[griffin289trips]

Iv'e been reading the many different opinions and possibilities of the future of SAAC anf the new Shelby Club. I guess like everything in life change is inevitable. I dropped out of SAAC in the mid 90's as I felt the the club was more interested in maximizing profit instead of a balanced club that satisfys the majority of members whishes. I realize that it is impossible to keep all members in a state of eternal hapiness but compared to the early years the clubs fun factor , not to mention the atitudes of the heirarchy was in a state of arogance that had no time for the commoner. Yes the club provided some incredible conventions but compared to my first few conventions, Hershy 77, Downingtown 79, Dearborne 80 up until the late eighties or early 90's the true essence and closeness every one felt started to slowly diminish.
The first time I ever saw Carroll Shelby was at the 83 Dearborne convention, after getting his autograph on my owners manual, at no charge, I was on a natural high for a week. At this point car and parts prices were affordable to most people with a sincere desire to own a Shelby.
After the SAAC started reducing the number of SHELBY AMERICANS and suplementing the snakebite newsletters, which used to be included in the Bi-monthly Shelby Americans, many members were starting to feel that the club management were more interested in the bottom line instead of running a club that had a place for the majority of members. Any critisism of the new changes were either ignored or told that they were not being forced to stay with the club. Anyway it seemed that things got worse as time went on.
In defense of the SAAC management I guess it's easy to point your finger and complain about the direction and attitude they seemed to have evolved into. In reality there are only a few clubs that offer open tracks, regional clubs tied in to a major national club and all the perks that most club members took for granted not realizing that most car clubs don't even come close to the SAAC.
Most long term members saw the club as if it was in a decline. Me included. Since this new development with Shelby's new club I starting to see SAAC in a new light. Of course there were issues as not everyone was happy with but in the long run SAAC added a real genuine spice to a lot of peoples lives that the Shelby Club provided for a very nominal fee, all things consisdered. Not to mention the increase in values of Shelbys. I attended the 06 VIR convention and had the time of my life.
Well I don't know where all this is headed but I feel that SAAC should maintaine control of the original Shelbys as they have the most experience and know the ins and outs better than most. The new Shelby club would be more intune to the new Shelby Mustangs.
I can't imagine a Shelby National Convention with new and old Shelbys and the crowds. Next years convention should be facinating to see. Will there be new and old all mixed together, can it even be organized in a way that will satisfy most members.
I normally don't add much to the forum but couldn't help it after going through the thousands of pictures of all the various regional and national Shelby shows. SAAC has truly added a real natural high that would never had been experienced without Carroll Shelby and SAAC. Overall taking the good with the bad the priceless memories and the new friends made with the same passion, complaining about some imperfections seems so trivial.
The bottom line is if Carroll Shelby didn't make the Cobra and Shelby Mustang in the sixties our lives would have had a much more mundane existance. He started it all and I hope all parties will overcome their petty problems and move on to a cordial existance that benifits all parties.
Thanks Carroll, Bob