I think it's time the GP thing stopped. Lets just say most of that crap was my fault. In all that BS and flagrant accusations, I overlooked one critical factor that I think would probably point to the very fact that Jer designed them. At the time I met Jer, I beleive he was having those pistons made locally, in fact he brought me by the shop that was making them one morning to check something out, but nobody was home at that hour. If GP had designed and was making those pistons it is highly likely that Rob would have had a CNC shop local to him doing it. Nothing was ever stolen by Jer from GP. The stuff was shared then, no longer is and Jer has made some improvements to his that I think were very beneficial. AND...if Rob did design them then maybe he should be getting the heat from PA about it?????
I spent some time involved with both outfits. Several factors surfaced during my time connected with GP that led me to decide I had obviously made a mistake in that circumstance. I'm not going to disclose this information publicly, as I have no real wish to be at odds with Rob. Things are quiet between us and unless somebody starts slinging mud they will forevermore stay that way. The whole ordeal there was just a mistake for me, and possibly for Rob as well. However, I walked away from there, and I have heard rumors that people were being told I was dropped. Highly untrue, I left on what I thought was somewhat respectable terms with him. At one point, realizing the differences between these two guys may have been my fault, I made an attempt to get them to reconcile. The only positive I received on that attempt was from Mr Wilkey. To me that showed some class. I actually got Jer to agree to call Rob and make an attempt to work things out. Rob declined, would not return the call. That was his choice, so for those wanting to continue to drag Jer through the mud about this crap, better hook up another leash in my opinion. Through that though I was able to realign freindship with Jer so something good did come of it all for me. I realized my mistake, spoke with him on civil terms and over time we began to get along again. I'm sure that should Rob or Gary wish to do so the same thing might happen. But thats pretty much up to them.
In many conversations with Jer years ago, It is obvious to me now where his idea came from with his designs. Simply looking at all approaches being used, he chose to experiment with smaller ports than PA was using on their POS unanodized shock piston. He incorporated a pocket. I'll dare anybody to design a piston at this moment that will not in some way resemble something currently available, even 10 years ago you might have had a challenge there. It's pretty safe to say that there is not much you can do with a shock piston that has not already been done. Jer latched onto Simons attributable approach of orificing, expanded the sizes a little bit for safety margin, used a 4 point system which theoretically can distribute load better than a 3 point design. I still have one of his earliest designs in my possession, and yeah, it could actually resemble a PA design, but it was also very different. There was far more thought involved in it, it was better designed and the quality was definitely better.
Stolen, borrowed, shared whatever...it don't matter because to the best of my knowledge you cannot patent a shock piston. Quay didn't "invent" squat, in terms of shock piston design, nor did Rob, Jer or anybody else. Noleen had incorporated the collar into their fork pistons before. And I'm not entirely sure on this but I beleive the Noleen design was taken from or bought from Simons.
What this is all about is what "concept" you choose to endorse. RT endorses a HUGE port design, Jer endorses a smaller port approach. Meada and Hendrickson and many others have excellent results with stock designs.
As a person, it is no secret that Jer and I had some disagreements between us, the GP thing withstanding. However I think both of us have realized that friends are better than enemies. I respect this guys work ethic and what he stands for. He demands quality work of his associates, and because of this he made me more aware of the need for attention to detail. That has stuck with me from the first day we met. Because of that, my work is now more detailed and exact. Mistakes happen to all of us, things break, come apart etc. Nobody is perfect, but these demands create a better quality approach.
I don't know much about the circumstances between Jer and Quay but I do know that he told me several years ago in converstion that he was threatened by him. This came up WAY before any of this other crap so I certainly have no reason to doubt it. And that...is not cool GQ in my opinion.