Video footage!

Finally! With almost 3 weeks of delay and with a huge help and support from my brother Janek it has been possible to assemble and upload on the Internet a short movie of the reception of the car. Few hours of footage has been narrowed up to only 9 minutes in order to present the events of that day in a very quick and approachable way. Taking into consideration relatively low experience in movie editing I ask you for understanding and comments! Enjoy it!

Acknowledgements also go to two lads of the name Piotr as they went down towards the creation of this movie and its colorfulness to a huge extent. Not only because Jasny was wearing a red jacket :-)

Acting on a different front

Last week was gone in a speed of light, mailny because of a very tight schedule at work - year-end closing and external audit successfully kept me away from the car. The only conforting thing was that the previously mentioned distractors were not able to stop my mind from going back to my Corolla.

I decided to take some actions supporting the whole project, which I was thinking about even before I have become the rightful owner of the car. First of all, I wanted to write to Toyota company, not to Polish subsidiary, but to the headquarters. As the HQ is in Japan I visited the Japanese website of the corporation, however I was redirected to the global one. I was trying to find a "contact us" button, but the only thing I was able to find were the FAQs. I decided to head to a different, this time, American address. After introducing myself I shortly (approximately 5 000 characters :-)) described the purpose of my mail and I adressed my requests for help. I was not asking too much, only for: 

- current number of Toyota Corolla KE30 cars in Poland,

- pictures (exterior, interior), specifications, documents, manuals, electric schemes etc. that could be of a huge help during the whole process,

- ability to check where and when my Toyota came to this world and who and where was the first owner,

- support regarding the replacement parts,

- contact to somebody, who would be able to help me in case of any technical problems or doubts.

            As a response I got a very long, praising my enthusiasm e-mail, but on the other hand there was a clash with rigid, corporate rules, which impose on each subsidiary a responsibility for the country in which it operates. They suggested me visiting the Polish website www.toyota.pl and using the provided contact links to request for assistance with my questions. And I did as suggested.

                However, from the side of the Polish subsidiary I experienced a leftdown. In the response I got in a very formal fashion I learnt that Toyota in Poland started operating in the '90s and they do not have any documentation before that time. They didn't have either a possibility to support me with any data regarding the "car in question". I knew that tthere is little to learn from them so as a good-bye question I asked about a section or a person within the corporation where I could adress my quesitons. I was told that it is very possible I could find what I was looking for on Toyota Japanese website. Wow - thank you. On side I am able to understand that one doesn't have to be so thrilled with the whole case as I am, but on the other I could not resist an impression that everything was done in such a way to get rid off me politely. I didn't sense the slightes willingness to help. I won't give up so easily and I will continue searching for answers!

Homecoming

English version coming soon

The die is cast! - here we go!

             Today morning I made the final consultation with the command center and received possible solutions to my dilemma. Actually, I can say that they weren't solving it for good, but for sure they were foundations to quite a good plan. The point was to ask Mr. Piotr to do the car checkup right in the morning at 7 o'clock, because if the car turned out not to go through the technical inspection, I would just go by train and organize a tow straight ahead. However, if Toyota went through the inspection, the courageous plan of coming back could be executed. It would save some money and avoid stress while cooling down all the emotions a little bit. Due to hasty preparations I haven’t even thought about this absolutely great idea.

             I called Piotrek, disturbing him at a work-free day and asked if any minor changes to the plan could be included. He replied calmly that he had already got used to the fact that he would had to get up before 6 AM so we could continue with the original plan, but if there were any changes that would also be fine. I have promised to let him know after talking with Mr. Piotr.

             Before reveling all the details of my plan to him I was hoping to convince him to cooperate, but I haven't taken one major factor into account. The car doesn't have the liability insurance so driving it would be quite risky, as, after all, it's pretty eye-catching and to a diagnostic garage is a long way. Saying this, Mr. Piotr has cut me down to size. There was no tragedy, though, as I was considering going to Kalisz anyway. We talked about the blog, the renovation of the car and the engine repair that have been done, he promised to give me some archival photos and bid me farewell.

             I called Piotrek and informed him that there were no changes to the original plan. The weather forecast says there'll be 20% chance of rain tomorrow in Kalisz , sun on Sunday (Sun on SUNday :D) and snow on Monday. I looks as if everything has been shifted one day :-) Well, we will try to conjure the sun up with our good moods.

             For the time being, the 'homecoming' operation plan is as follows:
- leaving to Kalisz at about 6 AM,
- arriving there at 9-10 AM,
- signing the contract of sale,
- buying a liability insurance,
- going to the diagnostic garage,
- buying a new battery and wipers (optionally we can do this before the inspection),
- coming back to Warsaw.

             Now one knows how all of this will end. Life will verify everything tomorrow. Fingers crossed and follow everything on facebook.

Operacja "homecoming" - przygotowań ciąg dalszy

English version comming soon

Operacja "homecoming" - czas przygotowań

coming soon

Introduction

I am a person who has got lucky recently. Namely, in a couple of days I will become the rightful owner of a beautiful car Toyota Corolla KE30 from 1979. This will make one of my dreams come true. The whole story from the beginning has had marks of exceptional. It was exactly like the proverbial love at the first sight and deep in my heart I felt that it is written for us to be together, forever. My friend even said “this car has already bought you” before I had even a chance to do the opposite – buy it. The positive energy combined with adrenaline kept me awake for hours while thousands of thoughts and ideas rushing through my mind kept me restless.

Amidst these sleepless nights an idea was born to share my happiness with the world and pass the positive energy further onto the world. That’s why I have started this blog. Actually, there were so many reasons, that it is too hard for me which one was the most important. I will just name the main ones in the order they came to my mind. Creating this blog I wanted to:

• share my passion and happiness with people, which I have already mentioned;
• motivate myself to hang on to my resolution based on the rule known from psychology – the more people you tell about something, the bigger the motivation will be to act;
• receive broadly defined support from people sharing the same passion, especially these who are or were the owners of Toyota Corolla KE30;
• inform onboard everyone interested in my actions about any advancements in the realization of the project;
• create some kind of relic/monument/memento for this fantastic car and each of these wonderful people who had, have or will cross path with it;
• reach people who, maybe inspired by my project, would like to follow my steps and decide on a similar adventure;
• I finished George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire fantasy saga (4839 pages in 75 days) and I have to somehow fill this huge emptiness I feel waiting for next 2 books ;-);
• have a refuge from this crazy world where I could simply charge my batteries, quieten a bit or meditate – in prehistoric times man stared at fire to gather strength – I will be polishing my car’s body while doing so ;-);
• and many, many more.

So what is really the Project KE30? Project KE30 is nothing else then a set of accounts related to restoration of Toyota Corolla KE30 to its rightful, kindling great respect and admiration visual and mechanical state. When this goal is reached I will focus on documenting its further, heroic actions. The final form of this blog is not yet known, but I am sure that it will consist of a lot pictures, movies, accounts and even philosophical deliberations born during many hours spent together.

Coming slowly to an end, I would like to kindly ask everyone to share your impressions, insights, considerations and everything that comes to your mind while following posts on this blog, even though it is not directly related to the leitmotiv. I will be grateful for any suggestions, remarks and constructive criticisms to the same extent as for words of reassurance motivating me to persistence, tips or always warmly welcome acclamations :-). Write comments, mails, ask for the car’s condition, thickness of its body spray, level of engine oil – just stay in touch. From my side, I promise, I will answer you as quickly as my modest capabilities will allow me!