Fifth Annual Jim Gilbert Memorial Rebuild
#JGMB5
Join us September 26-29, 2024 in Staunton, VA
Since its' inception, the Jim Gilbert Memorial Build has brought together over 6 dozen volunteers, 5 dozen supporters and immeasurable learning and camaraderie within the Fiero community. This year’s event took place September 26-29 at the Goss' in Staunton, VA, again focusing on a core concept of Jim's life - providing a space where individuals could bring their cars to get advice and assistance to keep their Fieros on the road. This year's event, was dedicated to the memory of last year's build recipient Scotty, who lost his mental health battle in May of this year. To continue our spirit of charitable acts towards the Fiero community, we collected monetary donations for NAMI - the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Donations are still rolling in but at present, we will be donating at least $500 to this cause.
This years group of 30 separate volunteers worked on a total of 13 cars including:
Wes & Tami's 87 Coupe (Suspension Upgrade to 2Ps Pre-88 Suspension)
Dale McCoy's 86SE (Dew Wipes, Headlight Motors, Oxygen Sensor & Transmission Diagnosis)
Alan Ferris' 88GT (Diagnosis)
Penny Woodward's 87GT (Trunk Release, Instrument Cluster Repair)
Sam Marquardt's Indy (Starter Compression Test & PCV Valve)
Patrick Roof 85GT (Water Pump)
Joe/Jon Aponick's 88GT (Shift & Select Cables, Seat Track Repair)
Charles & Lori Roswell 87GT (Diagnosis)
Greg Haggerty's 86SE (Diagnosis & Tune Up)
Jen Goss' 88GT (Gas Pedal)
Matt Goss' 88GT (End Links, Dew Wipes)
Cameron Rose's 2.9 Block (Review)
1 Fiero Support Jeep Wiring (Matt M)
In its first year, the team rebuilt a 1988GT for Colin, a Fiero owner who was fighting a battle with Stage 3 testicular cancer. His existing Fiero had a bad case of frame rot and as his primary form of transportation, we were grateful to be able to get it back on the road. In the second year, the same goal remained - to brighten the life of an individual in need. Longtime Fiero enthusiast and community contributor Matt McGowan had been battling years of recurring back issues and surgeries that disrupted his livelihood and day-to-day abilities to function. Despite his challenges, Matt continues to give to the Fiero community and the team decided to make his dream come true in owning a 3800SC powered Fiero. In Year 3, we pivoted to a "Bring What You Broke," weekend and made upgrades/repairs to 9 Fieros! Year 4, the team tackled a combination of righting some wrongs on Scotty's Mera, which had been incorrectly built by a speed shop and making upgrades and repairs to 7 additional Fieros.
This annual event was conceived by Gary Pickardt of Pickardt Performance to honor the memory of Jim Gilbert, a longtime Fiero owner and member of the Fiero community who never hesitated to give back to Fiero friends and mentor young Fiero owners, including his two daughters, Jennifer and Jamie.