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Thursday, 27 July 2006 |
We all have things in life that we are passionate about trying to acquire as much as we can. Some collect stamps, others accumulate old coins, but as for Paul Trussell, he loves to collect classic cars. The 55-year old, owner of a city, county and state contract construction company from Irmo, SC., has accumulated more than a million dollars worth of four wheeled and two wheeled vehicles since he began collecting them in his teenage years.
Trussell, who also campaigns the Pro Modified team that is spearheaded by legendary figure Ed Hoover, doesnt think much of his collection other than a means for him to relax and a material example of just how much hes accomplished in his lifetime. He admits that he can look at his collection to see just how far hes come since growing up as the youngest of five children. Hell quickly point out that it has also been attained by a healthy measure of luck and good fortune along the way.
While money certainly makes the world go round in some circles, it didnt mean that much to Trussell. He always valued an automobile more. It was just a painful reality that money was what it took to acquire them.
"I was a firm believer that if you had a car and you worked on it, you stayed out of trouble," explained Trussell, who still owns the first car that his Dad ever gave him. "From the time that I was old enough to have cars on my mind thats what I thought of."
When Trussell was a teenager, his Father acquired the car to settle a $300 debt. The car was a 1932 Ford, 5-window coupe and he never parted with it, even in the tough times. Over the years as he grew older, he refurbished the machine five times himself. Several years ago, he entrusted a reputable auto customizer in Ohio, to do the project and to this date stands insured for the unreal sum of $312,000 dollars. It has set for nearly 22 years unfinished before Trussell contracted the job out. He gave his dad a ride in the machine one the day he took delivery of it.
Trussell will be quick to point out that his dad was always the most inspirational figure in his life.
"Theres no doubt as to him being the one who most inspired me," explained Trussell. "I certainly wasnt born with a silver spoon. My dad led by example and his example was that he worked hard. He worked sun up to sundown with a second grade education to put five kids through college. I dont think you could do much better than that. How could one help but not be inspired by that."
Trussell continued, "My parents were poor when they got married. He had to sell a cow to get married to my mother. He did that so he would have enough money to get the marriage license. You look back a those times and it really makes these days look real easy."
While it may look as if Trussell has not had it so rough getting to the point hes at today, think again. The Tennessee Tech graduate left college with a degree in engineering and a desire to make something of himself. In the early years of his business career, Trussell appeared to be on the fast track to success. He initially went to work at General Motors as a design engineer and later went to work for a company that did work for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. Trussell soon grew weary of the cutthroat dealings in the corporate environment.
He then embarked on his own with a business and once again, appeared to be making great strides. It all came crashing down because of one incident that involved a disagreement with General Motors in which the major corporation refused to pay an agreed price on a job. The case was eventually settled out of court and because he had no other choice but to accept a much lesser amount to end the dispute, Trussell was driven broke after he paid off his debts related to the job.
He would not take the easy way out via bankruptcy, opting to sell off personal belongings and properties to stay afloat. At the time, Trussell lived in Ohio and decided to move to South Carolina. Hell tell you that moving to South Carolina proved to be the wisest decision that hes made in his life. There was a sentimental price tag on the move.
Trussell has become attached to his first Harley, a 1976 Harley-Davidson Low Rider and his car collection was nowhere in comparison to his current one. He had no choice but to sell the bike to raise enough money to supplement the move.
"I think if you ever go broke, it teaches you how to live your life more efficiently and the habits that you adopt during those days never leave you, even if you rebound," confides Trussell. "You dont make the same mistakes again. I hate that it happened, but Im not ashamed. Im a firm believer that all things happen for a reason and that in some ways this time in my life helped me to be a better person."
Trussell slowly started piecing his life together and it wasnt long before hed built his own company from scratch. A testimony to his determination, he eventually traced the bikes origin and now has it in his possession.
While our story tells the business side of Trussells life, he was once a fairly successful drag racer, having once campaigned a D/Modified Production 55 Chevy. These days, hes content just sharing his racing experience with Hoover. Trussell admits that he looks at Hoover as if hes his own son. Hell tell you that his involvement with drag racing will last as long as "Fast Eddie" wants to be involved in it.
He remembers the day that he first joined up with him.
"The initial plan was that Ed told me that I could be his sponsor for $25,000," Trussell recalled. "I had watched him for a long time and decided that it was what I wanted to do. Eventually, I ended up having a car built and a motor and he started driving for me. Eds almost like a son to me. I treat him that way, anyway. Ill be here until Ed decides that he wants to stop racing. Hes the reason that Im here. We have gotten really close to the point where its like, if he has a problem, then I have one. I would really like to drive a Pro Modified car and I feel like I could drive one. I may do it one day, Ill never rule out the possibility."
Trussell, whos hit 170 miles per hour on the backstretch of Sebring in a Dodge Viper, admits theres a desire to one day to drive a Pro Modified, but its not a pressing issue with him.
"Id like to drive, but it would take away from Ed and the point that were trying to accomplish. Id see two cars having a conflict and more people that couldnt stand us because we would race the cars that we want to. It would just take away from what we are trying to accomplish with this team and I will put my own wishes aside for the better of the team."
Racing relaxes him, but it comes a distant second to tinkering with his hot rods. He lets others do the work because he refuses to let a hobby overtake time allotted to running his business. He draws his enjoyment from organizing his projects. Currently, his cars and motorcycles and other motorized equipment is housed in a 50 X100 foot shop that is destined for a much higher project.
"Im going to make it like a mall type atmosphere, where each car is housed in a portion reserved for it," explained Trussell. "I have a lot of cars that Ive found and that Ive had for a while and doing such a thing would be a fitting tribute to each. Each car is special."
Pending projects include a 1962 Corvette, two 1967 Chevy IIs, a 53 Chevy as well as a lengthy list of other "to dos". However, the one project that has the bulk of his attention is a 1932 Ford Roadster that evolved over an eight year period and is destined to be a contender for the Ritler Award in 2001 at Detroits Cobo Hall. This machine has to be seen for one to believe.
It all goes back to one simple theory for Trussell, if you work hard one can accomplish whatever they want. He admits that work is his therapy is his job and he hates being behind a desk. With all due respect, things happen at a rapid rate for him when you consider his small job bid is at $15,000 and soars as high as $3,000,000. Hes the type of "hands-on" boss that gets his hands dirty.
"Im not going to apologize for not getting any satisfaction out of sitting behind a desk," explains Trussell. "I get in the manholes daily with my crew and work. I dont like paper work. I achieve a great feeling of accomplishment when Im getting something done physically. It also sends a message to the people that work with me that Im not willing to make them do something that I wont do myself. That helps you to draw a better working relationship with your people."
He continues, "All Ive got is what hard work has brought to me. People look at what Ive got and they act as it was given to me. Thats certainly not the case. I can remember my kid one day coming home from college after three years and telling me that he didnt want to go back. I told him that was okay as long as he got a job and went to work every day, hed be just fine and I firmly believe that. Work is my therapy. I enjoy what I do. Cars are like something that you can just get on, like a Harley, and go riding, it takes all that away from you. Cars are just the first joy that I have."
Trussell knows that his wealth and collection of material things brings out envy among some, but that goes with the territory. That envy leads to a misconception among some.
"A lot of people are jealous of other people when they have a lot of material possessions. I wish anybody good luck. I dont begrudge anybody having a lot. There are some people that look at that and naturally assume that a person that is wealthy thinks they are better than anyone else is. Those who know me know better than that. Im a firm believer that you treat people the way youd like to be treated. When you do that, you cant go wrong."
Dont get us wrong. Trussell believes in giving back to the industry that has supported him over the years. One such example is that he sponsors a junior dragster team. The father of two sons knows the importance of supporting the children and giving them a direction in life.
"I do that stuff because I firmly believe that its important for kids to have something to do that they enjoy. Thats important in their development into a productive part of society. When the kids father called me up and asked me if I wanted to sponsor a junior dragster, I knew I wanted to do it. To have an opportunity like this is something that they should cherish."
"Lets put it this way. I feel sorry for the next generation, parents wise. Its tough to raise kids in this day and age and Im sure it isnt going to get any easier in the years to come. They dont come with instructions and its sad to say, but a lot of the values of this society have sharply declined. Theres too much stuff for them to get into and for us to help keep kids some way involved in our sport, somehow changes the life of these kids involved."
He points out no immediate regrets in his life and knows that hes been fortunate in his lifetime. We pressed him to tell us if there was one thing that he wishes he could change in life, and the cigar chewing Trussell, who has been called the Dick Landy of Pro Modified car owners smiled and pulled the stogie from his mouth and uttered, "My only regret is that I cant be 25-years old again."
The following photos, by Bobby Bennett, Jr., are from Detroit Auto-Rama
- Cobo Hall. Paul's Roadster was up for the Ridler Award.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 27 February 2007 )
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