News
Papa John finds long-lost Camaro
August 24, 2009
Papa John's founder John Schnatter has found his beloved 1971 Z28 Camaro he sold more than 25 years ago to help his dad's tavern stay afloat and ultimately launch Papa John's.
Schnatter initially offered a $25,000 "finder's fee" to the person who could produce the title to his long-lost Camaro, and later offered $250,000 to whomever could produce the title and transfer the car. The search was chronicled online atwww.papasroadtrip.com.
The car was owned by Jeff Robinson from nearby Flatwoods, Ky., and is being delivered today to Schnatter in Louisville, Ky.
"What a complete shock to know that the car in my garage was partly to thank for starting a company like Papa John's. When I realized this was Papa John's Camaro, I immediately wanted to get him his car back," Robinson said in a news release. He has owned the car since 2004 and modified it slightly for various races and car shows.
The company also has extended a $25,000 reward offer to the family who originally bought the car from Schnatter in 1983, in appreciation for their help in linking the contest winner with Papa John's.
The long journey home
Robinson had previously heard about the contest from a friend in Cincinnati and he learned last week that he in fact might have Schnatter's car. The family who originally purchased the car heard about the contest while watching an interview with Schnatter during the Washington-Baltimore preseason football game Aug. 13 and began searching for details online. They were ultimately directed to Matt Hardigree, associate editor of Jalopnik.com, a Web site devoted to daily news and gossip for those obsessed with the cult of cars. Hardigree, who met Schnatter during his Road Trip stop in Houston in May, investigated the details himself, then contacted Papa John's with the lead.
"Papa John's story was an immediate hit with our readers, who flooded the site with clues and tips on how to find the Camaro," Hardigree said. "Everyone on our site loves cars and felt empathy for John, who traded one dream for another."
Schnatter also has extended $25,000 to the Jalopnik reader who originated the lead.
The company spent last week confirming the authenticity of the Camaro, including verifying title with the Kentucky Division of Motor Vehicles, pulling ownership records, and finally tracing the "out of state transfer" back to the state of Indiana where records indicated the car's previous owner as Robert Schnatter, John's father.
After the final step of traveling to Flatwoods, Ky., to inspect the car and confirm the VIN, Papa John's arranged for Robinson to deliver the car to Schnatter at Papa John's headquarters in Louisville, in exchange for the promised $250,000.
"The Camaro represents what I gave up to start Papa John's," Schnatter said. "Words cannot capture the emotions I am feeling in getting back that part of my history. I didn't have much back then, but for my business dreams to come true, I had to part with the one true asset I had to my name, and even then, there were no promises of success.
"The foundation of Papa John's was built on my decision to sell the Camaro, and while it may not appear to be a huge sacrifice to some, it represents my roots in this business."
In celebration of Schnatter finding his Camaro, Papa John's will offer a free large, one-topping pizza Aug. 26 to Camaro owners. To redeem, Camaro owners must arrive at their nearby Papa John's restaurant in their Camaro to order and pick up their free pizza. Limit one pizza per Camaro, and one visit per Camaro.
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