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Who Is Allpar? - Brief Bios of Some Contributors

Jim Choate (forums chief)

Jim Choate was born into a Chevrolet family in October of 1965, and like most little boys had a big interest in cars. Not so much detailed mechanicals, but overall design and execution. He can recall only a few select times when there wasn't a Chevy product in the driveway, but he didn't let that stop him from appreciating other cars as well. His family did own a Plymouth Horizon in the late 70s/early 80s, and remembers that his older sister's choice of her 'first car' was the Horizon or a 1973 Mustang Grande (she took the Mustang.) A Ford F-150 pickup, a late 60s Mustang convertible (white with red interior), a Jeep CJ-5, and an AMC Gremlin are the few cars he remembers wiggling into the usually GM-only driveway. After experiences with his own cars (a couple Chevys, a few Fords, and one Hyundai), he now owns a 1998 Dodge Stratus and is the webmaster for Stratusphere.org - a thriving online community (2000+ and growing) for owners of the "Cloud Cars." Jim is a married father of two boys (7 and 2), which allows him to indulge in purchasing additions to his ever-growing collection of "Hot Wheel-size" production and concept cars without annoying his wife too much.

Jim Benjaminson (prolific contributor / editorial staff)

Before his first birthday, Jim Benjaminson was photographed standing on the front fender of his Dad's 1934 Plymouth coupe--on his third birthday, he was photographed standing in front of his Dad's 1940 Plymouth. Although the original 1934 is long gone, Jim still has that same 1940 Plymouth -- and a few other Plymouths, including two 1934s, (along with several Brand X cars) to keep the '40 company.

Although his Dad was service manager for a Chevrolet-Pontiac agency (there are several of the "other P cars" in the collection), Jim's first love has remained those early Plymouths. "I've always been around things mechanical"--either at the dealership where Dad worked, around his uncle's scrap yard or at his other uncle's farm, there was always something fascinating about machinery, be it old or new.

Like most gearheads, Jim was the one who talked about cars in school, who drew cars when he should have been studying and snuck his car magazines into study hall inside his books. But it was old cars that really got him into the hobby at an early age, as he began collecting cars in the early 1960s. A common statement is "I can kick myself for not buying (insert any type or year of car here) when I could have bought it for little or nothing."

But it was the lack of information available back then that led him to researching the history of Plymouth and started him on his writing career which now includes three books on the history of Plymouth and DeSoto--and with more in the works. Jim joined the Plymouth 4 & 6 Cylinder Owners Club back in 1967. Since that time, he's held the position of membership secretary for the club since 1974, served 7 years as the editor of the Plymouth Bulletin magazine and currently holds the dual positions of membership secretary and treasurer.

During his years in the hobby, researching various events Jim has met with or talked on the phone with "famous" people of the hobby, such as Sullivan Richardson, Arnold Whitaker and Kenneth Van Hee of the Richardson Pan American Highway Expedition (Detroit to Cape Horn in a '41 Plymouth), Ole Fahlin of the Fahlin-Swanson Plymouth powered airplane, Channing Powell of the Powell Brothers who built their Sport Wagons on revamped '41 Plymouth chassis, Irma Darre Brandt, the first Norwegian female driver to compete in the Monte Carlo Rally, Wally Parks of NHRA fame and driver of "Suddenly", the 1957 Plymouth Bonneville speed record car and George Stecher, Chrysler turbine car engineer and driver of the car in race scenes for the movie "The Lively Set".

Though Jim was too modest to say anything, he has written two books we’ve been able to locate — Illustrated Plymouth & DeSoto Buyers Guide and Plymouth Commercial Vehicles: Photo Archive.

Bob Sheaves (contributor)

bob sheavesI have over 20,000 hours using various versions of CATIA since 1984. My design and engineering background is based on vehicle chassis systems, but many years have been spent on all phases of vehicle design (concentrating in Vehicle Dynamics and Kinematics), Solid modeling, and Rapid Prototyping (using 3D Systems SLA250 machines). In addition, I have performed CATIA training, support, and business process and CAD application analysis.

Some of Bob's experience includes:

Bill Watson (contributor and expert)

Bill Watson's first ride in a car was his father's 1936 Graham Supercharger touring sedan. However, there are no memories as the ride was from the hospital when he was born in 1950. The first car he can remember is his father's 1940 Plymouth, bought soon after Bill was born.

His father says Bill could recognize and name cars a block away by the age of five. His father's various Chryco products, 1950 Dodge Special Deluxe, 1955 Dodge Regent, and 1965 Dodge 330 (slant six) galvanized his interest in things Chrysler. He learned to drive on the 1965 Dodge 330. He turned down a 1962 Valiant sedan for a 1965 Envoy Epic as his first car, a decision he regretted about a month after he bought it. But, the Envoy was replaced by a 1972 Dodge Dart sedan, and it has been Mopar ever since. His one and only new car was a 1978 Dodge Monaco Brougham and the list includes various cars from a 1949 DeSoto Custom to his present driver, a 1983 Imperial with EFI that works. The oddballs include three Studebakers and a 1984 Renault Fuego. In addition to the Imperial, the collection (?) presently consists of a 1964 Studebaker Commander 6, 1963 Studebaker Lark V8 taxi, 1962 Valiant Signet 200, and a 1962 Lancer GT. In his teens, Bill started collecting articles and brochures. Since then he collection has expanded with car brochures (now at 5,500 - not all Mopar), articles, clippings, photos, manuals, books, etc. It would now take about eighty file boxes to pack up. The collection is presently in three locations as his apartment is too small. He hates moving. Single, he shares his apartment with his "paper car" collection and two cats.

Curtis Redgap (contributor)

Read all of Curtis’ articles on allpar

What can you say about the son of a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer and former cop who has written some of Allpar's most interesting material? Well, you can read what you can of his personal history ... he wrote: "I first joined ALLPAR back when Dr. Dave set out parameters to try to stop the 'merger' back in 1998. I was so impressed that I about wrote my life story in the 'Insider' series about a history of the Corporation with a view on Plymouth. My grandfather and father were owners of a direct outlet Chrysler Product Store. We handled everything that Chrysler Corp built, and even on occasion saw Canadaian vehicles such as Fargo trucks. I was 9 years old when I pushed my father into letting wash vehicles. My Dad had heart problems, and without so much as a whisper, sold the store in 1964. That was not the end of my involvement with ChryCo. I had joined the Police Explorer club in 1961, and managed to swing a couple shifts a week as an assistant dispatcher. After serving a stint in the US Air Force, I came out after 4 years to re-join my department. I moved to the Sheriff's Office in 1971, and was promoted to Fleet Manager (Lieutenant) in 1974. I stayed there until 1984. My last job was to spec out the 1984 models, and the Plymouth Gran Fury was chosen out of the state bid. I have a Bachelor's Degree and currently work for the Federal Government in an agency that has been absorbed by the new Homeland Security."

Robert O'Neill, Jr. (Daytona forum and other contributions)

Bob was born an army brat in Ft. Belvior, Va. in 1954. When he and his family returned from Germany in 1960 he grew up in Tampa, Fl. He got bit by the car bug when working on his first car. It was a 1958 Chevy Belair. Not a great performer but it was the first. He was introduced to Chrysler in 1972 when he purchased the neighbor's Chrysler 300. This was a great car and a great performer.

In the '70s he worked on a Model 'T' kit with a 440 six-pack, 4 speed and 4:10 gear. When his brother's '70 Cuda (340, auto, 3:55) was beat by a roll-cage, racing slicks, fiberglass front Camaro, they swapped the 340 out and put the 440 in the Cuda. Wow, what a ride. The Cuda was NEVER beat again.

In 1985, Bob purchased his '86 Daytona, not a turbo but still a rush. This car is really cool. It is goal to keep it going as long as possible and to one day totally restore it to showroom condition. He'll add a few performance and economy enhancements but other than that it'll look like it came off the showroom floor. It's standard plain Daytona... that is until it launches. Not like the T3 or but it'll turn some heads even more than it does now.

Currently Bob lives in Tallahassee, Fl with his wife Theresa and two daughters and makes a living as a network consultant and trainer. One of his daughters is an RN at the local ER and the other will graduate with a elementary music education degree and hopes to teach locally in Tallahassee.

bob oneill and mike holler

Mike Holler (contributor)

Known on Allpar forums as mpgmike, Mike also contributes to FuelEconomyTips.com and mpgResearch.com. His personal site is PowreHaus.com. He has contributed many columns to Allpar, most of which feature step by step instructions with photos. In real life, Mike works with several companies, including Turbos Unleashed, as a consultant.

Pete Jackson (contributor)

Pete’s screen name is now poorboy_616; it had been “the parts god” (one of his regular customers gave him this nickname). He wrote:

I have been repairing vehicles ever since I could walk, or turn a wrench (which came first, I don't remember). My father was my mentor up until I took my first automotive technology course in high school. Now he looks for me for advice... (Interesting how the table has turned...)

I have two years of formal automotive technology training at Clark County Vocational Skills Center in Vancouver, Washington. I was also a Washington state finalist in the Ford/AAA student national auto skills competition in 1997.

I now have four years of experience in Auto Parts split between NAPA and Schuck's Auto Supply and about a year’s worth of experience in Diesel Engine rebuilding at Detroit Diesel Corp. I have also turned wrenches for a number of years repairing my friends and family.

I also have a wife and two children, whom I love dearly.

Mike Sealey (contributor / editorial staff)

Mike Sealey came home from the hospital in a 1949 DeSoto in July of 1955, and cannot remember a time in his life when he was not hugely into cars. Growing up in a MoPar family probably helped Mike develop leanings toward his favorite manufacturer, but he feels he could have gone a different way were it not for the overall excellence of the 1964 Dodge Dart 270 he had as a teenager, and the day-by-day reliability of the Coronets and Satellites he drove when first starting in the cab business in the 1970s. Today Mike drives a cab in San Francisco, where he anxiously awaits the introduction of a new generation of rear-wheel-drive Chrysler products so he can go back to a MoPar cab. He is a divorced father of two (Duane and Kaitlin), and presently owns a 1957 Plymouth Sport Suburban, a '64 Chrysler 300-K, a 1977 Jeep Wagoneer and an 1987 Chrysler New Yorker.

Mike died in 2005, and we now have a full page covering what we know of him.

Rich Hutchinson (contributor and "vacation" news writer)

Rich was raised on (and in) Mopars as a child, and has clear memories of all of them: the 66 and 73 Dodge Monacos, the 76 Chrysler Cordoba, the various Plymouth Horizons; and later the EEK New Yorker and Imperial. He has owned only Chrysler products: Two Horizons (1981 and 1985), a 1989 Lebaron coupe, and currently a 1995 Plymouth Neon Highline coupe he doesn't ever want to give up. He is married and lives in central New Jersey, and his wife drives a 1992 New Yorker Fifth Avenue she doesn't want to give up either.

Pete Hagenbuch (models, engines)

Pete Hagenbuch was an engine development engineer for Chrysler. Click here for a full page on Pete along with two interviews.

Mathilda Patterson

Mathilda has been an Allpar forums member since 1999. She wrote:

MathildaWhat can I say… I’m honored, and humbled, to be among the most noteworthy, and dedicated contributors here at Allpar. While my join date says 2002… I’ve been a member here since 1999, and I’ve learned a great deal in my time here.

Admittedly, I don’t have the years of experience, or connections as my worthy counterparts. However, I’ve brought the personal element to Allpar.

For years, I’ve said: “Visiting Allpar gives one the feeling they are talking to their buddy down the street, as opposed to someone across the/in another country.” The sense of family here is second to none.

I’m just a regular Jane off the street, who happens to be a certified Car Nut. I’ve bridged that stereotype that “women aren’t interested in this stuff”. Most of my experience lies with the EEKs… moreover, the P bodies (Shadows/Sundances/Dusters). I’ve had a literal parade of Ps pass through my life over the years, and I find these wonderful little cars a true pleasure. Not only to enjoy on the road, but to work on , and restore as well.

Bill Cawthon (major news contributor)

Bill Cawthon grew up in the auto industry in the 1950s. His Dad worked for Chrysler and Bill spent a number of Saturdays down on the plant floor at Dodge Main in Hamtramck.

Today, Bill does communications and research work for a successful high-end computer systems company. He is also a regular contributor to just-auto.com, a British auto industry publication. An award-winning model railroader, he writes a twice-monthly column on scale models for a North American hobby importer/distributor.

Although he now owns a pair of 1998 Mercurys, Bill has owned five Plymouths (including the only 1962 "Texan"), one Dodge and one Chrysler. Now that there is a Chrysler dealer closer than 25 miles from his home, he will be looking at a Chrysler or Dodge next time round. He also has owned at least one of every 1:87 scale model of a Chrysler product.

Bill and Marge Cawthon live in Houston, Texas with their children.

Bohdan Bodnar (technical contributor)

Bohdan Bodnar holds a PhD in electrical engineering. He was employed at Bell Laboratories and was responsible for performance engineering on the 5ESS Switch project in its various aspects -- call processing, overload control, wireless applications, design of field and laboratory experiments, detailed modeling and simulation. Bohdan supervised Master and PhD students in packet switching and IP router design theses; one thesis resulted in a patent filing. He holds Unites States and foreign patents in overload control, distributed database management, router design, and specialized hardware. Notable projects included designing the cache replacement algorithm used in Motorola's MC68060 processor, end-to-end performance management of the 5ESS wireless backbone, and running a field experiment by a mosquito-infested swamp.

Bohdan is currently a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Motorola. His responsibilities include improving laboratory test methodology, high-load handling design for wireless networks, analysis of field conditions, and improving processes used for wireless systems engineering.

Bohdan speaks fluent Ukrainian, holds a Sho Dan (first-degree black belt) in Seisan Ryu Bushi Do Kai, and enjoys listening to classical music. He became interested in automotive servicing after purchasing a 1986 Le Baron that entered the "problem of the week" plan immediately after the warranty expired. His automotive servicing instructor was one of the top technicians in Northern Illinois. Bohdan's areas of interest in automotive work are drivability, emission control, electrical problems, and computer controls.

Richard L. Benner, Jr. (contributor)

A retired Chrysler employee, Richard Benner currently teaches and attends car shows. He has written a brief autobiography (click here) for Allpar, and has contributed many photos including some rare turbine shots and the last American Lebaron being assembled.

Lanny Knutson (contributor)

LANNY KNUTSON has been editor of the Plymouth Bulletin, official magazine of the Plymouth Owners Club, since 1987. He lives in Erickson, Manitoba, Canada, and owns two vintage Plymouths: a 1949 P18 Special Deluxe sedan and a 1964 Valiant Signet convertible.

Chris Houlihan ("E8502")

Chris Houlihan, A.K.A. “E8502,” is currently employed by the United States Federal Government under the Department of Homeland Security. A Gulf War veteran, Chris worked for the Department of Defense for 13 years before moving to the DHS in 2003.

Chris has been a long time Mopar fan, and has driven Mopar’s his entire life. His first car was a 1977 Chrysler Cordoba, followed by a brand new 1985 Jeep Comanche purchased for only $7,295 (what a deal!). Over the years, Chris has owned many more Mopars, including a Jeep Wagoneer, two Chrysler Concorde’s, a Plymouth Neon, a number of Chrysler ragtops and JA cars, a handful of Dodge Trucks, an early 90s Jeep Wrangler, and his current stable of cars, a 2001 Chrysler LHS, 2001 Dodge Dakota, 2004 Chrysler Sebring Convertible used as a “summer car,” and a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan used as a gov’t issued work vehicle that conveniently doubles as a kid hauler for Chris’ family.

Chris became involved with Mopar web forums in the late 1990’s, when he was a regular of the famous Car-Truck insider info site. After Car-Truck was closed down, he began to lurk on Allpar Forums. In 2003, following the debut of the Chrysler 300C concept car, Chris registered at Allpar Forums under the name “E8502.” Since summer of ‘03, Chris has been an active member of the forums, poster of Allpar News, and moderates many of the News & Rumors forums. Over the course of his tenure at Allpar, Chris became involved with DodgeMagnum.net, a new website and forums dedicated to the LX platform vehicles. Enthusiastically, along with many other on the forums, Chris was deeply involved in the infamous “Charger Threads” of 2004 at both DodgeMagnum.net and Allpar. Currently an administrator of LXForums.com and SRT8OC.com, Chris also posts on DodgeIntrepid.net and browses many of the other well known Mopar forums on the net such as DodgeTalk and DodgeForum.

A lifelong resident of Massachusetts, Chris who is 36, lives in Worcester with his wife of 12 years and their two children, ages 5 and 1. In addition to his home in Worcester, Chris enjoys vacationing at his waterfront house on Cape Cod, where he keeps his 32” Boston Whaler docked. When Chris isn’t working, posting on car forums, or boating, he enjoys working with his many Apple computers, sketching, playing with his children, rooting for the Red Sox and Patriots, playing piano for various local musicals as well playing a tenor recorder, and collecting die-cast model cars.

David Zatz (webmaster)

David Zatz is an organizational development and survey consultant, who started Allpar (under a different domain name) in 1994 to avoid working on his dissertation. David has written for magazines (such as Quality Digest, HRMagazine, and Administrator), trade publications (such as Health Foods Business and Print & Graphics), and books (such as the Encyclopedia of Management and the Business Strategy Book of Readings), and has appeared at conferences sponsored by the Performance Institute, Quality New Jersey, The Conference Board, and the Association for Quality and Participation.

David has two kids. His past cars include a 1976 Valiant (318), 1977 Plymouth Fury, 1973 Plymouth Satellite, 1973 Dart Swinger, 1976 Camaro LT, 1979 Rabbit, co-owned Corolla, 1991 and 1993 Sundances, a 1989 Caravan turbo, Dodge Spirit R/T, and, currently, a co-owned 2003 PT Cruiser GT, 2000 Chrysler 300M, and 1974 Valiant.

Many asked about David's return e-mail address before he took out the "Dr." It's a Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Columbia University. This degree required hefty training in research and statistical analysis.

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