Attn: All Baja Owners
 

Folks I felt the need to write an email and forward it to those folks that were BAJA thanking them for all they have done for us. Lets face it a boat is a boat but the people are what makes the company.

I would like to ask each one of you to take a minute and send an email to those people that made it happen. The movers and shakers that worked hard to bring us a product we could enjoy and be as proud of owning as they were proud to offer it to us.

If you would like to do this then PLEASE do. Here are the key folks to contact. I really think they would enjoy and appreciate hearing from the members of the Baja family.

Barbara Grobicki - Marketing Mgr.
[email protected]

Blane AArup - East Coast Sales
[email protected]

David Olson - President
[email protected]

Dave Leonhardt - Model Year Specialist
[email protected]

Greg Leonhardt - Boat Tester
[email protected]

Karen Weir - Customer Service
[email protected]

Jay Prestwood - West Coast Sales
[email protected]

These folks helped with design and graphics. They brought us the "Full Throttle" Baja magazine. They brought us the "Baja Poker Run Tour". They worked the boat shows and attended the poker runs. They are our friends and I hope you will take a moment and tell them that their hard work was appreciated by you.

Thank you

Barbara with Baja

She did a wonderful job with the Poker Run Tour

Greg & Jason

For those that don't know Greg was the guy that ran and tested the boats rain or shine, winter or summer so they could be validated and offered to the public.

Jason was the face of the Poker Run Tour pulling all the boats around the country.

Both are great guys and in Fort Myers still testing as I write this.

The man himself!

Blane Aarup

If you bought a new Baja on the East coast or went to a poker run you know Blane.

Picture from Jacksonville 2006 Baja Poker Face

Blane at the Ski Dock Lake Travis run April 2006.

He always has a smile on his face and is always willing to help out.

If his lips are moving he is saying something that you will like to hear!

Dock;

If I may, I would like to include the following people to your list. Even though none are still connected with Baja I feel that they were instrumental in bringing the Baja product line to the level it has reached today.


Doug Smith for starting it all way back when.

Dean Reynolds who would go out of his way to make you feel like a person and did a great job in his marketing. At least where I was involved.

Gene Weeks also gets mention from me for his involvement.

I am sure there are many others that I did not get the opportunity of meeting.

Thanks,
Mark

Yes by all means add anyone and everyone. I had just focused on current employees but should also list J.R. Jenny.

Dock;

Absolutely!

Mark

PS: You planning on Cumberland this year? The next time our paths cross I feel I MUST get a ride in your boat with the new top secret power!

Yes we are going to come up and party with KDAWG.

I think we will bring the boat up for a nice long weekend but not do the run and just hang out with Kevin on the houseboat and watch.

I will be happy to take you for a ride.

emails sent dock. thank you.

Looking forward to it. You get to see a whole lot more watching that you do running in it. Done both.

Mark

Hey Dock,
I bought my boat from Jay Prestwood 10 years ago and haven't talked to him much since then. Thanks for the email link. I see Jason regularly down here. As a matter of fact, I saw a 26 Outlaw he's been putting hours on yesterday at the dock. Hopefully we'll catch him out tomorrow and I can see what the future holds for him.
Tom

Ttt

Hope Greg does well!!!

Is that a ring on her hand in the second pic? I can't tell for sure or not :D:D

She is married.

What a Motley looking crew! Dont forget Steve Nelson, in the middle of the center picture. And Nathan lives just minutes from where we are staying, and still talks about Team Dock Holiday.

I'll see if Checkmate needs a janitor. Jason is a true pioneer and plans on doing some liver research to help save lives.

- Greg

You slackers:D

I called you back tonight. It looks like I am going to have to fly down and straighten you guys out!

Thanks for the info Dock...I have never had any direct dealings with the Baja folks, but I love my H2X and I am saddend to see them purchased. I plan on sending a note anyway to thank them for a great product and wish them well.

Thanks guys I know they appreciate it.

And, I was looking forward to havin' a couple cold ones with Jason this summer at a couple of PR.

I've had the pleasure of meeting a bunch of the people on the list. I hope things work out for all of them.

Hopefully he will be around!:D

Today is his birthday. Stock in Coors Light and Jager just went up drastically!

Clayton just had a birthday Wednesday. I bet they have not got the county restocked yet!:evilb::evilb:

Wish him a Happy Birthday from me and Tommie.

I received an e-mail from Dave Olson thanking me for the note I sent to him. With everything going on back there I was suprised he had time. His answer was much appreicated.
Jay

I too got a reply from Dave Olsen and Barbara Grobicki. They're great people.

On a side note Jay, I think we found another person wanting a spare rim & tire. John said it wont be a problem to come down for those rims & tires. He'll be there late next week and be there for about 2 weeks. It'll be a matter of meeting up in Waco. :party-smiley-048:

Jesse,
Call me so we can get some exact dates so my trailer isn't sitting on the hubs waiting for the new tires and wheels. We only need to get rid of 1 more then it sounds like a done deal.
Jay

Well I talked with some folks up at the plant today and it sounds like morale is terrible.

The molds are rolling out doors and again May 23rd is the final day for those that are still left.

I did here that the guy who sank the company Bill Rigan is now gone. Too bad they did not can him three years ago.

I think he has gone with Hunter Sailboats in Florida so they will be the next boat brand to sink.

How Bill Regan stuck around so long remains a mystery. He must have had some serious dirt on someone!

Thanks Dock to keep us posted , i am very :( about this news , because in my hometown we live this kind of , when the Asbetos mine closed :(
Do you know where the molds are shipped ? Wash. NC ?
My Very Best Regards

Ok i just see the other thread....sorry for double question
Regards

My thoughts exactly!

Bill Regan was a big problem for a long time up there. His people did not trust him or believe him. He had no credibilty with dealers or other co-workers. Rob Parmentier liked him and appears to have been his only ally. It is to bad, some great people that loved what they did have been destroyed over a few bad decisions.

I dont understand his part. I knew of Blane, Barbara and president Dave Olsen. All great folks.

Never really heard that name.

He is the guy that knowing the problems with the 405's and other liner constructed hulls pushed the production on and put them out of business with all the warranty repairs and replacements of boats.

I hear the place looked like a grave yard up there with all the broken 405's back for repair.

They knew the problem and he would not correct it.

Now three hundred people are out of work and he has a new job with another boat builder. Go Figure

Thanks for the info Dock. I felt like I was not in the know about Baja( Bill R). well after owning 3 of them.........

I wish good to all the good folks at Baja on their future careers!.

He was the Vice President for quite awhile. Lost alot of popularity contests.:angry-smiley-055:

I would like to add another person that deserves praise, and that is :
Sherry Conkel
Parts&Accessories Specialist

She has really gone above board to help me in making sure that my boat gets back in the water and I make a paid for Poker Run. I really hope and pray that Reggie takes care of those losing their jobs, as she also has 4 young mouths to feed and clothe at home. She even made a comment to me that it has been like family around there not just another factory. So as it has been stated before lets all keep them in our thoughts and prayers and hope there is indeed a silver lining in this somewhere for them all.

Dock,
Is there a problem with all the liner boats (outlaws) or just the 405? It seems like the two 35 poker run boats got thrashed around quite a bit and I never heard of any structural problems.

My source tells me they've had problems
with one 30 and some 23's.