Amy,
I'll start off by saying that I admire you, and do respect Carroll Shelby and this is not an attack on either of you, just my personal opinion based on far more years involved with Shelbys and SAAC (among others) than you and most likely 90% of the people currently involved with SAI.
If you want to unite the products as you say is "Carrol's goal", then why bother to charge a $49.95 fee? THis only smells like just another way to exploit what is out there and attempt to make a buck by someone elses enthusiasm.
As for Carroll Shelby reading and responding on any forum on a regular basis so "he" can have instant responses to his questions and/or concerns, let's just say that in itself seems a bit too hard to believe as he dislikes the online communities (his words overheard several times over the course of the last 10 years) as a whole.
As for Carroll Shelby reading the press releases before they are submitted, yes, I do believe that he does, but that does not makie them based in 100% reality.
A Snakes post at 12:10 AM quoting Carroll Shelby directly from the 97 SAAC Registry (also seen in several prominant magazines articles in the 80-90's time period in one way shape or form) hits the nail on the head. Without SAAC and the MCA (Mustang Club of America), the Shelby Marque would most likely not have the same type of following it has today. For you to make a "corporate decision" to abolish the ties with SAAC at this time in hopes of "making a profit" is a slap in the face to any and all Shelby enthusiasts around the world. No matter what else you could post, no matter what Carroll can say through you and his corporate
PR dept (let's face it, you and I know that Carroll has never been "politically correct", so everything being attributed to him has been "washed" before being allowed out of SAI), this is now a way to try to turn a profit and you and the corporate officers at SAI will grasp at whatever straws that you can to make that almighty buck, no matter who or what you have to run rampart over.
Again, I admire you and Carroll for what you have done with the company since taking the helm, but in my heart (and as a shareholder) I truly believe that your current course will be the undoing of the business in the long run.
Bill S.
Proud SAAC member since late 1981