[Randall Thomas]

Just because an owner of a particular brand says or does something, it doesn't mean they represent or casts a shadow of the company that made the car they happen to own.

In the Cobra world however, it's a lot closer knit family from owner to manufacturer, so the associations are easier to accuse them of I suppose.

Bantering back and forth about the features, performance and technical points of different brands is always interesting to both sides as well as onlookers alike. But bantering the companies business ethics, procedures and policies is not the owners business, but should be best left up to the companies themselves to deal with. After all, were just customers, not share holders.

Many of these new CSX buyers that just got done plunking down 10 grand certainly do not need to hear that they are not going to get their car or their money back, and if anyone tells them that, they are going to respond in kind. Let's just hope for the best for them and remind ourselves what a happy experience it was when we were waiting for our cars... then think what these other poor folk's memory of their experience will be becasue of this. That's just not fair to anyone.

Looking back through all the discussion there seems to be a turning point of where the "brand vs. brand" apparently turned an ugly corner, and specifically onto Shelby. And that appears to be when he put out that ad stating "you're kit car is an embarassment." That one hit home on a lot of people, so maybe a lot of the super sensitivity is still coming from that.

While I personally didn't think it was too good of a marketing spot, it did catch your attention! That's all water under the bridge, and while I'm not so sure I liked the way ol' Shel handled things in the past few years, IF he were to be in my town and IF he needed a place to stay, my home and hospitality would be his to enjoy... just like any of you would be just as welcome.

Defending your brand is nothing new. But to take it to the level it has, would be like the 65 Mustang guys disowning the 69 Mustang guys, and teaming up to attack the 70's Mustang guys. If that was the case everyone would be driving Pinto's! And what would a replica of that be... a Mercury Bobcat? no thanks.

/Randall