The LeSage family, creators of A Touch Too Much tribute AC/DC, offers a greatly needed service to Vancouver Island residents.
Part of living on the West Coast is accepting the fact that road salt and natural salt air takes a toll on vehicles.
“More often than not once a car rusts out it is not worth the cost to repair, but as with anything there are exceptions,” Brandon said. “As a welder/fabricator it is my job to conduct the required repairs whether it’s in the body panels or frame itself, and it’s been my experience that unless the car in question is a classic or collectible for some reason, it’s just not cost effective.
“With the rising number of classics and collectible cars on Vancouver Island the LeSage’s feel there is a niche market in assisting owners with the inevitable need for rust repair. Although there are many body shops on the Island, most are not interested in dealing with rust issues as the jobs generally tie up the shop for longer periods of time. This only gets in the way of their mainstream business of collision repair.”
The LeSage family shares a different outlook on the rust repair business. Although they would rather leave it alone, they need some form of cash flow until any one of the many things they are working on come to fruition.
“It’s not that we are quitting the pursuit of our goals of creating our own custom designs, but without the required capital to move forward with our masterpieces, we are forced to find alternative ways to survive,” said Mur, the father. “As a resident of Vancouver Island, we are all in the same boat until the local economy picks back up.
“We have invested everything we have into setting the stage for what is yet to come. We are in discussion with two different TV producers about doing a show about us and we have some pretty wild concepts lined up for when it happens. It’s just a matter of time, and without an investor to carry us through the waiting period, we will do whatever it takes.”
Fortunately for the LeSage’s with their skills and their shop facility in Courtenay they are able to make the change in direction.
“We don’t intend to continue this once we go back to building World Class Customs,” said Warren, the youngest of three brothers. “As the finisher, it is my job to see to it that whatever we do looks as best it could, before it leaves our shop. If that means painting over Brandon’s rust repairs, so be it. It’s an honorable way of making a living and if you look around at many of the classic cars on this Island, it’s a service that is needed by more than just a few.”
Mitchel, the one in the family that does a bit of everything added: “Personally I don’t care either way, it’s all work, and if cutting cancer out of cars puts groceries on the table, then I’m in.
“Meeting with James Hetfield of Metallica and Brian Johnson of AC/DC to discuss our original designs was part of what inspired us to hang in through these tough times. As they both told us, we are merely in the starving artist stage of our careers and if we intend to succeed we have to stick with it.”
Warren added: “When men of their calibre take time out of their day to admire our work and further inspire us with positive praise, I for one listened. The original designs we have for the upcoming TV Series will blow most people away. Our AC/DC tribute was just the beginning.”
For more information visit xxxcustomrides.com. Like the LeSage family on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/triplexcustomrides.
