Time In! Who, what, how, etc. VERY, Long

[Double Venom]

“Time In” -- The rest of the story & who’s coming to the Fling?

The full schedule has been submitted to Sir John, our web guru. Of course I didn’t get it to him until after midnight last night, but trust it will be posted very soon. The event side for this year Fling has changed more times in the last 45 days than it has in all of the last three years of Flings. So many promises and offers were made to the DVSF Volunteers, only to be broken within days or even weeks. It was getting to the point were we were just about ready to kidnap “Jamo” and the “Real One”, and take them to all the meetings we were attending.

However, the crème of the crop regarding all the possible hosts for “our” event have risen to the top. I think when it is all said and done, you will agree. I certainly have to give credit where credit is due. I know, much to their dismay and desire to stay in the back ground, that neither of these individuals will be pleased to be mentioned, but they have to be recognized.

Randy, DV Jr. as you know him, called me around 6:30 AM way back in April telling me that “they” finally got our sniper! (William McCoy) “Dad... I know it’s early but turn on CNN—they got him! Can we still do Da’ Fling?” Was the very next thing out of his mouth. Randy, we simply can’t do it, I replied. People have cancelled their vacations because of the sniper, they can’t reschedule. Hotel rooms have been cancelled. (Ya’ right!) The City (London of course) has told the Police Officers and Firefighters that they “can” put in for vacation-days for that weekend. Our many hosts have made other arrangements and also told their employees they could have “our” weekend off. We simply cannot pull this off in less than 90 days! (We honestly work on the Flings up to 14 months in advance! DVSF V is already being worked on!) DV Jr. absolutely insisted, stating he would help in anyway he could. I warned him that he had no idea what he was getting into. Not a problem said he, we could do it! Well he certainly has done it, as you will see.

Then as all of you are aware of, our web site was seriously behind. Registration turned into a major headache for all concerned. Getting information on our special raffle car was nil and impossible. You cannot believe how many people accused us of fraud! They would not believe that we were going to give “that” car away! Jr. had to defend my honor and his more than once, even at Carlisle as some people just flat out got indignant with him over the car. They simply thought we were taking their money and was going to run.

Our web designer from last year was doing everything possible to maintain and update the site, but business demands just stole our time. So many trips to Europe and back, then being called back within days, just didn’t allow him time to do what needed to be done. Up steps John, my Son n Law. John’s business is computers. One in which I know demands 60 hour weeks, week after week. Unbeknown to me, John realizing what a nightmare the web site was for me, secretly started building an entire new site. When it became painfully clear that we weren’t getting anywhere he stepped up to the plate, volunteered to finish the site, get our raffle car information updated, update the registration and the credit card processing, (absolutely not a simple task!) and in general just get things working again!

John, you may have stolen my daughters’ heart and last name from me, but you have given so much back. For who you are and for what you have done for “our” Fling family, I dub thee, “Sir John.”
Thank you fella!

I know…get to the point!
Who is coming to the Fling? That’s an easy one. Almost everyone! You wont believe the outpouring of help and sponsorship that has come on board this year.

How about “RACE DECK”? You guys have wanted to see this miracle floor covering and now you will! In fact Jorgen, the owner of Race Deck has offered us a great door prize for this years picnic. Some very lucky person will win enough Race Deck flooring to do a 10’x15’ area, with edging no less! You even get to pick the style and color! Thank you Race Deck! Now if I can only talk Jorgen into covering my new “Toy Store!”

For those that have a larger area, or simply want to have the best finish available under their Race Deck, Jim Shofstall of “Wonder Paint” is giving us enough material to cover a good sized garage. Trust that many others and I have spent hours and hours investigating floor coverings. Time and time again “Wonder Paint” always came to the top of the short list. You need to investigate this new type of “concrete mixed paint”. (www.wonderpaint.com) After talking to Mr. Shofstall I suggested that if he really wanted to get his name out to the garage people of the world that he might consider donating something to the Fling. Absolutely was his answer, anything to help our event raise money for Jenny and Cystic Fibrosis.

For those that just can’t make up their minds about buying a trailer to go all those miles to the Fling, “Serpent Express” has stepped up to the plate! No, they, actually he, cannot afford to give us one, but he will have one here at the event for you to see and inspect. For those that don’t know this is a specially designed open trailer that has the option of being enclosed at will. Much like the semi-trailers that transport new Vipers and BMW’s. All I have to say about this new product…it’s about time!

Aesthetic Finishers will be coming with display in hand. Wait until you guys see what these guys do to side pipes, headers, roll bars, or aluminum sheeting. These guys are good! This may be the first time you have heard of them, but it wont be the last!

Some very exciting news, we have the latest hi-tech version of a Dyno coming in too!

“Dynatek Racing Products” will be set up at almost all of our events. Talk about a cool machine and a cool bunch of guys!
Super accurate, easy on and easy off AND they are charging less than our previous Dyno guy and donating more! We will have them set up in front of the world. Just so you know, this is one of the biggest hits with the public, right after the rides. I might even offer a prize this year to the guy that has the most “real” rear wheel horsepower!


“Machining Services“, one of our own, Stuart Spencer has supplied us a gift certificate for a free re-drilling of the Ford rear hubs that so many of us use with independent suspensions. Just wait until you see his work. Beautiful, simply beautiful!

There are so many more, and as soon as time permits I will do them justice, but it is time to move on.

This is a tough crowd. You asked, then over the years you demanded “they” show up, and now they have. Many of the manufacturers are playing serious catch up, especially after we had to cancel them back in the very early spring.
Here is a short list of who is still trying to re-arrange schedules to be here:
SAI
ERA
Unique
Antique & Collectibles

Rest assured their cars will be here, represented by their proud owners. Hopefully they can succeed in re-arranging their schedules and be here themselves!

Once again, our greatest sponsors of past will be honoring us, bringing in their displays and showing off.
Superformance will have numerous cars on display, bringing in their entire rig and show cars!

Please continue ...page two follows

[Double Venom]

Page 2

Some of you will immediately notice a very, very involved company not listed. FFR. I’m not supposed to say anything, but I feel it is absolutely necessary to try and explain, not only for David Smith, owner of FFR but for me as well.

A little needed history lesson needed here since we have so many new people in our family. My wife and I started the Fling in a much simpler format and certainly a different name roughly 30 years ago. A simple picnic, called a “picnic” of all things for our own customers and their family’s that we build cars for over the years. Then the Christmas of 1999 a simple gift of chocolate chip cookies being sent to Dr. Semko and wife Sue, really got things rolling! Dr.“D” was the start of something that no one could have predicted. A challenge was thrown down for the finest chocolate cuisine available. An eat-off was at hand and the “Double Venom Spring Fling” was born. Fast-forward a year. The Fling grew wings. My wife and I simply could not afford to feed and entertain the 30 plus Cobras expected to attend the first DVSF. Within days of this shaping up, many companies that I had dealt with over the years called us and donated money and just neat stuff for us to give away. In fact we had too much money now! What to do? Couldn’t give the money back, couldn’t and didn’t want to keep it. I was told to keep it for next year’s event. Hell there was never supposed to be a next year’s event! I went to the Cobra forums and asked if anyone had a special charity or fundraiser we should support. That is when I found out about Jenny. Now I had known Dave Smith for years. We competed against each other not only for sales, but on the racetrack as well. I had no idea about Jenny. I didn’t even know he had a daughter let alone one with this terrible disease!

At this point picking a fight was easy. One of our own had this disease and we as a family could help, and we will and we have!

The point is, Dave is absolutely terrified that people, especially the unknowing will accuse him of using Jenny to further his business. I have tried to tell Dave that this is silly. FFR is it’s own entity. Jenny’s condition has nothing to do with that company. To no avail, David has refused to send the company display to the Fling. He states there are always plenty of FFR cobras to be seen and ride in. Please trust me that David is very, very involved with the Fling and IS and HAS always been a supporter of the Fling!

My disclaimer if you will. Almost every one of you knows I started “Classics by Elite, Inc.” many years ago. I have never been accused, at least that I know of, of using the Fling to benefit my business. This is why you will rarely if ever see me using my business anywhere regarding the Fling. The touchiest part is my deep involvement with “Classic Roadster’s”. I let Don Scott and Jay Kowalik handle all of that now. You will, as mentioned earlier see “CR’s” represented, you will NOT see “Classics by Elite, Inc. represented.

On with the show!


Shell Valley, with Dana and crew will be setting up with their cars. Dana has also donated the coolest items for our dinner Friday night. Absolutely everyone needs these! I’m not gonna’ tell you what it/they are right now; you’ll just have to wait until Friday night! (I’ve got to get me some of these!)

Bob Callio, of Mid States will be here once again. Bob is one of the great guys in this business. Don’t hesitate to ask him anything you want about the beautiful cobra he builds.

Don Scott, Classic Roadsters II, will be here representing his new company. (Before you ask, yes I am associated with Don and proud to say for almost fifteen years now.) Don will be honored to tell you about the huge upgrades he, and tongue in cheek, others built into the new C.R.’s II Cobra.

Remember those awesome Cobras from “Shamrock” last year? They brought four to the DVSF III and rumor has it they sold all four before leaving! John and Randy Crawford will certainly be back showing their wares.

Moving on… a couple of really neat surprises this year. Ready? How about…drum roll please-

BACKDRAFT! Yes, Backdraft is truly coming in force. Race versions, street versions, and enough cars to make you drool! I can’t wait to see these! Two Semis full to be exact. This should be really interesting.

I hate clichés as much as anybody, but if it fits, it fits.
Last but not least, the guy we all know as David and family. David was well represented at last years Fling by his brother and of course one of his “Michael DiAngelo’s” cobras of the cobra world. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m talking about “The” Jenny Cobra of last year!

David Kirkham & family will be at DVSF IV! At least part of the family anyway. Now you can personally thank them for the wonderful support of “our“ Fling.

I know you are saying, OK, that was great, but that was last year, what are you doing for the DVSF and CF this year? How about displaying and showing off their new “kit”!
The one that is a special combination of fiberglass and aluminum! This has raised more eyebrows in the Cobra world than has ever been seen before! A “Kirkham” modernized (to say the least) frame, to specially molded bodies, with aluminum doors, hood, and trunk. I suspect this will be the Cinderella of the DVSF IV.

Get in line at the Fling to see all these wonderful displays, meet the supporters of your Fling, and thank them for their support. “WE” could not do this without them.

DV… “WE ARE FAMILY”

[rdorman]

It is a good thing all of you do. Congradulations!
Rick

[SnakeBitt]

I had to pee the entire time I read that, but I couldn't take my eyes off the screen until I was finished reading.............THAT'S how glued to my PC I was! Great stuff DV. You and the entire group of people involved do a wonderful job. Can't wait to get there and see everyone. Great bunch of folks working for a terrific cause. See you there, and God bless Jenny!!

[relaxinrob]

DV,
Can't wait to get there for my first of many DVSF's. Approximately how many are registered so far?

Rob Burton

[Double Venom]

Relaxinrob,
If I only knew! Around 500 registered is my best guess right now. Now we have to figure out how many Cobras are in their!
DV...We're counting!

[klayfish]

DV,
As I said before, you know it doesn't matter if it's 500 or 5000 people. It's the greatest Cobra gathering anywhere!!

I'm really sorry to hear that Dave has refused to bring FFR to the Fling. I fully understand and respect his position, but as you said, FFR is entirely seperate. Yes, there will be plenty of us to carry the FFR banner. Just wish they would come too.

If you're going to give a prize for the most rear wheel horsepower, we've got to get John Molnars' car on there. It's got a 588ci big block, with a HUGE blower on top of it. He was there last year and due to unfortunate circumstances with his car, became friends. This puppy will probably break the dyno!!

Cookies...yeah, my wife and I will start making them on Sunday. We'll have lots of 'em.

Steve

[NMattison]

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS DONE WITH THE COOKIES? HOW MANY DO WE BRING? CAN'T WAIT TO HEAD OUT

[trularin]

Bring 5000 hand made choc-chip cookies with several gallons of milk and warm fuzzies.

Just kidding!

You all will make this event one to remember. I only hope we can make it. Things are stacking against us.

Good luck and God bless.

[blown 588]

One week away and I can't hardly sleep at night thinking about this years fling.I know once anybody goes to a dvfs they are hooked,God willing I will never miss another one.DV the cd was great,even though I was there last year I've watched it about a hundred times.THANKS.SEE YA SOON

[got snake?]

Oh my god IT IS next week!!! It didn't even hit me till just now!

sid

[Double Venom]

N....,
You gotta read the History of the DVSF! Dr. "D", started all of this with a gift of cookies from Mrs. DV. What do we do with them!!!
I EAT THEM!

TRULARIN: Don't you dare kid about my cookies

588....I Can't wait to see you on the new Dyno!

DV...almost down to hours! If you come--you WILL come back!