Doug's News

August 2010

Dear Friends -

You aren’t going to believe this, and neither do I. But truth is often stranger than fiction. Back in January we, along with the rest of the world, were shocked at the destruction and devastation the earthquake of January 12 brought to the impoverished nation of Haiti and especially to Port au Prince. So we bought and in February sent a container to Haiti loaded with medical supplies, construction supplies, soap, and donated one of our Ford vans. Many of you donated money and supplies, too. The supplies were in the container. The container was going to be used as a medical clinic, the van as an ambulance. So - what could possibly go wrong?

After an arduous trip via the Dominican Republic (the harbor in Port au Prince was trashed, too) and numerous delays, the container made it to the border by April, where it was held up by Haitian Customs. Mathilde Wilson, the indefatigable leader of Haiti Community Support, made trip after trip to the border to attempt to release the container. Finally, in June (!) she succeeded and the container was able to be unloaded.

But a small hiccup. The supplies were released. Not the van nor the container. Customs has held firm. HCS is welcome to the van for a “fee” of $5,000. Mathilde adamantly said “no”, Customs said “yes”.

And it is now August and the van and container still sit.

I guess maybe I am a little naive and believe Haiti would welcome all the aid it can get and be more open. But it appears not. The old system of corrupt officials is alive and well. Unbelievable, no?

Or, as the man said , “Let no good deed go unpunished”. I guess our next move will be to try to get the van and container shipped back. Stay tuned!

Cordially,

Douglas A. J. Mockett

July 2010

Dear Friends –

The middle of June was the annual NEOCON show. Things were a bit more reserved than in the past, but it was great. We met many new faces, saw a lot of old ones, had a good reception to our new products, and came away energized for the rest of 2010! It was that good.

We Get Mail –
"Thank you for mis-spelling my first name and thank you for mis-spelling my last name, too. You careless jerk. I wouldn’t buy from you if Mockett was the last company on Earth."
- George Hawkins
Hey, George, lighten up! We get the message...we’ll be more diligent. And George, I hope you will reconsider. (PS – No comment on misspelling "mis-spelling" – twice!)

On a more positive note I am pleased to tell you that Sunday June 27 ace navigator Angelica Fuentes and I took my 1954 Olds Super 88 up Pikes Peak in the annual hill climb. The course is 12.42 miles with a 4800' elevation gain to the peak at 14,110'; some paved road, some dirt road, and 156 turns.

We did so in 13:05 for a new course record in the Vintage class, blasting the old record by :51, nearly a full minute. Plus we were awarded the Race Directors Award for the most competitive car. And saw a bunch of clients, one of whom posted part of our run on YouTube.

Enjoy the Summer. You deserve it!

Cordially,

Doug

June 2010

Dear Friends –

Every year the Entertainment Industry Foundation in Los Angeles supports women’s cancers research with a 5 kilometer walk/run fund raiser that starts by the LA Coliseum, wanders around the neighborhood, and ends by coming through the tunnel onto the Coliseum floor – very emotional and very impressive – some 40,000 people take part. We have done so the past 4 years. Some of us run, most of us walk behind our “Team Mockett” sign.

We charter a bus to avoid parking hassles, meet at the business early, and go from there. Which we did last month. What could go wrong? Here are a few things –

• The bus driver got lost. He didn’t know where the Coliseum was. (Like not knowing where the Empire State Building is in NYC).

• After he found his way he cut off a car while exiting the freeway. The cops did not find that amusing, pulled him over, and we spent 20 minutes while he was written a ticket. (Which meant those who wanted to run missed the start).

• Then he almost ran over a traffic cop directing us to parking.

• On the way back he had no idea how to find the freeway.

• At the last light, at the last left turn onto our street, he almost had a head-on.

Yes, we were pleased to get off of that bus! No, we did not give him a tip! Incredible -- how could this guy be driving a bus with people’s lives at stake?

Have a great Summer!

Cordially

Douglas A. J. Mockett 

May 2010

Dear Friends :

Trade show season is fast upon us. I will be at ICFF and NEOCON and hope you’ll come by and say ‘hello’. As we’re in the mail order biz these are our opportunities to meet our clients and exchange ideas. We look forward to it, believe me, and come away with a lot of good input and good suggestions.

What’s that? Do I detect a “glimmer of hope”?

There seems to be a spot of optimism out there. Our phones are ringing again, March home sales were at a record, so – fingers crossed -- this may be the beginning of the turning point.

I hope so. It’s tough to keep a stiff upper lip when the bank is calling every other day. As a friend of mine observed, “when you’re broke the rent comes due every three days”. It sure seems that way.

But we have used the downtime to develop new markets and new products. Our Ms. Matsumoto is near a meltdown, juggling the design and manufacturing of some 30+ new concepts. But we will introduce them all this Fall, and hope you will like them. I think so...

Hope to see you at a show,

Cordially,

Douglas A. J. Mockett 

April 2010

Dear Friends:

The trade show season starts in earnest next month and we’ll be in NYC at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, May 15 to May 18. Please stop by.

We Get Mail: It was quite humbling for all of us to have received the letter below. My hat is off to our Award Winning Customer Service Representatives. Very humbling ... Our people do a brilliant job taking care of our many clients.

Dear Mockett Employees:
I am returning a few of the drawer pulls/hardware items I purchased through your company.
We have just recently finished a large home remodel project and I used your hardware on all my new cabinets. We are thrilled with the way it came out! I wanted to let you know how impressed we were with your company. From start to finish the customer service has been great and your products are contemporary and unique – just what we were looking for! Your prices are very reasonable and you are dog friendly to boot!
Please feel free to use us as a reference.
Kind regards,
Lori & Ray DePole

 
SALE! SALE! SALE!
Every now and then we hold a sale of overstock and discontinued items. Our 2010 sale will start in about two weeks and you’ll get advance notice by email. In fact everyone on our E-List gets first dibs. We’re sending out a SALE! flyer about April 20th or so, bundled into our continuing 2010 Stimulus Pricing Plan brochure. And we will send out your advance E-notice five or so days ahead of the brochure hitting desks nationwide. Be sure to take advantage of your advance notice -- when the sale parts are gone they’re gone for good!

Cordially,

Doug

Haiti Community Support - Container 1

Dear Friends:

Last Friday, February 26, was a banner day. That was the day our first container of aid was picked up and shipped off to the Dominican Republic where Haiti Community Support (HCS) will pick it up and transport it overland to Port au Prince. We purchased the container so HCS will be able to use it at their medical clinic. Better than the tarp on the sidewalk they’ve been using. As the saying goes, “In the kingdom of the blind a one eyed man is king”. So a used container become an acceptable medical examining room. HCS’ doctors have been seeing 1000 people a week. With no end in sight. The container is progress.

This first container is filled with medical supplies and food, tents, tables, lumber for building, soap, and lots of other useful things. And one of our trusty Ford vans we have donated which HCS will use as an ambulance.

Our community and local schools have really stepped up to the plate. We have donations for at least another two containers, and will start to sort through and organize them, and buy another container and ready it to go.

Please contact us to donate; we’ll send a call tag to get it. And go to www.haitisupport.org and see the fine work they do. It is impressive.

Cordially,

Douglas A. J. Mockett

Haiti - How We All Can Help

In my lifetime I have never seen such destruction and devastation as in Haiti. Watching CNN is painful. Your heart has to go out to these unfortunate souls, to this desperate country. But let’s see how perhaps we can help them make lemonade from this giant lemon.

We’ve been fortunate to have hooked up a few years ago with Haiti Community Support, a St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands-based charity run by Bruce and Mathilde Wilson. HCS supports the village of Au Centre, high in the mountains 100+ miles west of Port au Prince. It’s not on any map, but if you can find Les Cayes it’s north of there up in the mountains. Mathilde is from Au Centre, met Bruce, married and moved to St. Croix.

A year ago I went with them to Au Centre and wrote about the journey in the April ’09 E-News. An excerpt:

What especially appeals to me is that HCS is a true “grassroots” organization. No drama, no fanfare, just results. They don’t mess about, they just get the job done. My kind of people.

HCS is a 501(c)(3) IRS- approved charity so you can be assured it’s on the up-and-up. What I like is there are no “administrative” expenses that eat up the donations. 100% goes to good works. Better than that, you can call Bruce at (340) 772 1651 and talk to him. Tell him you’re a friend of mine. Or check out their website www.haitisupport.org or this video. After the earthquake Mathilde immediately went to Haiti, and you can try her cell there, 011 509 365 45266.

Thank You for All Your Support,

Douglas A. J. Mockett.
 

What we're doing:

• Collecting all sorts of stuff – dry foods, food supplements, medical supplies, blankets, new and used clothes, soap and other cleaning materials, from the list provided (pdf). Friends are putting 50-100 collection boxes in local schools. We’re donating a Ford van.  • Our Martin Luther King Day service project involved many of us sorting and packing clothes and food items for Haiti. • Chartering a plane in St Croix to shuttle Bruce, doctors, EMT’s and supplies to/from Port au Prince. • Organizing at least one, maybe two, 40’ containers to send to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. HCS will truck it overland to Port au Prince where Mathilde has set up their own clinic. And on to Au Centre. The container(s) should be ready to depart Los Angeles mid to late February.

 How you can help:

• Donate to www.haitisupport.org on their website. 100% goes to help and is not eaten up by “overhead”. There is no overhead! Plus, it’s IRS tax-deductible. • Send us any or all of the above items, in any quantity. We will gladly pick up the FEDEX freight from you to us. Please call Susan Gordon (310) 533-6311 or Donna at (310) 533-6314 and they can arrange the FEDEX pick-up.

2009 Hector Tovar Award

Dear Friends -

The highlight of our year is the presentation of the Hector Tovar award at our annual Christmas luncheon. Hector died September 10, 2000, far too young at age 37, leaving a widow and two small sons. He was a vivacious guy, always in a good and positive mood with a big smile, always a leader, the true spirit of our warehouse staff. So each year the employees nominate who they believe is deserving, someone in the tradition Hector set for us all. 

         

This year the employees chose Patricia Tovar and Cookie Guy. Here are some comments made about Cookie: " I truly enjoy working with her. She is a valuable asset to the company."

And about Patricia: "She comes to work with a great attitude ready to take on the day with a smile."

Each will receive an engraved Nambe alloy vase, and their names will join the others on the large Nambe vase in our reception area. Congratulations to Patti and Cookie! Well deserved...

All the best for 2010...

Douglas A. J. Mockett.
 

December 2009

Dear Friends -

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. 2009 will go down as a year to forget. We can only focus and keep plugging away and do our best to make sure 2010 is a better year. And it won’t take much to make it a “better year”.

Some good news to share. I rescued a Golden Retriever just before Thanksgiving. So now Mooch will have some company to replace Charlie, our first rescue dog who died in March 2008. The new beast is Izzy and he’s about one or so, and absolutely full of beans and mischief. With a heart of gold, an ever-present smile and a tail that does not know how to stop wagging. He needs a little training but is housebroken and knows how to “sit”. Just not for long! A lovely guy. We love him, and he seems to like us.

If you are looking for a dog or cat I’d highly recommend rescuing one. Each breed has a local rescue group; just Google the breed you want and the town or area. For example, ours is the Golden Retriever Rescue Society of Greater Los Angeles. (GRRS -- get it!).

The other good news is that JR Hildebrand became the first American to drive a Formula One car in some years. He earned it on merit, too, first by becoming 2009 Indy Lights champ, and secondly by being fastest in a racing car simulator. The test was held early December in Jerez, Spain, over three days. JR was among the fastest each day and ended up being quite highly regarded by all. If all goes well JR could be a test and reserve driver in 2010 with a shot at a race seat for 2011. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

All the best from all of us to all of you. And many thanks for your continued loyalty.

Cordially,

Douglas A. J. Mockett.
 

Carrera Panamericana 2009

The last week of October is the annual Carrera Panamericana, a 2300 mile, seven day car race from southern to northern Mexico, following largely the route of the original PanAm, which ran from 1950 to 1954 to celebrate the opening of the Pan American Highway through Mexico.

I have done this event 17 times now in our trusty 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88, my navigator Ms. Fuentes some 15 times. And 2009 was going to be our year! We tested the car several times. We pre-ran the course. We had the best crew. We were ready!

And it started out that way – we qualified First of 98 cars. This was going to be a walk in the park ...

On the first day we discovered why motor racing is often called “the sport of tears”. The engine blew.

An overnight engine change and we were back in the fray, but due to not finishing the day before, our chances of an overall victory were down the drain.

Days 2, 3, 4, and 5 we finished on the podium, and won one of the days.

Day 6 we had a great run going in the the mountains outside Guadalajara. Car handling beautifully, driving well, Angelica navigating brilliantly, then – I just plain lost it going into a left-hander – and spun it into the grass and down a ravine. Then had to wait two hours for a tow truck to get us out, ending Day 6 for us. More tears.



Day 7 we drove conservatively but fast, wanting to get to the finish in Nuevo Laredo and the big party. And did okay – tied for First, down to the second!

“Mother said there would be days like this ...” seems to best sum it up.

But ever optimistic -- 2010 here we come!
 

2009 Pikes Peak Hill

July 19 marked the 87th running of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. This is the second oldest motor race in the United States, after the Indianapolis 500. Everyone gets one run up the “hill” – 12 1/2 miles starting at 9300’ and ending 4800’ vertical feet later at the summit, 14,110’. 156 turns. Partially paved and partially still dirt. No guardrails and, trust me, you don’t want to look down. Last year, in our first go, Angelica Fuentes and I qualified third and then won the Vintage Division by 8 seconds, in a time of 14:26. This year we won qualifying by 8 seconds. We were pretty chuffed! A walk in the park… for the 1954 Oldsmobile we call “Olds in Name Only”, slightly modified with just 550hp. And special tires for this year. The Vintage cars were first off and as pole sitter we went first. That was pretty exciting as the thousands of spectators did not expect us, and we did not expect them to be in the middle of the road. But it is amazing how fast someone gets out of your way … especially when you are coming down at them at 90 – 100mph. Quite impressive actually. The Olds felt great in the lower sections, it felt good in the middle sections, but the last four miles, all dirt from 12,000’ to the summit, it just could not get the power down to the road. Even gently pressing the gas spun the wheels. Short shifting helped a little, but not a lot. Then there was the last turn and the checkered flag! Woo Hoo! Made it! We checked in with timing and had gone 12 seconds faster than ’08. Even with all the wheelspin. This was okay … we were sure to repeat as champs. Next up was Keith Davidson of Golden., CO in a 1963 Falcon. This was the guy we beat by 8 seconds last year. We’d gone 12 seconds faster than last year, so … Keith came over the summit and he looked pretty fast… then came the times. He did a 13:56, beating us by a full 20 seconds. Groan… or as we say in LA, “From hero to zero”. But we did get 2nd place. We had an in-car camera on board and uploaded it to Youtube. Back to the salt mines…. Someone has to pay for Second Place… groan. A humbling experience… to say the very least. Groan…

Doug and Angelica cross the finish line atop Pikes Peak. Don’t turn right! Don’t even look right! Thanks to CYMISA, our distributor in Mexico, for their support.   Angelica in blue gets the photo of a lifetime as Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima in his 1000hp Suzuki tries to break the 10 minute mark. In past years he had gone 10:01, this year just 10:15. “Just”?   2008 World Drifting Champion Rhys Millen with Angelica and Doug.

Electricity and a Refrigerator Come to a Mexican Village.

Every year that the Carrera Panamericana starts in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of the southernmost, and poorest, Mexican state of Chiapas, we have always helped Prof. Jorge Morales Ramos, a good guy who runs a charity named "Enviame a Mi" ("Save Me"), dedicated to the "Education, Food, Health and Housing" of the poor of Chiapas. So last month when we arrived there was Prof. Ramos - with his big smile and with a special request - would we donate a refrigerator to Enviame a Mi?

Of course we would. He went on to explain how a village they serve had just received electricity. The refrigerator would be a huge hit for a village that never had one. I guess when we are used to virtually every convenience, this concept is a shock. A small donation that has made a big difference. The pictures explain better than any words.
 

	Our own Oscar Carrillo loading the refrigerator in Tuxla.
The road to the village   a 2-hour drive over a mountain range to a far valley
	Oscar fell off the truck! Deep into the mud!
Unloading the refrigerator.
	Happy kids with the village’s first refrigerator

2008 Carrera Panamericana

High-speed left-hand corner somewhere in Mexico – note left front wheel.

In Nuevo Laredo with 3rd place trophy.

Our annual high speed joyride, 2300 miles from southern to northern Mexico in 7 days, was, again, an adventure with more than a few highlights. Of 108 entries we qualified 7th and finished 3rd overall and 2nd in the Turismo Mayor class for big stock cars. But that hardly tells the story -

•We were 2nd (by 1 second) in what I call the "Running-of-the-Bulls" speed section along a freeway in downtown Mexico City. 4 1/2 miles with 4 miles of terrifying straightaway and a few top speed curves at the end. And no guardrail to the right and a million spectators. We hit 175mph and averaged about 160 for the run. And did it in 1:44. Whew! Glad that's over for another year ...

• 125mph down a straightaway outside Zacatecas and shadows under a tree. Only the shadows started moving. Then the shadows turned out to be black bulls, sauntering across OUR road. Yes, the brakes worked. Very well, thank you.

• Troubles: Handling problems, tire problems, and the worst was a slipping clutch that had to be gently massaged the last 400 miles of the last day. But we made it! 3rd was a good result considering.

• Triumph: this amateur crew of Angelica Fuentes and myself beating 1984 World Rally Champ Stig Blomquist. At every service stop Stig had a crew of 10 changing the whole car set-up. Oscar and Phil maybe bled the brakes, maybe changed tires, but mainly sipped good British tea.
 

Angelica with her posse.

2008 Pikes Peak Hill Climb - Vintage Class Winners!

The concept is simple, the execution is not so simple.
Just race to the top of Pikes Peak, to the summit at 14,110 feet. At the fastest speed possible. Mind the corners! And mind the drop offs! No room for wusses. Not for tea cuppers.
Now the challenge: race on everyday pavement for two miles, then on dirt for three, then on pavement for another three, then on dirt for the final four miles. Throw in 156 turns from mild to the worst hairpins ever. Needless to say, there are some dramatic dropoffs; in fact, best not to look. Then sprinkle in the final blow – a 4800 foot vertical climb from an already thin 9300 feet to a rarified 14,110 feet.
July 20, 2008 was the 86th running of this classic, the second oldest motor race in the USA. And here were we, Angelica Fuentes, pro navigator, and Doug, very amateur driver. Maybe Angelica, pro navigator, and Doug, aka Walter Mitty? And the 500+hp La Carrera Oldsmobile.
We qualified third in the Vintage class. And at the start blasted off and started up the “hill”. Long story short, Angelica called the perfect stage, never missed a corner, never missed a braking point (good thing, too), and depending on how you look at it, the run was either the longest 14 minutes, 26 seconds ever, or was over in an instant. All I know is it took forever and it took a nanosecond. I was drenched with sweat. But we were both elated that we completed this classic run and did a darn good job of it. A most satisfying run.
14:26 was good enough to win our Vintage Class. It was a “good” time, but nowhere near the time of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb hero, Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima, driving a very special 1000+ hp turbocharged four wheel drive Suzuki. He set the world record last year of 10:01, but this year did ”only” a 10:18. “Only …”
We all stay at the top until each of the 200+ entries makes his run, then all convoy down together. Slowly – spectators were coming to the edge of the road and “high-fiving”. I must have “high-fived” thousands of people on the 12 miles down. First left and I “high-fived”, then right and Angie did the same. All enthusiastic and all pleased to have seen our runs up the hill. Going up may have taken 14:26, going down took an hour. The best hour of decades of motor racing, honestly. It was so charming, so rewarding and so gratifying for all of us – spectators and competitors alike -- it was very special. …
Demanding, challenging, daunting, dangerous, rewarding, and even more adjectives. Believe me, I asked myself more than once, “what the hell are we doing here?” Still not sure, but sure glad we did it …what a thrill and what a feeling of accomplishment.
At the tourist shop at the summit it was a pleasure to fork over $ 2.99 -- Angelica now has a new bumper sticker for her car that says, “Real Women Don’t Need Guardrails”. Not on July 20, 2008, anyway.

2007 La Carrera Panamericana Road Race