[Durt]

From the lyrics of the Grateful Dead's 'Truckin', "What a long strange trip it's been."
Wow. Close to 20 years ago, I first saw a Cobra replica in Kit Car magazine & totally flipped out. Had to have one, but even replicas weren't cheap - and I certainly didn't have the time or talent to build one. This was what I knew at the time (or heard, or was told, whatever) that good ol' Shel had all but given his blessing to the guys who were building tributes to a car he'd lost interest in decades earlier. Knock yourselves out, fellas. At that time, it was a cottage industry with companies like ERA and Contemporary selling components to home builders for the most part - and as far as I know, nobody was getting filthy rich doing it.
I thought to myself, ol' Shel must be one cool old dude. He's a national treasure, a genuine racing hero, made some of the most iconic cars in American automotive history, has a foundation for sick kids and in his interviews just seemed like the kind of guy you'd like to have a beer & bowl of his signature chili with. I idolized the guy & couldn't wait to join the growing Cobra community.
I finally purchased one of the first examples of this new factory assembled replica from South Africa called Superformance about ten years ago and couldn't wait to meet the Man, shake his hand and show off my beautiful replica of his brainchild. I joined SAAC. I began to educate myself on the history of the originals & got the registry. I bought every book on the subject and all of Dave Friedman's terrific photo collections from the era.
That was then.
I finally "met" Shelby at the Peterson Museum for a gathering of original cars and owners. I'd brought one of Friedman's books to be signed & spotted him getting out of his car in the parking lot. My moment had come, and I was peeing my pants with excitement. "Mister Shelby," I called out. He looked at me and bolted as though I was a leper serving him a summons. Thus began my Shelby learning curve.
I later learned that a Shelby autograph was an industry unto itself, and if I wanted my book signed, I could cue up behing a couple of hundred other folks and get one ... for a "donation." Well - there went that fantasy.
Soon afterward, I started to hear rumors that ol' Shel's non-interest in the replica industry had taken a dramatic 180, and he was not only going to sue Superformance, but that in a worst case scenario, I could actually lose my car. A fellow SPF owner told me that Shelby's only comment about his car at a show was that it was "that company I'm gonna put outta business."
Then, I read in Car and Driver about some outrageous scam involving discovered "original Cobra parts" that were being assembled and marketed as "continuation Cobras" or some such nonsense. Shelby sues Factory Five. Shelby starts taking deposits on Series this and Mark that and CSX whatever cars, all of which fall behind schedules and deadlines and balloon in deposits on a criminal level.
I read on these very pages the desperate pleas of a terminally ill man who just wants to SIT in his car before he dies - a car that is tens of thousands of dollars over cost and years behind in delivery.
I hear that Shelby is going after the Kirkhams. I hear that Shelby is now in bed with Superformance. I hear that the Registry has become more convoluted than a Rubik's Cube. Every English dictionary has been recalled to re-define the word "original," and the name Shelby has created as much harmony on these boards as a jug of moonshine at a Hatfields & McCoys family dinner.
Whew.
And today ... I get The Letter from SAAC. The holiest of the holy keepers of the Shelby legacy, the most meticulously honorable car club on the face of the earth, the most important torch-bearers of this mean old son of a *****'s automotive history has been asked, very politely, to ... um .... what's a nice way to put it? There is no nice way to put it.
With no reason given, these archivists and huge fans have been told to shut it all down, stop using his name and image and hand over everything they've done on Shelby's behalf for 30 years - and have a nice day.
I'm afraid this is the deal killer for me & ol' Shel. I want my emotional investment back. I'll keep my beer & you can keep your chili.
I have no idea what's behind this, but as they say, high tide rises all boats. That tide goes both ways. All you "haves" out there should be mighty nervous at the prospect of the tide being Carroll Shelby. The only thing on earth shadier than the Redwood Forest wants total control of the Shelby historical archives, and the last thing I would want is my investment OF him handled BY him.
Words cannot describe my disappointment in having what I once considered a congenial and incredibly exciting hobby turn into something that makes me feel in need of a shower.
Best of luck to the SAAC guys in their fight to save Shelby from himself.
All of these accounts and opinions are my own. Fire away.

At the top of my forum reads this prompt:

"Hello Durt it appears that you have not posted on our forums in several weeks, why not take a few moments to ask a question, help provide a solution or just engage in a conversation with another member in any one of our forums?"

Be careful what you wish for.