[Hal Copple]

i have not followed this thread very much, but thought i would toss in my opinion. I acknowledge that many enthusiasts would like to know which replica "handled" the best. But very few of our cars ever approach their limits, at least under our control. I hope to never get near my SPF's limits, which i often explore on the track, out in the real world. I would be in big trouble. I just "don't go there."

I am well aware of the exhausting effort expended by Bob and Dennis Olthoff when they competed (very successfully) in the One Lap events, and when they ran in the challage Car and Driver did a year or so ago. It took a lot of time, money, and sweat to participate in these events, and now, they just don't have that kind of time. They have also supplied cars for magazines like Grass Roots Motorsports. My guess is that the payoff is just not worth the effort for most assemblers and manufactures.

If companies like Jaguar, Mitsubishi have recently cut back or eleminated their factory particpation in racing and rallying, how can a two man operation afford to do it??

Perhaps a new company will expend the effort for some recognition, while other more established firms choose to rest a bit on their laurals, and persue other goals.

My suggestion is for the factories to support their owners, like SPF, FFR, and some of the others do to a great extent, and let them go out and have at it. If someone wants to claim their replica handles better than mine, i couldn't care less. Heck, other SPF's with women driving them pass me at VIR!!

Making a custom car for a single event is just too expensive for the return.