KIM IAN MADSEN — the Vette Whisperer™

Kim Ian Madsen is the 'Vette Whisperer™. Owner and operator of Corvette Restoration AZ, Kim has had a long and unique history in the automotive industry. Kim’s life has always revolved around autos, getting started right off the bat with his father, Doug Madsen, also a professional race car mechanic. His father was also a Super Tuner and Crew Chief for numerous race teams as he was growing up. As his father started slowing down, they began restoring antique cars together as a hobby. The list of restorations include a 1910 Cole (the only known survivor, with many parts hand fabricated) a 1926 Model T, and a 1936 Ford Cabriolet which served as Franklin Mint’s pattern for their 1/24th scale model in the late 1990’s. Also included are a 1935 Ford Panel Truck, a 1939 Ford Coupe, a 1940 Mercury Coupe and of course many award winning Corvette restorations. Madsen lives and breathes automobiles, he often contributes to automotive magazines, attends seminars and auto auctions. He was also awarded Top Car for Bricklin’s 30 year anniversary.

Madsen graduated Parsippany Hills High School (NJ) Class of ’73, he then went on to attend Northwood Institute in Midland, MI an exclusive college underwritten by GM and Ford for the education of auto dealers. It was right after this that Kim moved out to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and became the west coast service representative for Bricklin Vehicle Corporation. He was also their product technician specializing in body and gull-wing door fit and repair. He was involved in all aspects of Bricklin Mechanical work, including restoration of Bricklin SVI prototypes 2, 5, 7, and 8. Madsen also began developing a fail safe air door opening and closing system with leak proof valves for the gull wing doors on all Bricklins. And as all specialty car owners know, special cars have special needs. This was the case for Saudi Prince Faisal. So when a problem arose with the air doors on his Bricklin, he immediately turned to Kim Madsen and Bricklin Vehicle Corporation to have them repaired. Within five days of the prince’s phone call Kim had a passport and a first class ticket to Paris, France. He was deemed the Saudi Arabian Embassy’s American Automotive Consultant, a title of which anyone would be proud.

Kim opened his first Corvette shop in 1984 here in Phoenix and he and his shop have grown immensely since then. Corvettes have always been one of Madsen’s passions, and you can see it in his work. Corvette Restoration AZ is known for its quality work and care put into each and every ‘vette, or any other car in need of some TLC, that is brought into this shop. Almost every year, type and model have been through these doors and each one emerges gleaming, sounding as if it had just driven off the lot. Kim and his crew are dedicated to making your classic purr the way it once did.

BRECK ALVORD - SENIOR VP and MASTER BUILDER

Breck Alvord and Kim Ian Madsen have been friends and business associates since they met over 30 years ago in 1975. Their automotive history is very diverse and includes Corvettes, Street Rods, Customs, Show Cars, Special Interest Cars, Bricklins, Powerboats, Watercraft, Tooling and Laminating, which spans over three decades of excellence.

James Breck Alvord is recognized as one of the Top 3 Fiberglass Builders in the US.

Positions Held by Breck:

• Current: Corvette Restoration AZ: Senior VP and Master Builder
• Alpha Auto and Marine Restoration: Owned and operated for 14 yrs.
• Alvord Auto and Marine Restoration: Owned and operated 8 yrs.

Breck is a Street Rod Builder and Custom Painter for all makes and models -- Auto and Marine Restoration and builder, Show or Race, and Track- side proven with over 30 yrs experience. He is presently Senior Vice President of Corvette Restoration AZ. Breck has built or contributed to the construction and racing of some of the most outstanding Show and Race Winners in Arizona since the late 70's. Breck is a fiberglass and structural expert, an outstanding mold maker, and laminater, and fabricator. He is an accomplished metal man, and one of the top graphic designers, custom painters and multi-color gelcoaters in the US. Breck is factory trained and certified with ICAR, Ford, DuPont, Sherwin Williams, BASF, Thompson, Lilly, Nordic, Campbell, Magic, PPG, and is a graduate of the prestigious MVP management courses

Breck is a graduate of the Ford Insurance School, and holds an Arizona Department of Insurance License for Property and Casualty, Life, Health and Disability. He has been in good standing with the department for over for 17 yrs. He is a certified insurance inspector and appraiser, consultant, and benefits specialist. He is, further, certified in ADP, ADP Shoplink, ADP Photolink, Mitchell, CCC, Direct Repair (DRP) Certified, for Farmers, State Farm, CEI, AAA, MET, and Ford Warranty. Winner of the Rookie of the Year Award, NASCAR Champion Crew Chief, SS Southwest, First in Sales Award, and First to Initiate Computer Based Tracking.

Among Breck's Show and Race Winners:

• 1933 Two door sedan. Cover Feature, Hotline News Magazine, March 1990, "Top Street Rod in AZ"
• 1986 Chevy 4X4 S/Side. Cover Feature, 4 Wheel Magazine, Sept. 1991, Exibition Show Truck, Numerous Show and Trophy winner.
• Rayson Craft 19 and 21, Nordic 20 Mod VP. Cover Feature, Hot Boat Magazine, April 1984.
• Two-time Parker Enduro Class Winners, Asst Crew Chief Harrah’s Racing 1983-1985, pulling National Marathon Ski Race Champion.
• 1980 Camaro, Crew Chief for NASCAR Champion Coors Car, No. 3 S/S. Winner 10 of 13 Races, Miller Genuine Draft Car, No. 87 S/S
• 1967 Timberwolf C2 Corvette. Cover Feature, Corvette Fever Magazine, seven issues.
• 1966 Corvette Convetible. Cover Feature, Corvette Fever Magazine, Nov 2008.

Personal:

Breck has been married to Dawn Alvord, a state class personal fitness trainer, for 30 years, and has 5 children and 2 grand children. Breck's interests include boating, all outdoor sports, motorsports, travel, music and spending time with family and friends. Breck has coached baseball. softball, football, and basketball, including travel teams for 18 years, and has coached two city softball championships and two of his kids were city swimming champs. He stays active in his community, is an experienced guitar master, and participates in the music ministry at his church.

NIKKI PETIT

Nikki Petit is our talented Office Manager and Keeper of the Gate. Nikki's knowledge, dedication, and contribution are legion, including parts-procurement, billing, call-taker, and the complete operation of our eBay store. Her irreverent sense of humor moderates the tension of challenging delivery schedules, and we've even caught her washing a client's car to have it perfect for delivery.

Nikki has contributed in more ways than we can list here, including serving as as a Corvette driver during professional photo shoots (and consequently appearing prominently in Corvette Fever Magazine). Her kind heart, sharp wit, and demanding nature fit in perfectly here on Planet Vette Whisperer and have contributed significantly to our success.

DR. ELECTRON

Dr. Electron (Bob Wardell) is our "go-to" guy for anything that involves computers or electronics. Bob's a welcome product of the 1960’s Muscle Car era, having owned, driven, and wrenched some of today's most desirable Corvette collectibles when he was a teenager and they were dealer-showroom new. Seen at left in the original 1963 Stingray Concept Car, in his own stable Bob’s owned and driven Corvettes continuously since 1976, and is pleased that his Arctic White 1992 LT1 was featured in both the 2008 and 2010 Corvettes at Carlisle 'American Flag' aerial photo, 2008 seen at right below.

Bob’s career quickly turned towards computer technology, and he worked as a systems engineering manager for some major Silicon Valley companies, traveling over 1.5 million air miles during the 1980s and '90s to take responsibility for the successful deployment of their Unix systems in a wide range of global settings. His employers included such Silicon Valley notables as Tolerant Systems (Veritas Software), Pyramid Technology Corp, and BEA Systems

Complementing his career in Silicon Valley technology, Bob is now solidly back on the Corvette scene, and is today our Webmaster and IT resource. He develops and maintains this website as well as my reality TV website at VetteWhisperer.com, attends to the care and feeding of our web camera controllers, local computers, telephone and data networks, audio systems, and anything else electronic we toss his way. Bob also develops and maintains a portfolio of commercial websites including my brother's east coast restoration shop in New Jersey, MadsenRestorations.com, and Bob's own website at rwardell.com. His humble mantra? “Women want me -- Electrons fear me!”

Bob's professional associations include membership in American Mensa, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the IEEE Computer Society; he is also a proud veteran of the VietNam conflict. Bob is the father of two successful sons in the technology industry.

The PIT CREW

Fuelie and Sparky comprise our able Pit Crew. These two all-white, part Pit Bull rescue dogs bring an enormous amount of entertainment and pleasure into the shop, and we're thrilled to have brought them a 'new lease on life', thanks to the efforts of Rene Kyl and Nikki.

It's been said that everyone should own a dog (or two!) so that they understand unqualified love — plus a cat or two so that it doesn't go to their head! Our Pit Crew serves just this purpose for we inhabitants of Planet Vette Whisperer!

Our entertainment director, Fuelie, is pictured at top left, showing off the classic, goofy underbite for which he has become legendary on Planet VetteWhisperer! This super-sweet Pit / Australian Catahoula is a rescue dog we managed to adopt just minutes before he was headed towards extinction. Fuelie (named after my '60 'Vette) was born both blind and deaf, so since he's never known any different, he just loves and lives every second of life to the fullest here at the Vette Whisperer Ranch or hanging at the shop! He's an inspiration to all of us, who tacitly teaches us lessons about just plain enjoying what life brings us every day!

Sparky is a chewer! (score: Sparky - 4; cell phones - 0) with a wonderful disposition. The second of our happy 'rescues', Sparky is another part-Pit who must somehow 'get it' — since he innately serves as Fuelie's "guide dog". One of his most amusing behaviors is to grab Fuelie's leash in his mouth and "take him along" wherever he's headed on the Vette Whisperer Ranch!

We're priviledged to have these two guys in our 'pack' !