I first came to know about Don when Ed Parks of The Fiero Factory told me about him. He said there was no need to travel from East Georgia all the way to Huntsville for minor Fiero work because we had one of the best Fiero mechanics right here in the Atlanta area. Namely, Don Hulse.
I had purchased my first Fiero in '93 and soon found it was in need of a clutch replacement. A local garage replaced it and within 80 miles the transmission came apart due to their putting 80 w 90 weight gear oil into it. Later at a Fiero Factory Swap Meet was when I was told about Don. The next clutch job went to him, and little did I know at the time that he'd never done a clutch replacement. He often told me that other than routine maintenance of his own, he cut his teeth on dropping a cradle and engine by using my Fiero as a guinea pig. He performed the task with the skill of a master surgeon. Just recently he went through the suspension of one of my cars. While he was working on it, he told me that he cut his teeth on my Fiero and he was ending his career with my Fiero. I am truly honored and blessed.
Even though it was a 150 mile round trip for me, I frequently took my cars to him. In part because his prices on parts and labor were unbeatable, but most of all because of his knowledge and love for the car. Don could tell you just about anything about the Fiero, right down to where you would find screws that were used nowhere else on the car, and the specs of those screws. When the car came back, everything was in place as it should have been from the dealer, even if it was something that he wasn't working on. He would often clean areas of the car that was nowhere near the area he was working, just to make the car look better. If Don only did what you had asked him to do, you always left with more than what you paid for, but he always gave you more beyond what you were expecting.
Don also loved his Karaoke. As the saying goes, "You can't judge a book by looking at it's cover." This might have been originated in describing Don. You would never expect to hear the wonderful sounds coming form him when he got on stage. A great voice. One that he exercised anytime he had the chance. He eventually expanded his theatre from the karaoke stage to the church choir and was very passionate about that role.
Don has battled various illnesses for about as long as I've known him. Unless he told you, you would never know it. He was always upbeat, seizing upon a simple word in something you said and cracking a joke about it. Never did he groan and complain about his health issues. Even when he confided, he didn't complain. I remember when he was returning from a doctors visit and learning of the eventual outcome. He called me to tell me that the news wasn't good, but he wasn't worried. He said he had made his peace with his Savior and he was going to spend the rest of his time doing what he liked to do. Spending time enjoying his Fiero Club, his Fiero, his Friends and his Family.
The Georgia Fiero Club participated in the Dublin, Ga. St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 21. For Don and his son, this would prove to be a day that would start at 5am and end around 9pm. Even though Don had already been told that he needed to go into hospice care, he declined. He said that he wanted to do one last event with his club, and spend his birthday and wedding anniversary with his family. He accomplished what he wanted to do.
Don, we will miss you but never forget you.
I would like to do a special farewell salute to Don at the time of his passing. If anyone would like to participate with their Fiero, please contact me through our club email at GeorgiaFieroClub "at" Gmail.Com
