CR donation to LOndon Car Show

cobra427mnsi · #1 (**permalink**) 04-08-2005, 02:32 PM

Don, I just read that you donated a car to the London car show. Thanks for your generousity.

I wish that the two shows weren't on the same weekend. I would love to attend both. I hope next year the organizers (rdorman and hotfingers) can get together and plan for two different weekends. I know the London Show is tied to the Strawberry Festival so the dates are pretty well set. But the DVSF can be held on any weekend now it is no longer affiliated with the Strawberry Festival.

Don, is there any particular reason that you will be attending the London Show as opposed to the DVSF in Elyria.

Alas, the Great Lakes Cobra Club (the group I belong to and go with) have decided as a group to go to DVSF, so, I will be going there. Sorry to miss you.

Paul

dscott · #2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2005, 07:18 AM

I would love to say I donated a car to the show but I did not. I sold the car to the Ohio club at my cost. I can't afford a donation that large at this time. Maybe next year I can just give one. I was really torn on which event to attend and had kind of decided to attend both until I received a letter from Jack May. I was really offended by the letter and I know Ed Combs does not support his attitude. I am going to publish it on another thread so everyone can see who we are dealing with and why so many are attending the London show. I don't usually take things personal but this time I did. Everyone understands why vendors attend any show. It's for sales and promotion. I don't spend thousands of dollars just to see a bunch of Cobras. I need to spend my money wisely and attend the functions I think will give my company exposure. Jack stated yesterday on the phone that only 35 people had signed up for the DVSF.
Don

cobra427mnsi · #3 (**permalink**) 04-09-2005, 02:18 PM

Thanks, Don for clarifying. That was still a generous thing you did selling at cost. I'm proud to have a CR and be associated with an organization such as yours.

A question: did you ever find the jig for drilling the holes in the body for the soft top? I bought a used soft top two years ago and haven't had the courage to start blindly drilling holes in the body.

Paull

trularin · #4 (**permalink**) 04-09-2005, 02:27 PM

Dang Paul, you can travel with us.

PM me or email me if you would like to leave thrusday afternoon and travel back Sunday.

There's just me right now, but I'd welcome some company.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread.

cobra427mnsi · #5 (**permalink**) 04-09-2005, 06:36 PM

Trularin

Do you belong to the Great Lakes Cobra Club ? I have been travelling with them for the past 4 years. Although, I didn't make it last year (putting new motor in cobra) I have been to DVSF I, II , and III.
Do you know Terry Anway and the "Cobra Garage" in Ortonville ?

Paul

crillyiv · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2005, 08:51 PM

Don,
I appreciate your candor and making sure that everyone knows you sold it at cost. I too think that it is a donation of sorts as you lost the opportunity to make a profit on it, and are probably out money in the end.

Good on you.

rdorman · #7 (**permalink**) 04-09-2005, 10:13 PM

Ouch! Tough question. I don't know why Don is joining us in London, I just know I am glad to have him there. Not because he builds cars or is selling one to the event at cost..... but because he is one he!! of a nice guy and I look forward to tossing back a few with him. As a event organizer 'helper', the other stuff doesn't hurt either

It is CF that comes out the winner with this 'donation'. I know it is really not a donation but I would be willing to bet that no one will sell me a call at cost! Not making money on a car has a definiate cost associated to it. Accountants call it an 'opportunity cost'. So Don, thank you and thank you!!

By the way, that is about all I am, a helper. People like Frank, Bill, Rob, etc, etc are what really is making this tick.

By the way Don, Bill has some great brake ideas for CRII, we will have share a beer and talk about them. The beer is on me.

Rick

dscott · #8 (**permalink**) 04-10-2005, 07:24 AM

Thanks for the cudos guys. Selling the car at cost was a donation of sorts I guess. I do have labor costs and packaging that I did not include I just sold the car at my hard cost for parts. Next year I would like to be able to afford to donate one for free. I thought instead of a Cobra the Badlands hummer replica might be cool for a tow vehicle. Even though it's a Cobra event.

Cobra427, I did not find the jig. It seems like a hard job to install the top but it's really pretty easy. I'm sure many of the guys here can tell you how they did it. It's just takes patience and time.
Don

petek · #9 (**permalink**) 04-10-2005, 07:37 PM

Paul,

The soft top isn't that tough of an install - just scary.

Find the center line of the car and start there. If I remember correctly, I installed my soft-top bows and then stretched the material over. I pulled the top down and back and figured out where the studs would fit on the car - marking as I went along.

Once everything was marked I removed the top and then measured each mark with its duplicate on the other side of the body, just to make sure the spacing was symmetrical. In some cases I had to decide which one was correct by putting the top back on and stretching it back down and back.

When I was satisfied I started installing studs, starting from the center. Worked out very well. Just remember to pull everything tight.

Jack21 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-11-2005, 06:09 PM

Well, I guess this decides which DVSF I'll be going to, doesn't it!

Would love to rap with other CR owners face to face, and buy Don hsself a beer. Don, this might be a good opportunity to get a photo shot.

When I installed my soft top, I used the factory fiberglass jigs sent to me by Don Vancleve from the former CR. If anyone wants to, you can make a set of patterns off my car if you need them.