Jerry Sezar Kustom Rods Tragedy!!!!

I want to thank everyone for their concern..............

Except for any idiots who are too ignorant to make any comments on things they know nothing about. It just goes to show there are a lot of dumb uncomp***ionate people out there. If you don't care, don't comment. Where's the respect?

For all of those truely concerned I would like to back track on the actual event that took place as well as his condition to date:

Mid day Friday 9/9/05 in the midst of getting ready for Jerry's 3rd Annual Open House at the Shop we were all in motion to make the event a success. I was headed down to Santa Cruz to pick up T shirts and there were a bunch of guys getting off work early to come and help out at the shop.

Jerry ask Brandon to ***ist him with cutting the springs on the '52 Buick so it looked Cool for the Open house, it would take maybe 15 minutes to do. Brandon jacked up the car and Jerry got the torch and got under the car.

It was sparking pretty good so Brandon had his head turned while Jerry was cutting...............Then all of the sudden there was a fire ball of an explosion, fire seemed everywhere. Brandon realized he was on fire and was trying to put it out. There was an eerie silence and then blood curdling screaming broke the silence.JERRY!!!!!Brandon struggled to get Jerry out as he was stuck. Thank God Brandon was there.........He got him out and Jerry collapsed on the concrete outside the shop. Jerry yelled fire extinguisher, desperately Brandon ran instead for the hose and started hosing Dad off. He said it was really horrific with Jerry's skin coming off and all. Brandon called 911, and ofcourse they dind't know where Knightsen was, he said they actually put him on hold for like 15 seconds before they got back on the line. Meanwhile he asked Jerry what he could do and if you know my Dad at all you'd think this was true to form.." Can you get me my coffee?" The coffee didn't taste so great so Brandon got him juice as they waited for Help to arrive. Being a Vietnam Vet (98 ambushes/over 116 night patrols) he did not want to be Hellivact from the scene....the EMT explaine it would take too long to get him the medical attention he needed any other way.

All ready an hour away I was hussling to get to the shopo/hospital/home??? I was a mess desperately calling my mom, Brian, Mark HELP!! With gas prices sky rocketing I made my mom's toyota 4 runner push 95 mph. Running through my mind all concievable thoughts of desperation Just get there.

Dad wanted to see my mom before the helicopter took off..........all he could muster to say was "I'm Sorry...I'm Sorry..." All my mom could see of my dad's charred face was the whites of his eyes and those beautiful blues.

He has suffered burns to the face, neck and arms from the elbows to his finger tips, and believe it or not once healed he will have full range of motion. It may take a while for full recovery as it does on all burn victims but I anticpate this Marine to fight like no other to get back to doing what he loves, building cars and motivating other people to do the same.

The shop will continue to stay up and running as Jerry would want that. I have all ready spoke to the guys on projects at the shop, to make rapid steady progress so Jerry knows that in even the worst of times the job still gets done.

My love respect and admiration goes out to Brandon who was brave enough to not only save himself but my father too. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brandon suffered burns to his shins, ankles and right arm and should be back in action in just a few weeks. The nurses at the hospital think he's nuts for wanting to continue building Hot Rods. Brandon explained it's all he's ever wanted to do.

For true hot rodders it is a need that runs through our blood and to be without 'em would be a real tragedy. We'll all get through this because we have the will to build great nasty *** American Hot Rods!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steph

 

Thanks Steph,

I appreciate the update.

Sorry, Speedy recovery and my families thoughts and prayers to you and yours.



swdobbs...

 

Thank you for the full story that first post was very confusing.What hospital is he in and are they alowing visitors.Thanks Scott

 

Steph, thank you for giving the details of what happened. I truly hope your dad recovers soon. Thumbs up to Brandon too.

 

Never met him but his work and reputation speaks to me. He is responsible for some very radical stuff I have had the pleasure to see.

My thoughts are going your way today.

 

All hope and prayers for a full recovery.

 

That's horrible. I really hope he gets well soon.

 

Jerry is doing a really cool thing at his shop, helping people build their own hot rods. I know he'd have been at Billetproof if this hadn't happened. Good luck Jerry!

 

For anyone willing to take their time to come to our shop, and sign a "GET WELL" card already in progress, Jerry Sezar Hotrods will be open before/During/after Billetproof,(SATURDAY 9-17-05, 7 AM - SUNDOWN) the grill will be on, and left overs from our open house will be avaliable!

Thanks for everyones concern!!

But dont worry, Jerry will be back in full force SOON!!!, with the JSE crew filling in while he is away,

THE HOTRODS WILL CONTINUE, THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT???

 

BTW, thats @ 3060 Knightsen ave, Knightsen. on the corner of Delta Road and Knightsen Ave.

 

Thanks!! from all of us @ JSE!! its Much appreciated!
However, i will be at the shop all day. wont beable to make it.
Swing the card by the shop afterwards,
and ill get his daughter to put it in his room!

Just remember everyone, bein a gearhead is fulfilling,
But, **** happens even to the best.

 

deleted cause I am trying to be nice...

 

BLAZEN7- SORRY FOR THE FIRST POST BEING CONFUSING. THANKS STEPH. FOR TELLING EVERYONE WHAT HAD HAPPEN TO JERRY AND BRANDON. BLAZEN7 ( ANGEL , ARMANDO , RICH ) TALK TO STEPH AT THE SHOP TODAY. MY BROTHER ANGEL IS DRAWING A POSTER THAT WE BE SELLING TO HELP JERRYS SHOP AND HIS FAMILY.

THANKS , BLAZEN7
WWW.BLAZEN7.COM

 

Wow that really blows. I met Jerry on the way to Viva last year. We kept jockeying back and forth on the freeway and then talked in a McDonalds parking lot. He seemed like a real stand up guy. Hope he and Brandon have speedy recoveries.

RRR

 

I hope I don't catch flak for this but I can't help wondering what safety issues were overlooked for an experienced old rodder to blow himself up. there has to be something here that is a warning to us all. Some warning that could prevent another person from finding himself on fire.

 

Hope he does well! Man, he is one lucky fella to be in a recoverable state after that!
Fire is one bad MF...
HAMB award to the guy who braved the flames to pull him out. Friendship is an incredible thing.

and in the interest of friendship...
Lets ease back on Spike fellas. He made a mistake and I'm sure he realizes it now.
Lets face it...we've ALL stuck our foot in our mouth before and it isn't good for any of the partys involved. He's aware now, and I can't honestly throw stones at him for having an error in judgement.
I've done it and so have you...

forgive and forget.

 

Agreed. Let's just focus here on our concerns for these guys health and recovery. The next error might be yours or mine.

 

To say that I made a mistake was an understatement. I read way too fast, missing the real content of the post. and before thinking like an adult, I acted. My original intention wasn't to be harsh, but it reads that way. stepping back, I realize what it would have been like if it were me that were injured and one of my buddies posted. I think I would have missed out on what a great place the HAMB is. I honestly thought it was another SPAM post, but I never really read far enough to determine that. turns out this guy is a hot rodder I probably would like myself. I'm glad there were people out there who called me on it. I know of a few that just wait for me to post something stupid, and thats fine because thier points were valid in this case.

as far as "eliteism" goes. I only have 2000 posts in four years. Thats not really alot. but even still it means nothing. There are plenty of people who are true hot rodders that don't have computers, let alone are members here. Numbers mean nothing. Judging people by thier post count is stupid as well.

At any rate, I would like to appologize to any and all who read this.

Spike

 

QUOTE=willowbilly3]I hope I don't catch flak for this but I can't help wondering what safety issues were overlooked for an experienced old rodder to blow himself up. there has to be something here that is a warning to us all. Some warning that could prevent another person from finding himself on fire.[/QUOTE]


ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!.....................LET US ALL THINK ABOUT THE LAST TIME WE CONCIOUSLY GROUNDED OURSELVES BEFORE TOUCHING THE GAS PUMP HOSE?..........ONLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GET TORCHED A YEAR BY SUCH A SIMPLE ACT OF NOT THINKING, NOT READING, AND NOT PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO THE WARNING LABLES. GO FIGURE.

NO FLAK

 

It takes a real man to apolagize for his actions, right or wrong. We all make mistakes,,part of human nature and I say thank you for it...I also hope Jerry has a full recovery, he sounds like a cool guy

 

I remember seeing that car at the kings car show before I left CA last year. Very cool guy. I hope he recovers ok. He will be in my prayers.

speedy

 

Always hate to hear news like this. Best wishes to him and all his friend and loved ones. Hope he recovers soon.

 

When was this "open house" supposed to be? I just heard it was going to be the same day as Biletproof? Is that true os BS?

 

Ahhh...it was the Reject Run thing that I heard about. I'll keep my opinion to myself.

 

The Open House at the Shop was Saturday September 10th, 10am-4pm............A Big THANK YOU!! goes out to all of the supporters of purist hot rodding at it's best as always it was a no fee event including food drink and entertainment. (FYI-It is not an invitation only event)

...The shop is going to be open on Saturday September 17th for a "Reject Run", where we will be welcoming any cars that do not qualify for Billetproof. It is a Bring your own food and beer situation with BBQ grills ready and music playing......basically, it's a BS session where hot rodders can congregate in an undiscrimminating environment no matter what the ride.

.....As you know, technically under the rules of Billetproof not all of Jerry's hot rods qualify. I think the only one that would fly under a "traditional" hot rod category would be his '55 Merc in which case not much has been done to it except primer, pipes, and new upholstery, all of the rest of his cars have some type of modification or issue that makes them not compliant with Billetproof.

The same goes for the majority of his customers cars. We have built and modified hot rods for thousands of people and only a hand full, want cars specialty built for specific car shows in mind.

In the grand scheme of things, Points and **** in my opinion are CANDY *** anyway!...WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING HOT RODS BUILD IT THE WAY YOU LIKE NOT THE WAY SOMEONE ELSE LIKES.... WHAT IS THIS GRADE SCHOOL?....FOLLOWING THE LEADER...........
We have to ask ourselves do we really want to make hot rodding a cookie cutter event........boring!

No disrespect to Billetproof........I really like the cars at Billetproof and will miss going this year, ........Jerry just didn't want other people whose cars may not qualify for the show to feel left out...........It's hot rodding after all......and back in the day....... breaking all the rules is what hot rodding was all about!!!!!!!!!!

RHRASNF-Just keeping it real

Steph

 

I'm keeping it zipped out of respect for a guy who's doing great stuff for the hot rod hobby.