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

[RodKnock]

Just please don't define anything as a "Survivor." The Bloomington Gold Corvette people have trademarked that term.

So, after reading the new Snakeite Bulletin, I noticed that Kirkham is not listed as a sponsor anymore. Last issue they were listed as a sponsor. Curious. Even more curious is that in Shelby's recent response, I think if I can remember right, he basically says about SAAC, "...and NOW they're sponsored by a kit car company!" Did Kirkham stop sponsoring SAAC because of Shelby's response? Is Kirkham still a sponsor of SAAC? Will Kirkhams still be listed in the Registry? Inquiring minds want to know.

[xlr8or]

or a better question...

Will the new registry ever ship out? That check has been cashed for quite a while now.

[RodKnock]

According to the Snakebite Bulletin, the Registry will ship out before the August convention.

[Jamo]

damn lawyers

[Excaliber]

I see SAAC is now offering "Honk... if your being sued by Carroll" bumper stickers. Hey, I thought I all ready had that 'trade marked' right here on Club Cobra?

Anyway, I'm gonna get me a couple, $5. Blue with white stripes, uh, I mean letters, 11.5" X 3".

Kirkhams are in the registry primarily for one reason, to stop someone in the future from rebadging a Kirkham and marketing it as a Shelby. Wait,,, isn't somebody all ready doing that?

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

So, after reading the new Snakeite Bulletin, I noticed that Kirkham is not listed as a sponsor anymore. Last issue they were listed as a sponsor. Curious. Even more curious is that in Shelby's recent response, I think if I can remember right, he basically says about SAAC, "...and NOW they're sponsored by a kit car company!" Did Kirkham stop sponsoring SAAC because of Shelby's response? Is Kirkham still a sponsor of SAAC? Will Kirkhams still be listed in the Registry? Inquiring minds want to know.

One more question..."Did you lose your reading glasses?"

Kirkham is still listed in the Corp Sponsor section....just like they have been.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by computerworks

Kirkham is still listed in the Corp Sponsor section....just like they have been.

Yup........

[Trevor Legate]

Originally Posted by Jamo

damn lawyers

Damn the damn lawyers Jamo - they should be damned to spend all eternity on the toilet. Oh.....

(well it all helps keep the postings ticking along)

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Trevor Legate

Damn the damn lawyers Jamo - they should be damned to spend all eternity on the toilet. Oh.....

(well it all helps keep the postings ticking along)

I've heard that certain reading environments might have a negative effect on a book's resale value if made public. Luckily we don't track books by serial number or have their histories in a registry.

On the other hand, I've heard there could be a positive effect on resale value if the author signs the book. I wonder if a certain author from the other side of the pond has decided if he is going to join some of us at the SAAC convention this year. Perhaps we need to start a fund raising thread for such a journey.

[Trevor Legate]

Keep talking .... if I come across any real authors I'll point 'em this way.....

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Trevor Legate

Keep talking .... if I come across any real authors I'll point 'em this way.....

Genunine authors are OK with me too, but I try to stay away from the re-bodied authors myself.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by computerworks

One more question..."Did you lose your reading glasses?"

Kirkham is still listed in the Corp Sponsor section....just like they have been.

How did you know I wear glasses? Simply amazing. My apologies. I didn't see it and I definitely looked for it.

Excaliber, are you trying to bait Evan, again?

[Trevor Legate]

Re-bodied?????? A little restoration work maybe but definately the genuine article, for better or worse. Worse mostly. And still with the original powerplant but let's keep away from the definition of 'original' and 'genuine' as I lost that plot a long time back....

And I just realised this year is the 10th anniversary since I did attend a SAAC gathering, so I guess maybe it's time I returned - they must be missing me! Seems like yesterday...

[nikbj68]

...And I could carry your portable signing table! (All donations gratefully received!)

I was of the understanding that the Kirkham supply chain to Shelby had long since come to an end....is that not the case?

[What'saCobra?]

i would seriously doubt that CS has found a suitable alternative to Kirkham.

Several have tried and others are trying, no doubt.

Like all vendors, CS must deliver on time and on contract to spec. & price.

Despite CS's abominable prior histories, Kirkham sends them precisely what has been ordered, on time, on price and on spec (if not better). CS has only one requirement to satisfy. Pay on time.

No doubt not easy.

Therefore, from time to time, i would assume that CS would try other suppliers that might be more "flexible" with regard to terms. And, in return, CS might receive the goods with more flexible specs and condition.

CS shipments, therefore, might vary from time to time, as financial conditions vary and vendors variously stub their toes.

My guess would be that the boys at Provo know all this from rather up close and personal experience and then some. But, i would guess they would remain reliable and wiser suppliers.

But, i'm only guessing.

[imagine2frolic]

If he is still buying from Kirkham I would think he would offer an aluminum 289 streetcar. I thought that relationship was over some time ago? Of course with CS just about anything could happen.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

If he is still buying from Kirkham I would think he would offer an aluminum 289 streetcar.

I don't even think Kirkham is offering an aluminum street car anymore...unless you got Tom in a headlock.
The leaf spring deal is quite a bear to build, it seems.... now, coil spring hybrids? ..another thing altogether..

[David Kirkham]

OK,

I will post here...reluctantly.

First, thank you to all who said such nice things about us. We do work hard at it and it is not easy to be a reliable supplier--especially with the Euro eating away at us. Pretty soon the dollar may not be worth toilet paper at this rate! The flip side is, over seas sales have been booming. We have 8 over seas cars on order right now.

We still supply Shelby with cars. That deal never died; I am not sure why some people think it did. They buy them from us every now and again. We just sent them 3 cars (if I remember right) only a few weeks or so ago...maybe a little longer; maybe 2 months, but I don't remember such details any more as we are now past 600 cars.

The cars they bought were all 427 cars. We still do make 289 Street cars in aluminum with the leaf spring chassis. In fact, we just had orders for 4 of them this week! Yes, they are a bear to make, but you know, we try to do just about anything a customer wants. Interestingly, Shelby has never bought a 289 street car from us. They have bought 289 FIA cars, however.

We are still a corporate sponsor of SAAC. They have been very nice to us over the years and this latest blow up hasn't changed anything. We have known Ned Scudder and others for years and years. They are the nicest guys you could imagine.

Just so everyone knows, SAAC was wanting information about Kirkham cars YEARS ago. I imagine they have wanted to put our cars in the Registry for quite some time. We discussed corporate sponsorship early in 2007, long before Shelby pulled the license or any of this latest drama came to pass. SAAC was very concerned our cars could be passed off as original cars sometime down the line by some "stinky characters" (of which, the world seems to have too many).

I think their concerns are/were very justified. On my brother's car, if you were to simply change the wiper motor, it would be extremely difficult to distinguish the car from an original car. Frankly, it would be almost impossible for even "experts" to separate the two now that the car has "weathered" for over 10 years. There are only very few, minor details to distinguish the car from an original car (which, for obvious reasons, I will not publish). There are but a handful of people who know all those secrets and SAAC knew our cars could easily be passed of as originals by unsavory miscreants with nefarious inclinations. They were justifiably concerned of fraud later down the road. SAAC NEVER indicated they were trying to "get Shelby back" or "We'll show him" or anything else like that. They had no reason to. From all the years I have known them, they just don't seem to be the Medea type of people.

I'll let you all go back to the fun,

David

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

as we are now past 600 cars. David

Now past 600 cars? Congratulations!

Do I have to worry about my Kirkham becoming the next Honda Civic?

Thank you for the post David.

[nikbj68]

David, Thank you for taking the time to put the record(or more specifically, me!) straight. Recollections of 3rd party 'He said, she said...' facts have been enough of a problem and I`m happy to stand corrected.
Having seen up close & personal both an FiA & 'Street' 289 of yours, I can appreciate how very difficult, once weathered, it could be to distinguish them from original!
Rodknock, if your Kirkham becomes too common for you, I could take it off your hands (For Honda Civic money...of course!)
Nik.