[DanElam]

Guys, after this latest round with FFR and SAI I am going to speak up. The stuff that goes on this board of brand X vs. brand Y is just a scream to those of us who don't take this stuff too seriously. It's nothing new to the automotive world, but it is still funny. The same thing gets repeated in the Ferrari, Viper, Vette, etc. boards. It's the same for planes, boats, and even horses

Look, if you've got an original 196X 289 or 427 car, that is great. I love seeing these vintage cars and think they are wonderful historical treats. Do I want one? No, because I couldn't bear the thought of taking a rare car like that and play the way I like to. (I could run Vintage, but that isn't real racing to me and the show stuff bores me. But everyone has their own preferences.) I've watched Tom Hilfiger play with a $7M vintage Ferrari: how can you run it at the limits if you are afraid of wiping out history? It's sort of like taking a Picasso to the elementary school - you can do it, but is it worth the risk of the world losing something special?

As for the replicas - and I am including the SAI cars - they are just that. They look good. They sound good. They are fun to drive. Shoot - most of them are flat out better/safer cars than any of the originals. They would be fun cars today even if there wasn't a historical connection. The SAI cars get a 'Shelby' badge, but they aren't any different. ('Real 1', you are a scream: the real owners of original cars don't consider yours any more 'real' than you consider a FFR or Superformance car.)

For some, the bashing is a way to validate their own decisions. I sort of equate it to prejudice: we make up reasons put others down because it makes us feel better. It's a common theme whether it be race, geographic birth, religion, or car choices.

Look, I race a Factory Five car. I wasn't one that was going to buy a Cobra so I have a certain amount of detachment. I am not the kind of guy to build a kit. I bought the car, in part, because of NASA and the race series. I bought it, in part, because of the performance and because it is similar to the other things I drive (Viper, Tiger). If Superformance had a series, I would have considered that. SAI had a series, but it was mostly play stuff, not real racing and didn't appear to be sustainable. (Good call!)

Since I bought the car, I have certainly come to appreciate some things about the car (like that frame that protected me at VIR), but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate other cars as well. My buddy a few houses away bought a Superformance: they are wonderful cars if you don't want to build one. I have seen ERA cars at the track that embody lust on wheels. I have happily pointed to SAI for guys who want to be part of the 'Shelby Fraternity'. And I have seen a gorgeous black FFR car from Oregon that is one of the nicest cars I have seen in the world. Manufacturers stay in business because they appeal to different segments of the market. A lot of FFR guys like to build and like the reliability that comes from simplicity. Others don't want to waste (my term) their time building a car when they can write a check to buy a Superformance car. Others want to be associated with a group of others who call their cars 'real'. No problem. All of these companies will survive as they cater to their niche. The whole Cobra industry is probably less than $25M/yr so we are really talking about splitting hairs.

So have fun. Use the internet to blast each other. As you do so, you sure remind those of lurking that this is a great country where one of the most pressing things is to argue over their replica of cars built nearly 40 years ago. No matter what, you guys manage to provide some hilarious entertainment!