RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum - Carlo Lopez CLR Motorsport

BIG ALERT! GREAT WARNING!
Almost 2 years of waiting and a lot of money spent without getting any parts!First of all,You must forgive me for a poorly written English.

I feel I have to tell you all how badly Carlos Lopez at CLR Motorsport has handled this deal between us, I don't want more people to experience all the frustration, anger and sleepless nights this deal has given me!

Think carefully before ordering a job from Carlos!
It doesn't matter how good the engines are if he do not deliver!

The story, the true story of my experiences with Carlos at CLR Motorsport!

I have all our conversations saved from messenger and email and it is no secret if anyone wants to read. I will write here my experience of Carlos and it is up to everyone to use this information in their own way.

First a little story about me and my first meeting with Carlos.
I bought my first rotary car in 1981, I renovated my first rotary engine in 1983 and I built my own PP rotor housings in 1989 when I did an education with milling, lathe machining, welding and more.

In the early 90's I visited Florida, Miami to pick up 2 Doug Nash gearboxes and by chance I found Carlos Lopez and his workshop. The Carlos I met provided a great deal of knowledge, he was nice, helpful and everything else you could wish for and we did some business.

This is also why I contacted Carlos on January 11, 2018, I contacted him through the messenger to hear if he was still in the business and built engines because I needed help building a Rally engine for my Mazda Rx8 Rally project. I wanted to build a fully race 13B PP engine with the older 13B engine instead of Renesis, I also had 3 brand new side housings for the old model, before 1986.

After a while, more specifically, January 29, 2018, we decided that Carlos would build 13B PP house for me and he wanted me to prepay these as soon as possible as he wanted to process these houses at the same time as a lot of other housings that customers ordered. I paid 1000 US dollars 30 January thru PayPal and that would cover the cost of purchasing 2 GSL-SE rotor houses and some of the freight, Carlos verified the same day that the money arrived.

February 1, 2018 I ask if I can pick up the rotor houses at the end of February, probably is the answer from Carlos. He wrote: I will definitely be done with the machine work and epoxy, not sure I will be able to do the machining by hand until then.
In the near future we will also discuss all other parts that I want made by Carlos, including Race rotors with all modifications such as lightening, balancing and other modifications.

15 February messages from Calos: Ok, now that I know you are coming to Miami and will pick up everything, Please provide me with an exact list of everything you want. I know you sent me a list before, but we need to be exact on what you will want to carry back with you. Ok, Talk to you later. Best regards, - Carlos

I get a prize for everything to do and I wonder if I can pick up ALL the parts I order at the end of March, the beginning of April 2018? The rotor houses will be ready anyway, is Carlos's answer.

Ok is my answer, then we can take the other parts later with shipping if it should be so that they are not ready. We agree that I will fly to Miami from Sweden at the end of March 2018 and meet Carlos to pick up the PP houses and check out the other parts as rotors and more, I really look forward to meeting Carlos, see his workshop and picking up the 13B PP houses.

Between the beginning of February and mid-March, I ask several times about photos of the PP houses, Carlos promises to send so many times but nothing happens, just lots of excuses from his side.

On the 23rd of March the photos finally arrive, the porting by hand is not ready!
But the housings will be ready when you arrive Billy was the message from Carlos!

I landed in Miami March 26th and we agree that I will visit him at his workshop on March 28 at 10am to check out the workshop, the parts and bring as many parts as possible home to Sweden.

March 28th : To my disappointment and great surprise, the rotor houses were still not ready, he had a lot of excause and explanations….. He would do everything he could to complete the job before the April 3rdso that I could at least bring the rotor houses home!
Do you think the rotor houses were ready? NOT!

Now I feel such anger and frustration at being fooled again!

March 28th : I prepaid Carlos 1600 USD for "soft parts" and he also orders new 9.7 rotors with race bearings, he insists on 3 days shipping on the rotors to get the job done as soon as possible for me, I paid directly to Mazda USA for these parts with my VISA card.
On the 17th of April I ask how everything is going, where are the photos? I get an answer that Carlos just woke up and that he writes later.

Nothing happens so April 20 I will write again - No answer! On April 22, I write again and wonder why he does not respond and does not send photos as promised!
He replies that he has been interrupted all the time by customers, etc, a lot of excauses again.
So much time he spent making excuses and answering me with massive of text that I dont care about he would probably have the time taken photos at least and sent!

On April 23, I ask when the parts are ready to be sent?
Please send photos.
C replies: Wake up just now, I feel sick, hear from me again soon.
On the 27th of April I write: Any updates?
C: Still sick.
May 2nd I am writing and wondering about photos and updates?
When do you have the parts ready to ship? No answer!

May 7th, I am still waiting for photos and updates, now it is over a month since we ordered the rotors etc.
I got an answer again with a lot of bad excauses and explanations and that he should come back when he works with my parts sometime this week.

May 31st: I write an email and also announce on the messenger that I sent an email and that it would be nice with a reply.
No more answers from Carlos so I will send the same question again, it is now June 19th 2018 ....
C answer: Good evening Billy. I'm in Argentina now. Flying home Sunday. Be in Miami Monday morning. Will check with you as soon as I get back.

Me wrote the 26 June: I’m still waiting.
A copy of the answer follow…. Hey, good evening Billy, not much to say. The fucking mess my ex partners was so bad that has taken me 3x longer than expected to get shop back in order. Could not operate with everything all over the place and not knowing we're my tools we're at. I am still gothering and finding lost tools and equipment. Anyways. Will be starting on your Rotors sometime next week. With no help and the fucking situation I got stuck with, it has cost me thousands in wasted time, and lost and broken tools. Soon s I get going on your stuff. I will let you know. Do me a favor, and write me an email regarding the Rotors. Have machines set up, and will be cutting by Operation to save set up time. Actually will be clearancing your Rotors tomorrow or Friday. Then lightning next week.

I wrote on July 17th:This is what you wrote to me for more than two weeks ago.....! "Anyways". "Will be starting on your Rotors sometime next week". "Actually will be clearancing your Rotors tomorrow or Friday". Then lightning next week". What has happened since then?
The answer: Hello Billy, what is happening ? Nothing goes as planned. Mon had to go in hospital again. Low on hemoglobin, AGAIN. Was there 5 days. Been totally my my self is very difficult at the moment. Doing all I can. Have Rotors on the bench. Just haven't started. Difficult juggling time right now. .

I wrote on August 2nd: Some updates? The rotorhousings, havent see any photos of them since I was in the USA....

I wrote on August 25th: My patience and even my time is over! You've got Mail.

I wrote on August 27th: I expect answers to my mail today
The answer I got from Calos: Listen man, I will respond to This petty email of yours later today. I do not take lighly to derogatory words like yours soacialy after everything I did for you. So be on the lookout for my email, and start making arrangements to pick up your parts.
My answer: I have because of your helpfulness and what I thought your honesty had a lot more patience than usual. Would you like to read through and think about how many times you promised me finished parts, photos and so on .....
And what derogatery words have I used?

Here is a copy of the e-mail I sent to Carlos:
Hello Carlos
Now it has been almost 5 months since I left the United States and I still have not received any parts, not even a single picture on a single part!

Now my patience is over and I will or can not wait any longer, either you complete my parts in the next few days and send me or you will send the items in the condition they are now.
Are the rotorhousings even ready?

//Billy

The "friendly" answer from Carlos follow, this is the way he chooses to answer his customers who waited an eternity after all the things he promised!

Bill Johansson,

You dam well knew and were informed I've been though hardship which came out of my hands to have you address your self, and talk to me is such degrading manner. Like If I were your servant ?

You were kept aware along with everyone else I'm doing work for.

What you don't know is one day after our last communication through messenger is I fell and injured my self. Dislocated my knee and could not walk for weeks. Lost a total of 5 weeks of work. Still wearing support brace. This was Sunday July 15th.

Check message sent July 14th.

Hello Carlos

Now it has been almost 5 months since I left the United States and I still have not received any parts, not even a single picture on a single part!

I advised everyone I would send pictures as I performed work on their parts. But then there are always those people who expect constant reports as to how shit is coming along. Well simple. No pictures, no work as yet. I could always lie and send pictures of someone else work and tell you those your parts, but it is not how I do things. Again, I am not some kid that is expected to report to their employer or superiors. In your case a customer who thinks that he is the one and only above everyone else.

Now my patience is over and I will or can not wait any longer,

Again, I gave YOU and everyone the option when I wrote the email:

"Delays at CLR" to come for or arrange for pick up of all parts if anyone could not wait. regardless of reason and assured there would be NO HARD FEELINGS.

Everyone except 1 person chose to wait including YOUR SELF.

either you complete my parts in the next few days and send me or you will send the items in the condition they are now.

Who the hell do you think you are talking DOWN at me like this as if I was your servant ?

ORDERING " You "will" do this and you will do that or else. Who the hell do you think you are?

Is this the way you address your self to people or suppliers ??

Where the fuck is your sense of professionalism or etiquette ???

Do I have to remind you that it was "I" Carlos who gave you the courtesy of purchasing all your damn parts at "MY COST using "MY DISCOUNT". ... I saved you well over a thousand dollars !

And this crap is thank you I get ?

Then you had the stupid Audacity to express I was getting a kick back from Mazda Corporate Office because you could not figure there was a discrepancy in prices due to the monetary exchange rate at your bank. ...

Something seriously wrong with your head.

Look here at what I'm telling you:

Your disposition might be how you "THINK" you get respect and get your way, BUT as it pertains to me, this bullshit email is just total DISRESPECT particularly after everything I've done for you.

So going forward and for your information:

Now that there is no longer ANY professional etiquette, or courtesy

Read this and let it sink.

I OWE YOU and will do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR YOU IN TERMS OF CLR WORK.

Look up CLR Motorsports.com website: Go to "About" Scroll 2/3 down the page and click on "Terms and Conditions" button. Page 2, Paragraph 1, states:

"All parts must be paid for up front by customer plus 50% of the estimated labor for the entire job"

You "Billy" did not tender one damn penny towards the 50% labor deposit required for any job.

Not 1 penny.

Meaning there is:

Zero, Zilch, Nada, Nothing,

No obligation on my end to perform any work on your parts.

None.

Are you understanding now ?

I do not, and will not TOLERATE You or anyone talking DOWN at me making futile demands, passing orders, and asinine ultimatums.

I don't need your work to put food on my table. On the contrary.

There is a mile long waiting list of people anxiously waiting for a spot to get into CLR.

Customers who were here before you gladly waiting for their work to be completed, and appreciate the effort put forth trying to get their work out while working at less than half capacity.

So, to put it in your own words:

"In the next few days" Think so ?

Yes, how about You start making arrangements to pick up your parts. You or one of your boys.

As far as I am concerned: Those parts purchased with "mydiscount", can sit there and ROT in a corner of my office until the day you comes or send for them.

- You will die waiting for the day I get off my ass, and lift one finder if you expect me to obey you and your piss ass arrogance.

or "you will " send the items in the condition they are now.

I will do NOTHING of the sort.

Dude, You fucked up. No one talks to me that way. No one.

Remember that Ass Hole you pointed out way back talking trash and posting shit on my Fb page? Well he started the same ways as you now. Futile demands and ultimatums.

Got him nowhere.

Wonder were he is at now !

Are the rotorhousings even eady?

//Billy

What do You think ?

A thought from me: I do not know what you others think, but to treat a customer who has been promised so many times that photos should be sent, that the parts should really be clear, etc. without him holding any of this is completely unreal and completely crazy in my world!

My answer to Carlos e-mail:
Hi Carlos
First of all, I think you overreact, get more angry than you need.
The only thing I wanted to say with my mail was, now I can not wait anymore.
I would if it was possible for you to complete the parts the next few days and then send them to me. The alternative was if you could not, send them without completing the job.
It was not at all supposed to be degrading, it's you who took it so.
I hope you can think of one thing, I am Swedish and often use Google to translate what I'm writing to you, maybe it will not be right all the time?

Now I want us to proceed with this.

if I understood you right then you no longer want to clear the rotor houses or rotors to me?

After many hard words back and forth, we still decide to finalize this agreement in the best way - Carlos will complete all work including mine before the year 2018 is over, see copy below on email sent by Carlos to me and 11 other customers waiting for parts.

E-mail from Carlos to me and eleven other customers.
Initials on the customers in the mail here:
P.L, R.C, W.W, N.K, J.T, J.W, M.M, D.M, R.O, M.o, Billy Johansson (me), K.F.

Email 2018 October 29 from Carlos
Good afternoon to everyone.

As some of you know and some may not, My Mother passed away a month ago.

Tonight at 12:25am marks exactly 30 days of my Mom's passing, and I've been absent from work since

September 7th., Literally have not been here by the shop just short of 2 months

Just some hours here and there last week.
I tried to come back to work, but almost every day something came up that required immediate attention
My Mom did not leave a living will, so the task of dealing with the aftermath of her death has fallen on my
shoulders as I had Power of Attorney over her personal matters..
Something I was not prepared for nor experience to deal with.

It's been a steep and difficult learning curve.
2 weeks ago, I began a failed attempt to transition back into my work. As it's turned out, it's been very difficult.
Everyday something unexpected popped up. If not an attorney, was the realtor, or insurance man, an
unpaid debt, some document to sign, something.

It's been physically and mentally consuming, but mainly emotionally draining.
I've been putting in what ever hours I could steal in an effort to catch up,
but simply have experienced far too many interruptions to make a dent on the backlog of unfinished work
_______
I have decided to close operation of CLR for the remainder of the year commencing November 1st.
Not accepting any more work, so I can concentrate on what is physically here and those people I owe work to.
The goal is to finish and deliver everything before the Holidays.
I would like to start the new year fresh. Sort of turn the page and start a new chapter in life.
This past year has been difficult.
Lost 2 direct family members and more than a hand full of industry and close personal and business friends.
Now that the racing season is over, the urgency of race weekend deadlines is not pressing,
but it has always been my philosophy to service the racer clientele first.
Today there are 2 of you guys in particular that have been faithfully waiting on me for an very long time,
Such long time I know have sacrificed your schedules because of me.

To You: I will not mention names (You know how you are) I will dedicate all my time first and exclusively.
The rest will follow on a timely manner based on which jobs I can finish quicker.
It may not necessarily sound fair at first, but believe me it will make sense as you read on.
Many if not all balancing, and Rotor work is repetitive. Meaning that once the machines are set up for
a particular operation, I can knock out as many as I might have for many different customers.
So in the end, I can finish similar jobs 3 or more jobs at the same time.
- It is much faster this way.

Going forward, I ask of everyone listed to allow me to do what I do best, without continued inquires and
interruptions.
Like I said, the season is over, but the year is not.

Everyone will get their work completed before year's end.

If this timeline is unacceptable to anyone for what ever the reason, just reach out and contact me.
We'll work out the return of your parts.

This is it for today.
The vast majority of legalities, disbursements and probate are behind me now, so I'm in a much better
position looking forward to concentrate, and get the work done.

Thank you and best regards to everyone,
- Carlos
After this email and some discussions we agreed that I could pick up all the parts 13-14 January 2019,
which is a long time after Carlos again promised that the parts would be ready.
I applied for vacation, booked a flight T/R to Miami, rented a car and booked hotel room to pick up my
CLR manufactured race parts!

When I took the flight to Carlos's workshop for the second time to retrieve my parts, Carlos apologized for his
bad behavior that he had had in his email response, ok I said it's over now but good that you apologize.
The next thing that comes from Carlos is, how long do I stay in Miami?
I'm going home tomorrow, I'm just here to pick up all the parts! Ok, Carlos says I'm not really done and then
a lot of excuses will come again! He really wants to convince me that he will send all parts within 3 days!
I reply that if it takes a week it doesn't matter just you send them.
At that point, I obviously had all the money Carlos would have for the work and as soon as I inspected
the parts I would transfer via PayPal.

I have to back to Sweden one more time without PP housings, rotors and so on!

After that, Carlos continued to promise, he sent an incorrect invoice which I pleaded.
This he would change, he would also send photos of the completed parts.
None of this has happened, but he wants me to send him money before he sends parts ....!
I obviously want to close this crazy deal and I definitely don't want to use CLR Motorsport parts in my RX8 project.
Of course, I want Carlos to pay back the first $ 1000 I sent in advance for the GSL-SE rotorhouses
and the prepaid $ 1600 for soft parts, but also the money for the 9.7 rotors and race bearings I paid for.
Carlos refuses to pay me back money, he thinks I owe him money for work he has done for me!

If you have any questions about this then just ask, I will answer as best I can and my will is to help others
so they don't have problems with this jerk!

Best Regards
Billy Johansson
Sweden