Dude, that's MY car ...

The story below is my own. It does not have anything to do with my occupation. Well, that's not entirely true. This story and what I am currently experiencing will best explain to all of my friends and connections, why it appeared that I had suddenly fell of the face of the earth ...

Some may think that this may belongs on other forms of social media, and you are probably correct. However, if sharing what I am going through, can help to prevent others from suffering the very same fate. Well then, my story is exactly where it needs to be. 

Oh and I never, ever use the word "Dude", it's just fitting in this particular instance. 

- Jamie Smith 

Two years ago, I got into with contact Danny Hart who I had went to Hillsboro High School with, in regard to putting my 1966 Chevelle SS back together again. We were acquaintances in high school. I only knew him from Facebook, our numerous mutual connections and his posts of auto restoration projects over the years.

I had reached out to him and we spoke about possibly fixing my car. After both my Dad and I met him and heard his own business struggles, both my Dad and I thought of asking him if he would like to trade. We were closing our doors. It really was not of any benefit to us to trade. We would have gotten more selling the equipment and tooling. However, my Dad and I had been lucky enough over the years to have the same type of support and we have always been grateful. So we thought we could help someone in the same way. He would be able to get back on his feet again and reestablish himself as a profitable auto restoration company. 

We were happy to both help Danny get back on his feet with his own company, as well as get my car fixed. We agreed that he would repair my auto in exchange for the following: Nardini Lathe, (3) 10" Buck Chucks, Cincinnati Mill, Drill Press, Band Saw, Bench Grinder, Tool Boxes, automobile parts related to the Chevelle, all tooling/holders/inserts/drill bits for all equipment listed above. He also took 2 truckloads of various automotive parts under the premise that he could help my Dad sell these items we no longer needed. The majority were original parts for various classic Chevy vehicles. Including a 454 engine block, extra 67/68 Chevelle seats, manifolds, and more. This was a good ole boys handshake deal (with a kind of text contract), blind trust and a huge amount of faith. That was our mistake, and it looks as though we are going to pay dearly.

Now, to be fair, I did not state a timeline as to when this restoration needed to be completed, I only required that any updates on the progress that was made be shared throughout the duration of the project. This is when everything became very complicated ...

He would promise me lists of the car items I wanted inventoried for my Dad (January/February 2015) but was seemingly to busy to complete. I told him I would happily do it, all he had to do is tell me where they are. He assured me that everything was almost done, and would claim he's minutes away from sending it.

These are all random screen shots dating from mid 2015 and on. Please excuse my poor choice of language ... 

As of today, I never have received that list.

I have asked him to end this agreement many times. He has always convinced me that it will be okay. I would get so upset, always wanting to just call the police but always too scared to do that because of his children and how it would affect them. The last thing I wanted to do is hurt kids who don't deserve to suffer because of their parents irresponsibility and/or behaviors. Understand that thus far, any information I had (albeit extremely limited) was given to me only by Danny Hart. He told me many stories over the past 1.5 years, yet never giving me a real answer. At one point his 'shop' had been in Oregon City, 

Kelso, Hillsboro, and Beaverton. The last address he had mentioned was at a Beaverton location, off of Rosa. (Which was another lie). He had never informed me a shop name he worked as and/or at. His phone number changed, and was never shared again. I know my mistake was always letting him promise me that I would be happy. That I would just be patient, I would get my car and everything would be okay. He begged me not to do anything because it would affect his children. I always backed down, partly from guilt about his son and daughter, and the other half being pure fear. Because frankly, he did have all the 'power'. He has my belongings. 

In March, I again wanted to end this. I wanted ALL of MY property returned. That is when he stated I would need to pay him for what he's done thus far. Which I agreed, I had no intention of having him work for free. I only asked he submit invoices so we can have an outside party evaluate what is fair. I don't know what the going rates for auto repair are, and I had no reason to start believing he'd be honest with me now.

As of today, I have yet to receive anything, paperwork or otherwise, stating what he is 'owed'. 

I again asked for photos, which he would tell me that he needed to upload them, or his computer was broken or his phone died. So many excuses ... (over 100 pages of texts with nothing but excuses).

April 15th, 2016, I randomly came across a Facebook page advertising his 'company'? Upon further inspection, imagine my shock and disbelief when I came across a post dated December 1, 2015 and noticed that my automobile had been posted on this page advertised as a 1967 Chevelle restoration for his personal collection?! I was livid, all this time he would claim not to have an address or any photos. I was confused. It was after seeing that, I again texted him and as I'm sure you can guess, that conversation left me with nothing but a feeling of continued heartache and frustration ...  

I decided to post my story using an alternate form social media in a desperate attempt to resolve this mess and ideally have all of my property returned. A family member read my post and unprompted chose to randomly inquire about his own classic auto that was in need of repair. Using the email address posted on the company contact link, he was able to within minutes obtain both the address and phone number that I could not get for 1.5 years. I was elated, thinking that soon I would be reunited with my car. So with that newly discovered information, I drove out to the address that was given. I can't tell you how even more excited to see that Danny was there! He was surprised, and what appeared to be angry. Then proceeded to walk away, that is the last I saw of him. 

I promptly contacted the Washington County Police Department. Using the facts and evidence I had accumulated in attempt to best explain the current set of circumstances and why I reached out to them for help. They were only able to briefly speak with him by phone due to the fact that he had left the scene prior to their arrival. It seems the fact that there was a verbal/text "contract", I was told because of that, the car can not be technically reported as stolen. All they could do is question him on the whereabouts of the car and were told that it is currently being stored in a facility over an hour away, in Kelso, Washington.

However, now he realizes the police can do nothing. So in reality, there is a strong likelihood that he is going to get away with this. Unless I retain an attorney, he would get to walk away with over 80k of my property and there is nothing I can do to prevent it. I can't describe to you how sad I am about this. I trusted him. My father trusted him. Now, because of our poor choice, we have potentially lost everything. Including a car that has been in our family for over 25 years.

Feeling completely defeated, I felt slightly better after being contacted by a gentleman whom had been involved in a similar situation with Mr. Hart. I had a lovely conversation with him after he had seen my post through a mutual connections comment on it. He informed that Danny Hart has done this many times, to many people. Danny is well aware of the laws and has mastered ways of getting around it each and every time. During this conversation he explained how he had received a civil judgement because unfortunately he faced the same issue in regard to the gray area of what constitutes 'theft'. As this person put it, "It became obvious this isn't his first rodeo".

Saturday, April 16th, 2016 I was introduced to a Ms.Ashley Lynn, who claimed to be the ACTUAL owner of the business (The Race Shop) I had originally found. She reached out to me, trying to determine what was going on. She had been bombarded by so many people who were all trying to help me find out where my property is. This is when she informed me that she had been told by Danny Hart that the car was his! Seemingly, it appeared that she had been lied to as well. 

Ashley asked if I could send proof the car is in fact titled to ME. It was then I sent her a photo and spoke with her on the phone. I was assured that my car is there and has been completely taken care of. She confirmed that the car was in storage in Kelso. She only needed to now try to sort out fact from fiction in regard to his story versus mine. It appeared that she was going to be a tremendous help, making herself available in every way. The parts she was omitting/pertinent information (address, location, etc.) I rationalized that as a business owner, she just needed to make certain she covers her own tush in regard to letting anything go. I understood that, and appreciated her need to make sure she's obeying the laws. However, after asking for any updates from her later that afternoon after our original conversation, I received a message that read,

"....I have to clock back in for my next shift but my next day off is Wednesday. I don't have time to go inventory the storage until at least then. But I can assure you that I'm not going to let anything happen, I'm keeping him busy locally at the shop." 

The last I heard from Ashley Lynn was Sunday, April 17, 2016 and the last messages exchanged were less than pleasant. There were far too many holes in her story, and I questioned them. Judging from the lack of correspondence, I would say I was right to be concerned. I am now been threatened by someone I have never met nor knew existed and I still have no idea who this person is ...

Social media is the best option for people who make the mistake of not opting to use legally binding contracts. Especially when that same person used social media to first advertise an auto he claimed to not know anything about for over a year. Yet had posted it on his business website, claiming it was his in December 2015.

I drove to Kelso, Washinton this past weekend. The Race Shop is not longer located there. The current tenants confirmed they had been gone for months. I researched every storage unit in that city, none have the name of "Sure Right" storage. Again, I was not shocked by this news. I had come to learn to accept that nothing I was ever told would be factual. 

My Dad is a great guy, a proud Vietnam Veteran, extremely hard worker and would give the shirt off of his back to help someone if he can. I like to think I am kind of the same way. I like us, I like the way we are and I would like to say that we will learn from this and never do it again. That's possible, but unlikely. We are who we are, and sure we'll be more cautious in the future but I doubt we'll ever lose the desire to help people if it is within our capability.

This was a terrible mistake, and it had escalated to a level I never dreamed would occur. If sharing my story, helps others not suffer the same fate, then my 'business' is exactly where it needs to be. Because frankly, had all the others told what had happened to them involving these same people, it's possible I wouldn't be here today.

Ideally, as of right now. No one will ever have to again. 

THE CONTINUED LIES - (2 of hundreds) 

MY MARCH 14th, 2016 AGREEMENT TO END THE 'CONTRACT' - 

THE LAST MESSAGES RECEIVED -