1966 Ford Nearly Restored

“B-Unit” #83 is a tribute to Brian Storer. The lean, mean, Ford racing machine is being restored for one reason: It was Brian Storer’s dream to revive this this truck and make it his own.

Mark Storer, CEO and founder of Airport Towing started collecting antique tow trucks in 1997. Since then he has built up a collection of 13 classic trucks. One of them is a 1966 Ford F-350.

Shortly after purchasing the truck, Mark’s youngest son and employee Brian (driver #83) made known his interest in the truck. He immediately saw the potential, and he loved that the truck would rumble and roar when he stepped on the gas pedal. The truck had custom chrome exhaust stacks (though they were heavily rusted and in desperate need of replacement).

Its frame supported a Holmes 460 wrecker: One of the most celebrated tow units of it’s time; popular for it’s twin boom feature that would allow one side of the truck to anchor to a stable object and the other side to swing out and recover a vehicle. Even today, Holmes is known for producing some of the most unique towing equipment on the planet.

The company’s founder, Ernest Holmes, is famous for his most popular invention: The world’s first tow truck! Holmes originally mounted a chain and pulley to the frame of a 1913 Cadillac and went to work as the first ever tow truck operator in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Nearly 100 years later, Brian Storer found himself inspired by a beat up old Holmes unit. He loved everything about the truck and vowed to restore it. He even collected a few parts along the way. The find he was most proud of was a red bench seat in near perfect condition, brought in to replace the previous upholstery which was torn and tattered. A couple of years went by as the truck sat in Mark’s warehouse awaiting restoration and eventually, the unthinkable happened. Mark and Brian died in a sudden plane crash. One of Brian’s dreams would never come true. He would not get the opportunity to tear the Ford truck to the ground and build it back up again in all the glory of it’s hay-day.

The Storer family has spent the past year-and-a-half recovering from the tremendous loss in their family. As the days continue to go by, family members have come up with ways to pay homage to their loved one’s who have moved on into eternity. The greatest of which was most likely an idea that was produced by Lynette Storer, Brian’s mother and Mark’s wife. Lynette is now the President/CEO of Airport Towing and has been helping run the day-to-day operations of the company for nearly 22 years.

As you may have guessed, her vision was to restore the 66 Ford, exactly as Brian would have wanted it done. Even though it has proven to be an expensive and time consuming project, Lynette has pressed forward with the restoration. Despite a depressed economy, the love she has for her son is far beyond any monetary value. With the help of Lynette’s staff, she is determined to complete this project.

With the help of several employees and antique specialist Rocky Willis, the project has moved forward with great success. The truck was stripped down and sandblasted earlier this year.

Shortly after, individual pieces of the truck were sent to Huddleson’s Auto Color World to be painted red and white. Finally, the cab and chassis were sprayed and returned to be refitted with the original parts. Fresh paint on the old truck in traditional Airport Towing red and white have made it look better than ever. Meanwhile, custom chrome exhaust stacks were special ordered and the motor was removed for steam-cleaning and repainting.

The paint is now dry and piece by piece, the truck is being meticulously reassembled. Nearly every part on the truck needs to be reinstalled; from the hood to the fenders, the bumper, wheels and rims, doors, windshield, seat, motor, exhaust stacks, lugs, lights, mirrors, and much more. One challenge that complicates the project more than the average pickup restoration is the assembly of the Holmes tow unit on the back end. The unit requires technical expertise because it operates off of a power take off system that utilizes the transmission to engage and enable the boom and winch cables to operate. The old gear driven technology has been replaced with hydraulics in more modern equipment. The wrecker must be assembled accurately to maintain structural integrity if it is ever to be used as a working tow truck. To date, each piece has been sanded, painted, and some are awaiting reassembly. Some of the electrical wiring throughout the truck is still being completed.

The headers have been chrome dipped, enhancing the popular “Powered by Ford” slogan stamped into the metal. Afterward, the freshly painted motor was placed back into the truck.

The motor was repainted factory Ford blue and the tips of the fan have been painted red. The cab was also remounted onto the frame.

Much of the detail work is now being finished. The truck has been refitted with its hood, grille, bumper, beacon, marker lights, headlights, and windshield. After several months of work, it is starting to look like a truck again.

Most recently, the Holmes tow unit was reinstalled and there are now wheels under the frame.

Although the project may look as though it is near completion, there is still a great amount of work to be done. The truck is still awaiting doors and several other interior parts along with wiring and other detail work. Custom lettering and final striping will be added after the truck has reacquired all of it’s necessary mechanical parts. Completion of the 1966 Ford F-350 tow truck is most likely Spring of 2010. Work being done on the truck is ongoing though it is not being rushed so mistakes can be minimized. Once the 66 Ford is completed, it will be one of the most popular and definitely the most powerful tow truck in the Storer Antique Tow Truck Collection and no one will be happier to see its final completion than Lynette.

Lakewood Officers Remembered

The recent loss of 4 Lakewood police officers has reminded us how suddenly we can lose people who are most important in our lives. Our own recent experiences with loss have triggered a particularly emotional response as we watched the news develop last week informing the world of a terrible ambush that took place in our own back yard against local law enforcement officers as they prepared for duty.

Our loss occurred last year when Airport Towing CEO Mark Storer and son Brian Storer died in an airplane crash, shocking the towing industry. Local friends and family members gathered to show their support. Neighboring police and fire agencies joined in to provide assistance to those who were suffering the most, along with other towing companies. The family at Airport Towing voiced their appreciation of the support received from public safety officers and others offering assistance.

Now it is our turn to pay back the support given to our family last year by assisting other families who have suffered a similar fate. Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, Greg Richards, and Sgt. Mark Renninger have all left behind children and families, both at home and within the police department. The families have endured terrible suffering as a result of the unexpected void that took them by surprise on a Sunday morning. We have felt a similar pain, and we know there are few, if any, words that will bring comfort to the loved one’s who are grieving.

Airport Towing and local police officers work together on a daily basis. The officers and towers provide a public service, working together at emergency scenes and during non-emergency traffic situations. Our company got it’s first bitter taste of tragedy when King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox was shot and killed in the line of duty in December of 2006. Officer Cox worked with our Burien Towing drivers on a daily basis during his work week. When he was gunned down on a late winter night. Those who knew him and worked with him were heartbroken. It often seems as though the greatest hero’s of our community are those who suffer the most tragic fate. Two years after Deputy Cox died, Airport Towing lost Mark and Brian. Now, the attention has shifted South, to the families of the fallen Lakewood Officers.

A memorial service was held Tuesday at the Tacoma Dome for all four Lakewood police officers. Prior to the service, a procession of nearly 2,000 emergency vehicles led the ceremony from McChord Air Force Base near where the officers were killed in Parkland, past Lakewood Police Department Headquarters, to the memorial site. More than 20,000 people attended the service, including thousands of police officers and firefighters. The emotion filled service lasted more than 3 hours and featured many stories of the lives of the four slain officers. Family members were surrounded by thousands of attendees, including police officers, firefighters, dignitaries, and others. Governor Christine Gregoire was on hand to speak to the crowd, as was House Representative and former King County Sheriff Dave Reichert. More than 700 Canadians mounted police officers attended, as well as hundreds from Chicago, New York, Boston and other places around the world. The scene was awe-inspiring, with an honor guard of multiple agencies leading the way. For the families, the service was just the beginning of a long road ahead.

Several memorial funds have been set up to support the family of the fallen Lakewood officers. You can donate directly through the Lakewood Police Independent Guild here.

1st Anniversary of Crash Hits Home

One year ago today (July 24th, 2008) the founder of Airport & Burien Towing died suddenly in an unexpected airplane crash along with his son who worked at the family business his entire life.

Mark Storer lived to be 51 years old. He founded Airport Towing and Burien Towing in 1988. His vision was to run his own company and be successful. His goal was to give his three children a good education. He accomplished both through his work ethic and faith. Mark consistently paid back every bit debt he incurred. Hard work and dedication were characteristics that he hoped would rub off on his kids. It was only a matter of time before Mark’s children were helping run the business.

Mark took on several roles within the company that he built from scratch. Some days he was a driver. Other days he was an auctioneer. His job description was ever-changing, which is a lifestyle that many small business owners grow accustomed to.

One role never changed. He was always the boss. Mark was like a father to his employees. Over time, he employed each of his three children. Family was always a part of Mark’s business and Airport Towing became a significant part of the Storer family.

Mark’s son Brian loved tow trucks since he was a little boy. He spent his summers and afternoons at the family towing company. He was picked up from school in a tow truck. He even had tow truck toys. If asked why he was fascinated with these modern day haulers, Brian would probably tell you it is because of the mechanics, the lights, the accident scenes, and the thrills. What he may have hesitated to admit is the true reason for his obsession; his father. More than anything in the world Brian wanted to be with his dad growing up. He wanted to go on every call and ride in the truck all day long. Brian fulfulled his dream. He spent most of his life with his parents and siblings at Airport Towing. At the end of his life he worked with his father, lived near his father, and died together with his father. Mark may not have approved of the way their lives ended so suddenly had he been given a choice, but one thing is certain: He wouldn’t trade a minute of the time they spent together for anything.

Mark is survived by his wife Lynette, son Jared, and daughter Teresa. Brian leaves behind his wife Christy and two sons, now ages 3 and 2. After two of the greatest people in their lives have gone, Brian’s children are learning to live life with only the memory of their father and grandfather. The boys cherished Mark and Brian. They continue to light up with joy when their names are mentioned. They have a passion for everything “tow truck”. The boys are already continuing the legacy left by their father and his father. A memorial fund has been established to assist Brian’s widow in raising the boys. The remaining Storer and Airport Towing families have also extended themselves to assist in caring for the young boys over the past year.

Brian enjoyed 24 years of life on earth. He was committed to his marraige and his children. He cherished the time that he spent together with his family. Just like his father, he wanted them to have a better life.

Although his time on earth was short by most standards, Brian did not waste it. He was full of life every day. He was unique and passionate. Brian never missed an opportunity to tell a joke, even if he was being reprimanded by his boss. He could lighten any mood. At times his humor was the only way to get Mark to smile when the stresses of work had begun to take a affect his demeanor. This photograph of Brian was mounted to the tow truck that led the procession from Airport Towing to the church on the day of the memorial. The photo accurately depicts Brian’s energy level and the way he dealt with the world around him.

After Mark and Brian died an abundance of support quickly came pouring in from all directions. A memorial was erected at Airport Towing. Flowers and cards flooded the office. Friends, family, churches, emergency service providers and towing companies from around the state called in to offer assistance. It was evident that Mark & Brian had made an impact that was wide spread. Hundreds gathered to attend the procession and memorial service.

Many people wanted one last chance to say goodbye to the two men. Others came to the service to offer their support to the surviving family. All were rewarded by a touching service of rememberance by Pastor Dennis Sawyer that spoke on the redemption of the two men through Christ. The congregation took comfort in the knowledge that both men are continuing to live their eternal lives in a place where there is no pain. 

The family at Airport Towing has undoubtedly continued to suffer the loss of two of the greatest men they have ever known. Mark and Brian have now passed the torch to Lynette and Jared who will continue to improve the family towing business and help it reach its full potential. These two professionals have laid the ground work for the company to reach new heights in becoming one of the leaders of the towing and  transportation industry. The family has since added key staff, including Mark’s son-in-law Kenny Savage to move toward that goal. All other employees who worked under Mark at the time of the accident have remained loyal to the family and have stepped up their efforts to continue providing quality services amidst times of great hardship.

One year has passed since Mark and Brian Storer took their final flight together. Today is a day for rememberance and honor, tears and hugs. It is a time of gathering with family and celebrating life. Mark and Brian will forever be remembered. They were larger than life. They were father and son. They were and always will be great tow truck men.

Thanks to The B-Town Blog for remembering the lives of Mark and Brian.

Burien + Classic Cars = A Fathers Day Hit

Millions of dollars worth of antique cars & trucks lined the streets of Burien last week for the annual Fathers Day Car Show, turning the the city’s downtown into a spectacular parking lot for car lovers of all ages. With a turnout of more than 200 vehicles crowding the city streets, participants proudly unveiled the fruits of their hard labor as onlookers came from all over the Puget Sound area to appreciate their pristinely shined mechanical beauties.

It was chrome and aluminum as far as the eye could see down 152nd street in the shadow of the new Burien Town Square, which includes a new 7 story condominium building, a 20,000 square foot City Hall and an 18 million dollar public library. The long line of displayed classics continued on down 6th Avenue Southwest and also along 4th Ave SW. Some car show guru’s who were unwilling to pay the entry fee participated in the show but were excluded from the competition by parking their project cars in legal street parking spaces around the perimeter of the exhibition. The official portion of the car show was hosted by The Discover Burien Association.

For Airport Towing the event was a tribute to it’s founding father, Mark Storer who birthed the company 21 years ago and remained heavily involved as the CEO until he died 1 year ago. Mark was a committed father of 3 children but also took on a fatheresque role to several towing industry professionals whom he trained throughout his tenure as the company’s owner. Today Airport Towing remains a family owned and operated business and the people employed are adopted as additional members of the extended family.

Mark was responsible for collecting 13 unique trucks that comprise the Storer Tow Truck Collection. Three of the trucks were on display for the annual Fathers Day car show:

• “The Dodge” is a 1937 Dodge Brothers 1 1/2 ton truck with a Holmes tow unit attached.
• “The 29″ is a 1929 Ford Model AA tow truck with a Weaver crane and is said to be the most beautiful and valuable truck in the collection.
• “The T” is a 1925 Ford Model TT flatbed that was turned into a tow truck by Mark as his first antique vehicle project.

All the trucks in the Storer Tow Truck Collection have some historical significance in Airport Towing’s history and are the product of Mark’s passion for unique & beautiful treasures. The three tow trucks drew a steady crowd throughout the day as they were decorated with photos of Mark and his youngest son Brian who died with him in last years airplane crash. Showing the trucks was one of Mark’s earliest and most reliable employees, Rocky Willis, the tow truck driver / mechanic who was responsible for a vast majority of the restoration work to the antique trucks. Rocky began his career with Airport Towing in 1989 and continues to volunteer to drive the tow trucks in local car shows and parades. Next week Rocky will be driving the Model T in the Burien 4th of July Parade. The parade route begins at the Airport Towing / Burien Towing office and continues through downtown Burien.

National Publication Features Airport Towing

This months edition of Towing & Recovery Footnotes carried an article featuring the story of our company and the challenges we have faced as a family business. The focal point of the article “Good Men Down” is the sudden loss of our founder and his son last summer resulting from a plane crash. Mark Storer founded Airport Towing 21 years ago with one tow truck out of his house. He worked hard every day to create good customer relations and to create a good work environment for his employees. Brian Storer was one of those employees for most of his life. His playful attitude kept the atmosphere at the office fun and enjoyable. Both men were an integral part of our business and lives and it has been a tremendous challenge to try and fill their shoes. Fortunately our employees have stepped up to the task as the Footnotes Article so accurately described.

The tragic and unexpected loss of Mark & Brian sent a rift throughout the industry. Hundreds of professional tow truck operators knew them personally, as well as many local businesses who felt the pain, and several other friends and family members. Mark and Brian were very well connected throughout the industry and the community, which resulted in a Memorial Service of an estimated 800 people in attendance with less than 1 week of notice, several television news broadcasts, and many other articles written about the pair in the B-Town Blog and other publications.

One of Mark’s legacies will always be his Antique Tow Truck Collection. The fleet of classic trucks started as a simple hobby, but quickly grew into a passion. With just a small peek into Mark’s warehouse, it was evident that he had a certain obsession with the towing industry and it’s history. Mark has won a prize in just about every competition that he entered one of his trucks into. With seven fully restored, show quality trucks, he became quite busy with projects that were secondary to his full time job  and he never slowed down. After building up his antique collection, Mark turned to airplanes. He shared that passion with his family and grandsons whom he loved dearly. He would take his wife flying or out for a drive in one of the antique trucks on a sunny day. If the weather was poor, he was most likely working due to the increased work load in the towing industry. There was never a dull moment with Mark or his youngest son. We are glad that Footnotes found our story and offered to share it with their thousands of readers around the industry. It is our hope that the legacy of Mark and Brian continues to live on for many years so that the world can share in the joy that we experienced when they were here.

Carwash Benefits Storer Memorial Fund

The LeMay family decided to take a day out of their busy lives to do some good for a dear friend that was recently lost in a plane crash. Grieving the sudden loss of Brian Storer and his father Mark, the LeMay’s were determined to help since the day of the accident.

On a sunny Saturday this month, the LeMay family set up a car wash outside the B&E Meats store in Burien to raise money for the Storer Family Memorial Fund. Brian Storer left behind a wife and two small boys, Sam & Toby, ages 2 and 1. The Storer family has since set up a benefit for the two boys.

Children and adults worked side by side to keep up with the steady line of cars that pulled in for a quality hand wash. The LeMay family worked all through the day to keep the donations coming in and to do some good for a family that is in need of support.

Donations are being accepted for the Storer Family Memorial Fund at all Sterling Savings Bank locations and through PayPal.

2008 Tow Show

Our founder, Mark Storer, and son Brian Storer were honored by the Towing & Recovery Association of Washington at the Northwest Tow Expo in Ferndale, WA on August 23rd, 2008 for their professionalism and contribution to the industry. Airport Towing & Burien Towing would like to thank the members and officers of TRAW for acknowledging the two men who have been the heart and soul of our business for many years.

The fatal crash that took their lives came as a shock to the entire towing industry this summer. Mark was particularly active in his towing association over the past 20 years and both he and Brian were well known throughout Washington State among towers, law enforcement officers, fire personnel, and many others.

Mark particularly enjoyed working behind the scenes for tow companies, especially when doing what he described as “killing a bill without any help” in order to serve the the towing community of Washington State. When Mark noticed that a proposed bill had the potential to become a law that would put unnecessary stress on local towing companies, he would lock himself in his office and call Legislatures and Representatives throughout Olympia, persisting over the phone until he was sure that the bill was dead. Most associations pay a lobbyist to perform these types of functions, but Mark carried the mentality that he would rather get things done himself in order for them to get done correctly; and he was very good at whatever he set his mind to.

Mark was also a contributor to his regional towing association for many years. He always paid his dues. He met with their lobbyist in Olympia almost every year. He served on the board in years past. Mark educated his drivers thoroughly and sent them to classes organized by the association. He attended the towing expo most years and contributed through donations and fundraisers. He purchased equipment via local vendors affiliated with the association. Mark also attended hundreds of monthly tow meetings and never hesitated to speak his mind for the good of the industry.

Airport Towing contributed to the show by displaying Mark’s original antique towtruck, a 1925 Ford Model TT Tow Truck, along with large photos of the proud father and son. Mark’s antique trucks have won many awards since he fully restored the Model T. There are now 12 antique trucks in the Storer Tow Truck Museum thanks to the hard work of Mark Storer and his employees.

Family History Behind Airport Towing

Mark Storer started Airport Towing 20 years ago with a loan from his father, a single tow truck, and a supportive wife. While running a day care out of her home, Lynette answered the phones for the business 24 hours a day. Both were hard working and committed themselves to providing a better life for their children.

Brian, the youngest child of three quickly developed an interest in the towing company. He was always the first to volunteer to ride with his dad when Mark was called to assist the police at an accident scene, or when he had to go up to Canada to pick up a rental car. Brian always wanted to work with his dad. He loved watching his father pick up cars from the cab of the tow truck, and occasionally work the controls when Mark thought the situation was safe for his youngest boy.

When Mark & Lynette acquired first acquired property in Burien to use for the business, all three children found themselves to be a part of the company. The entire family spent their evenings and summers at the office. Everyone in the family worked when needed. Everyone worked hard, including Brian who started driving a tow truck full time as soon as he turned 18; right out of high school.

Since 1988 our family has committed to providing quality towing services to the greater Seattle area, and we will continue serving our customers with the same values that Mark and Brian worked hard to establish.

Ron Storer, Mark’s brother, along with his family created a slide show as a tribute to Mark and Brian. It contains photographs from throughout their lives. Many thanks to Ron, Denise, & Jenny for putting together this excellent video for the memorial service.

Supporting the Next Generation

Airport Towing is moving forward amidst the tragic loss of two family members in a recent plane crash. For 20 years, our company has been committed to excellence and quality service and promises to retain such goals in an effort to honor the memory of our dedicated founder and his son, Mark and Brian Storer. We will now focus on how we can better serve our customers, our employees, and the next generation of our family.

Burien and Airport Towing will continue to progress in the Seattle area. We remain committed to keeping the business within our family and would like to let our customers know that we aren’t going anywhere. As a well established, customer service oriented towing business celebrating our 20th Anniversary, we look forward to another 20 years. Many thanks to our loyal customers who have remained by our side during this difficult time.

Our committment to our reputation:

Airport Towing - Prompt, Courteous, Dependable.  Since 1988.

-photos by Ron Storer

The Memorial Fund to benefit the family of Brian Storer is at Sterling Savings Bank. Brian’s sons are ages 2 and 1.

Understanding Mark’s Flying Habits

Misconceptions about the crash:
There are some discrepancies as to what happened when Mark and Brian were on Lake Nahwatzel moments before the crash. Some witnesses stated they were inspecting the airplane before takeoff. Some say they made several attempts at taking off. Some have said that the motor was unusually loud, and one even said they were looking at the engine.

More information & facts about the crash:
Mark Storer, the pilot, always follows proper protocol when performing a water take off. When there is no wind, it is common procedure to run the plane up and down the lake to create a wake and allow the pontoons to lift out of the water more easily. Mark also performs a 360 degree circle before takeoff, so that he gets a visual of all boats and swimmers in the water for safety reasons. If there is any wind, every pilot knows it is most beneficial to position the plane so that it takes off into the wind. I have flown with Mark in his Cessna 185 many times and he always runs through his preflight checklist item by item before his assent. This particular motor has about 400 horse power and is louder than most Cessna engines. We have been given official word by the NTSB that the prop was not turning at the time of the crash, so it is possible that without warning or signs of a problem, the motor stalled or the prop failed shortly after takeoff. The coroner ruled the crash an accident and stated that Mark and Brian were killed on impact, not as a result of the fire which burned hot and fast because of the aviation fuel which is located in the wings.

We also know that Mark and Brian traveled to Lake Nahwatzel for fun. Mark likes to take his family on short trips around the Puget Sound area. He leaves from his hanger at Auburn, lands on a lake, picks a nice spot to sit and have lunch, turns off the motor, and we usually sit on the pontoons and talk until we decide to leave. Mark has a crossover wire toward the front of the plane so that we can walk back and forth between the pontoons. I always grab the prop when I am crossing over as to avoid falling in the lake, and it could easily appear to onlookers as though I am looking at the engine, when I am not actually doing so. Everything Mark and Brian did before the crash was normal and there was never any indication of a problem with the aircraft.

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