I believe that SAAC and MCA working together for the 40th was at the reques= t of Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company was the major sponsor of the ev= ent.=20 Ford keeps making new Mustangs every year. That being the case, the MCA has= new and young owners coming in to the club all the time. People with new M= ustangs are a lot more interested in trying out an open track event in thei= r cars as opposed to people with 30-40 year old cars. (Unless the car is se= t-up as a race car or open track car.) The demographics of the MCA can chan= ge, evolve and =93grow=94 over the years in the ways that the SAAC national= is not able to. "For the most part" the national SAAC is focused on the vehicles built by S= helby American from 1964-1970. Unless you count the new Ford GT and the up = coming 2007 Shelby GT500, SAAC won't be adding lots of new people and their= cars very soon. If it weren't for the popularity of vintage racing wouldn'= t one have to consider the national SAAC an "antique" car club? How does th= e national SAAC recognize the Shelby Series 1 cars and all these other pseu= do Shelbys being built? How do the regular SAAC members feel about these ne= w pseudo Shelbys? Will the 1964-1970 faithful national SAAC members openly = accept recognition of these Series 1 Shelbys and pseudo Shelbys or will it = alienate them? =20 I don't think one has to necessarily rely on the SAAC national for a good t= rack event. There are a lot of local SAAC chapters and other brands of loca= l clubs that put on some great track events. I have been very impressed wit= h the SVTOA, (SVT Owners Association) and with all the track events they ha= ve been putting on. When the Mustang turns 50 lets see who does what for th= at celebration. I doubt there will be a need for a =93joint=94 SAAC and MCA= event in the future in my opinion. Any other opinions? Jim Seisser =20 -----Original Message----- From: A Lupton <ALUPTON@nc.rr.com> Sent: Jul 9, 2005 11:28 PM To: James G Cowles <shelbyparts@msn.com>, info@nvsaac.com,=20 =09ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com Subject: Re: SAAC 32 It would seem that SAAC and MCA could work together as they did at the 40th= =20 to get the best of both worlds. SAAC can obviously run an open track even= t=20 and MCA has the talent to organize and judge a car show. Personally it has= =20 been obvious that SAAC is about open track and that alone. It used to be= =20 better balanced with street cars passing tech to run at speed but from the= =20 looks of the roster at SAAC 30, it takes a full out team approach to=20 participate at a SAAC open track event. I regret that is the direction tha= t=20 has been taken since I personally appreciate all the cars from SA, even the= =20 race cars at rest. Right now my renewals for SAAC are done out of respect= =20 for the marque and not out of a lot of enthusiasm for the club. I find tha= t=20 MCA is much more balanced. Again, the SAAC/MCA co-host idea might keep th= e=20 faithful from straying.. m ----- Original Message -----=20 From: "James G Cowles" <shelbyparts@msn.com> To: <info@nvsaac.com>; <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 1:18 PM Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > SAAC has been very clear that they dont like car shows. The car show=20 > people have always been shoved aside for the race car group. I have=20 > donated the car show trophies the last few years trying to keep the=20 > concours going. If you get right down to it, the car show guys are trying= =20 > to keep their cars the way they were when new thus keeping the Marque=20 > preserved. I tried to do that with my Cobra and still race it once in=20 > awhile but now they want all this modern stuff for safety so i quit=20 > racing it > >>From: "NVSAAC" <info@nvsaac.com> >>To: <ShelbyMustang@CarMemories.com> >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 >>Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 14:56:45 -0700 >> >>Ron, >> >>I did see Charley Lillard's - 1965 GT350 # 76 - that did get a Gold award= .. >>Congrads to Jim Cowles for the restoration work on the car. >> >>It was out there at the popular vote on Sunday morning as well. >> >>So that is at least 2 concourse cars out there... >> >>Jim >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Ronald Robertson" <ronald.robertson@sympatico.ca> >>To: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net>; "Shelby Mustang" >><shelbymustang@carmemories.com> >>Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 8:05 AM >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 >> >> >> > Calvin: >> > Good comments about the scarcity of Shelbys on the track. But if >>eventually >> > SAAC events have no Shelbys on the track, where does that leave the=20 >> > SAAC >> > conventions, which are really a celebration for the "drive fast, turn >>left" >> > group? The concours show is not a self sustaining event and the last >>popular >> > vote show at Michigan saw about 12-15 brave souls who weathered the=20 >> > rain >> > show up. Ours was the only concours car, despite the "request" that AL= L >> > concours cars MUST appear so that participants and spectators to the >>popular >> > vote show could see them. >> > I understand California was different. Could that mean the death knoll >>for >> > SAAC conventions in the East? >> > Should be an interesting future if the trend continues. >> > Ron >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net> >> > To: "Shelby Mustang" <shelbymustang@carmemories.com> >> > Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 10:39 AM >> > Subject: Re: SAAC 32 >> > >> > >> > > On Thu, 7 Jul 2005, Ronald Robertson wrote: >> > > >> > >> The thread on where SAAC 32 should be has been very interesting. Bu= t >>if >> > >> anyone thinks they can influence Rick on where this will be held, >>they >> > >> should change their drinking water. In summarizing the comments so >>far, >> > >> it appears there are a variety of reasons why some tracks work and >>others >> > >> do not. >> > > [......] >> > >> 3. The lack of a host hotel near the track appears to be a smoke >>screen, >> > >> a non issue. Witness Lime Rock, Michigan, Nashville. All hotels wer= e >> > >> between 1 and 2 hour's drive from the track. >> > > >> > > I think SAAC 7 was the first one where the hotel was a distance from >>the >> > > Hotel. That was also the first east coast event with an open track.= =20 >> > > We >>ran >> > > at Pocono and the hotel was in Great Gorge, New Jersey. >> > > >> > >> 4. Something no one has mentioned is the population of Shelby owner= s >>in >> > >> the reasonable vicinity of the convention. Some areas of the Countr= y >>just >> > >> do not have enough Shelbys to make it worthwhile to have a=20 >> > >> convention >> > >> near them. >> > > >> > > Kopec occasionally has a "Regional Rep Rountable" at the SAAC's. At >>one >>of >> > > the early ones he discussed how they chose convention sites. He said >>the >> > > first thing they looked at was a map of members. Where they had high >> > > densities of memebers, and especially active members, you know the >>ones >> > > that were willing to do much of the work; those were possible >>convention >> > > sites. At a later convention Rep meeting he said that had become les= s >> > > important since most of the poeple comming to conventions were=20 >> > > flying, >> > > leaving their cars home. >> > > >> > >> 5. I wonder as the value of Shelbys goes up, if the desire to drive >>them >> > >> long distances will diminsh for fear of accidents, breakdowns etc. >>and >> > >> not everyone wants or is able to trailer their prize across Country= .. >> > > >> > > It has had a huge effect at the open track part of the event. Fewer >> > > vintage Shelbys out on the track, etc. and more late model Mustangs, >>etc. >> > > That is just how it is going to be. That is ok, in fact I think it i= s >> > > helathy, as long as we have some Shleby owners still out on the=20 >> > > track. >> > > >> > > Calvin >> > > http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcalvin767 >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >> > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE= !=20 > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > >=20 ________________________________________ PeoplePC Online A better way to Internet http://www.peoplepc.com
Well put, Jim. Personally, I'm more than somewhat concerned about SAAC and where it's headed. There is no doubt that, in the grand scheme of things, SAAC is a very small organization. They need money-making events to stay afloat , offer the membership the usual quarterly newsletter, one annual magazine and fund the "inner circle". They're obviously up-beat about the new GT500 because the potential numbers will add to the coffers. But what I'm more concerned about is the fact that it really is a closed corporation, a "good-old boys" network. Are they thinking about when Kopec, Pardee & Ebers are gone? Who's going to pick up the torch and carry on? Who's going to be capable to do so? As an aside, the MCA is not really that large an organization either. I doubt there's more than 20,000 members total. Considering the age of the club and the preponderance of Mustangs, they should have 100,000 members. Hell, BMW CCA has close to 80,000 members and their monthly magazine rivals R&T or Car & Driver. They put on more DE events across the country in one month than SAAC and MCA does in one year! All that w/o any Factory backing...They're a totally independent organization, formed back in the early '70's, just like MCA. But MCA is trying. They now have an active DE committee and, while their events aren't large by any degree of the imagination, they're catching on. I agree with you: By the time Mustang's 50th rolls around, MCA won't need SAAC. Regards, Stan ----- Original Message ----- From: "ecj" <ecj@peoplepc.com> To: <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 10:02 AM Subject: Re: SAAC 32 I believe that SAAC and MCA working together for the 40th was at the request of Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company was the major sponsor of the event. Ford keeps making new Mustangs every year. That being the case, the MCA has new and young owners coming in to the club all the time. People with new Mustangs are a lot more interested in trying out an open track event in their cars as opposed to people with 30-40 year old cars. (Unless the car is set-up as a race car or open track car.) The demographics of the MCA can change, evolve and "grow" over the years in the ways that the SAAC national is not able to. "For the most part" the national SAAC is focused on the vehicles built by Shelby American from 1964-1970. Unless you count the new Ford GT and the up coming 2007 Shelby GT500, SAAC won't be adding lots of new people and their cars very soon. If it weren't for the popularity of vintage racing wouldn't one have to consider the national SAAC an "antique" car club? How does the national SAAC recognize the Shelby Series 1 cars and all these other pseudo Shelbys being built? How do the regular SAAC members feel about these new pseudo Shelbys? Will the 1964-1970 faithful national SAAC members openly accept recognition of these Series 1 Shelbys and pseudo Shelbys or will it alienate them? I don't think one has to necessarily rely on the SAAC national for a good track event. There are a lot of local SAAC chapters and other brands of local clubs that put on some great track events. I have been very impressed with the SVTOA, (SVT Owners Association) and with all the track events they have been putting on. When the Mustang turns 50 lets see who does what for that celebration. I doubt there will be a need for a "joint" SAAC and MCA event in the future in my opinion. Any other opinions? Jim Seisser -----Original Message----- From: A Lupton <ALUPTON@nc.rr.com> Sent: Jul 9, 2005 11:28 PM To: James G Cowles <shelbyparts@msn.com>, info@nvsaac.com, ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com Subject: Re: SAAC 32 It would seem that SAAC and MCA could work together as they did at the 40th to get the best of both worlds. SAAC can obviously run an open track event and MCA has the talent to organize and judge a car show. Personally it has been obvious that SAAC is about open track and that alone. It used to be better balanced with street cars passing tech to run at speed but from the looks of the roster at SAAC 30, it takes a full out team approach to participate at a SAAC open track event. I regret that is the direction that has been taken since I personally appreciate all the cars from SA, even the race cars at rest. Right now my renewals for SAAC are done out of respect for the marque and not out of a lot of enthusiasm for the club. I find that MCA is much more balanced. Again, the SAAC/MCA co-host idea might keep the faithful from straying.. m ----- Original Message ----- From: "James G Cowles" <shelbyparts@msn.com> To: <info@nvsaac.com>; <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 1:18 PM Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > SAAC has been very clear that they dont like car shows. The car show > people have always been shoved aside for the race car group. I have > donated the car show trophies the last few years trying to keep the > concours going. If you get right down to it, the car show guys are trying > to keep their cars the way they were when new thus keeping the Marque > preserved. I tried to do that with my Cobra and still race it once in > awhile but now they want all this modern stuff for safety so i quit > racing it > >>From: "NVSAAC" <info@nvsaac.com> >>To: <ShelbyMustang@CarMemories.com> >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 >>Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 14:56:45 -0700 >> >>Ron, >> >>I did see Charley Lillard's - 1965 GT350 # 76 - that did get a Gold award. >>Congrads to Jim Cowles for the restoration work on the car. >> >>It was out there at the popular vote on Sunday morning as well. >> >>So that is at least 2 concourse cars out there... >> >>Jim >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Ronald Robertson" <ronald.robertson@sympatico.ca> >>To: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net>; "Shelby Mustang" >><shelbymustang@carmemories.com> >>Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 8:05 AM >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 >> >> >> > Calvin: >> > Good comments about the scarcity of Shelbys on the track. But if >>eventually >> > SAAC events have no Shelbys on the track, where does that leave the >> > SAAC >> > conventions, which are really a celebration for the "drive fast, turn >>left" >> > group? The concours show is not a self sustaining event and the last >>popular >> > vote show at Michigan saw about 12-15 brave souls who weathered the >> > rain >> > show up. Ours was the only concours car, despite the "request" that ALL >> > concours cars MUST appear so that participants and spectators to the >>popular >> > vote show could see them. >> > I understand California was different. Could that mean the death knoll >>for >> > SAAC conventions in the East? >> > Should be an interesting future if the trend continues. >> > Ron >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net> >> > To: "Shelby Mustang" <shelbymustang@carmemories.com> >> > Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 10:39 AM >> > Subject: Re: SAAC 32 >> > >> > >> > > On Thu, 7 Jul 2005, Ronald Robertson wrote: >> > > >> > >> The thread on where SAAC 32 should be has been very interesting. But >>if >> > >> anyone thinks they can influence Rick on where this will be held, >>they >> > >> should change their drinking water. In summarizing the comments so >>far, >> > >> it appears there are a variety of reasons why some tracks work and >>others >> > >> do not. >> > > [......] >> > >> 3. The lack of a host hotel near the track appears to be a smoke >>screen, >> > >> a non issue. Witness Lime Rock, Michigan, Nashville. All hotels were >> > >> between 1 and 2 hour's drive from the track. >> > > >> > > I think SAAC 7 was the first one where the hotel was a distance from >>the >> > > Hotel. That was also the first east coast event with an open track. >> > > We >>ran >> > > at Pocono and the hotel was in Great Gorge, New Jersey. >> > > >> > >> 4. Something no one has mentioned is the population of Shelby owners >>in >> > >> the reasonable vicinity of the convention. Some areas of the Country >>just >> > >> do not have enough Shelbys to make it worthwhile to have a >> > >> convention >> > >> near them. >> > > >> > > Kopec occasionally has a "Regional Rep Rountable" at the SAAC's. At >>one >>of >> > > the early ones he discussed how they chose convention sites. He said >>the >> > > first thing they looked at was a map of members. Where they had high >> > > densities of memebers, and especially active members, you know the >>ones >> > > that were willing to do much of the work; those were possible >>convention >> > > sites. At a later convention Rep meeting he said that had become less >> > > important since most of the poeple comming to conventions were >> > > flying, >> > > leaving their cars home. >> > > >> > >> 5. I wonder as the value of Shelbys goes up, if the desire to drive >>them >> > >> long distances will diminsh for fear of accidents, breakdowns etc. >>and >> > >> not everyone wants or is able to trailer their prize across Country. >> > > >> > > It has had a huge effect at the open track part of the event. Fewer >> > > vintage Shelbys out on the track, etc. and more late model Mustangs, >>etc. >> > > That is just how it is going to be. That is ok, in fact I think it is >> > > helathy, as long as we have some Shleby owners still out on the >> > > track. >> > > >> > > Calvin >> > > http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcalvin767 >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >> > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > > ________________________________________ PeoplePC Online A better way to Internet http://www.peoplepc.com
Stan, Jim and all you guys who have thoughts about SAAC: I have listened to what you have said and I understand the frustrations you have about why SAAC doesnt do this and doesnt do that, but whinning on the list does not help enthusiasts enjoy these race cars for which SAAC understands and fully appreciates. Alot of its members are racers who love to race and push these Shelbys to the limit. Remember that it was "RACING" that gave fame and recognition to these Shelbys...not beauty queens. I must attest that when I first joined this group, I thought just like you guys. Why dont they do this and that. Where is this and where is that. I sounded like a little kid who didnt get what he wanted so I either complained or end up being very negative. Come on!!! Give them some credit. Rick and those guys work hard to have fun...AND what they do must be right because it has endured the test of time. I dont see many organizations last beyond 10 years. Rick is the leader of that group because of one thing, he loves these cars and he shows it by "racing" just like President Bush leading this country - because he loves this country and wants what is best. A lot of people attack him and even his own group but you know what, he made it as President twice just like Rick Kopec has been the leader all this time....SAAC needs a strong leader...not a United Nations representative. Im sure Rick is aware of the future and SAACs best interests but at this time those issues are not for us to decide. They are Ricks and all those guys who helped him. We must support them the best way we can so that we can preserve the Shelby heritage. To me that is important. God Bless Rick and everyone who has helped make Shelby the heritage what it is today !!!! peace out jon 65-350 67-350 67-500 67-500 Quoting STAN SIMM <SSIMM@triad.rr.com>: - Well put, Jim. Personally, I'm more than somewhat concerned about SAAC and - where it's headed. There is no doubt that, in the grand scheme of things, - SAAC is a very small organization. They need money-making events to stay - afloat , offer the membership the usual quarterly newsletter, one annual - magazine and fund the "inner circle". They're obviously up-beat about the - new GT500 because the potential numbers will add to the coffers. But what - I'm more concerned about is the fact that it really is a closed corporation, - a "good-old boys" network. Are they thinking about when Kopec, Pardee & - Ebers are gone? Who's going to pick up the torch and carry on? Who's going - to be capable to do so? - As an aside, the MCA is not really that large an organization either. I - doubt there's more than 20,000 members total. Considering the age of the - club and the preponderance of Mustangs, they should have 100,000 members. - Hell, BMW CCA has close to 80,000 members and their monthly magazine rivals - R&T or Car & Driver. They put on more DE events across the country in one - month than SAAC and MCA does in one year! All that w/o any Factory - backing...They're a totally independent organization, formed back in the - early '70's, just like MCA. - But MCA is trying. They now have an active DE committee and, while their - events aren't large by any degree of the imagination, they're catching on. - I agree with you: By the time Mustang's 50th rolls around, MCA won't need - SAAC. - Regards, Stan - ----- Original Message ----- - From: "ecj" <ecj@peoplepc.com> - To: <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> - Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 10:02 AM - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - - - I believe that SAAC and MCA working together for the 40th was at the request - of Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company was the major sponsor of the - event. - - Ford keeps making new Mustangs every year. That being the case, the MCA has - new and young owners coming in to the club all the time. People with new - Mustangs are a lot more interested in trying out an open track event in - their cars as opposed to people with 30-40 year old cars. (Unless the car is - set-up as a race car or open track car.) The demographics of the MCA can - change, evolve and "grow" over the years in the ways that the SAAC national - is not able to. - - "For the most part" the national SAAC is focused on the vehicles built by - Shelby American from 1964-1970. Unless you count the new Ford GT and the up - coming 2007 Shelby GT500, SAAC won't be adding lots of new people and their - cars very soon. If it weren't for the popularity of vintage racing wouldn't - one have to consider the national SAAC an "antique" car club? How does the - national SAAC recognize the Shelby Series 1 cars and all these other pseudo - Shelbys being built? How do the regular SAAC members feel about these new - pseudo Shelbys? Will the 1964-1970 faithful national SAAC members openly - accept recognition of these Series 1 Shelbys and pseudo Shelbys or will it - alienate them? - - I don't think one has to necessarily rely on the SAAC national for a good - track event. There are a lot of local SAAC chapters and other brands of - local clubs that put on some great track events. I have been very impressed - with the SVTOA, (SVT Owners Association) and with all the track events they - have been putting on. When the Mustang turns 50 lets see who does what for - that celebration. I doubt there will be a need for a "joint" SAAC and MCA - event in the future in my opinion. Any other opinions? - - - Jim Seisser - - -----Original Message----- - From: A Lupton <ALUPTON@nc.rr.com> - Sent: Jul 9, 2005 11:28 PM - To: James G Cowles <shelbyparts@msn.com>, info@nvsaac.com, - ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - - It would seem that SAAC and MCA could work together as they did at the 40th - to get the best of both worlds. SAAC can obviously run an open track event - and MCA has the talent to organize and judge a car show. Personally it has - been obvious that SAAC is about open track and that alone. It used to be - better balanced with street cars passing tech to run at speed but from the - looks of the roster at SAAC 30, it takes a full out team approach to - participate at a SAAC open track event. I regret that is the direction that - has been taken since I personally appreciate all the cars from SA, even the - race cars at rest. Right now my renewals for SAAC are done out of respect - for the marque and not out of a lot of enthusiasm for the club. I find that - MCA is much more balanced. Again, the SAAC/MCA co-host idea might keep the - faithful from straying.. - - m - ----- Original Message ----- - From: "James G Cowles" <shelbyparts@msn.com> - To: <info@nvsaac.com>; <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> - Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 1:18 PM - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - - - > SAAC has been very clear that they dont like car shows. The car show - > people have always been shoved aside for the race car group. I have - > donated the car show trophies the last few years trying to keep the - > concours going. If you get right down to it, the car show guys are trying - > to keep their cars the way they were when new thus keeping the Marque - > preserved. I tried to do that with my Cobra and still race it once in - > awhile but now they want all this modern stuff for safety so i quit - > racing it - > - >>From: "NVSAAC" <info@nvsaac.com> - >>To: <ShelbyMustang@CarMemories.com> - >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - >>Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 14:56:45 -0700 - >> - >>Ron, - >> - >>I did see Charley Lillard's - 1965 GT350 # 76 - that did get a Gold award. - >>Congrads to Jim Cowles for the restoration work on the car. - >> - >>It was out there at the popular vote on Sunday morning as well. - >> - >>So that is at least 2 concourse cars out there... - >> - >>Jim - >> - >>----- Original Message ----- - >>From: "Ronald Robertson" <ronald.robertson@sympatico.ca> - >>To: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net>; "Shelby Mustang" - >><shelbymustang@carmemories.com> - >>Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 8:05 AM - >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - >> - >> - >> > Calvin: - >> > Good comments about the scarcity of Shelbys on the track. But if - >>eventually - >> > SAAC events have no Shelbys on the track, where does that leave the - >> > SAAC - >> > conventions, which are really a celebration for the "drive fast, turn - >>left" - >> > group? The concours show is not a self sustaining event and the last - >>popular - >> > vote show at Michigan saw about 12-15 brave souls who weathered the - >> > rain - >> > show up. Ours was the only concours car, despite the "request" that ALL - >> > concours cars MUST appear so that participants and spectators to the - >>popular - >> > vote show could see them. - >> > I understand California was different. Could that mean the death knoll - >>for - >> > SAAC conventions in the East? - >> > Should be an interesting future if the trend continues. - >> > Ron - >> > - >> > ----- Original Message ----- - >> > From: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net> - >> > To: "Shelby Mustang" <shelbymustang@carmemories.com> - >> > Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 10:39 AM - >> > Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - >> > - >> > - >> > > On Thu, 7 Jul 2005, Ronald Robertson wrote: - >> > > - >> > >> The thread on where SAAC 32 should be has been very interesting. But - >>if - >> > >> anyone thinks they can influence Rick on where this will be held, - >>they - >> > >> should change their drinking water. In summarizing the comments so - >>far, - >> > >> it appears there are a variety of reasons why some tracks work and - >>others - >> > >> do not. - >> > > [......] - >> > >> 3. The lack of a host hotel near the track appears to be a smoke - >>screen, - >> > >> a non issue. Witness Lime Rock, Michigan, Nashville. All hotels were - >> > >> between 1 and 2 hour's drive from the track. - >> > > - >> > > I think SAAC 7 was the first one where the hotel was a distance from - >>the - >> > > Hotel. That was also the first east coast event with an open track. - >> > > We - >>ran - >> > > at Pocono and the hotel was in Great Gorge, New Jersey. - >> > > - >> > >> 4. Something no one has mentioned is the population of Shelby owners - >>in - >> > >> the reasonable vicinity of the convention. Some areas of the Country - >>just - >> > >> do not have enough Shelbys to make it worthwhile to have a - >> > >> convention - >> > >> near them. - >> > > - >> > > Kopec occasionally has a "Regional Rep Rountable" at the SAAC's. At - >>one - >>of - >> > > the early ones he discussed how they chose convention sites. He said - >>the - >> > > first thing they looked at was a map of members. Where they had high - >> > > densities of memebers, and especially active members, you know the - >>ones - >> > > that were willing to do much of the work; those were possible - >>convention - >> > > sites. At a later convention Rep meeting he said that had become less - >> > > important since most of the poeple comming to conventions were - >> > > flying, - >> > > leaving their cars home. - >> > > - >> > >> 5. I wonder as the value of Shelbys goes up, if the desire to drive - >>them - >> > >> long distances will diminsh for fear of accidents, breakdowns etc. - >>and - >> > >> not everyone wants or is able to trailer their prize across Country. - >> > > - >> > > It has had a huge effect at the open track part of the event. Fewer - >> > > vintage Shelbys out on the track, etc. and more late model Mustangs, - >>etc. - >> > > That is just how it is going to be. That is ok, in fact I think it is - >> > > helathy, as long as we have some Shleby owners still out on the - >> > > track. - >> > > - >> > > Calvin - >> > > http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcalvin767 - >> > > - >> > - >> > - >> > - >> > - >> - >> - > - > _________________________________________________________________ - > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! - > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ - > - > - - - - - ________________________________________ - PeoplePC Online - A better way to Internet - http://www.peoplepc.com - -
Ron: Fact is stated once...whinning is when it is repeated it over and over like this thread has been. Just look at all the repeat commentators. That says something right there. Plus....I dont think its fair that you and all the other guys state one side without the other side representing itself. Also, constructive criticism is left to those who can make good judgements and bring those issues to organization/individual and not open public forum. Besides, I thought this list was about cars and education... not criticism of someone or an organization. I dont want to be rude on this list but if you don't want to race and you prefer to have fun, I know where some theme parks are. They seem to have everything for everyone. I know SAAC "aint" no theme park. jon Quoting Ronald Robertson <ronald.robertson@sympatico.ca>: - Jon: - And yours is the other side of the story and a very valid one. - But let me comment on a few of your assertions. - SOME not most SAAC members like to race their cars. Look at the small number - of Shelbys on the track and you will find there is a minimum number who want - to and can afford to risk their Shelbys on the race track. And the others - are NOT trailer queens. I showed my GT-500 in Division 2. It is NOT a - trailer queen. I drove it to Charlotte (625 miles one way) and other shows - that are lesser distances. So I do not have a trailer queen and I don't race - it. I'm stuck, with hundreds of other owners in the middle and I got to tell - you, there ain't much there for us. - Rick and the boys work hard to have fun their way - racing. And that is not - wrong, but it leaves out hundreds of Shelby owners who have no desire to - race. - I don't think anyone is slinging stones at Rick - they are just stating - facts and that is not whining. - But one has to face facts; things do not get better if everyone sits back - and says and does nothing. Constructive criticism is what is needed so it - can be evaluated and, where deemed possible, to affect change. That applies - to SAAC and to the USA as well. There is no doubt that Rick and company have - done a good job with SAAC but unless ideas are thrown out and considered, - there will be no progress. - Respectfully. - Ron - - ----- Original Message ----- - From: <jonlee@wt.net> - To: "STAN SIMM" <SSIMM@triad.rr.com>; "Shelby List" - <shelbymustang@carmemories.com> - Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 2:56 PM - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - - - > Stan, Jim and all you guys who have thoughts about SAAC: - > - > - > I have listened to what you have said and I understand the frustrations - > you have about why SAAC doesnt do this and doesnt do that, but whinning on - > the list does not help enthusiasts enjoy these race - > cars for which SAAC understands and fully appreciates. Alot of its members - > are racers who love to race and push these Shelbys to the limit. Remember - > that it was "RACING" that gave fame and - > recognition to these Shelbys...not beauty queens. - > - > I must attest that when I first joined this group, I thought just like you - > guys. Why dont they do this and that. Where is this and where is that. I - > sounded like a little kid who didnt get what he - > wanted so I either complained or end up being very negative. - > - > Come on!!! Give them some credit. Rick and those guys work hard to have - > fun...AND what they do must be right because it has endured the test of - > time. I dont see many organizations last beyond 10 - > years. Rick is the leader of that group because of one thing, he loves - > these cars and he shows it by "racing" just like President Bush leading - > this country - because he loves this country and wants - > what is best. A lot of people attack him and even his own group but you - > know what, he made it as President twice just like Rick Kopec has been the - > leader all this time....SAAC needs a strong - > leader...not a United Nations representative. - > - > Im sure Rick is aware of the future and SAACs best interests but at this - > time those issues are not for us to decide. They are Ricks and all those - > guys who helped him. We must support them the best - > way we can so that we can preserve the Shelby heritage. To me that is - > important. - > - > God Bless Rick and everyone who has helped make Shelby the heritage what - > it is today !!!! - > - > peace out - > - > - > jon - > - > 65-350 - > 67-350 - > 67-500 - > 67-500 - > - > - > - > Quoting STAN SIMM <SSIMM@triad.rr.com>: - > - > - Well put, Jim. Personally, I'm more than somewhat concerned about SAAC - > and - > - where it's headed. There is no doubt that, in the grand scheme of - > things, - > - SAAC is a very small organization. They need money-making events to - > stay - > - afloat , offer the membership the usual quarterly newsletter, one annual - > - magazine and fund the "inner circle". They're obviously up-beat about - > the - > - new GT500 because the potential numbers will add to the coffers. But - > what - > - I'm more concerned about is the fact that it really is a closed - > corporation, - > - a "good-old boys" network. Are they thinking about when Kopec, Pardee & - > - Ebers are gone? Who's going to pick up the torch and carry on? Who's - > going - > - to be capable to do so? - > - As an aside, the MCA is not really that large an organization either. - > I - > - doubt there's more than 20,000 members total. Considering the age of - > the - > - club and the preponderance of Mustangs, they should have 100,000 - > members. - > - Hell, BMW CCA has close to 80,000 members and their monthly magazine - > rivals - > - R&T or Car & Driver. They put on more DE events across the country in - > one - > - month than SAAC and MCA does in one year! All that w/o any Factory - > - backing...They're a totally independent organization, formed back in the - > - early '70's, just like MCA. - > - But MCA is trying. They now have an active DE committee and, while - > their - > - events aren't large by any degree of the imagination, they're catching - > on. - > - I agree with you: By the time Mustang's 50th rolls around, MCA won't - > need - > - SAAC. - > - Regards, Stan - > - ----- Original Message ----- - > - From: "ecj" <ecj@peoplepc.com> - > - To: <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> - > - Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 10:02 AM - > - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - > - - > - - > - I believe that SAAC and MCA working together for the 40th was at the - > request - > - of Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company was the major sponsor of the - > - event. - > - - > - Ford keeps making new Mustangs every year. That being the case, the MCA - > has - > - new and young owners coming in to the club all the time. People with new - > - Mustangs are a lot more interested in trying out an open track event in - > - their cars as opposed to people with 30-40 year old cars. (Unless the - > car is - > - set-up as a race car or open track car.) The demographics of the MCA can - > - change, evolve and "grow" over the years in the ways that the SAAC - > national - > - is not able to. - > - - > - "For the most part" the national SAAC is focused on the vehicles built - > by - > - Shelby American from 1964-1970. Unless you count the new Ford GT and the - > up - > - coming 2007 Shelby GT500, SAAC won't be adding lots of new people and - > their - > - cars very soon. If it weren't for the popularity of vintage racing - > wouldn't - > - one have to consider the national SAAC an "antique" car club? How does - > the - > - national SAAC recognize the Shelby Series 1 cars and all these other - > pseudo - > - Shelbys being built? How do the regular SAAC members feel about these - > new - > - pseudo Shelbys? Will the 1964-1970 faithful national SAAC members openly - > - accept recognition of these Series 1 Shelbys and pseudo Shelbys or will - > it - > - alienate them? - > - - > - I don't think one has to necessarily rely on the SAAC national for a - > good - > - track event. There are a lot of local SAAC chapters and other brands of - > - local clubs that put on some great track events. I have been very - > impressed - > - with the SVTOA, (SVT Owners Association) and with all the track events - > they - > - have been putting on. When the Mustang turns 50 lets see who does what - > for - > - that celebration. I doubt there will be a need for a "joint" SAAC and - > MCA - > - event in the future in my opinion. Any other opinions? - > - - > - - > - Jim Seisser - > - - > - -----Original Message----- - > - From: A Lupton <ALUPTON@nc.rr.com> - > - Sent: Jul 9, 2005 11:28 PM - > - To: James G Cowles <shelbyparts@msn.com>, info@nvsaac.com, - > - ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com - > - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - > - - > - It would seem that SAAC and MCA could work together as they did at the - > 40th - > - to get the best of both worlds. SAAC can obviously run an open track - > event - > - and MCA has the talent to organize and judge a car show. Personally it - > has - > - been obvious that SAAC is about open track and that alone. It used to - > be - > - better balanced with street cars passing tech to run at speed but from - > the - > - looks of the roster at SAAC 30, it takes a full out team approach to - > - participate at a SAAC open track event. I regret that is the direction - > that - > - has been taken since I personally appreciate all the cars from SA, even - > the - > - race cars at rest. Right now my renewals for SAAC are done out of - > respect - > - for the marque and not out of a lot of enthusiasm for the club. I find - > that - > - MCA is much more balanced. Again, the SAAC/MCA co-host idea might keep - > the - > - faithful from straying.. - > - - > - m - > - ----- Original Message ----- - > - From: "James G Cowles" <shelbyparts@msn.com> - > - To: <info@nvsaac.com>; <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> - > - Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 1:18 PM - > - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - > - - > - - > - > SAAC has been very clear that they dont like car shows. The car show - > - > people have always been shoved aside for the race car group. I have - > - > donated the car show trophies the last few years trying to keep the - > - > concours going. If you get right down to it, the car show guys are - > trying - > - > to keep their cars the way they were when new thus keeping the Marque - > - > preserved. I tried to do that with my Cobra and still race it once in - > - > awhile but now they want all this modern stuff for safety so i quit - > - > racing it - > - > - > - >>From: "NVSAAC" <info@nvsaac.com> - > - >>To: <ShelbyMustang@CarMemories.com> - > - >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - > - >>Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 14:56:45 -0700 - > - >> - > - >>Ron, - > - >> - > - >>I did see Charley Lillard's - 1965 GT350 # 76 - that did get a Gold - > award. - > - >>Congrads to Jim Cowles for the restoration work on the car. - > - >> - > - >>It was out there at the popular vote on Sunday morning as well. - > - >> - > - >>So that is at least 2 concourse cars out there... - > - >> - > - >>Jim - > - >> - > - >>----- Original Message ----- - > - >>From: "Ronald Robertson" <ronald.robertson@sympatico.ca> - > - >>To: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net>; "Shelby Mustang" - > - >><shelbymustang@carmemories.com> - > - >>Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 8:05 AM - > - >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - > - >> - > - >> - > - >> > Calvin: - > - >> > Good comments about the scarcity of Shelbys on the track. But if - > - >>eventually - > - >> > SAAC events have no Shelbys on the track, where does that leave the - > - >> > SAAC - > - >> > conventions, which are really a celebration for the "drive fast, - > turn - > - >>left" - > - >> > group? The concours show is not a self sustaining event and the - > last - > - >>popular - > - >> > vote show at Michigan saw about 12-15 brave souls who weathered the - > - >> > rain - > - >> > show up. Ours was the only concours car, despite the "request" that - > ALL - > - >> > concours cars MUST appear so that participants and spectators to - > the - > - >>popular - > - >> > vote show could see them. - > - >> > I understand California was different. Could that mean the death - > knoll - > - >>for - > - >> > SAAC conventions in the East? - > - >> > Should be an interesting future if the trend continues. - > - >> > Ron - > - >> > - > - >> > ----- Original Message ----- - > - >> > From: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net> - > - >> > To: "Shelby Mustang" <shelbymustang@carmemories.com> - > - >> > Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 10:39 AM - > - >> > Subject: Re: SAAC 32 - > - >> > - > - >> > - > - >> > > On Thu, 7 Jul 2005, Ronald Robertson wrote: - > - >> > > - > - >> > >> The thread on where SAAC 32 should be has been very interesting. - > But - > - >>if - > - >> > >> anyone thinks they can influence Rick on where this will be - > held, - > - >>they - > - >> > >> should change their drinking water. In summarizing the comments - > so - > - >>far, - > - >> > >> it appears there are a variety of reasons why some tracks work - > and - > - >>others - > - >> > >> do not. - > - >> > > [......] - > - >> > >> 3. The lack of a host hotel near the track appears to be a smoke - > - >>screen, - > - >> > >> a non issue. Witness Lime Rock, Michigan, Nashville. All hotels - > were - > - >> > >> between 1 and 2 hour's drive from the track. - > - >> > > - > - >> > > I think SAAC 7 was the first one where the hotel was a distance - > from - > - >>the - > - >> > > Hotel. That was also the first east coast event with an open - > track. - > - >> > > We - > - >>ran - > - >> > > at Pocono and the hotel was in Great Gorge, New Jersey. - > - >> > > - > - >> > >> 4. Something no one has mentioned is the population of Shelby - > owners - > - >>in - > - >> > >> the reasonable vicinity of the convention. Some areas of the - > Country - > - >>just - > - >> > >> do not have enough Shelbys to make it worthwhile to have a - > - >> > >> convention - > - >> > >> near them. - > - >> > > - > - >> > > Kopec occasionally has a "Regional Rep Rountable" at the SAAC's. - > At - > - >>one - > - >>of - > - >> > > the early ones he discussed how they chose convention sites. He - > said - > - >>the - > - >> > > first thing they looked at was a map of members. Where they had - > high - > - >> > > densities of memebers, and especially active members, you know - > the - > - >>ones - > - >> > > that were willing to do much of the work; those were possible - > - >>convention - > - >> > > sites. At a later convention Rep meeting he said that had become - > less - > - >> > > important since most of the poeple comming to conventions were - > - >> > > flying, - > - >> > > leaving their cars home. - > - >> > > - > - >> > >> 5. I wonder as the value of Shelbys goes up, if the desire to - > drive - > - >>them - > - >> > >> long distances will diminsh for fear of accidents, breakdowns - > etc. - > - >>and - > - >> > >> not everyone wants or is able to trailer their prize across - > Country. - > - >> > > - > - >> > > It has had a huge effect at the open track part of the event. - > Fewer - > - >> > > vintage Shelbys out on the track, etc. and more late model - > Mustangs, - > - >>etc. - > - >> > > That is just how it is going to be. That is ok, in fact I think - > it is - > - >> > > helathy, as long as we have some Shleby owners still out on the - > - >> > > track. - > - >> > > - > - >> > > Calvin - > - >> > > http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcalvin767 - > - >> > > - > - >> > - > - >> > - > - >> > - > - >> > - > - >> - > - >> - > - > - > - > _________________________________________________________________ - > - > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's - > FREE! - > - > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ - > - > - > - > - > - - > - - > - - > - - > - ________________________________________ - > - PeoplePC Online - > - A better way to Internet - > - http://www.peoplepc.com - > - - > - - > - > - > - - -
Whoa, there! Who's whining? All I said was that I was concerned about the future of SAAC...Period. I'm not agianst racing & open track, Hell, I've been a high performance driving instructor for over 25 years and run a '95 Cobra R. I've run both my '65 & my red '66 at SAAC open track events, so I'm no wussie. Then again, my Hertz took SAAC & MCA Gold, so I like to show cars, too. In addition, I've served on the board of directors and as president of BMW CCA, so I've got the credentials to critique if I want to. I think Kopec & crew have done a reasonably good job. I just happen to think they could do better because they are reluctant to change and aren't open to fresh, new input from enthusiastic rank-and-file members, that's all. Regards, Stan ----- Original Message ----- From: <jonlee@wt.net> To: "STAN SIMM" <SSIMM@triad.rr.com>; "Shelby List" <shelbymustang@carmemories.com> Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 2:56 PM Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > Stan, Jim and all you guys who have thoughts about SAAC: > > > I have listened to what you have said and I understand the frustrations you have about why SAAC doesnt do this and doesnt do that, but whinning on the list does not help enthusiasts enjoy these race > cars for which SAAC understands and fully appreciates. Alot of its members are racers who love to race and push these Shelbys to the limit. Remember that it was "RACING" that gave fame and > recognition to these Shelbys...not beauty queens. > > I must attest that when I first joined this group, I thought just like you guys. Why dont they do this and that. Where is this and where is that. I sounded like a little kid who didnt get what he > wanted so I either complained or end up being very negative. > > Come on!!! Give them some credit. Rick and those guys work hard to have fun...AND what they do must be right because it has endured the test of time. I dont see many organizations last beyond 10 > years. Rick is the leader of that group because of one thing, he loves these cars and he shows it by "racing" just like President Bush leading this country - because he loves this country and wants > what is best. A lot of people attack him and even his own group but you know what, he made it as President twice just like Rick Kopec has been the leader all this time....SAAC needs a strong > leader...not a United Nations representative. > > Im sure Rick is aware of the future and SAACs best interests but at this time those issues are not for us to decide. They are Ricks and all those guys who helped him. We must support them the best > way we can so that we can preserve the Shelby heritage. To me that is important. > > God Bless Rick and everyone who has helped make Shelby the heritage what it is today !!!! > > peace out > > > jon > > 65-350 > 67-350 > 67-500 > 67-500 > > > > Quoting STAN SIMM <SSIMM@triad.rr.com>: > > - Well put, Jim. Personally, I'm more than somewhat concerned about SAAC and > - where it's headed. There is no doubt that, in the grand scheme of things, > - SAAC is a very small organization. They need money-making events to stay > - afloat , offer the membership the usual quarterly newsletter, one annual > - magazine and fund the "inner circle". They're obviously up-beat about the > - new GT500 because the potential numbers will add to the coffers. But what > - I'm more concerned about is the fact that it really is a closed corporation, > - a "good-old boys" network. Are they thinking about when Kopec, Pardee & > - Ebers are gone? Who's going to pick up the torch and carry on? Who's going > - to be capable to do so? > - As an aside, the MCA is not really that large an organization either. I > - doubt there's more than 20,000 members total. Considering the age of the > - club and the preponderance of Mustangs, they should have 100,000 members. > - Hell, BMW CCA has close to 80,000 members and their monthly magazine rivals > - R&T or Car & Driver. They put on more DE events across the country in one > - month than SAAC and MCA does in one year! All that w/o any Factory > - backing...They're a totally independent organization, formed back in the > - early '70's, just like MCA. > - But MCA is trying. They now have an active DE committee and, while their > - events aren't large by any degree of the imagination, they're catching on. > - I agree with you: By the time Mustang's 50th rolls around, MCA won't need > - SAAC. > - Regards, Stan > - ----- Original Message ----- > - From: "ecj" <ecj@peoplepc.com> > - To: <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> > - Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 10:02 AM > - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > - > - > - I believe that SAAC and MCA working together for the 40th was at the request > - of Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company was the major sponsor of the > - event. > - > - Ford keeps making new Mustangs every year. That being the case, the MCA has > - new and young owners coming in to the club all the time. People with new > - Mustangs are a lot more interested in trying out an open track event in > - their cars as opposed to people with 30-40 year old cars. (Unless the car is > - set-up as a race car or open track car.) The demographics of the MCA can > - change, evolve and "grow" over the years in the ways that the SAAC national > - is not able to. > - > - "For the most part" the national SAAC is focused on the vehicles built by > - Shelby American from 1964-1970. Unless you count the new Ford GT and the up > - coming 2007 Shelby GT500, SAAC won't be adding lots of new people and their > - cars very soon. If it weren't for the popularity of vintage racing wouldn't > - one have to consider the national SAAC an "antique" car club? How does the > - national SAAC recognize the Shelby Series 1 cars and all these other pseudo > - Shelbys being built? How do the regular SAAC members feel about these new > - pseudo Shelbys? Will the 1964-1970 faithful national SAAC members openly > - accept recognition of these Series 1 Shelbys and pseudo Shelbys or will it > - alienate them? > - > - I don't think one has to necessarily rely on the SAAC national for a good > - track event. There are a lot of local SAAC chapters and other brands of > - local clubs that put on some great track events. I have been very impressed > - with the SVTOA, (SVT Owners Association) and with all the track events they > - have been putting on. When the Mustang turns 50 lets see who does what for > - that celebration. I doubt there will be a need for a "joint" SAAC and MCA > - event in the future in my opinion. Any other opinions? > - > - > - Jim Seisser > - > - -----Original Message----- > - From: A Lupton <ALUPTON@nc.rr.com> > - Sent: Jul 9, 2005 11:28 PM > - To: James G Cowles <shelbyparts@msn.com>, info@nvsaac.com, > - ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com > - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > - > - It would seem that SAAC and MCA could work together as they did at the 40th > - to get the best of both worlds. SAAC can obviously run an open track event > - and MCA has the talent to organize and judge a car show. Personally it has > - been obvious that SAAC is about open track and that alone. It used to be > - better balanced with street cars passing tech to run at speed but from the > - looks of the roster at SAAC 30, it takes a full out team approach to > - participate at a SAAC open track event. I regret that is the direction that > - has been taken since I personally appreciate all the cars from SA, even the > - race cars at rest. Right now my renewals for SAAC are done out of respect > - for the marque and not out of a lot of enthusiasm for the club. I find that > - MCA is much more balanced. Again, the SAAC/MCA co-host idea might keep the > - faithful from straying.. > - > - m > - ----- Original Message ----- > - From: "James G Cowles" <shelbyparts@msn.com> > - To: <info@nvsaac.com>; <ShelbyMustang@carmemories.com> > - Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 1:18 PM > - Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > - > - > - > SAAC has been very clear that they dont like car shows. The car show > - > people have always been shoved aside for the race car group. I have > - > donated the car show trophies the last few years trying to keep the > - > concours going. If you get right down to it, the car show guys are trying > - > to keep their cars the way they were when new thus keeping the Marque > - > preserved. I tried to do that with my Cobra and still race it once in > - > awhile but now they want all this modern stuff for safety so i quit > - > racing it > - > > - >>From: "NVSAAC" <info@nvsaac.com> > - >>To: <ShelbyMustang@CarMemories.com> > - >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > - >>Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 14:56:45 -0700 > - >> > - >>Ron, > - >> > - >>I did see Charley Lillard's - 1965 GT350 # 76 - that did get a Gold award. > - >>Congrads to Jim Cowles for the restoration work on the car. > - >> > - >>It was out there at the popular vote on Sunday morning as well. > - >> > - >>So that is at least 2 concourse cars out there... > - >> > - >>Jim > - >> > - >>----- Original Message ----- > - >>From: "Ronald Robertson" <ronald.robertson@sympatico.ca> > - >>To: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net>; "Shelby Mustang" > - >><shelbymustang@carmemories.com> > - >>Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 8:05 AM > - >>Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > - >> > - >> > - >> > Calvin: > - >> > Good comments about the scarcity of Shelbys on the track. But if > - >>eventually > - >> > SAAC events have no Shelbys on the track, where does that leave the > - >> > SAAC > - >> > conventions, which are really a celebration for the "drive fast, turn > - >>left" > - >> > group? The concours show is not a self sustaining event and the last > - >>popular > - >> > vote show at Michigan saw about 12-15 brave souls who weathered the > - >> > rain > - >> > show up. Ours was the only concours car, despite the "request" that ALL > - >> > concours cars MUST appear so that participants and spectators to the > - >>popular > - >> > vote show could see them. > - >> > I understand California was different. Could that mean the death knoll > - >>for > - >> > SAAC conventions in the East? > - >> > Should be an interesting future if the trend continues. > - >> > Ron > - >> > > - >> > ----- Original Message ----- > - >> > From: "Calvin Sanders" <calvins@highrpm.net> > - >> > To: "Shelby Mustang" <shelbymustang@carmemories.com> > - >> > Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 10:39 AM > - >> > Subject: Re: SAAC 32 > - >> > > - >> > > - >> > > On Thu, 7 Jul 2005, Ronald Robertson wrote: > - >> > > > - >> > >> The thread on where SAAC 32 should be has been very interesting. But > - >>if > - >> > >> anyone thinks they can influence Rick on where this will be held, > - >>they > - >> > >> should change their drinking water. In summarizing the comments so > - >>far, > - >> > >> it appears there are a variety of reasons why some tracks work and > - >>others > - >> > >> do not. > - >> > > [......] > - >> > >> 3. The lack of a host hotel near the track appears to be a smoke > - >>screen, > - >> > >> a non issue. Witness Lime Rock, Michigan, Nashville. All hotels were > - >> > >> between 1 and 2 hour's drive from the track. > - >> > > > - >> > > I think SAAC 7 was the first one where the hotel was a distance from > - >>the > - >> > > Hotel. That was also the first east coast event with an open track. > - >> > > We > - >>ran > - >> > > at Pocono and the hotel was in Great Gorge, New Jersey. > - >> > > > - >> > >> 4. Something no one has mentioned is the population of Shelby owners > - >>in > - >> > >> the reasonable vicinity of the convention. Some areas of the Country > - >>just > - >> > >> do not have enough Shelbys to make it worthwhile to have a > - >> > >> convention > - >> > >> near them. > - >> > > > - >> > > Kopec occasionally has a "Regional Rep Rountable" at the SAAC's. At > - >>one > - >>of > - >> > > the early ones he discussed how they chose convention sites. He said > - >>the > - >> > > first thing they looked at was a map of members. Where they had high > - >> > > densities of memebers, and especially active members, you know the > - >>ones > - >> > > that were willing to do much of the work; those were possible > - >>convention > - >> > > sites. At a later convention Rep meeting he said that had become less > - >> > > important since most of the poeple comming to conventions were > - >> > > flying, > - >> > > leaving their cars home. > - >> > > > - >> > >> 5. I wonder as the value of Shelbys goes up, if the desire to drive > - >>them > - >> > >> long distances will diminsh for fear of accidents, breakdowns etc. > - >>and > - >> > >> not everyone wants or is able to trailer their prize across Country. > - >> > > > - >> > > It has had a huge effect at the open track part of the event. Fewer > - >> > > vintage Shelbys out on the track, etc. and more late model Mustangs, > - >>etc. > - >> > > That is just how it is going to be. That is ok, in fact I think it is > - >> > > helathy, as long as we have some Shleby owners still out on the > - >> > > track. > - >> > > > - >> > > Calvin > - >> > > http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcalvin767 > - >> > > > - >> > > - >> > > - >> > > - >> > > - >> > - >> > - > > - > _________________________________________________________________ > - > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! > - > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > - > > - > > - > - > - > - > - ________________________________________ > - PeoplePC Online > - A better way to Internet > - http://www.peoplepc.com > - > - > > >
