Reflections on GTM over the years

Infiniti370z

Sorry guys I tried reading it all but I'm at work, did mike answer this question directly???

__________________
//RAYS ENGINEERING//Z1 MOTORSPORTS//NISMO//RADI-CAL BBK//SPARCO//3M//ESCORT//BLENDMOUNT//BOSE//AAM//GTR//THE RETROFIT SOURCE//MILLENNIA
2014 Nismo BLK//2004 Sentra SE-R Spec-v//2013 Prius 4//Sold 2010 370z GM base 6MT

dmhenderson

Looking at their bankruptcy balance sheet, that appears to be exactly what he was doing. He had several lines of credit maxed including a $60,000 amex bill (lol)

__________________

Mike@GTM

Sasha,

Thank you for your response. I accept responsibility for having been a part of GTM and having supported the company. I believed in the products and sold them willingly despite Sam's shadiness. As a passionate enthusiast, it is undeniable that the product was solid for the most part. Passion is why I stayed. There is simply no other company within a 30 minute drive of where I live that could even hold a candle to the positives of working at GTM. The negatives, however did motivate me to look elsewhere for employment on multiple occasions. I went so far as to apply to Stoptech in Compton, but since GTM was a commercial customer of theirs, it may have seemed to be a conflict of interest to them. So, yes, working for GTM has definitely been a detriment to my career. That said, I am not above admitting that some of my bitterness and frustration may have shown through in my interviews with other performance companies. It could also be that the companies were hesitant to hire someone that lives over an hour away without traffic. California traffic can easily add an additional hour to a one hour drive and punctuality is important no matter who you work for. Also, with a wife and two kids, it is not as easy to up and move for a new job unless it is very compelling...especially when the cost of living where most performance companies are is almost double compared to where we live.

That all said, I am extremely passionate about automotive aftermarket performance and there are a lot of guys that would give their left nut to work in this industry. That passion is what drives me to bust my *** wherever I work. Hell, my old boss in Seattle has invited me to move back up there and start a new venture with him, especially since my name is untarnished in the Subaru community up there...I just really, really, hate the rain. Seattlites can keep their 40 days straight of rain. lol

I digress. I have to say Sasha that what you do is nothing short of amazing. For you to work full time and come home and weld those beautiful welds, deliver outstanding customer service and put up with the flak and BS you got from GTM shows that you have the kind of drive and passion that few can even understand. I respect you greatly and was really disappointed that Sam wanted to see your hopes and dreams crushed under his boot. There is more than one way to mod a car and while I get that, Sam couldn't tolerate the thought of someone else outshining him in any way.

In all honesty, I don't have an answer for you. There is simply no way for me to truly predict Sam's actions or motivations for doing what he does because the story always changes. It makes it very difficult to discern the truth when you listen to him...even when he's right there in front of you. He's just that skilled with his delivery.

VQStryker

Thank god you got out of there Mike! I hate Sam, so you going to start your own thing...maybe go back to "mud hole state" Washington?

__________________
SOLD- Stryker TT super sleeper (12.35 @ 121mph) no gripZ No Z

Mike@GTM

Hey Joe, thank you for your kind words. Man, I cannot tell you how bad I feel for you. After our last communication a while back, I found out the truth about what Sam did to you. Yes, Sam knowingly sent you used parts for your turbo kit. He had taken those pipes off of a car that was in the shop and sent them to you to keep you from cancelling your order. I am truly sorry for ever doubting your story because I didn't think Sam could stoop that low. I really wish I could have taken better care of you.

dmhenderson

What happened with that? I remember watching the youtube but I don't know if it was ever resolved. Did you (Joe) sue?

__________________

VQStryker

Well cats out the bag! Didn't sue, wanted to but it was hard especially since I was in guam. there is stuff I had to do to the kit to make it work, too bad I wasn't any faster then the guy who spent 1K on nitros... good for him What's even better is all the BS we got from...almost everyone in the forced induction section. I pretty much got **** on and so did the wife and the 2 guys who were siding with me, in Guam, that had seen the kit, and know the kind of person I am. Sam sent new parts (piping, intercooler, ect but not new turbos) We had all suspected it was a used kit, hell it actually looked like the car had issues going off what the internals of the piping looked but idk the story behind that car. I appreciate it MIKE you seemed different from Sam thats why I started to work with your only I got rid of that car, partially because I wanted nothing to do with GTM, and ended up with a nismo. Now I am trying to figure out what to pull the trigger on F.I. TT or the BP single.... oh and Mike, I got internals this time so it should be fun...er

__________________
SOLD- Stryker TT super sleeper (12.35 @ 121mph) no gripZ No Z