Crestwood1001

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78394
I came across this today while browsing the Camaro5 forums, the poster Fbodfather was one of the designers of the 5th gen camaro, and one of the members on the site wrote him this story. It shows that for some people a car is alot more then just a car, thought I would share this reality check with you guys, shows that petty problems dont mean much...

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98530
Thats the link to a post made by the man who wrote him a letter about what Fbodfather did in memory of his son, what a story..

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Touching.

phee

iTrader: (5)

copy+paste it here.

its blocked

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

please... I wanna read it too! Thanks~!

Crestwood1001

PLEASE READ -- Customer letter - "What does Camaro mean to me?"
<hr style="color: rgb(238, 238, 238); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> I just received a note from one of our fellow enthusiasts on this board.

He wrote me this note, I believe, because he'd read my "Defining Moments" post. This is a heart-breaking story, but I'm pleased beyond belief that our Camaro was able to bring such joy............

I simply cannot imagine the pain that this man and his family must experience each and every day.....

I'm warning you - you are going to need a handerchief........

Please keep Mike and his family in your prayers.........

Mike writes:


My son . . .

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr. Settlemire:

I appreciate how you share your thoughts regarding the new Camaro. Your pride in your career and the Camaro shines through your words.

I'd like to tell you about what the car you built meant to my son.

When he and I went to Transformers for the first time, he fell in love with Bumblebee and marvelled at what an incredible car it was. I too fell in love with the Camaro instantly and on the way home from the movie we talked about what it would be like to have one.

I told him that some day, if we can, we would buy one and when the time came for him to drive, it would be his.

I got my order in last April and it arrived late in June last year. He was so excited and every day, rain or shine, he'd ask if we could go for a quick ride. He couldn't see much from the back seat but I could see his face lit up in the rear view mirror.

In October, he helped me prepare it for winter storage and as I disconnected the battery and it fell asleep, we looked at each other like “What just happened?” Lying with him at bedtime that night, we talked about it and it surprised both of us to know we were both on the verge of tears. Every week or so, we'd go out and check on it just to make sure it was safe and we talked through the winter months about our first cruise of the spring and how much fun that would be.

My son Dawson passed away in mid February from a stroke suffered after surgery to remove a brain tumour. He was eight years old.

In the weeks that passed, I would check on his sleeping Camaro but my excitement over our first cruise was now gone. Instead, I looked at that car and wondered how I could ever drive it again. At one point, I almost decided to sell it but finally figured Dawson would want me to enjoy it. How could I get rid of his first car?

In late March, I pulled the cover off and installed the battery. I felt a shiver as the interior lights came on. I was nervous turning the key to start it but it only cranked for a second before it fired and the sound of that engine filled the garage. While the sound and smell excited me, I cried and cried that my boy wasn’t there to see it come to life.

I fulfilled my promise to Dawson. I took his ashes, wrapped them in his favorite blanket, buckled him into the front seat, and he and I cruised around for a while. He loved music, especially Rock and AC/DC in particular but when it came to riding in the car, the stereo was always off. He and I listened to what he called the “music of the car”.

I will keep the car and have ordered a vanity plate in his memory. From time to time, I will take him out for a cruise on a warm summer evening and remember his beaming face in the rear view mirror and the excited, nervous giggles from the back seat when I’d punch the gas in a low gear.

I want to thank you for the special moments that car brought my son. He was always telling others how his Daddy drove a 2010 Camaro and some day, it would be his. Like I said, I can tell how proud you are and I want you to know the joy that your hard work brought to a little boy, even if for such a short time.

Thank you

Mike

Crestwood1001

about fbodfather . . .
<hr style="color: rgb(238, 238, 238); background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> Featured on CAMARO5 HOMEPAGE.


Good afternoon everyone.

I want to tell you a little about our experience with Scott Settlemire and what he's done for us. For those of you that don't know, my son Dawson passed away in February at eight years of age. A while after that, I sent a PM to Scott to thank him for the memories that his hard work and dedication brought to my son - at the time, I was hoping to simply thank all those that had an impact on Dawson's life.

To this point, I've kept pretty quiet about all of the things that have happened since that simple email but I think all of you should know what an amazing person Scott really is. Yes, there are lots of threads on here about him being a God (and I know they're tongue in cheek) - there are many that speak about his efforts on the Camaro - many that thank him for all of the information he's passed on through the years. And there are many, many of his 'preaching' threads about being safe in your Camaros. I've read some where we've tested his patience to the point he's actually 'fought back' a little and to be honest, I'm surprised how thick his skin really is.

Shortly after I sent Scott the original email, he asked for permission to post it. I agreed and the outpouring of sympathy and condolensces was, and continues to be, very comforting to my wife and I. After that, Scott sent us a gift and then surprised us by asking permission to hand out a few awards at car shows this summer. The awards given out were "Dawson's Pick" for the best Camaro in the show. These awards were handed out in Atlanta, Deleware, Carlisle and finally, at the PACE/Tom Henry Cruise to Mars. If that wasn't enough, he's been most concerned about Dawson's younger brother Alex and sent him several nice gifts for his birthday - all Camaro related of course!

My wife, Alex, and I travelled to the last of the shows to meet Scott, to thank him personally, and to witness the last of Dawson's Picks being awarded. As much as I wish it wasn't necessary in the first place, it was truly an honour to see such a thing. To top it all off, Scott offered Lord Quicksilver for us to drive in the Cruise to Mars - and no, I'm not crazy enough to have taken him up on it!

For all of these things, my wife and I presented Scott with a small token of our thanks and I want to share it with you.

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You all need to know that there are GOOD people in the world who really care about you - Scott is one of them. Beyond all of his accomplishments, all of his boyish enthusiam and humour, all of his preaching, all of his support and help, there is a man who genuinely cares about the world and everyone in it.

We are all fortunate to have him.

Thank you Scott . . .

Mike

Crestwood1001

If you can read that and not get upset ur not human...

Crestwood1001

And apparently that picture was taken a week before he passed away

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Can't deal with stories about young children passing away.

Dawson.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Wow, pretty incredible story....

1killercls

Great story...

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

Neither can I.

Very sad and touching.

Dawson.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Sad story, but incredibly heart warming, I went to school with the daughter of the head of design for the fbodies back in the 90's, and I can say that these guys really are passionate about what they do. I also lived across the street from one of the design managers for the first viper, and was taken for a ride in one of the prototypes, I will never forget that since I was very young back then and it meant the world to me. It's awesome that Mike was able to share these memories with his son and share them with us as well. Great story

fsttyms1

Great story.

AMUA6

iTrader: (7)

Awesome story!

rossv1

Pretty touching story...

Dawson

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Amazing story. It's things like this that give me hope the world isn't falling to sh*t like most think it is.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I can't lie, my eyes are watering pretty badly right now. What an amazing story.

d-townhakuzo

That's one touching story. Really hit hard.

pebe

This really hits hard. I have 2 boys, a 2y/o and a 3y/o. I only drive a Passat, but the boys love when the windows are down and the sunroof is open. The older one always tells me "Go faster daddy!" when we are on the highway. I can't imagine this happening to anyone, especially one of my boys. Kids are a blessing. I make sure my kids are always having a good time and spend every minute I can with them. Sad story, but at least he'll always have the car to remind him.

silver3.5

truly touching story. i can relate somewhat with my oldest girl; she's only 2.5 years but she loves to go driving. everytime i mention about going somewhere, she would rush to the garage and jump on her car seat. and whenever i'm cleaning my car, she would want to sit in the driver's seat and pretend she's driving by trying to turn the steering wheel, insert her imaginary key into the key hole, pull on the gear shifter, etc...

i can only imagine what the OP went thru....sad...sad.....

teranfon

Touching story......






Terry

Sclass88

Incredible story. It makes you realize how lucky we all are and to forget about the little things in life. Thanks for sharing.

Fireguy0826

Poor little guy.

West6MT

Very touching.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

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Hapa DC5

Dawson. People in this world don't seem so bad at the moment.

invisiblewar

touching story

Crestwood1001

Im glad you guys feel the same way I do about it, what a story

majin ssj eric

What a terrible story. Its amazing how much a car can end up meaning to you...

mdkxtreme

God really should add another rule to the bible. That a parent should not experience the death of their child.

I have a feeling he's going to keep that Camaro for life. Or at least within the family.

neuronbob

I have no idea what I'd do without my little boy.

TRIOD3SIGNS

Reality check for all of us I believe. Rest Dawson. Rest.

mrmako

:RIP: little guy.

As a father of three, I could not imagine outliving my kids. Very touching story.

Legend2TL

Touching story, RIP

cM3go

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Mr. Maker

iTrader: (4)

very touching..very sad....there is just something so special about being a father that its impossible to express that feeling to ones that are not..this story has got my mind going in all different directions....

RIP dawson.