The key partner in this project was the Louisville Collision Center, but more than two dozen other companies in the Kentucky area were quick to donate time and products to the build. Along the same lines, the 20 employees at Louisville Collision Center all donated their time to tear down the tired old truck and rebuild it, taking the team more than three months and more than 1,000 man hours to complete the project.
“As soon as they got behind this project, it took off. Them volunteering their time and reaching out to local vendors. I mean, we had 25 local vendors that all contributed to this. So, it was unbelievable to see everyone’s support,” said Steve Olson, with Louisville Collision Center.
During a portion of the process where Joseph McStoots was in the hospital, he was aware of the fact that his Ford F-150 was being completely refurbished and the thought of having his truck in like-new form helped keep his spirits high. At the same time, he still thought that it would be well into the winter months before his restored Ford was returned.
With that in mind, imagine his surprise when he was introduced to his fully-refinished 1978 Ford F-150 at the 2018 Louisville BIG Wish Gala.
“This happening to me is probably one of the greatest moments of my life so far. When I was in the hospital, just looking forward to what this truck could turn out to be,” said McStoots.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
