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. 1. Kenny mentioned one, that some tracks will not rent to clubs, not even SAAC. 2. Another issue is that tracks have to be booked a year or so in advance and the track is looking at the maximum revenue the rental will generate for them. Even the best SAAC meet cannot compete with a NASCAR race, for example. Traditionally, SAAC meets are held over the July 4th weekend and that must be terriblly limiting in getting a track to give up that time frame. 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. 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. 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. 6. And when is all said and done, we need to remember that SAAC is NOT a democracy. It is a tightly controlled club that has done immeasurable good in retaining original Ford records, publishing a Registry of all Shelbys made, upholding the marque, massaging Carroll Shelby and providing us enthusiasts with something to hang onto. But democratic it ain't. So while speculation is interesting, in my opinion it is like wishing on a star. Rick will ultimately decide and he will let us know in due course. In the meantime, keep the faith. Ron
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
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 >
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 > > > > > >
