Hello

Well since I had a long nap this afternoon and now Can't sleep :violent1: I'll say hi.

I actually arrived here in sort of a backdoor manner having followed a link provided in an ebay dispute message. I said my peace and am done with that topic hopefully. What I discovered in the process is that there are a number of great people on here, seen via posts and PM's sent to me.

My background briefly. Graduated High School in 1971 as was employed by my brother as a general mechanic for a couple years. We started a mobile auto parts business (a pie wagon as they were called) that serviced garages and service stations. Never made any money and sold that after a couple years. We then purchased an existing speed shop in El Monte CA called Marv's Speed and Marine, from then owner Bill Morse. I ran that shop until 1979 (moving from El Monte to West Covina). Well it didn't ever make money either. I moved to Baldwin Park and took the speedshop portion and started again doing general auto repair work. 3 strikes. Working too much for not much dough at all. An opportunity came along to go to work for a company called Rex Marine Engineering running the parts department so I closed up and took it. That was early 1980. As a company at that time we sold marine parts, had an engine machine shop, built engines and rigged high performance boats. Unfortunately the recession of 80-81 put that company under also. Founder Jack Rex moved on to another industry.

I started a company in the same facility called Rex Marine Hardware Co. since we already had the ball somewhat rolling when Jack left. It became successful and I was in that building (and some adjacent) for 17 years following. Today 3 moves later the company is called Rex Marine Corporation and is in San Dimas CA. right next to the 57 freeway. We sell mainly marine parts but are moving in an automotive direction somewhat because the high performance boat industry had been hit very hard by the current recession. (yes I know it's over... HA). We sell a few automotive lines such as AutoMeter, ARP, and others, and we are the manufacturer of Impy's Billet Steering Wheels. Its not my intention to spam your forum up so I'll leave it at that for now.

Outside of work I'm an amateur (aspiring pro) photographer, love dogs, I freelance write for Performance Boats Magazine, and am an admin and moderator on their forum for several years. I have a photo site some of you might find interest in. It is mikegeephotos.com. I have some car show galleries within along with quite a few boat race galleries.

Thanks to all who PM'ed the kind invites. Merry Christmas to all and lets hope 2012 is a better one than 2011. I know a lot of people who are hurting right now with lost jobs, lost homes, under employment etc.

Mike Guardalabene aka, Rexone