Why I am looking forward to Homecoming

[spyderCodes]

Yes, BRP is a huge corporation with faults that could be discussed for the next couple of years.
Yes, BRP produced the Spyder probably after market research and endless committee meetings.

But some machines and mechanisms have souls, or at least that is how I perceive them.
The soul of a machine comes from the contribution of the people who designed and made it.

Some machines have no soul.
Of course that is subjective.

If you really enjoy toast, you might find a soul in the Sunbeam Toaster.

But why I am looking forward to the Valcout homecoming is that I want to just talk to the people who made and make the machine that has changed the lives and outlook of myself and others.
Sure it's a corporate event calculated to be a positive on the bottom line.
But I want to see through all that.
While I'm sure Jean Luc doesn't speak English at least I might see him.

Yes, for me, I find a soul in the Spyder.
A soul defined by the brilliant and the really bad ideas that went into the design.

A soul made by the people who had a hand in it.
That's who I want to meet.

 

[Bob Denman]

And I want to be standing next to you, when you finally meet him! :2thumbs:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

And I want to be standing next to you, when you finally meet him! :2thumbs:

Me, too!! :thumbup::thumbup:

I want to nominate SpyderCodes (Roger) to be the official poet-laureate of Spyder Lovers!hyea:hyea:hyea:nojokenojokenojoke

 

[DriftersWay]

I hope I'm with Rodger when he meets them.

 

[Bob Denman]

I will be happy to second that nomination! :2thumbs:

 

[sledmaster]

Now that we are ten years out, some of the original key players in the development of the Spyder have moved on.

For example, Spyder Design Director Etienne Guay is no longer at BRP, nor is Mihai Rasidescu, VP of Spyder Product Engineering and R&D.

I had dinner with Etienne just before he left BRP (this would have been in the fall of 2014 at the F3 intro) and it was still fascinating to hear him talk about the passion and vision that went into making the original Spyder, and then how it had evolved and progressed to the F3. Maybe he will be there for the 10th party, that would be cool.

Vincent Morin (Spyder Engineering Project Manager) is still at BRP but is now a VP of Operations.

Of course, Denys Lapointe, Senior VP Design and Innovation, is still at the helm of the design and innovation center. He most certainly would be on hand for this historic event.

Hopefully many of the original Spyder influencers can be there. Being able to hear these visionaries talk about their involvement and contribution will be truly exciting!

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Now that we are ten years out, some of the original key players in the development of the Spyder have moved on.

For example, Spyder Design Director Etienne Guay is no longer at BRP, nor is Mihai Rasidescu, VP of Spyder Product Engineering and R&D.

I had dinner with Etienne just before he left BRP (this would have been in the fall of 2014 at the F3 intro) and it was still fascinating to hear him talk about the passion and vision that went into making the original Spyder, and then how it had evolved and progressed to the F3. Maybe he will be there for the 10th party, that would be cool.

Vincent Morin (Spyder Engineering Project Manager) is still at BRP but is now a VP of Operations.

Of course, Denys Lapointe, Senior VP Design and Innovation, is still at the helm of the design and innovation center. He most certainly would be on hand for this historic event.

Hopefully many of the original Spyder influencers can be there. Being able to hear these visionaries talk about their involvement and contribution will be truly exciting!

Just curious, what is your relationship with BRP that you have been able to develop these acquaintances?

 

[Bob Denman]

I HOPE that he answers... :clap:

 

[spyderCodes]

To expand a bit further on the soul of a machine since I got some flak from my better half.

When a device, machine, conveyance is designed the result is the end product of both brilliant and stupid design decisions.
The soul of the machine is born on the designers cad.

Then it gets built.
But people are people and the soul is further enhanced by the initial build.
Sure, it's assembly work but that work can be carried on in any number of ways.
The soul of the machine is augmented by those who build it.

Finally, after the dealer gets it then the soul gets further tweaking.
I don't believe in lemons but I do believe in bad builds.
So the dealer has the last word in the build of a Spyder and has responsibility for the soul.

John Muir in his classic book How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive said it best.
"Look at the VW, did happy people build it?"
"You can tell if you just feel".

 

[PrairieSpyder]

To expand a bit further on the soul of a machine since I got some flak from my better half.

When a device, machine, conveyance is designed the result is the end product of both brilliant and stupid design decisions.
The soul of the machine is born on the designers cad.

Then it gets built.
But people are people and the soul is further enhanced by the initial build.
Sure, it's assembly work but that work can be carried on in any number of ways.
The soul of the machine is augmented by those who build it.

Finally, after the dealer gets it then the soul gets further tweaking.
I don't believe in lemons but I do believe in bad builds.
So the dealer has the last word in the build of a Spyder and has responsibility for the soul.

John Muir in his classic book How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive said it best.
"Look at the VW, did happy people build it?"
"You can tell if you just feel".

Just as every human soul is unique, I believe Spyders' souls are also. The final contributor to a Spyder's soul is the owner - how they ryde it, how they care for it, how they farkle it.

 

[Bob Denman]

I fervently believe that... :thumbup:

 

[ARtraveler]

Not much I can add except :agree:

:yes::yes:

 

[robmorg]

John Muir in his classic book How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive said it best.
"Look at the VW, did happy people build it?"
"You can tell if you just feel".

Not sure how true that is Roger.

A few years ago I watched a TV expose about GMC plants. They showed films of factory workers out in the parking lot at lunch time smoking pot and drinking cans of beer. A few were consuming beverages from bottles wrapped in brown paper bags. The TV guy said they had filmed several GM plants and found similar activity. So, naturally I figured GM cars MUST be built by happy workers. I bought a GMC Acadia SUV.

Have to say, I do NOT get good vibes from the soul of that car, if in fact it has a soul at all. Worst car I've owned in years. :shocked: