In the market for a kit

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Sorry, but I am calling BS on this comment because it could affect someone's decision to objectively evaluate Hurricane. The term "Dark Side" was coined by a few folks during the 2008-2009 "White-era" when Hurricane Part Deux went into receivership as a result of SEC fraud having nothing to do with the product. People were pissed at the Whites as new owners for not helping them with their builds, so there was some b*&^%g and moaning on the forum, as would be expected (BUT NOT NOT ABOUT THE PRODUCT). The new owners of Hurricane Motorsports have chosen to keep the owner's side of the forum closed but it not for the reason you mention.
Jim

Call BS if you want, Jim.

Then check out my membership data on the manufacturer's website, not the one Paul P started. You'll see that I have been a member of that forum for much longer than back when the "White" fiasco happened, and it WAS called "The Dark Side" back then, too. Get your fracts straight before you get all huffed up.

As for the perception that Hurricane is hiding something, I simply stated how it looks TO ME. I am a firm believer in doing one's due diligence before purchasing a big-ticket item, and the fact that Hurricane wants to hide the content of the "Dark Side" smacks of exactly what I stated, like it or not. I made a special trip to Lee's Summit to see the product, liked very much what I saw. I even took the time to call and talk to Dean Lampe personally, long before he built the new one (he was just starting his RCR40 build at the time, and he had nothing but positive comments for the Hurricane product).

Like I said, I've always championed the Hurricane product...with a big BUT for the company's "secretive" choice to keep the build thread info on the "Dark Side" available only to owners. It kept me from being able to perform my "due diligence" research, in the end kept me from buying a Hurricane kit b/c I couldn't get the info I needed to be prepared for the problems that occur in the build (and problems do occur in every build, it's the nature of the beast).

If it cost Hurricane my business, it might well do so even more easily for someone who did not do as I did....take the time to participate on the forum and familiarize myself with the product. Other than one board, I'm prohibited from participating on the forum Paul P. started b/c I don't own a Hurricane. Paul is quite specific that his forum is for OWNERS (or, in a few cases and with the limited access I mentioned, for "potential owners") ONLY. The manufacturer's forum does have a lot of information on it, but IMHO hiding the "Dark Side" causes suspicion in most folks. Why hide things that might help people make the decision to buy their product? Right....it is quite easy to believe that the only reason to hide info might well be to keep people from finding out why not to buy their product. I was quite specific with Mike (had very little direct communication with Rich) about the perception with which the practice left me (I did suggest that Rich and Mike offer "read only" access to the "Dark Side" for those who feel as strongly as I do, but they sold the business before the issue could be resolved).

Like it or not, that's the way I see it, and I doubt I'm alone.

It may surprise you to hear that I still hope to be a Hurricane owner someday, but since I want a 289 model, I'm waiting to see if the new owners are going to offer one. Yet, the 289 mule I saw in Lee's Summit used their standard 427 model chassis, so before I put ANY money down, I'd still need at least read-only access to the "Dark Side" to make my decision. It's my $$....just as whether or not to grant access is their choice.

YOMV, as is obvious...I'm not saying you're not entitled to it, just that mine is not BS, as you called.

Dugly

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by YerDugliness

As for the perception that Hurricane is hiding something, I simply stated how it looks TO ME.

And I am telling you that you are wrong. I am not disagreeing with the notion that you should be entitled to as much information as you can get before buying a product, and your decision to NOT buy because you couldn't get access to all the data is certainly your prerogative. But you inferred that upstanding business people with a bunch of money invested are hiding something:

Originally Posted by YerDugliness

To me, this smacks of "We don't want the general public to know what kinds of problems they will encounter with our kits. so we'll keep that a secret until we have their money."

This is an absolute misrepresentation that could impact the OP's decision (as it apparently did yours) not to consider Hurricane. With regard to the facts, I DO HAVE access to the closed forum and there is nothing hidden there that would cause anyone to regret buying a Hurricane. 130 sold, none returned after access to the Dark Side. Its because actually its the Bright Side, full of love and insight on Happy Hurricane Ownership.

To the OP, there is nothing hiding in the Hurricane closed forum to scare you off. There have been ~130 cars built and many of them are covered there stem to stern. You will not encounter one single problem that hasn't been discussed and resolved by some very talented owner/builders. Actually, you'll encounter LESS because of all the refinements that have been done in the last year. The car has a very original body and a very high-quality chassis. Numerous changes have been made recently to make the HM2000-series car very authentic and much easier to assemble. Hurricane's parent company has been making fiberglass bodies and steel vehicle assemblies for many years ( Scranton Manufacturing Corporation, Inc.) and they have spent a lot of time perfecting the Hurricane body mold in order to reduce your prep time. And the kit comes very complete so you don't have to go searching for parts. These things, in my opinion, make it head's above the majority of the other kits out there for the money.

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

And I am telling you that you are wrong....130 sold, none returned after access to the Dark Side....Its because actually its the Bright Side, full of love and insight on Happy Hurricane Ownership.

All the more reason to make the information available to those who might be considering the product. It could HELP sales, rather than leaving the impression I got (and I'm a fan of the Hurricane, imagine what someone who didn't know much about them would think !!).

Cheers, Dugly

[Bill Bess]

Please you guys, this entire issue is retarded. there is tons of information regarding Hurricane, ie. check out Dean's build posts and check their web site..or call them.......this complaint is kind of "picky".
Bill

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

And I am telling you that you are wrong.

So you say, but, then, you are a Hurricane owner and have access to the "Dark Side", don't you?

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

.......this complaint is kind of "picky".
Bill

So you say, too, Bill...but, then, you, too, are a Hurricane owner and have the access under discussion.

The OP wanted information regarding available kits.

I have never said anything negative about the Hurricane product; quite the opposite, I've been a fan of their product since its inception and I promote it every chance I get.

Surely, though, you must be able to recognize the impression that the secretive nature of "The Dark Side" of the forum must promote...

I mean, really, guys, are we adults or are we adolescents, who are so proud of their membership in an exclusive "club" that we can't see the forest for the trees?

I'm just sayin'......if the OP wanted to research the Hurricane product, Hurricane might well be cutting off their nose to spite their face with their continued secrecy regarding the build process. It is certainly not the industry norm, and if I were a potential buyer who was just starting the search, I'd have sincere reservations despite your well-meant protestations to the contrary.

[EDIT--to KrackShotKarl, I see from your member info that you are a Texan. You are lucky, there are quite a few Hurricanes in Texas and the Texas Cobra Club is quite active, hosting an annual get-together near San Marcos every year. If you want to see Hurricanes in person, go to that event when you get the chance, you'll probably get to see a few. I've seen Greg Herdlichka's Hurricane, it was quite impressive even though it wasn't fully completed. The Hurricanes have an incredibly well engineered chassis with cross-bracing in the front end, and perhaps the biggest draw for me was (at the time I was researching Hurricane) that the Hurricane build process allows for (after a couple of fairly minor processes related to mounting the windshield and the trunk mechanism) the body to be sent to the paint shop while the chassis is being completed. That could represent a huge savings in time for a build. Another thing I like about the Hurricane is that their IRS setup (an option at the time I was researching Hurricane, not sure now) uses a FORD center section, not a Jaguar item...that could, IMHO, mean considerable savings if service were ever necessary. They really ARE a fine product...so, when you return to this country, spend some time in central TX visiting a few Hurricane owners, take time to go to the San Marcos event, get whatever information you might feel is necessary. Cheers, Dugly ]

Cheers, Dugly

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by YerDugliness

the biggest draw for me was that the Hurricane build process allows for the body to be sent to the paint shop while the chassis is being completed. That could represent a huge savings in time for a build.
Cheers, Dugly

Same for Unique... and no secret code, signal, or handshake for membership!