rumor control--has SAAC lost its use of Shelby name?

[Durt]

"quiet time..."

Won't be when the surface dwellers read my scripture in the AM.

[Excaliber]

I just bought the darn Cobra emblem to put in the center of my steering wheel, back to the drawing board, I'll now be looking for an AC badge.

By the way, where can I find the hood and trunk emblems to replace the current Cobra ones? Does somebody make them? Oh, and the Cobra license plate frame? It's toast...

[Jamo]

Hehehe.....good for the soul, Durt.

[Jamo]

Oinie...I've always gone naked. No stinkin paint/no stinkin badges.

[Ron61]

Ernie,

Jamo even drove all the way up here just using the primaries of his four barrel because he was so concerned for the environment. When are you going to block the secondaries of yours so they can't open?

Ron

[RACER X #99]

Durt,
Right on, OK I know that a little outdated but I'ts AM here and that's all I could think of.

[Naumoff]

Well I built a replica so I have all the badges.

Durt, I am sorry for your experience.

Sometimes it is better not to know the people we admire for something they have accomplished.

I have never been a star chaser and I am sure that all of them are nothing like I imagined. I would like to keep it that way.

I would hope that SAAC will keep going on and keep everything they have in their possession.
They are a well established club and I don't think a name change would hurt their membership.

Question is, Will a Shelby Racing Team no show be an issue for the annual
national track event?

[CSX 4039]

Durt- I agree 100%.
As for who else to help besides ourselves, I was thinking SAAC, certainly not CS.
Wouldn't it be ironic if Shelby is successful in sacking SAAC, then he dies and his companies fall apart. And, those who know enough to carry on the legend, like Ron, Ned, Rick decline, as it would give them a daily reminder of the guy. So, in the end, the name dies with him, rather than grows post mortum. How ironic.
As for, "Sometimes it is better not to know the people we admire for something they have accomplished." That's probably true for a lot of folks. I have a patient who toured personally with Hillary Clinton for years as military attache' for Bill. Says she washes her hands furiously after coming back off stage, to get the disgusting, slimey people off her hands. I'm sure lots of popularity hounds are like that.
Regarding SAAC stepping in when CS couldn't have cared less, does CS have the law behind him with regard to his suit? If I take something that you've put in your garbage at the street, 30 years later, who owns it? Seems to me SAAC would win in court. No wrist slitting needed.

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by mtml427

While I have not read all the postings on this thread, it seems to me that there is usually an alternative to any situation. Is it possible that Ford Motor Company could be approached to gain authorization for the Cobra name in the spirit of elevating new cars sales via a corporation interested in giving back to a community that has been and continues to be promoters of the Ford name and product?

I would not be looking towards Ford for much help. Remember a couple of years ago when they told the aftermarket suppliers of Mustang parts that they could no longer use the name Mustang as part of their co. name.
Ford has never been friendly towards the performance community. Oh yea a couple of years when former GM execs went to work for Ford did we get any kind of performance vehicles. Remember the Mustang came about because Iaccoca was pres. (he got fired). From time to time Ford has given us a performance vehicle but genarally they have always catered to the upper end collector with their limited edition(over priced and generally underpowered supercars) The one reason the General dominates the performance world is because they have always made their high performance cars available to anybody with a job.
Right now go to any open track event and you will find a dozen or so Zo6's and rarely a Ford GT. I guess Chevy guys are more go than show.
The only exceptopn today is the 5.0 Mustang crowd and the only reason for their success is the huge aftermarket ,not because Ford is supplying racing parts.(the Ford stuff is just not as good)

And just why does Ford Charge $9K for a crate motor and the General $4.9k for the same 385HP but a forged crank, 4 bolt block?

Ford cares about selling trucks, not the performmance industry or Car clubs.

[RedCSX1]

[quote=CSX 4039]Durt- I agree 100%.QUOTE]

Since I was at Peterson's covering the event for the Norcal Shelby Club. I saw Shelby sign FOR FREE autograph for anyone who wanted one on anything. I have proof of that all over my office. I guess you really are a leper or a liar.

Your diatribe is filled with inaccuracies and you place blame on Carroll for events in which he had no control or involvement in many of the situations, which you state. Here accuracies and facts are not important when most peoples goals are to slam an individual who is not here to defend himself.

Now you can go back to having fun.

[CSX 4039]

[quote=RedCSX1]

Originally Posted by CSX 4039

Durt- I agree 100%.QUOTE]

Since I was at Peterson's covering the event for the Norcal Shelby Club. I saw Shelby sign FOR FREE autograph for anyone who wanted one on anything. I have proof of that all over my office. I guess you really are a leper or a liar.

Your diatribe is filled with inaccuracies and you place blame on Carroll for events in which he had no control or involvement in many of the situations, which you state. Here accuracies and facts are not important when most peoples goals are to slam an individual who is not here to defend himself.

Now you can go back to having fun.

Okay. Noted. Most of us weren't there. When I bought my Cobra, I knew none of the history of CS. I just had wanted a Cobra since I was 10 years old.

I guess my point is, when I found this site, with all the haranging, and found out about CS's history, at least as far as portrayed here, I had the same disapointment that Durt described. I guess I agree with his sentiment 100%, but have no first-hand knowledge of any of the facts.

Signing some stuff for free doesn't give him a free pass on suing SAAC though, imo.

[clayfoushee]

Damned amazingly fine job, Durt! Your post sums up my Shelby development process exactly, as I am precisely where you are. I've reached the point where the "old man" has sickened me past the point of repair.

I'll keep my POS replica and enjoy it from time-to-time, but I don't feel nearly as "dirty" driving my C6 Z06, as another great poster noted above. It is too bad a previous owner drilled holes in the POS, for these little badges he put on, but, of course, I can get those fixed at some point.

[Curt C.]

[quote=RedCSX1]

Originally Posted by CSX 4039

Durt- I agree 100%.QUOTE]

Since I was at Peterson's covering the event for the Norcal Shelby Club. I saw Shelby sign FOR FREE autograph for anyone who wanted one on anything. I have proof of that all over my office. I guess you really are a leper or a liar.

Your diatribe is filled with inaccuracies and you place blame on Carroll for events in which he had no control or involvement in many of the situations, which you state. Here accuracies and facts are not important when most peoples goals are to slam an individual who is not here to defend himself.

Now you can go back to having fun.

Please take the time to point out the inaccuracies. I genuinely would like to know where Durt erred.

[Durt]

"Since I was at Peterson's covering the event for the Norcal Shelby Club. I saw Shelby sign FOR FREE autograph for anyone who wanted one on anything. I have proof of that all over my office. I guess you really are a leper or a liar.

Your diatribe is filled with inaccuracies and you place blame on Carroll for events in which he had no control or involvement in many of the situations, which you state. Here accuracies and facts are not important when most peoples goals are to slam an individual who is not here to defend himself.

Now you can go back to having fun."


As I stated in my post, all of the opinions and experiences I wrote about are mine. I am, indeed, not an investigator - so when I read that Shelby did this or Shelby did that, I have no idea who "Shelby" might be, that is absolutely true. But when I read in the LA Times an article on "Shelby" versus Superformance that specifically detailed "his" desire to confiscate all SPF replicas, you're damned right I'm going to "slam" him.
The fact that he brushed me aside at the Peterson was a momentary disappointment in a decade of "Shelby" related unpleasantness - none of which I pulled out of thin air to "have fun." I did not see any signage, because at that point, I didn't feel compelled to stand in line for an autograph free or otherwise - and if he does in fact not charge money for autographs, then you may call me a liar.

http://www.shelbychildrensfoundation.org/autograph.asp

I am not involved in the small print regarding "Shelby's" current attempt to shut down SAAC, but I can tell you this - I forwarded my "diatribe" to Rick Kopec whose main comment was: "You've pretty much hit the nail on the head except you didn't go far enough."

So, I'm sorry if my personal accounts rub you the wrong way, but if "Shelby" doesn't enjoy being vilified, perhaps "he" should spend more time projecting a positive image to guys like me who simply want to be an enthusiast and less time in the courtroom - both real and of public opinion.

[turnpike boy]

Originally Posted by clayfoushee

....... It is too bad a previous owner drilled holes in the POS, for these little badges he put on, but, of course, I can get those fixed at some point.

An interesting point.....I built with NO badges of any kind, other than the "AC" badge in the steering wheel. And have had even a 9-year-old boy readily able to identify the car as a Cobra - NOT as a Shelby.

REALly...who needs him?

[cobraviper_99]

After making the simple supposition that Shelby's reputation, image, and hero status within the Cobra community has skidded so far down the slippery slope of moral tolerance that enthusiasm for cars bearing his name or service mark have also suffered an equal amount of disrepute, I was told my examples were overdrawn or irrelevant. I observed that other automobile revolutionaries in the past who begged, borrowed, or stole their way to their ill-gotten goals never saw widespread villification of their cars based on how immoral or unethical their behavior. Ferrari was a cold-blooded super-ego who prized winning over the lives of his own drivers. Delorean began his quest with honorable intentions but eventually became a bunko artist to keep his visions viable. Bricklin was more interested in turning a buck than performing due diligence within his financial infrastructure and went down the tubes--with a ton of OPM. Mercedes and the the Nazi braintrust broke bread.

In none of the above examples did enthusiasts of those automobiles remove the emblems from them as a display of their unmitigated outrage at the misdeeds, atrocities, or self-serving shell games of the people who produced them. As I read the previous posts, my point has been made much better than I might have been able to.

Please keep in mind, I am casting no aspersions at anyone on either side of the argument. My motives weren't to pass judgment on the guilty or the innocent. There's a dynamic in the Shelby/Enthusiast relationship that appears to be unlike anything I've seen before. Right or wrong, good or bad, justified or unjust, something is definitely there.

[turnpike boy]

Viper, I can't help but observe that you equate the revulsion with Shelby the man with a measurable decline in interest in Cobras. I confess I'm thoroughly confused by that analysis.

Where in any of these posts did anyone say they're willing to abandon their Cobra because of him?

I haven't read that into any of these posts. What I HAVE read is that his officious attitudes have turned people off to supporting his current, ongoing outrages ala' this "club" of his. Will it affect purchses of KR500's? - doubtful, because just like a Cobra, one can revel in what it does rather than who it represents.

I've got no Ford badges on my Cobra either.....and if they were to make a car that fascinated me the way a Cobra has, I would freely buy one on that basis, despite the bigoted, arrogant, fascist pig that ol' Henry was.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by cobraviper_99

In none of the above examples did enthusiasts of those automobiles remove the emblems from them as a display of their unmitigated outrage at the misdeeds, atrocities, or self-serving shell games of the people who produced them. As I read the previous posts, my point has been made much better than I might have been able to.

not really... in none of the other examples....are there owners of replicas.

It's the replica guys that are de-badging (or at least talking about it).

I'm not concerned about any of this as it relates to my GT-350. I know what is and where it came from...and I'm comfy with that.

[Durt]

Interesting observations. I think the main difference is that, unlike Shelby, Ferrari, DeLorean and Bricklin never elevated themselves to celebrity status. Along with laurels, celebrity also provides a gigantic bulls-eye.
I am personally not burning my picures of Shelby or sticking pins in his wax image. I'm just disappointed to find out that Santa Clause has whiskey breath.
As far as the badging goes - part of "Shelby's" settlement with Superformance included the cessation of accessorizing the cars with Cobra badges - so in theory, we should all be popping those badges off our cars regardless of our intent.
Thank God Mr. Smiths doesn't want his gauges back.

[Jamo]

...write a book.