Changes coming to Stohr Cars

[Stan Clayton]

As many of you know, we lost our home, personal shop, vintage cars, and tools to one of Northern California's massive wildfires in August. Rather than rebuild in this fire-prone location (2 other fires came close to burning us out in recent years) the loss has prompted us to make two changes to stabilize Stohr Cars for the long term.

First, active management will transition to our long-time chief mechanic Dave Rich, assisted by our son Rennie, while Patti and I continue in more limited roles. Second, we will move our base of operations from San Francisco Region to the Charlotte, North Carolina area. That will simultaneously put us closer to family and to the center of our customer base. Patti and I had planned to continue Stohr Cars operations here for another 2 or 3 years before possibly relocating, but the fire forced our hand sooner than anticipated.

Not to worry, though, as operations will continue full steam ahead here in northern California through at least the end of the year, and probably well into January. Our current shop lease expires at the end of February, so at some point in January we will call a temporary halt to production to pack up and roll east. By the end of March, we should be up and running and filling orders for large items. In the meantime, Dave will be filling hard-part and small-item orders from his shop near Tucson, AZ. If you have specific part needs before March, you’re encouraged to contact us now so we can put those parts on our pre-move production list!

Except for a short blip early next year, folks shouldn't notice much of a production change. If anything, deliveries should get a bit quicker for most. Moreover, we’ve been making strategic investments in equipment, tools, and capabilities to ensure Stohr stays at the forefront of SCCA Prototype development, and are very excited about some upcoming Stohr product announcements coming after the move!

[Daryl DeArman]

Exciting changes ahead. Sorry to hear about your losses and your hand being forced sooner than desired.

[Mike B]

If it wasn't already taken I would suggest a name change to "Phoenix".

[RussMcB]

Glad to hear you're bouncing back strong. Very sorry you had to go through such a devastating event.

Also, it's good to hear you won't be rebuilding there. A hard but smart decision.

[Stan Clayton]

Thank you all for the kind words of support. We are looking forward to getting settled in the Charlotte area, and just as importantly, to getting so some SEDiv events to see your iconic tracks and put faces to names. Stay well, everyone, and thanks again!

[Bob Wheless]

Dam .....Stan ,,, i'm so sorry ,,,,,I did't know. many thoughts and prayers .

[Farrout48]

SEDIC 2021 Schedule can be found here. http://sedivracing.com/road-racing/

SEDIV Tracks range from VIR, Charlotte, Carolina Motorsports Park, Road Atlanta, Barber Motorsports Park, Roebling Road, Daytona, Sebring, PBIR, Homestead.
Plenty of races including Majors, SARRC, Regional, Enduros, and the ARRC. 2021 racing starts in early January at Homestead and finishes at Sebring on Thanksgiving

[E1pix]

A bit empty from a stranger, but we hope this bad spell makes the good days ahead all the better.

[Stan Clayton]

A bit empty from a stranger, but we hope this bad spell makes the good days ahead all the better.

Thank you. There is nothing about your support that seems even the slightest bit empty, and I look forward to crossing paths with you in your Westfalia some day soon. Better days are coming.

[E1pix]

Appreciate the regards for good intent.

We have a lot of friends in California, and two years ago started a two-week visit with friends in Chico — the night before Paradise caught fire. The mail showed up early that morning, and I emptied the box for our friends. In it was a local Chico weekly, with a forest fire graphic on it, and a feature story discussing, essentially, “When we will see the big one?”

Chilling, even now — or maybe especially now.

In mid-August, we were on a 60-mile backpack in Colorado, and at the furthest point from the car (naturally) awoke to an overcast sky. “Oh, perfect” we thought in anticipating a long day over two passes in a rare full day of rain. It took a good hour to realize it was smoke, from California, we learned.

Worries for our west coast comrades rebounded in full swing, accompanied by that hike full of reminders that the best wilderness in Colorado — the Weminuche — has already been ruined by beetlekill, and a sickening feeling it’ll burn very soon. We’ve never seen dryness like this in 40 years’ hiking in Colorado mountains.

We’ve been in Owens Valley all week, after a slow passage across US-6. About 100 miles short of Bishop, there it was, as expected — a massive “wave cloud” of smoke.

Finally today, it dawned clear on the Sierra. I will tell you we found relief in that, if only for all of you dealing with this.

Just a long-winded way to let you know a lot of people are pulling for you, and your neighbors. It’s been one helluva year, too much really, but maybe best to get it all out of the way. New vistas can launch better times yet, if we open the right door.

All the best.