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Factory Five Racing
Customer Profile |
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Customer Profile: Henry Renaud
Cape Cod, Massachusetts |
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One of our local role models also happens to be
one of the more active FFROGs over the last five years, building two
roadsters, doing a stint in the Middle East, a photo spread in Kit
car magazine, and winning the best in show award at the
biggest roadster show in the country.
On the way to the Kit Car Magazine’s Editor’s
Choice/Best in Show award at the (2003) Spring Fling III (winning
over almost 300 other roadsters of all makes), Henry Renaud was
honored as one of the best in another show – the war in the Middle
East.
We first met Henry in September 1998 when he came down to pick up
FFR 1328, and when he returned a short nine months later with a
completed show and street car, we were duly impressed with his
skills and attention to detail. After taking an offer he couldn’t
refuse, he had seller’s remorse and came back to the factory in
January 2001 to pick up FFR 2478. Knowing that his first car
is still running strong, after several owners and several thousand
(hiccup-free) miles, however, puts his mind and conscience at ease. |
| Go
ahead... I dare you to mess with my car. |
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| FFR 1328 |
FFR 2478 |
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| With his son Marcel (age 9 at the time)
as his chief mechanic, Henry decided to go the non-donor route for
his second Factory Five, beefing it up at the same time. Starting
with a 392 crate motor, the car was built with the options he had to
skip with the first one: including Independent Rear Suspension, Pin
Drive wheels and a lot of other goodies. What makes the car stand
out though is one of the sweetest paint jobs we’ve ever seen -an
awesome metallic grey with ghost flames that are just barely
perceptible to the naked eye. |
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Henry's son Marcel is a budding rap star. |
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Henry’s tour of duty included stints in Afghanistan,
Oman, Saudi Arabia, and some places he could tell you about, but,
well, he would have to kill you afterwards. The Air Force Chiefs of
Staff tend to frown on commutes back home to build cars, so the
second car took a bit longer than expected. |
| Commander-General
Tommy Franks is still trying to borrow Henry's car. |
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| While
on duty, Henry got to drive some really cool cars, |
...among other things. |
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As a Major with the 267th Combat
Communications Squadron out of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Henry was
responsible for establishing the cell phone lines which keep the troops in
touch with their families back home. His experience leads him to advise
everyone – “if you have friends or family engaged in the war – write them
letters and send them sweets frequently”. |
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| Henry
is always happy to give rides...although this type is reserved for
Baltimore Raven cheerleaders. |
After
losing a running race to a Liertenant Colonel (Henry ran a 10K, the
LC a 5K, yet only won by a difference of seconds), Henry had to do
push-ups into a cream pie, in the company of mess hall. |
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Henry is a fixture at every New England show and event that he can get to,
missing only those that conflict with his scheduled triathlons and
marathons. |
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Ghost Flames |
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