Kirkham Summit 2004 Report

[Side Oil'r 69]

Hello to all,

Dear Kirkham family, Jamo and Computerworks, I really wish that I could have attended but was on call for 72 hours ouch!

All of the displays look awesome, I think I need some of those billet tank staps? I hope that you all are enjoying the New Year.
I hope to meet you in person some day.

David K, I took your advice and stroked my aluminum Shelby to 484 cubes, I am told by conservative estimates it should pump out 550 to 575 bhp on 93 octane. Should be O.K. with the Tom K open pipes!!!

Engine should be installed in 14 days Im excited because it was 70 degrees here this week.

Sincerely,

Michael Harding KMP267

p.s. What are your thoughts on ZoopSeal, is it safe for the awesome brushed finish?

[ENTDOC]

Sorry my son and I missed the shindig,we could not get a flight back to SC when we needed to so we whent hunting instead.It sounds like fun was had by all and I really missed meeting all of you.Maybe next year. chuck

[shaps]

Thanks to the Kirkhams for putting on a great event!
It was great putting faces to names,
Computerworks, Jamo, Pat, U2, TC, Morris, Steve, just to name a few!
As was said earlier, The tech discussions were great and the "Dutch Ovens" (food) was delicious.
The hospitality and camaraderie were top notch!

Again, thanks to David, Thomas, Steve, Mary and all the others for making this a memorable day.
Shaps

[sshurts]

I just wanted to thank the Kirkhams (including their great staff) for putting together an oustanding open house. It was a great time meeting everyone and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations with the usual cast of characters (and everyone). With the build of kmp253 getting rolling soon it is very helpful learning from everyone's build experience and the resident historian (thanks Ron).

Thanks to all AND THE KIRKHAMS for a great time.

Scott

p.s. Anyone have any thoughts about the next summit in spring or summer?????

[Paul Gillespie]

I got home Monday Night and I just want say thanks to the Kirkhams for a wonderful time and some awesome food. It was good to see some of the regulars as well as meeting some new people.

[W. MITTY]

WOW! What an incredible day Saturday was. When I left in the evening after the Summit was over, my Wife asked what in the world we did ALL DAY LONG. I responded that it could have lasted another day and I wouldn't have complained. The food was great, the people were great, and the hardware made me weak in the knees. C'mon guys, I'm telling you -- if you havn't seen a Kirkham in person, you don't know what you are missing. The billet suspension parts, the cross drilled rotors, the satin form of the aluminum body -- it's beyond description. These guys are working magic in Provo, and you gotta see it to believe it.

It was especially nice to put names with faces. David Kee has a new level of respect in my eyes since I met him in person and heard him speak about the top loader. Same for Mike Lefevre with regard to the aluminum 427. It was also facinating to meet some of the Club Cobra crowd in person -- I will read many of their posts with a new level of understanding. It's amazing how a person's posts take on new meaning when you have met the author in person. I'm trying to saying something nice here.....I think.

Anyway, great time. Oh -- one more thing. I was impressed that the Kirkhams took the time and effort to CNC machine a special aluminum plaque (the size of liscense plate, but about four times as thick) for the attendees. The plate read "KIRKHAM" with references to 427, 289, Utah and Poland. A cool souvenir and another small indication of what a class act they run. I've said it before and I will say it again now -- KIRKHAM=THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.

By the way, I pick up my Car in two and a half weeks. For anyone that's interested, I ordred the stainless chassis and all the billet that was available. Thank heaven I'm so busy at the office that I can't think about the car, otherwise I'd probably explode.

[computerworks]

Mike LeFevres ( ex-Shelby Engine Guru) gave a very informative presentation about the development of the Shelby aluminum block, heads and related engine components...



Our own Gashole, Jamo, presented a session on the trials and tribulations of California registration, with a great white-paper on how to do it right.



Tom Kirkham gave a quick lesson on safety wiring, showing the do's and don't's...



David Kirkham stands in front of a display that shows the evolution of certain components on the Cobra platform. If you look to his right side (left in picture), you can see a "real live timeline" of control arms, starting with one from an original 427, next the duplicate made by KMS, next the improved, adjustable one and finally the new billet version.... all being "plug and play" on an original or KMS chassis...



Many have heard of the "Gurney Bubble" on the Coupe to clear Dan's helmet?
...we discovered that the GT-40 would need a "Jamo-Dome"

[ChrisForbes]

ditto to all the praise for this great weekend. It really stoked the fire to touch and sit in one of these legends. Was that a 2140 lbs.
cobra on those scales, unbelivable. An Aluminum Shelby engine lightweight this and lightweight that who needs atkins just lighten your car. Truly one of the highpoints of my year so far.

Trust me that SEMA show car is even more impressive in person.

Great job KMS

p.s. have you got anymore license plates??

[750hp]

Jeez Jamo - I bet you were cursing the fact that the GT40 didn't have a quick-release steering wheel.....

Does anyone have a photo of their Kirkham plaque?

[W. MITTY]

750hp --

I posted a picture of the plate in my gallery -- sorry I don't know how to post it here.

[750hp]

Very classy ! Gotta love anything with CNC machining marks on it !!!

[jhl1963]

Thanks for the pics guys - I am drooling. Hmm, how about a Kirkham info package with the DVD video, License plate and full price detail for $49.95 ?

Jordan