Poking the Bear Ford Performance Products

[GUMP]

I really don't think that any of this is as clear cut as Jim is explaining. I could be ill-informed, but it is my understanding that there are regular meetings attended by all three manufacturers representatives and the NHRA to discuss the Showdown. I think that they all understand that the series will only survive if the combinations have some kind of parity. That said, there is always the desire to out run each other. That is to be expected. It just can't get too out of hand.


Jim,

I feel that your choice to air your grievances on this forum are sad. These factory cars are a blessing for many of us that were too young to have raced the first time around. Your comments, even if valid, do nothing but hurt Fords efforts.

My personal dealings with Mike have been great.

[Jim D'Amore]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

Jim,

Are you saying that Mike made the decisions on his own? Are you saying that you are not concerned about this issue from a business perspective? Are you saying that you haven't been bashing the heck out of Mike for doing his job?

I will answer your questions but first let me tell you that I asked you questions and you completely avoided them. If you are not going to answer then this is just a one sided conversation.


Did Mike make the decisions to remove the 5.4L 4.0L combination out of the guide and pull Ford Performances sponsorship from classracer. Yes 1000% all on his own. I have emails that prove this and have had phone conversations with higher ups at Ford confirming this.


I am not concerned with this from a business perspective. As mentioned before the Cobra Jets are a small part of our business and this combination is even a smaller part of that. I love Cobra Jets, I have passion for them and their racers. I have owned 2 Cobra Jets. Most of our 15+ Cobra Jet owners have been previous long term customers way before the Cobra Jets even came out.


It all depends on what you consider as Mike doing his job. Calling a Ford Racer a cheater and liar and having no proof to back it up, and the racer has all the proof he was legal including NHRA saying he was legal? Pulling Ford Performances sponsorship from classracer that you have over 1,500 posts on this site? It takes sponsors to run this site as it's a FREE site to you and me, there are no membership dues here. Mike did that intentionally to hurt classracer because I asked him if he was working for Roger Allen. I have not been bashing Mike, I have just been stating the facts which I have proof for. He won't even come up here to reply and back up his actions. This thread is 140+ posts long and over 30,000 views but he is not in any of them.


Jim D'Amore

[Jim D'Amore]

Originally Posted by GUMP

I really don't think that any of this is as clear cut as Jim is explaining. I could be ill-informed, but it is my understanding that there are regular meetings attended by all three manufacturers representatives and the NHRA to discuss the Showdown. I think that they all understand that the series will only survive if the combinations have some kind of parity. That said, there is always the desire to out run each other. That is to be expected. It just can't get too out of hand.


Jim,

I feel that your choice to air your grievances on this forum are sad. These factory cars are a blessing for many of us that were too young to have raced the first time around. Your comments, even if valid, do nothing but hurt Fords efforts.

My personal dealings with Mike have been great.

Gump,


All of my dealings with Mike have been business, they were great also all the way up to the point when he took a Stock Eliminator Legal combination out of the guide and I simply asked why. He never answered and when I kept asking he told me I was going to poke the bear. Then he started proving he was the bear.


This never would have taken place if Mike would have agreed to the original 2.9L supercharger on the 5.4L He wrote an elaborate email on to the Ford racers running 08,10, and 12 Cobra Jets explaining he would fight for them to get the 2.9L for the showdown. 1 common supercharger for all manufacturers. Then when it was brought up in a meeting with NHRA Mike told them he was no longer interested in doing that. Only then the 5.4L 4.0L was brought up because it was already a legal Stock Eliminator combination.


Just out of curiosity... you own 3 COPO's, what type of dealings have you had with Mike?


Jim D'Amore

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by Jim D'Amore

Just out of curiosity... you own 3 COPO's, what type of dealings have you had with Mike?

Thanks for asking, but I have nothing that I wish to share on this forum.

[Charley Downing]

Jim how come you speak for yo kenny? This is his site why doesn't he call out mike if he's mad at him. Come on Kenny tell us whats on you mind.

[Jim D'Amore]

Originally Posted by Charley Downing

Jim how come you speak for yo kenny? This is his site why doesn't he call out mike if he's mad at him. Come on Kenny tell us whats on you mind.

Hello Charley

Why would you call out somebody that has nothing to do with this....

Mike himself told me he pulled sponsorship from this site because he did not like the way I treated him in my very first post back in last November that was in our meeting in Norwalk at NHRA National event ...

This goes way deeper than that unless you have facts that you want to share maybe you should rethink who you're calling out.

I remember being there for you at Indy to get the car that you were driving working on it and returning it you know the Cobra Jet I believe you one class I know the car set a national record I hope you enjoyed it because I enjoy doing it for you for free.

Jim

[Charley Downing]

Only reason I brought up Kenny is you keep bring up him on this tread. I just though maybe others on this forum like myself would like to hear his story from him (if he is mad at fords also). You know its always better hearing it from the person direct.

I also remember you helping at Indy a few years back it was very appreciated and your very good at tuning these new eng combos.

Also if your going to make comments like Mike receives financial gains from the GLSSA you should ask one of the 8-10 other guys that help put on these events before you make any comments like that. Because no one who helps put these races on receives any money, its all given back to the racers. By the way $2500 to Win $1200 to runner up Stk/SS combo this weekend at Stanton MI for anyone interested. Pretty hard for anyone putting on a stk/ss race to make money with payouts like that.

[Jim D'Amore]

Originally Posted by Charley Downing

Only reason I brought up Kenny is you keep bring up him on this tread. I just though maybe others on this forum like myself would like to hear his story from him (if he is mad at fords also). You know its always better hearing it from the person direct.

I also remember you helping at Indy a few years back it was very appreciated and your very good at tuning these new eng combos.

Also if your going to make comments like Mike receives financial gains from the GLSSA you should ask one of the 8-10 other guys that help put on these events before you make any comments like that. Because no one who helps put these races on receives any money, its all given back to the racers. By the way $2500 to Win $1200 to runner up Stk/SS combo this weekend at Stanton MI for anyone interested. Pretty hard for anyone putting on a stk/ss race to make money with payouts like that.

The only time I brought Ken's name up or Class Racer up was to apologize to him and this site it is because my first post the reason why Mike pulled sponsorship and that is direct for Mike's mouth........

You are very close to him and I'm sure he will tell you ......


As for GLSSA there are a lot more than 8 to 10 guys that put an effort into that Association like the sponsors ?
The racing Community is very large but when you want to know something it is very small or sometimes they just send you emails. do you understand.?

I hope the weather is great for your event this weekend.

Jim

[HR9121]

Just out of curiosity because I haven't looked at the Showdown rules, but what would it have hurt to leave this combo in guide? Can there only be one combo in the guide for the Showdown class?

[Jim D'Amore]

Originally Posted by HR9121

Just out of curiosity because I haven't looked at the Showdown rules, but what would it have hurt to leave this combo in guide? Can there only be one combo in the guide for the Showdown class?

No each manufacturer has several combinations. I believe Ford has 6, GM has 6 and I think Mopar has 2. There are no rules on engine combination right now. They are saying for 2019 whatever motors we have been running in the past couple years will be frozen. By that I mean they will not be adding any more new combinations. This is what I've heard, it's only hear say. That's why it's of the utmost importance for me to get this Stock Eliminator legal combination approved for showdown.


Jim D'Amore