Here's an analysis of Corky's post.
In his post, he opens with some character attacks. He says that Jon is proud, Jon is assumptive, etc. This is a good opener, especially for the guys around here that don't know me.
Then, he disassociates himself from Gas Monkey Garage (a really important paragraph, we'll cover it below). Finally, he finishes with some character-building text, including my email to him. Why does he reprint this email? Surely he knows it's illegal? He does it because it contains my obvious compliments about his company. He thinks that if he shows everyone: "How can I be wrong, when even Jon said how great we are", then he will emerge victorious.
In his last paragraph, he assumes that he has won, and is even so proud as to say "Your plan to resolve", as if there is no other option for us. That's funny.
After he gets schooled, he backs down. He throws out some various generic excuses: life is too short, waste of time, prefer to talk about cars.
Corky didn't do too bad. But, he didn't do too good, either.
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Note how, in the video, Richard Rawlings says:
"We just finished building a car for David Coker. He's involved with the Coker family of Coker Tire, and he owns Newstalgia Wheel Company."
Coker, Coker, Coker. Three times. Then, "Newstalgia". This is done to associate Coker Tire with Newstalgia Wheel in this heavily scripted video.
It's very similar to how, later in the video, David Coker will say the phrase: "Gas Monkey Newstalgia". This is done to semantically associate "Gas Monkey Garage", with David's business, "Newstalgia Wheel".
Now, Corky knows that Richard just got totally blown up on hotrodding forums, in SEMA, and plenty of other places, and rightfully so. Richard stepped way too far over the line. Back before everyone thought we wouldn't be able to see through dodgy's pathetic marketing attempt, they wanted to
associate their family name, their business name, and their brother's business name with Gas Monkey Garage.
Now, after we've exposed the truth, Corky knows that he needs to
disassociate his company name from Gas Monkey Garage and Richard Rawlings. Here's the reasons that he gives to disassociate:
1. Coker Tire Company does not have a relationship with Gas Monkey Garage.
2. He doesn't know Richard, he's never talked to him, he's never met him, and he hasn't seen the video.
3. His brother, David Coker, is not an employee of Coker tire.
All of these may indeed be true. However, there is only one question we need answered: Did Coker Tire or Corky Coker have foreknowledge of the fact that their company name was going to be mentioned in this video? Or, was it a complete and total surprise to hear their name mentioned? Was it
planned? I suppose we can ask Corky:
"Hey Corky, did you guys know that Coker Tire was going to be mentioned in the video, or was it a total surprise?"
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Coker Tire does a large amount of tire sales for this industry. If you do a lot of tire sales, having your brother start a company for selling wheels is practical. Those who buy tires often need wheels. Coker Tire can refer business to Newstalgia Wheel quite easily. Besides, they've worked hard to build a reputation over the years, and this is a practical solution for everyone. Newstalgia Wheel doesn't have to manufacture the wheels. They can just buy them from manufacturers. They can buy in large volume, and offer the same wheels for a lower price than many other companies. Also, they have fairly good taste, so they can pick and choose the wheels that they think are cool, from a bunch of different companies, and sell those wheels under their brand: "Newstalgia Wheel". This is good, and everyone wins. Good customer service, lower prices, etc. That's what capitalism and a free market are all about. If their marketing methods were as solid as their products, we wouldn't have a problem.
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Corky says: "It looks like my brother just had these guys build a car for him".
Technically, Corky is correct. It
looks like that. Not to me, but perhaps to many people. Some people may even think that David just happened to be stopping by to pick up his car from Gas Monkey Garage that day, and they just happened to have a video camera around to film it.
I don't believe it any more than I believe that dodgy stopped by here to help us donate to charity. Please. You guys are treating us like mentally retarded children. If you forked over a drop of respect, maybe we wouldn't have to hold your feet to the fire.
I think that Gas Monkey Garage was selected as the proper venue to advertise Newstalgia Wheels. If you think about it, the brands are a fairly good match. Newstalgia is a newer company on the scene, looking for some exposure. Richard is a rising star. His garage reputation for "old school made new" aligns properly with the "Newstalgia" concept.
There's something else I would like to know. We know about Richard now, and we know
the truth about Stephen Andrews and his production company. I would like to know who financed this fiasco. I would like to know who is footing the bill.
Since I wasn't born yesterday, I know that "My brother just had these guys build a car for him" is a partial-truth at best.
I think that money, goods, or services changed hands somewhere along the line. Stephen Andrews (dodgy) didn't make this video for free, out of the goodness of his heart. David Coker didn't just happen to have these guys build a car for him.
I'm not stupid. I know that businesses are behind this.
A photo of guys in "Spank My Monkey" thongs, and a video of some jerk declaring himself to be the "Anti-Christ of the Hot Rod World" were posted on our forums. I want to know who footed the bill.
I would like the company or companies that financed, or helped finance, the posting of the Spank My Monkey photo on our forum to step forward, claim responsibility, and apologize. I would also like the company or companies that financed, or helped finance, the posting of the "Anti-Christ of the Hot Rod World" video on our forums to step forward, claim responsibility, and apologize. By "financed", I mean supported with the exchange of money, goods, or services.
Otherwise, I am simply going to research it myself, and add whatever information I discover to our new
Monkey Boys Page.