DV, by DV

[PatBuckley]

My opinion, FWIW.

Why does there seem to be this slavish need to attract vendors, sponsors and manufacturers?

This is NOT how the Fling started. As stated elsewhere, it started as a picnic attended by some people who liked Cobras - THAT is it's magic.

If the Fling returns to those roots I will attend again.

We don't need some lame band playing music, we don't need a professional quality autocross, etc - all those things can be done better elsewhere.

It does not seem to me that CF feels the money raised is worth a thank you (not that I have seen anyway) so the heck with them.

Given the main thrust of this event one would also think that the Factory Five people would be a little more active in this event - where are they?

If money raising for a charity is the main goal of this event then I suggest a more appreciative charity - perhaps the families of those killed or wounded in the fight against terror?

Keeping things simple is more often than not the right course of action - I suggest it be tried.

[MidOHasp]

Pat,

As long as we can still drag race down Main Street, I agree.

Perhaps a new charity, perhaps a bit less commercialized.

News crews and vendors aren't what make the attendance numbers 300+. Those numbers come from friendships and common interests.

I'd like to feel I was at an event where it was so loosely put together, if I want to do a huge burnout by QS&L, I'm not ruining it for the group because things were so delicately laid out. I want to be at QS&L because a group of 30 of us decided to go there. Or 300. But not because we planned on that years in advance.

I'm probably dreaming. Maybe not. Anyone else agree with the KISS approach?

[CobraDan]

First a picnic with chocolate cookies, and now onto bigger and better things, the wife has been with me at all four Spring Flings; she has seen all the Cobras that most wives want to see. She enjoys the Strawberry Festival because this gives her something to do while I hang with the Cobra guys. The tent on Friday was fine until the sun went down and everyone left to go back to the Motels to get their jackets and warmth. Last year I couldn’t wait until I got back to Florida where it wasn’t so damn hot and this June it was cold as soon as the sun was gone, and I knew I was in back in Ohio. I don’t see anything wrong with vendors, especially if they are Cobra related, and where are we going to get a raffle car if not for our vendors. Actually the best part comes at the end of each day when the Cobra family gathers in the parking lots of the different Motels to BS and become friends. Ed just give us the dates and I and the wife will be there.
Dan & Jean Wulff

[relaxinrob]

Keep it simple and make it fun and we'll be there

[OhBuoy]

Pat,

Dave Smith has ademently said that he does not want Factory Five associated with this event if it is raising money for Cystic Fybrosis. I think he is excited at the numbers that have been raised for the cause in the past, but he WILL NOT have his company sponsor the event so long as Team Jenny is the benificiary. He does not want to be seen as using his daughter's name to market his cars. I, along with others have exchanged e-mails with him on this very subject, and it is a decision that is near to his heart. So near to his heart that I felt like a dweeb after putting some pressure on him to be at future Flings. We all know that his daughter's name and being at Spring Fling with a trailer full of cars is not going to sell one car for them. Wether his trailer of cars is there or not, if there is someone that is in the crowd that needs a push towards FFR, being at the fling will give them that push.

BTW, I have to agree on the band part. It was cool having someone that was part of the era such as the Ripcords present. It was okay having the band that we had this year. But I do not think that a band is entirely necessary. Heck, if need be, my contribution could be the set of DJ speakers that I have, a laptop full of MP3s and some automixing software that I purchased. But instead of paying a band, maybe we should look into getting a local radio station to broadcast onsite.

Just some thoughts,
Tom

[bittentoo]

The key ingredient here is that we get to drive our cars! That is why we built them and show them. The Poker run and the burn outs in front of the hotel were great!

But the best part was drag racing and beating that other Orange Cobra as we left town

Sorry DV, will try and do better next time

[Mike Braatz]

All;
Having been to all Flings -- I can say have enjoyed every one of them. I really liked driving and going place to place -- seeing 200+ Cobras running around and just being a part of that, is a thrill. Just as important, to me, is the after hour get togethers at the motels. I know I have met life long friends by being associated with others who have many common interests, not just COBRAS. We all want to do well, to assist others and to help those less fortunate.
Having the vendors participate, I think, is another very important part of this event. Many non-Cobra owners come to the fling to see "what's out there". I know people who have driven hundreds of miles to see the COBRAs and to talk to the vendors-- I think without them, we would be short changing many. We should work hard to keep them happy and to do what we can, to get more of them to show up.
I also think we should keep this event to COBRA'S -- GT's and our other cousin's in the "no it's not a real one" family.

Mike

[GOCATS]

DV:

Good to see that you are still with us. Picking up on the theme of a new charity... How about the " Race for a cure" to promote breast cancer awareness. I don't know about you guys but my spouse is the most important person along with my kids in my life. We get to have the enjoyment of driving these wonderful cars and hopefully you get to enjoy it with your spouse or significant other. But as we are all to aware we have short term passes and we try to make the world a better place than when we came into it. I thought the theme fit and it ties two of the things we enjoy the most : cobra's and spouses . Hey if Rick Mears would paint his car pink for the month of October I might not be the only one who thinks its important. IMHP I think the event should be cobra's and GT's and Daytona's only.

You build it we will come.

J.A.

[Godzila]

As a new SPF owner who is looking forward to our first fling, may I suggest another great charity to be considered is the Fire and police wives and childrens benefit fund that provides fund for the families of Fire and Police personel who died at the 9/11/01 WTC disaster. They are not covered by the survivors benefits paid to the families of the others lost,

Another patriotic need is to the soldiers lost or wounded in the fight against terrorism. They have sacrificed much for our freedom and recieve so little in return!

And that's my $.02 worth!
Oh yeah, and Cobra's GT, and coupes only

[Mariah]

Help me think ahead.............

It breaks my heart to even think this.... much less say it.....but Cystic Fibrosis is a killer of the young. The Fling evolved as a recognition of Jenny's condition and a national focus on Cystic Fibrosis by OWNERS of Factory Five Racing cars. We could not have a finer calling than to use FFR cars and others of similar types to bring focus to Cystic Fibrosis.

Factory Five doesn't need the Fling to sell cars but Dave's family needs us to support a cure for their child.

Over 4000 FFR roadsters and other makes have been sold and will be on the road in the next 12 months or so. Think about the focus 300 cars brought to the disease and think how many of the remainging thousands of Owners will want to join the focus in years to come.....at London and elsewhere.

Can you envision..................
A NATIONAL Fling in 3 years with 800 plus cars. ...a chore for DV to handle alone?
REGIONAL Flings supported by Cystic Fibrosis possibly, where 30-100 cars bring folks out to a local facility for "$10 road speed laps" before the group does Poker Runs, Autocosses, picnics, etc.?
A Fling where Cystic Fibrosis takes over some of the organizational tasks, advertising, banners, etc .....and are glad to do it?
A Fling that brings Cystic Fibrosis sufferers to National & Regional Flings so they and their parents can be entertained?
A Fling that brings National TV coverage to the little town of London and how their generosity helps Cystic Fibrosis and leads other little towns to do something similar?
A Fling with ONLY an organized Saturday parade, display and runs in Longon with everything else on Friday, Saturday night and Sunday organized by individual FFROGS (poker runs, auctions, picnics, etc.)?
A removeable sticker for our cars offering "$10 Rides For Cystic Fibrosis" where we provide them an envelop to make their donation?

Think about the Yellow Ribbons and all the other ways we generous Americans bring focus to issues.

Will there be a day where our cars wear a unique mark of support for Cystic Fibrosis? And a day when the public sees these cars and automatically thinks about Cystic Fibrosis and the cures that our focus is bringing about?

So help me think ahead....beyond the next gathering.... to a time in the future..................

[PatBuckley]

Mariah-

Are you in any way related to DV?

Pat Buckley

[Clois Harlan]

Interesting ideas on the table and some very good suggestions. '05 was going to be my first year at the Fling because of scheduling conflicts (and it still will be). For me since it is not a racing venue I wish there was a track (Mid-Ohio or somewhere in Minnesota) that would have a race weekend either immediately before or after the Fling so I could cut down on some of my travel miles. Rain or shine, Ohio or Minnesota my wife and I will be there to participate in this Affair of the Heart.

FWIW my vote is to keep it Cobra related, but that wouldn't keep me from comming if it was open to other cars of the period.


Clois

[Turk]

Bigger is NOT necessarily better!
Why do we need 800 cars? So we can raise another $500.00 for CF?

The event and it's organizers are having a problem hosting 300 cars. Can you imagine the nigtmare of finding hotels and places to eat for that many people.

What happens to the town of London with that many people? What do you do, wait 30 minutes to an hour between runs on the Main Street?

Why the attempt to turn this event into what it was NOT. This wasn't a fund raising event that happened to have some Cobras in it. This started as a Cobra gathering that happened to raise some money for a charity.

The bigger it is, the worse it becomes. The logistic of such an event is such that, if it gets any bigger DV is liable to loose money rather than raise money for CF.

How is DV going to host this event with 300, 400 or even with 10 cars when he no longer lives in the area? Why not move this event to some other neutral location, more accessible and better suited to hosting a large crowd?

As for Smiths.....I don't know exactly how much money was handed over to CF, we never got that I don't believe, Smith's are fully capable of writing a check for that amount and donating the money themselves without the wear and tear on their already ill child. Hell, they probably spent more than that just to get there.

I don't know about you guys but, I have lost all interest in this thing not for what it is or was, but because what it is being turned into.

We are NOT Jerry Lewis! We are just people with Cobras. Most of us give plenty to charity where we live. We don't need to travel to London OH to donate money to CF.

As a matter of fact, I would be willing to bet, I can raise more money for CF next year without leaving my house. I will donate 100% of all money donated to CF and never leave my computer. ZERO overhead, no oxpenses, and if I don't accept Pay Pal or credit cards no commissions.

Let me do that, send the money to CF with FULL ACCOUNTING. That way we get all the charity part of it out of the way and go have fun without the emphasis being on Jenny. What do you guys think?

TURK

[relaxinrob]

Keep it simple, make it fun!!

[GOCATS]

Turk:

You make several great points. Work smarter not harder. I just wish I had anwers to your questions. Will ponder as well others.

Thanks for the input Turk.

J.A.

[snake oil]

DV,
We in Chicago love going to the fling!

IMHO, KISS Keep it simple.

Chocolate chip cookies, Strawberryfest, Cobras, a few runs on Main St. maybe a few vendors.
I think most people will be happy.
By the way the tents across from the hotels was a good idea.

Arcenio

[relaxinrob]

Keep it simple...Let us drive our cars....do burnouts and enjoy sitting around the hotels meeting new friends.....and an occasional a-hole!

[Mike Braatz]

Turk, you make some very good points. I agree that the Fling has strayed away from it's original idea -- "just a group of folks getting together for a cookie and picnic in Columbus" As the Fling grew so did the ideas and creativity, the Fling took on a whole new life. Not all good -- but not all bad. Many less fortunate have benifited. I remember the "warm fuzzy" when the gentleman spoke, who had Cystic Fibrosis, in the lodge. I don't thnk there was a dry eye in the place. Those feeling are gone -- what happened? Well, lot's of things, some positive and some negative. I guess we learn it's not all about family but about dollars. Helping those with CF has become a challenge and a mission for some of our "family"and I don't think we should deviate from having CF being apart of the Columbus Spring Fling vision.


ALL;

According to Shayna Daubert, the Administrative Assitant for the Central Ohio Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis, they have benifited from the Fling in;
2000 --- unknown amount
2001 --- $24,000.00
2002 --- $29,000.00
2003 --- $66,480.00
2004 --- $ 8,000.00

That is a total of $127,480.00 donated too CF by the generious people connected to the Fling. Shayna made it very clear to me, that the Fling was not a fundraiser held for CF-- but, "is a party and the money we (CF) receive, is extra money after the party is paid for". She went on to say that if the Fling became a "fundraiser" for CF that they have many ideas on how to maximize the proceeds.

I work for a non-proffit agency that takes care of over 430 abused and neglected children a day. I know how important $127,480.00 is -- any non-profit would die to be the receipent of this money--- that's why it is so important not to abuse this wonderful event or to minimize it's impact.

It is impeative that we, as a group, have some financial accountability -- is that clear -- we must have financial responsibility[/u].

Mike--

[Double Venom]

Just to let you know...
I am reading every valuable post. Turk is right except Minnesota! It’s MEECHIGAN not that really cold state. Second. I have direct contact with the roots in Ohio and of course with our adopted town of London. Making meetings, calls, what ever, are not presenting a problem.

However I know the extremely generous 'Gashole' gang, (Sorry if I said something good about you guys, but you are and no amount of hiding can change that!) would like to see the event moved a little further west. Then again our two largest participating groups to date, Michigan and the DC group would like to see it moved north or east.

My e-mail has been filled with suggestions to change charities for one reason or the other. ALL of them are more than deserving. I simply am at a loss over this. I certainly have no objection to changing, maybe even rotating, but it has to be decided upon by the Cobra Family!

The most important part about the Fling, and I have been told, needlessly by the way, countless times, that "WE" started as a family picnic so many years ago. The 'Family' comes first, anything after that is secondary. I couldn't agree more--period. If we raise money for any given charity then so be it. That is a good thing.

I have so many charities that I would love to see us help out with. Pat's idea and many others of helping out my fellow veterans really strikes home. To help my brothers in blue along with the firefighters families strikes very, very close to home. Muscular Dystrophy is another one that has struck too close to home for me. Mike has asked to have his favorite charity thrown in to the hat too. Mike (Braatz) works tirelessly for a Boy's Town type organization. (Sorry Mike, I know I have the wrong name!)

At least one of the answers is simple. The Fling as we know it will stay in London at least as long as our family wants it too. Should it go somewhere else? If it is chosen to do so then I will be one of the first to sign up where ever it is!

Do we pick a different charity?

Or should we have a lottery? Should all the proceeds of a Fling be thrown into a hat and the winning charity takes all?

Or, how about we pick more than one charity, and then divide the kitty up with each charity getting an equal share of the kitty?

"WE", and I do mean all of us need to make a decision on this and I would appreciate sooner than later. The planning and arrangements for the DVSF V is well under way. Bigger or smaller doesn't matter to me as long as we can keep bringing the Cobra family in masse together. You can't make a wrong decision here.

Ed 'DV' Combs
PS ... Do the Club Cobra Polls work? Should we have a poll on this?

Edit...Just as I posted this Mike posted the thread above. Actually CF received just over $12,000.00 This year. Not bad people, not bad at all. For 87 days and all the cancellations because of our sniper problem, the Cobra family did one heck of a job! Just another side note. What Shana or CF collects at the Fling, poker run money, donations, even some of the money taken in from our actions have not been credited to the Fling. In other words, the money that CF collects DOES go to CF of course, it's just that the Fling hasn't gotten credit for it.

[Clois Harlan]

Why not have it in Joliet, Illinois area or near Indianappolis?

Major airports nearby, accustomed to large crowds, centrally located. I think it needs to be somewhere that we can all get to in two or three days.
Just a thought!