Prove It.Prove It.™™

Forensic ResearchForensic Research

Resolving controversy Resolving controversy affecting the reputation of a collector affecting the reputation of a collector

car.car.

David BurroughsDavid Burroughs David@BloomingtonGold.comDavid@BloomingtonGold.com

309 261-0992309 261-0992

Prove It.Prove It.

A research team A research team that determines if that determines if claims or rumors claims or rumors about a vehicle are about a vehicle are true, false, or true, false, or inconclusive.inconclusive.

David Burroughs David Burroughs (Moderator)(Moderator)

Frank Pope Frank Pope (Sr. (Sr. Investigator)Investigator)

Subject Matter Subject Matter WitnessesWitnesses

20+ Analysts 20+ Analysts AvailableAvailable

No single authorityNo single authority

Typical Cases Are Typical Cases Are High Risk/High RewardHigh Risk/High Reward

Not pre-purchase inspectionsNot pre-purchase inspections Not verifying engine stamps or trim tagsNot verifying engine stamps or trim tags Not replacing individual subject expertsNot replacing individual subject experts Not replacing judging organizationsNot replacing judging organizations Not limited to Corvettes Not limited to Corvettes Typically more complex Typically more complex Needing significant credibility Needing significant credibility

Examples of ClaimsExamples of Claims

““This is the actual race car that won XYZ race.”This is the actual race car that won XYZ race.”““No; it’s a fake that looks like that car.”No; it’s a fake that looks like that car.”

““I have the last XYZ produced.” I have the last XYZ produced.” ““No, you don’t. I do.”No, you don’t. I do.”

““Celebrity XYZ owned this car.” Celebrity XYZ owned this car.” ““No, he didn’t. He owned the twin to it.”No, he didn’t. He owned the twin to it.”

““This is what remains of the 6This is what remains of the 6thth Grand Sport.” Grand Sport.”““Impossible. There were only 5 built.”Impossible. There were only 5 built.”

Actual CasesActual Cases

1963 Mickey 1963 Mickey Thompson Thompson Bonneville Z06Bonneville Z06

Determined Determined not not to to be the Bonneville carbe the Bonneville car

Determined to be Determined to be Thompson’s driverThompson’s driver

Hinged largely on Hinged largely on

Historic photographyHistoric photography

& Expert witnesses& Expert witnesses

NASCAR Shock AbsorbersNASCAR Shock Absorbers

No Evidence of Shock No Evidence of Shock InstallationInstallation

Actual CasesActual Cases

1961 Gulf 1961 Gulf SCCA SCCA ChampChamp

Rumored to be a “fake”Rumored to be a “fake”

ConclusionConclusionConfirmed the 1961ChampConfirmed the 1961Champ

Hinged on—Hinged on— HHistoric photography istoric photography Pre-restoration photosPre-restoration photos HigHighly credible witnesseshly credible witnesses

VIN LinkageVIN Linkage

Screw Ghosts VisibleScrew Ghosts Visible

How It WorksHow It Works

Someone has a “claim” to proveSomeone has a “claim” to prove Client meeting to explain—Client meeting to explain—

o We don’t “fight for” clientWe don’t “fight for” cliento Findings may be negativeFindings may be negativeo Determine strength of evidenceDetermine strength of evidenceo If weakly supported, case is declinedIf weakly supported, case is declinedo If appears possible, discovery is begunIf appears possible, discovery is begun

Discovery PhaseDiscovery Phase What exactly is the owner’s claim?What exactly is the owner’s claim? Review owner evidence, testimony, Review owner evidence, testimony,

witnesses, photographs, and relevant facts witnesses, photographs, and relevant facts to to supportsupport it. it.

Collect adverse witness evidence Collect adverse witness evidence againstagainst it.it.

Develop plan how to confirm, reject, or Develop plan how to confirm, reject, or expand the evidence presented.expand the evidence presented. Who to interview?Who to interview? What other witnesses suggest themselves?What other witnesses suggest themselves? Is there any “silver bullet” evidence?Is there any “silver bullet” evidence?

Investigation PhaseInvestigation Phase Interview witnesses on Interview witnesses on both sidesboth sides to determine to determine

theories, next questions, contradictions, patterns, exceptions, theories, next questions, contradictions, patterns, exceptions,

“ “monkey wrenches” in the logic train. (e.g. 1monkey wrenches” in the logic train. (e.g. 1stst or 2 or 2ndnd issue Monroney) issue Monroney)

Remove irrelevant findings to narrow the scopeRemove irrelevant findings to narrow the scope Conduct forensic lab tests on paperwork if requiredConduct forensic lab tests on paperwork if required Sort the issues dividing the client & adverse witnessSort the issues dividing the client & adverse witness Define the one thing that would convince everyoneDefine the one thing that would convince everyone Determine if there is any way to get that “one thing”Determine if there is any way to get that “one thing”

Initial ReportInitial Report

Written summary of findings, Written summary of findings, implications, and initial conclusionsimplications, and initial conclusions

Distributed to client and all Distributed to client and all witnesses to confirm accuracy and witnesses to confirm accuracy and avoid gaps of testimonyavoid gaps of testimony

Errors will be corrected and any Errors will be corrected and any open issues re-visitedopen issues re-visited

Conclusions are Rated by Conclusions are Rated by StrengthStrength

(Not just ‘yes’ or ‘no’.)(Not just ‘yes’ or ‘no’.)

DefinitiveDefinitive Unequivocal certaintyUnequivocal certainty

Highly Probable Highly Probable Virtually certain but with Virtually certain but with limiting factorlimiting factor

ProbableProbable Strong evidence to Strong evidence to supportsupport

IndicationsIndications There is some evidence to There is some evidence to supportsupport

InconclusiveInconclusive IndeterminateIndeterminate

Final DraftFinal Draft Initial Report is updated to reflect any Initial Report is updated to reflect any

corrections resulting from the initial review of corrections resulting from the initial review of client and witnesses.client and witnesses.

Final Draft distributed to 3-5 analysts selected Final Draft distributed to 3-5 analysts selected from pool to review, comment, and concur or from pool to review, comment, and concur or not.not. 20+ professional critical thinkers available 20+ professional critical thinkers available

(attorneys, scientists, business persons, etc.)(attorneys, scientists, business persons, etc.) UnpaidUnpaid Unknown to client and other analysts on caseUnknown to client and other analysts on case Analysts submit their individual verdicts to the Analysts submit their individual verdicts to the

ModeratorModerator

Final ReportFinal Report

Final Draft is updated to Final ReportFinal Draft is updated to Final Report Restatement of the client claim is madeRestatement of the client claim is made Summary of evidence supporting Summary of evidence supporting

/rejecting the claim/rejecting the claim Statement of conclusions based on the Statement of conclusions based on the

evidenceevidence Level of Strength assigned the conclusionLevel of Strength assigned the conclusion Analyst Team concurrence now includedAnalyst Team concurrence now included Distributed to ClientDistributed to Client

Prove It.Prove It.™™

Forensic ResearchForensic Research

Resolving controversy Resolving controversy affecting the reputation of a affecting the reputation of a

collector car.collector car.