cars. I stopped by the new shop in Waynesboro this past weekend, but it was closed for the holiday.

Nevertheless, here are couple of nice cars visible through the front windows:

The blue car is a 911R prototype, the red car in the background is a 911R and the white car is a Brumos RSR:









The 356 is a Manhattan winner and the Boxster is a first-year car with a few hundred miles on it if I recall correctly. I know nothing about the Beetle, but if he has it, it's special. There's also a black Carrera GT in the background.:







Here's a very clean 993 Turbo:



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  #2  
Old 07-07-2010, 03:49 PM
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Nice pics Smitty..

Cole and Weldon.. or should it be Weldon and Cole.. father and son maybe? Always have and interesting array of Porsches. They have been known for some award winning 356 restorations.. and in the 90's they provided race-prep and arrive and drive services over in Waynesboro I believe while the elder's shop still provided restoration and shop services in Staunton.

When I visited once in the 90's, they had several 88 speedsters, and several 1990 America Roadsters (964 Widebody Cabriolet) all special ordered in early 356 and Speedster color combos.. between the of roughly 15 cars, they had less than 1000 miles on them as a group!!

G&W also had an S/T replica? that took top honors in a class at the Charlotte Parade a couple years back.
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  #3  
Old 07-07-2010, 04:00 PM
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I need to find an excuse to venture down to Waynesboro VA....
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- 2017 F350 (tow monster)
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  #4  
Old 07-07-2010, 04:06 PM
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LPM911 LPM911 is offline
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I would venture to say that G&W, along with a handful of their associates, are how I got introduced to the PCA and race scene as a teenager. When I was growing up in Richmond, I ended up joining the Shenandoah Region PCA as the family member of my father. At that time, the Richmond Porsche Meet (RPM) was held every year in the backyard of a club member's house. This club member happen to work at the school I was attending and saw my father's 964. He invited us to the gathering and it went down hill from there. G&W was always in attendance at the RPM meets and I'll never forget how cool the first 964 USA Cup car I saw was. It definitely played a role in me acquiring my RSA many years later.

My family and I were quite avid hikers and frequented the mountains near Waynesboro, which means my mother had to suffer a trip G&W every time we were close. Weldon was always there and more than happy to show us around the shop let us check out the collection. Years later my father and I went to see the Grand Am at Watkins Glen just before G&W's Motorsport division became Synergy Racing. We were hanging out near their trailer while it was raining when Cole approached us and said he recognized us from the backyard RPM events. He chatted with us for a few before getting back to work, but it was really exciting to me at the time.

I doubt they'd recognize me now, or remember my name or anything, but I thought it was pretty neat how approachable they were for being pro racers. A few years later, my first track event was a one day event at VIR hosted by the local Richmond dealership and Synergy Racing. Then it really went downhill...

/memories...

EDIT: Manny, beware. I found some old literature from the Shenandoah PCA region with your picture in it (circa 1996). now where did I put that scanner...
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  #5  
Old 07-07-2010, 04:24 PM
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^^ Me thinks Mr. Richard Curtis needs to have a word or two with this young Lane fellow.....
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Currently
- 1984 944 SP2 racer
- 1977 911 KM Special vintage racer
- 2000 Boxster S (now mine)
- 1995 993 (garage queen)
- 2007 Cayman S (wife's track beast)
- 2017 F350 (tow monster)
- 2018 Jeep Wrangler
- 1982 911 Targa (resurrection in process)
Gone but not forgotten
- 1989 944S2
- 1979 RX7
- 1986 944
- 1991 944S2 (in car heaven...)
- 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500 (FIL's beast now)
- 2012 Cayman R
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  #6  
Old 07-07-2010, 04:26 PM
Smitty Smitty is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onboost View Post
Nice pics Smitty..

Cole and Weldon.. or should it be Weldon and Cole.. father and son maybe? Always have and interesting array of Porsches. They have been known for some award winning 356 restorations.. and in the 90's they provided race-prep and arrive and drive services over in Waynesboro I believe while the elder's shop still provided restoration and shop services in Staunton.

When I visited once in the 90's, they had several 88 speedsters, and several 1990 America Roadsters (964 Widebody Cabriolet) all special ordered in early 356 and Speedster color combos.. between the of roughly 15 cars, they had less than 1000 miles on them as a group!!

G&W also had an S/T replica? that took top honors in a class at the Charlotte Parade a couple years back.
You're correct: Weldon is the father and Cole is the son. Cole left the business a few years ago and Weldon moved his operation to Staunton, but he did not continue restoring cars as the new facility was very small and had no working area. The new facility in Waynesboro has plenty of space and Weldon plans to get back into the restoration business.

He still has several of the cars you mentioned, but they're part of his personal collection at his home. He invited me over last summer to see them and I was blown away. It is literally a time capsule of Porsche history. He even has the sole Indy car that Porsche built. The tires still have the USAC stamps on them.

I believe this is the widebody you mentioned:



Quote:
Originally Posted by AJ986S View Post
I need to find an excuse to venture down to Waynesboro VA....
Waynesboro is my wife's hometown and my in-laws still live there, so I'm fortunate enough to not have to make excuses to travel down there.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LPM911 View Post
Weldon was always there and more than happy to show us around the shop let us check out the collection.
I cannot stress your comment enough. Weldon is a great guy and eager to talk to anyone who's genuinely interested. He has likely forgotten more about Porsche than most will ever know. I try to spend as much time with him as I can when I visit because there will come a day when he is no longer with us and that knowledge will leave with him.
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Old 08-16-2010, 02:54 PM
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onboost onboost is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smitty View Post
You're correct: Weldon is the father and Cole is the son.

He still has several of the cars you mentioned, but they're part of his personal collection at his home.

He even has the sole Indy car that Porsche built. The tires still have the USAC stamps on them.

I believe this is the widebody you mentioned:




I cannot stress your comment enough. Weldon is a great guy and eager to talk to anyone who's genuinely interested. He has likely forgotten more about Porsche than most will ever know. I try to spend as much time with him as I can when I visit because there will come a day when he is no longer with us and that knowledge will leave with him.

Smitty, great pictures once again!

Yes, knew they were father and son, could never keep the names straight as unfortunately, I rarely get down to see them.. I saw them last at the Parade in Charlotte, NC.

Nice to hear that he still has several of the cars mentioned.. they were all pretty special as evidenced by the one pictured. I even got the paint number off that one for a project I was working on at the time!

Yes, Weldon is a wealth of knowledge and gladly shares his knowledge about these cars with others.. glad to hear he’s still doing well and enjoying g with his toys. Ahhh, but Cole is no slouch either.

Amazing collection of goodies.. thanks for sharing!

Paul
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  #8  
Old 08-16-2010, 01:46 PM
Smitty Smitty is offline
 
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I went back over the weekend and it was a very special visit for me. As many of you know, Weldon has spent his entire life in the world of US-based Porsche motorsports and has collected so much memorabilia that he can open a museum. In fact, he is planning to do just that. When items are exhibited in museums, they're often behind glass and meant to be looked at. They're cool to see, but there's nothing like touching history. It was a privilege and one that I am thankful for.

One of Al Holbert's IMSA medals. There are many more on the floor:



Receipt book:



Awesome jacket:



Chaparral team jacket:



It belonged to none other than Bruce Jennings:





One of Al Holbert's helmets:



I wish this image were in focus. There aren't many IROC jackets around these days:



1:8 scale model:



Various cars from the showroom. All but the Carrera GT are for sale:

































































Old BBS centerlock wheels:







21" wide:





The result of 1980s narco-dollars:



If any of you guys find yourselves in the Waynesboro area, I highly recommend calling G&W and asking if they're around. You'll be in store for a treat.
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  #9  
Old 08-16-2010, 04:12 PM
Manny Alban Manny Alban is offline
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Wow!!! What a place! If I ever remember to play the lottery and happen to win, that's why my dream garage will look like.

Weldon and Cole are regulars at the Parade. An incredible wealth of Porsche knowledge between the two.

I remember the RPM's held at Alex Smith's house. Started small, but now the event is huge and Alex is still the force behind it. Think I had more hair and was thinner in '96
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  #10  
Old 08-18-2010, 07:07 PM
Rick V Rick V is offline
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Weldon is a very interesting and genuinely nice fella. Anyone who happens to be in the area needs to stop by. He and Phyllis (his wife) are two of the nicest people one could ever care to meet
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