2019 Cobra Jet program in jeopardy ?

Ken Miele · 04-03-2019, 02:55 PM

The word is Mike Delahanty is no longer with Ford Performance. So my question is who will be the contact for the Cobra Jet teams. How do we buy parts, and who do we order them from. Will they be replacing Mike or just not have a rep anymore. Does this mean all the teams are on their own.

I have yet to see one factory 2019 Cobra Jet produced. From my perspective things don't look good for the Cobra Jet program. If they are cutting back on personnel, does that send us a message to where the Cobra Jet program is heading.

What was once the best factory program to come out of the the big three is now just a shell of itself. Brian Wolfe and Jesse Kershaw brought the Cobra Jet back in 2008, and it forced Dodge and Chevy to do likewise. I can only imagine how they must feel looking at how the Cobra Jet program has declined. Yes I know the Showdown combo is very fast now, but there are very few new combo's for the rest of us Ford racer, unlike in the years between 2010-2014 where you had so many choices.

I know many teams were unhappy with they way the Cobra Jet programs was run in the past few years, but without a rep what do they do now. How about some feed back on what you guys think Ford Performance should do to keep the Cobra Jet program going for the future.

Superfan1 · 04-03-2019, 04:34 PM

Was Mike Delahanty fired or did he resign?

kdanner · 04-03-2019, 05:26 PM

I've been wondering how they can still call it a 50th anniversary car when we are now over 51 years from the introduction of the original. Way too many delays, some kind of problems there for sure.

Jerry Terry · 04-03-2019, 05:54 PM

Ken is Geoff Turks new car a 2018 or a 2019 ?

Ralph A Powell · 04-03-2019, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Terry

Ken is Geoff Turks new car a 2018 or a 2019 ?

2018 -- 1968 = 50 years

JHeath · 04-03-2019, 06:35 PM

Cars are 2018, engine is a 2019.

Ken Miele · 04-03-2019, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superfan1

Was Mike Delahanty fired or did he resign?

I don't know the circumstances.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Terry

Ken is Geoff Turks new car a 2018 or a 2019 ?

2019

PhilG · 04-09-2019, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

I don't know the circumstances.

Ken,
Mike's internal email address has an automatic reply (written by Mike) that says after 10 years in Ford Racing he has elected to return to retirement. It's a brief, positive sounding statement, and says to contact Ken Felcher (kfelcher@ford.com) for Ford Performance questions. That is all the information I have access to.

FS Fan · 04-05-2019, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superfan1

Was Mike Delahanty fired or did he resign?

I'm not sure it affects the program if he was or wasn';t but I had a card from last years CJ event to one of their engineers so I called to ask him and surprise he answered. He said "officially" Mike retired. I asked if there wasa retirement party or luncheon? Nope. Was there a goodbye email sent out from Mike about retiring with a new contact listed? No. I doubt we'll ever know for sure but that doesn't sound like retirement to me. THis guy sounded unsure about what to say. As for Mike's replacement he had no idea.

The timing is a bummer. Ford started this season strong after a disapointing couple years. Will that continue wihtout a Ford rep?

ken robinson · 04-06-2019, 10:25 AM

Dose anybody know what the length of the factory stock showdown sam tech sponcer ship contract is ? Is it a year by year renewal or a multi year deal ( if so when dose it exp ) ? On the surface it looks like a good deal/match for both parties but I don't know how much return sam tech is getting on there dollar ? Hopefully enough to go for years .

04-03-2019, 02:55 PM	#1
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,861 Likes: 456 Liked 16,554 Times in 1,522 Posts	2019 Cobra Jet program in jeopardy ? The word is Mike Delahanty is no longer with Ford Performance. So my question is who will be the contact for the Cobra Jet teams. How do we buy parts, and who do we order them from. Will they be replacing Mike or just not have a rep anymore. Does this mean all the teams are on their own. I have yet to see one factory 2019 Cobra Jet produced. From my perspective things don't look good for the Cobra Jet program. If they are cutting back on personnel, does that send us a message to where the Cobra Jet program is heading. What was once the best factory program to come out of the the big three is now just a shell of itself. Brian Wolfe and Jesse Kershaw brought the Cobra Jet back in 2008, and it forced Dodge and Chevy to do likewise. I can only imagine how they must feel looking at how the Cobra Jet program has declined. Yes I know the Showdown combo is very fast now, but there are very few new combo's for the rest of us Ford racer, unlike in the years between 2010-2014 where you had so many choices. I know many teams were unhappy with they way the Cobra Jet programs was run in the past few years, but without a rep what do they do now. How about some feed back on what you guys think Ford Performance should do to keep the Cobra Jet program going for the future.

04-03-2019, 04:34 PM	#2
Superfan1 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bridgeport,CT. Posts: 1,993 Likes: 1,664 Liked 2,637 Times in 440 Posts	Re: 2019 Cobra Jet program in jeopardy ? Was Mike Delahanty fired or did he resign? __________________ Bill Seabrooks - superfan1 Bridgeport, CT

04-03-2019, 05:26 PM	#3
kdanner Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 221 Likes: 50 Liked 38 Times in 17 Posts	Re: 2019 Cobra Jet program in jeopardy ? I've been wondering how they can still call it a 50th anniversary car when we are now over 51 years from the introduction of the original. Way too many delays, some kind of problems there for sure. __________________ K Danner STK 468

04-03-2019, 05:54 PM	#4
Jerry Terry Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 652 Likes: 6,086 Liked 450 Times in 133 Posts	Re: 2019 Cobra Jet program in jeopardy ? Ken is Geoff Turks new car a 2018 or a 2019 ?

04-03-2019, 06:35 PM	#6
JHeath Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 786 Likes: 2,876 Liked 370 Times in 101 Posts	Re: 2019 Cobra Jet program in jeopardy ? Cars are 2018, engine is a 2019. __________________ Jerry Heath I/S '93 Cobra FS/J 2010 Mustang "Ebay CJ"

04-06-2019, 10:25 AM	#10
ken robinson Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: tomsriver nj Posts: 479 Likes: 74 Liked 214 Times in 86 Posts	Re: 2019 Cobra Jet program in jeopardy ? Dose anybody know what the length of the factory stock showdown sam tech sponcer ship contract is ? Is it a year by year renewal or a multi year deal ( if so when dose it exp ) ? On the surface it looks like a good deal/match for both parties but I don't know how much return sam tech is getting on there dollar ? Hopefully enough to go for years .