spent some time with Jake Raby today
 

One of the advantages of living in the Atlanta area is having Jake as a resource for all things Boxster. So today I took a road trip to his new " training center " he recently built. To say that it is impressive is an understatement. But besides that I was checking on the progress of my " secret " engine. We talked " gear head " for a while and went over the details of the engine. Should be ready by April I can't wait ! :D It will definitely be worth the wait.
I'm hoping when people start attending classes at his new facility that they provide feedback on this forum, I was blown away by his facility. I'm not a paid sponsor just a happy customer. Maybe Jake will see this and post some pics of the new compound.

Sounds like you had a great time. Maybe one day I'll get to meet him, but not too soon, as long as my engine holds out that is.

Rfuerst911sc,
Nice working with you again.. You've been on my "waiting list" for 8 months now, so your turn is coming up soon.

You are the first person to have visited my new, rather top secret facility, that's not open to the public at any time other than during my training sessions...

Your statement that referred to this piece of Heaven as "a Fortress of solitude" is exactly right. This is a place where all my developmental efforts will be relocated to, as well as training. I will also design, assemble and install the engines that I personally build here at this facility. I have to focus, and the time that I spend here is all alone, I have no employees here, and there's nothing but dead silence out here in the country.

My production facility will stay in the same place that its always been. We have grown so much that my R&D lab was over ran by engine assembly positions, and I can't hold classes there now, because when classes are going on their can't be any noise. With a backlog so hefty I had to get the classes closer to Atlanta, so I could buy a shuttle bus and move people myself, and they don't need to rent a car, or pay insane "tourist trap" rates at hotels in Cleveland Ga, where the old shop is located.

I also had to stay way out away from civilization, too. I make a lot of noise. This new facility is a win- win- win, as I can now develop uninterrupted, I can hold one class per month without clogging up the shop schedule, and I can work alone again, getting more developments proven, and to market faster.

I've been working at the production facility 2 days a week, carrying out Quality Control, and testing new engines before the vehicles are shipped. The rest of the time I have been building this facility... Since July. A few of my friends framed it up, and I paid someone to do the electrical and drywall, but outside of that most everything I have done from scratch. Its just over 5,300 Sq ft, 2 stories. The lower portion houses my engine assembly clean room (still finishing now) as well as a service bay where I'll do installs and etc, and also has room for labs, along with storage for 14 of my personal cars.

The upstairs is Presentation rooms, more room to set up engine assembly jigs, and it also has an engine assembly room that will be used for classes. I built in a big kitchen area so we don't have to have meals catered in.

Here are some pics. It'll be 100% at the end of the coming week, and I can move in my tools and get ready for the February M96 Engine Assembly (102) class. Then we can get ready for the March M96/97 Engine Performance class, the 9a1 DFI class in April, and the Cayenne Engine Class in May... Then comes the M96/ M97 Enthusiast classes in June. Having a completely dedicated area for my R&D as well as training is something I have needed for a long time. This is a different kind of place, where you'll find lamps built from IMS shafts, vanities built from tool boxes (soon to be decked with used IMS bearings under glass) and all sorts of other unique things that only a crazed engine builder working in the middle of no where can think of..

There's no phone... There's no internet... There's no cell signal, and I don't even have a desk here. When I have classes I'll enable the Wifi, turn on the cell booster and enter the 21st Century, as soon as the class is over, it gets turned back off again.

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Looks Great Jake.
Congrats and continued sucess.
Van914

Best. Shop. Ever.

Very nice! :cheers:

I wish I lived closer, very nice facility Jake:cheers:

Only way to work
 

Great move on silence for working. Only way to eliminate interruptions that can lead to errors, costly errors at that. Beautiful setting and the touches show your sense of humor which is important for mental survival in our current world. Advantage and someday I hope to get down your way via South Carolina.

AKL:dance:

Thanks, guys..

When I step outside at my new place I hear nothing, its dead silent except for some birds chirping. Thats the way it used to be at my production facility, but progress came and while we are still in a rural area, its nothing like it used to be.

This morning I have seen more tractors pass the driveway, than cars.

Working alone, way out in the country takes me back to how things were when I started this place. Those things are what got us where we are, and I had to get back to them, because development and staying ahead of everyone else is what its all about.

At the production facility we have too many visitors, too much is going on, and it holds up development by pulling my focus.

Wow, nice setup. Love to see self made success. Congrats and well earned. Enjoy.

I like your silver C4.

I see in my future taking one of your classes for fun. Long time ago I earned a A.S. degree in automotive design and mechanics as a high school kid (Don Bosco Tech - Don Bosco Technical Institute - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) before taking a different path. It would be fun to get back to that.

Wizzz you even know how to built a paradise huh - impressive personality and ambitions you got there my man

Look & feel looks good even on pics, good luck with everything - well deserved!

I have had a lot of fun building this place, but as it winds down and we host our first 4 day class here starting exactly one month from today, I am ready to be done.

Still need to make a few more pieces of furniture from engine parts, do the landscaping outside, set up the classrooms and build the stainless steel work tables in my engine assembly "clean room".

All set then!

All you need left to do is to install a good old fashion and indestructible security system. Contact Matt (Rottweiler breeders in Atlanta Georgia - Georgia Rottweiler puppies for sale).

Get a pair, no electricity or petrol required, just 100kg of protein /month lollll Only disadvantage is its very hard to unplug shall the worst happen. Last time my pups bit the intruder I had to load the two dogs in the ambulance with him - they just didn't want to let go for about 30min. 'unpractical'

Other than that, they're great and docile security officers (and tool keepers)

Think about Webcast also. The world is too big for all of us to join you guys :/

I will say this security is NOT an issue at ANY Raby compound. Intruders have been warned :D.

New shop
 

Jake, Really great work!!!!!!......where is the rifle range?? See you soon. Congratulations, Bob

My forte is hands on classes, can't get that experience any other way. I do have some online classes coming and these are prerequisites for attending the hands on classes. In the spring I might start some online consultation type classes for those wanting to buy a Boxster or 996, and want to learn the ins and outs of the engine issues.

Again, nothing beats hands on, and after 4 days of actually building an engine in a building full of attendees, I am whipped. These engines aren't mock ups, they are the real deal, and we use them for testing products after they are completed in the class.

The security dog is already taken care of and I just finished putting up one mile of fence around the property for the patrol to cover. I have German Shepherd security at my old location, because there's someone there most every day. Here there will be some days when no one is around, because I am the only person around, since its my personal getaway. It does appear that a Rott is the best for this, as they work better alone than other breeds. This is on top of the buildings security system, and a few other "options" that most people don't employ. One good thing about being in this area is no one bothers your stuff, and everybody knows everybody. I had a contractor show up one day in a vehicle that wasn't recognized, and the Mailman called me to let me know., when he couldn't get in touch with me, he confronted the person.

Security isn't a concern at any of my properties. A guy like me likes bad guys, they give us a reason to use our toys.

Someone mentioned Rifle Range... Well I have a 75 yard range at my old location, and a 300 yard range here at the new location. Here's the view off the second story, back deck. When people attend classes, I promise a very unique experience, much more different than they'd expect. I plan to have a social one night at each class, and I need to finish the bonfire ring before the inaugural class next month. Some form of wild meat will be on the menu :-)
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Jake,

What is your opinion / experience with students using the material in your courses at a later date rather than imediately following a class. Are most able to cope with an engine build a year on?