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.

2010 Calendars Are Here!

Back for a 5th straight year, the popular tow truck themed calendar has returned for 2010. Several new photos have been added to give the publication a new feel for the new year.

New features that have helped the 2010 product improve from last year include a 13th month layout and small reference calendars indicating days of the week for previous and upcoming months. The newly designed publication also features a new color scheme, additional holidays, and custom fonts to make it one-of-a-kind.

The greatest accomplishment for this year’s calendar is most likely the introduction of several new photos from around the Pacific Northwest. Ron Storer traveled around greater Seattle with Airport Towing to photograph the antique trucks in some of the most beautiful settings around. Featured neighborhoods include Fremont, Wallingford, Seattle waterfront, Belltown, Burien, Sodo, Seatac, Aurora, Boeing Field, Des Moines, and Mt. Rainier National Park. The scenes themselves are magnificently rich in character, ranging from Dick’s Drive-In to Safeco Field and The Fremont Bridge to The Old Spaghetti Factory.

The Airport Towing calendar is as much about character as it is about content. One new photo shows the 3 youngest members of the Airport Towing family playing in antique pedal cars at a local park in Burien. Two of the toy vehicles are tow trucks, one is a vintage aircraft; hence the new addition to Airport Towing’s calendar. “Airport” being one part of the photo and “Towing” obviously portrayed by the small tow truck peddlers.

Having so many rare and beautiful tow trucks displayed in the calendar was only made possible by the actions of Mark Storer, the founder and deceased CEO of Airport Towing. It was his ambition to build a reputable towing company from the ground up, and his passion for everything towing related (especially antiques) that gave him the drive to complete the restoration of a 1925 Ford Model TT tow truck. The completion of this masterpiece, with the help of mechanic Rocky Willis and his crew led to the addition of 12 other classic trucks, countless parts and accessories, and other memorabilia relating to the history of the towing industry. As a direct result of his efforts, we are able to enjoy one of the finest antique tow truck collections every year.

After Mark and his son Brian died last July, a memorial calendar was printed in their honor. It featured short stories and several memories of the two tow truck men. This year, Mark’s collection of classics and antiques are on front stage, but the father and son are both pictured somewhere in the calendar.

Mark can be seen driving with the top down across the Fremont Bridge in his 1928 Ford Model A Roadster and Brian is shown dressed up as Santa Claus in front of a 1935 Chevrolet. Mark always admitted the annual calendar had become one of his favorite new things each year. At Airport Towing, we plan to keep the tradition alive forever. Work has already begun on a new calendar for 2011.

For more information on the 2010 calendar, please visit our Calendar Page, listed in the Museum section of our site. Calendars can be requested directly through the main office at Airport Towing by calling 1-866-227-7770 or online.

2009 NW Tow Expo - Thumbs Up

If there seemed to be an unusually high number of tow trucks on I-5 last week, it was for a good reason. Tow trucks from all over the Northwest drove to Ferndale, Washington last weekend to participate in the Towing & Recovery Association of Washington’s 2009 Northwest Tow Truck Exposition, the association’s largest annual event.

From all corners of Washington, to the far reaches of Canada and Idaho tow trucks made the trek to the greater Bellingham area to participate in the unique social event. Washington state towing company’s were on hand representing Spokane, Seattle, Moses Lake, Everett, Nisqually, Wenatchee, Bellevue, and many other cities.

Tow trucks big and small found their way to the NW Tow Expo, hosted by TRAW, many vying to earn awards for top show truck, best working truck along with several other awards. Prizes for the show trucks were broken down into categories: Class A (Light Duty), Class B (Medium Duty), and Class C (Heavy Duty) tow trucks. Dick’s Towing of Everett, WA was one of the big winners of this year’s event. Several of the green and white trucks that were displayed earned awards and notoriety.

A 1929 Ford Model AA tow truck was displayed by Airport Towing. The truck was awarded second place in the Class A (Light Duty Tow Truck) Show N Shine category. The only antique truck on hand earned a parking spot at the center of the Expo and was an instant crowd favorite among spectators. “The 29″ was the result of a ground up restoration effort by the late Mark Storer (founder of Airport Towing), and his employees. The classic truck was originally used as a tow truck in South Dakota until Mark welcomed it into his collection by driving half way across the country to pick it up and tow it home.

As the tow show continued and truck operators from around the Pacific Northwest swapped stories with each other, a retired married couple shared a story telling of what they had just recently learned about tow trucks. Before the heavy trucks started rolling in, as crews were preparing to set up the tow expo one couple staying at the hotel & convention center said they received a note on the windshield of their oversized R.V. stating that they needed to move their vehicle out of the back parking lot or it would be towed. The pair typically travels all over the U.S.A. and has never experienced a threat that their house-on-wheels would actually be towed. The husband laughed and said, “What kind of a tow truck could they possible send to tow this thing?! They can’t be serious!” Minutes later as they were preparing to move to the other side of the hotel, tow trucks started pouring in. After they had gotten a look at the tow trucks on approach, the husband reverted his previous statement, confessing, “I had no idea they were serious! Look at those tow trucks! It could pick us up and dangle us around in the air!!” Many spectators who happened to be in the area were impressed with the display on hand from the towing operators.

One of the awards issued for Class C (heavy duty tow truck) was presented to Nisqually Towing, located in Olympia, Washington. Nisqually’s solid red 4 axle Peterbilt was a beautiful addition to the 2009 show. Another tow operator who brought their newly acquired heavy duty tow truck to display among local tow truck operators was Mac Towing of Redmond, WA. Mac’s new blue Peterbilt features large flames down both sides of the truck.

The trade show not only displayed tow trucks, but also featured vehicle and equipment suppliers with opportunities for them to present their best product to the towing industry. Tow truck operators are known for their heavy and frequent use of their machinery. They are constantly putting their trucks and tools to the test while working tirelessly in the field. As a result, most tow truck operators require the gear they purchase to be of the highest standard and utmost durability. From snow chains to trucks chassis; winch cables to tires, the men and women of the towing industry get a lot of use from their equipment and expect it to hold up in the worst conditions. With the introduction of the new Dodge Ram 5500, many tow truck operators are making the switch from Ford and Chevrolet due to durability and strength issues. Dodge began building the heavier trucks two years ago and will be picking up where GM is leaving off as they have announced they will no longer be building the Kodiak and Top Kick medium duty trucks as of this year.

The highest standards still apply to many of the towing companies that have been operating for several decades. Randy’s Towing of Wenatchee, Washington recently had Idaho Wrecker Sales build them a new medium duty tow truck that was on display in Ferndale. Although the economy is forcing all businesses to take a close look at their operating expenses, towing operators do not have the luxury of making cuts on their equipment purchases without serious repercussions. For those that plan on working their equipment hard every day in emergency situations and under poor conditions, ‘almost the right truck for the job’ is not good enough. With tow trucks, it is critical to have the right truck for the job and those who have been in the industry for any length of time realize that it is not worth making cuts when it comes to equipment purchases.

While much of TRAW’s 2009 NW Tow Expo was a chance for owners and sales staff to connect for purposes of doing business together, the show was equally about having fun. Families enjoyed spending their time at the show visiting with each other, eating together, showing off trucks, and even competing against each other in friendly competitions. Rouse’s Towing of Spokane, WA showed their one-of-a-kind Chevrolet SSR with detachable tow unit. It is likely the only SSR tow truck in the world.

As for competitions, Airport Towing General Manager Daryl Wilson completed the service call competition in just 30 seconds, taking first prize among competitors. The service call contest consisted of a series of field exercises that had to be completed for time. Operators were tasked with performing three types of service on a 2000 Mazda Protege, which required multiple steps to complete. The vehicle was completely locked and all compartments closed at the beginning of the competition. The objective was to unlock the vehicle using door entry tools, followed by opening the trunk to access the vehicle’s spare tire, lug wrench, and a floor jack. The tire and changing tools had to be placed by the driver within a boxed area near the front of the car. Finally, the driver had to access a jump box in the trunk, open the hood of the car, and connect it to the appropriate cables. Many drivers from around the Northwest accepted the challenge. Some failed to finish. Throughout the day Daryl’s name had been compared to several superheroes, earning him the reputation as a master of service calls among his peers. Despite an economic recession the 2009 NW Tow Expo was a huge success, earning more participation and boasting more fun than the previous year.

Happy 50th Des Moines!

Excitement stretched as far as the eye could see down Marine View Drive last weekend at the Des Moines Waterland Parade. The Seafair sanctioned event featured hundreds of participants including the Seafair Pirates, Keystone Cops, Mt. Rainier Ramblin Band, and vintage trucks from Airport Towing. The parade is one of several events around the Seattle area leading up to Seafair weekend August 1st & 2nd on Lake Washington.

Covering the event from the back of an Airport Towing flatbed tow truck was Scott Schaefer and the staff from The Waterland Blog. Airport Towing has volunteered to use their flatbeds as parade floats in multiple parades this year, including The Burien 4th of July Parade. On Independence Day 2009 Airport Towing carried The B-Town Blog & it’s crew, along with the B-Town Blogmobile (which looks surprisingly similar to the Waterland Blogmobile) through the parade.

The 2009 Waterland Parade became a reality thanks to the hard work of Anna Bjorneby of Bjornebys Auto Rebuild and many other volunteers. Bjornebys featured their classic Chevrolet pick up truck towing a birthday cake for the city of Des Moines. More photos from the Des Moines Waterland Parade are available thanks to Des Moines City Councilmember Carmen Scott.

Airport Towing’s General Manager Daryl Wilson cruised Marine View Drive Saturday in a crowd favorite, 1935 Ford tow truck nicknamed “The Flame”. Daryl’s truck carried photos of the late Mark Storer and Brian Storer to honor their contributions to the Waterland community. Brian was a resident home owner of Des Moines. Mark lived in South King County his entire life. The family business has been offering quality and affordable towing services to the area since 1988.

Although some of the parade participants were too young to drive in the parade, they enjoyed soaking up plenty of warm sun along the route while smiling and waving to the crowd. Three different generations were represented as passengers and drivers within Airport Towing’s line of trucks. The small children were full of curiosity and affection toward the crowd, which made them a crowd-pleaser from start to finish. Airport Towing’s trucks represented in the parade included a 1925 Ford Model TT tow truck, a 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup Truck, a 1935 Ford tow truck, a 1933 Ford tow truck, a Mitsubishi flatbed truck towing the Waterland Blog, and a heavy duty Peterbilt tow truck. All Airport Towing drivers and participants volunteered their time to support the  2009 Des Moines Waterland Parade & 50th Birthday Celebration.

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.

Museum Update: 1935 Chevrolet Tow Truck

Type: 1 ½ ton towtruck

Nickname: “The Chev”

Color: Blue

Photo: The character in our “Santa Clause” photo is Brian Storer. He was a faithful employee of Burien Towing his entire life, as he was raised in the family business. Brian owned his own Santa Suit and enjoyed posing for this photo to add a Christmas photo to our company calendar. Brian died July 24th, 2008 in an airplane accident. His animated and jolly character is forever remembered at Burien Towing.

Specifications: 6 Cylinder, 3 speed transmission, hydraulic brakes

Tow Unit: Manley Wrecker #107 Crane with Auxiliary Winch

Biography: Originally purchased in 1935 by Benson Chevrolet in Franklin, Hew Hampshire (America’s oldest Chevrolet dealer) the cab and chassis were fitted with a dump bed and sold. One year later, the customer decided he wanted the new 1936 Chevrolet that came with hydraulic brakes as opposed to the mechanical brakes on the 1935. He headed back to the dealership and traded it in. Upon returning to Benson Chevrolet, the dump bed was removed from the truck and it was replaced with a Manley Wrecker unit, making it into a tow truck. It was then used for towing until it retired and went into storage in the 1970’s.

Restoration: Burien Towing found the truck in Maine and purchased it in working condition from a classic car dealer in 1999 to add to its rapidly expanding collection of antique tow trucks. As soon as the truck arrived in Burien it was obvious that the wood deck on the truck needed some work so it was placed in the Burien Towing warehouse to begin restoration. Only minimal restoration was required as the cab and chassis were purchased in good condition.

To bring it up to show quality the tow unit was removed and the bed was dismantled. The lumber was refinished by Burien Towing employees. After the truck was reassembled, custom gold leaf lettering was added to the doors by Dunn Auto Graphics. An original 1935 Washington truck lisence plate was also purchased and restored to look new. Finally, a Weaver Auto Ambulance was added to the bed of the truck just as it may have been used in the era the Chev was operating. The auto amubulance is a dolly system that is placed under the axle of the truck in tow to lift the wheels off the ground. Since the truck was completed, Burien Towing has taken it to several local parades and car shows, including the Burien 4th of July Parade among others.

To view the full version of this page go to our Museum Page and click on 1935 Chevrolet. This is the first museum page to be completed. More updates to our other antique tow truck pages are coming soon!

Hot Rod Season Has Arrived

We are finally starting to see some sunlight in Seattle, which means it’s time to get our hot rod’s outside and around town for some much needed fresh air and warm pavement. After a long and stormy winter we were finally able to open the warehouse door this month and roll out two of our most noticeable classic tow trucks. This pair of trucks that we sent to participate in the weekly car show at Bernie & Boys Market earned plenty of attention from onlookers and collectors alike thanks to their unique body design and custom graphics. Our 1933 Ford truck is a unique orange truck on a lowered chassis with chrome accents and powered by a 383 Stroker. The other truck we displayed is our purple 1935 Ford tow truck with custom hand painted flames, a Holmes wrecker unit, and a 305 small block V8 motor.

Classy Chassis Car Club of Burien is hosting the event every Saturday night from April until October. The car show is open from 4pm - 8pm to all car lovers/spectators and for those of you lucky enough to own our own classic car, custom hot rod, or any other type of show car we would like you to bring it by and be part of the display. There is no entry fee for cars or spectators; just an open parking lot where you won’t get towed for parking your pride and joy for a few hours. The event was formerly held at the Burien Fred Meyer parking lot on Wednesday night, but has now found a home just a few miles north (still on 1st Ave) in Top Hat.

Local grocers Joe and Tom Salle are the owners of Bernie & Boys Market (Home of the Live Butcher) and have always been heavily involved in local community events. They have invited Evergreen High School’s Booster Club to the event who will be on hand to provide food and drinks each night at a reasonable price as they work to raise money for their sports program.

Airport Towing will make an appearance with one or more of our classic trucks as much as possible this summer. Our founder Mark Storer created one of the largest and most unique classic tow truck collections in the world and in his memory we are planning on getting the tow trucks outside this summer for everyone to enjoy. Come join us for great food, music, and beautiful custom cars at the Classy Chassis Car Club of Burien Saturday Night Cruise-Ins. For information on the weekly show stop by Saturdays or call Bob at 206-935-2113 or Joe at 206-248-1916.

Classy Chassis will also be hosting their annual Snow-N-Shine at Bernie & Boys Market Saturday, July 25th. This is an all day event that costs only $15 to enter. All proceeds go to Child Haven of Burien. Call Bob at 206-935-2113 or Arthea at 206-762-3159 for more information.

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.

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