Shelby ties in stronger with Mid-America show

[Historybuff]

If there's any doubts why Shelby is backing a new club this press release from Scott Black makes it clear that Shelby's marketers are tying in with the event they think could maximize exposure of the new Shelby cars most.

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Mid-America Ford performance and Shelby Meet to become official Team Shelby event in 2008



Las Vegas – November 28, 2007 – In another bold move to continue as America’s leading automotive performance icon, Carroll Shelby and Team Shelby have signed an agreement to make the Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet the Team Shelby Nationals, which will be held annually in Tulsa, Okla. The pre-eminent Ford and Shelby show for the past 33 years, it attracts 30,000 people annually. As the new Home of Team Shelby, Carroll plans to attend the Inaugural 2008 Team Shelby Nationals on June 12–15.



“We formed Team Shelby to give all Shelby enthusiasts more ways to enjoy a high octane lifestyle,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles and the first member of Team Shelby. “I’ve admired the way that Jim Wicks, Randy Roberts and David Apgar and everyone at the Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet have grown their event following this same philosophy. So instead of creating a new event, we decided to partner with the best and create a national Team Shelby event that would show just how much we appreciate all Shelby, Ford and Mustang fans across the country.”



The longest-running, multi-faceted event of its kind, the Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet began as a picnic hosted by Jim Wicks and a group of diehard enthusiasts in 1974. Today, it has blossomed into a multi-day event with drag racing, road racing exhibitions, a trade show, a cruise night, car show and a banquet. The agreement with the event organizers was finalized earlier this month.



“When I started the Mid-America Meet 34 years ago, I knew it would be a continuing evolution,” said event founder and organizer Jim Wicks. “I’m excited to join with Team Shelby and be a part of taking the fun and excitement of this fast paced event into the future.”



The Mid-America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet have not only hosted some of the most famous names in racing, such as Cobra pilots Dick Smith, Lew Spencer and Don Roberts, chassis design engineer Robert Negstad, former SCCA B production national champion Walt Hane, noted automotive artist Bill Neale, author and racing driver Rick Titus, designer and Shelby American employee Pete Brock, SVT Manager John Coletti and the legend himself, Carroll Shelby.







The event recently has served as a hotbed of vehicle introductions including:

· First public raceway drive of the 2007 Shelby GT500

· Unveiling of the 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT Convertible

· First public appearance of the Shelby GT 500KR outside New York

· Launch of the Shelby Automobiles Shelby GT500 Super Snake post title package



Team Shelby is the only club officially recognized by the factory for all vehicles built by Shelby. The organization is directed by Robert Lane and Sharon Elliot. Members don’t need to own a Shelby to be a member, just share a “life needs more” attitude and celebrate all high performance Shelbys.



“The Team Shelby Nationals will continue the celebration of Mr. Shelby’s 85th birthday during 2008, which will begin at our annual Las Vegas event,” explained Ms. Elliott. “We’ll also have regional activities like track days and factory tours. Members can learn about these opportunities through our Web site where videos, forums, podcasts, exclusive news and briefings by key Shelby execs will be available only to them. Another huge benefit of membership will be access to our on-line Shelby registry; so owners won’t have to wait for print editions to be compiled.”

[mrmustang]

Maybe you need to check out this link.

http://www.clubcobra.com/modules.php...ertising_Rates

[Mark IV]

Bill,

Give up. You can't embarass Wally! Bsides, he is loving the SAAC thread he started, one of our all-time post burners.

I suggest we re-name him "Shrek"!

And I know Jim Wicks, I strongly believe those quotes are pure PR man speak. What he said may have meant the same thing, but I would bet my skivvies he didn't utter those words.

Rick

[daltondavid]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Maybe you need to check out this link.

http://www.clubcobra.com/modules.php...ertising_Rates

I just spit COFFee all over my Keyboard!!!

[Juggernaut]

But with CS now involved, will Cobra replicas and Mustang clones still be able to participate?

Stayed tuned..................................

[bdeutsch]

First public appearance of the Shelby GT 500KR outside New York

Attended the LA Auto Show a couple weeks ago and am quite certain that they had a Shelby GT 500KR on display.

Did anybody else attend and see it, or is old age catching-up with my memory?

Bob

[Historybuff]

The trouble with the LA show is that they invite the journalists and then
don't always have the cars there yet that the journalists are supposed to see, so somehow I missed it but I heard from someone else it was there. I also missed the BULLITT car but was impressed that Ford is saying it will go 150 mph, when once that was only an "exotic car" speed. I remember the first time they had the BULLITT car they had Steve McQueen's son and Steve McQueen's first wife there for a nice historical tie-in.

I would have liked to see the KR to see if it was a prototype or if there will be changes before production as there was with the GT500.

[bdeutsch]

As kind of a boys treat for me and my two adult sons (who live in Santa Monica area), for the last three years we have attended something called LA Auto Show Preview Night. This occurs the Thursday night before show opens to public; tickets proceeds are used to fund local charity. Essentially you get the run of the show for about 4-hours with a limited number of folks.

Anyway, they did have the Bullit car there as well as the KR...nice to know I was not imagining things.

Car I fell in love with though was the new Maserati Granturismo. Although I have not been a big fan of Maserati of late, this one was spot on gorgeous...wonder if they solved some of their historic reliability problems...

Bob

[427sharpe]

Perhaps a way to cut SAAC even further? Go to the individual clubs/events and let the old one lather it on....try to get them to join TS and leave SAAC?