Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Burke usually is saying how the sky is falling Chicken Little (No I don't mean Don...LOL).

Hopefully he's wrong on this account, but you never know. I can understand the opinion of Ford saying their support of NHRA Drag Racing doesn't sell cars. Not too many are even watching Drag Racing anymore.

I sure hope that GM signing a long term deal for Indy sponsorship isn't with Fed bailout monies!

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

I am old but didn't John Force have a Chevy on his funny car. Maybe Stevens or something like that? Just saying.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

If it's true...then wow !

I was just looking today at contingency payouts for Stock at Divisional races and noticed Ford pays $ 1,000 to win for vehicle and engine.

NHRA only pays $ 1,200 to win the whole race...

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Ford doesn't sell cars with Junk Forced stupid looking pieces of S--T--he has been robbing FMC for years--about time!!!:)

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

I think it was a Monza body.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Yep,Don Steves Cheverolet for a long time.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

After reading the article, it shows that NHRA missed the boat, they should have retired the Pro Stock class as we know it and make a new Pro Stock class by using the Big 3's factory built race cars. It would bring new life to an old "too much money" class. Pro Stock today has nothing to do with "Stock" cars of today, they are funny cars with doors. When the Pro Stock class was started back in the day, the cars were no more then just back-halfed with tunnel ram. Now, they could be back-halfed with flat hoods and fuel injection. Bring the class back to where someone can say that they have the same looking cars in the parking lot rather then saying "I think it's a Camaro?!".
Just an oppinion wanting see drag racing come back to fold.

Casey Miles
248H "F" NHRA Stock

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Well if it did not say mustang on the front of Forces cars would you even know it was a ford? I think nascar found out you still need the cars to look like what you are getting at the dealerships. It still goes back win on sunday sell on Monday. It also said Tom Compton was looking at the problem, good luck with that. Tom

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

With all do respect to Jeff Burk, When he says “very expensive Cobra Jet Stock/Super Stock program”, he fails to mention Ford does not loose money when building these cars. Ford is not about to cancel a program that makes them money. I think his article is misleading. I can not speak for the pro's and NHRA, but he starts his article off by saying "May", then goes into great detail about Ford Racing pulling out with unnamed sources.

I do have a credible source.... From Jesse Kershaw (Ford Racing). "The Cobra Jet program is alive and well. We hope to see all CJ owners at the Cobra Jet Showdown as part of the Norwalk NMCA race, and I’ll be at Indy to talk with all our Sportsman racers with any question they have about the future."

Its sad to see reports like this. Unnamed sources give this story no credibility in my opinion.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

How blind do you have to be to not be able to tell a Pro Stock Camaro from a Pro Stock Mustang, or Pro Stock MOPAR? Most have no problem telling them apart.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

ford was tired of the AHFS system, and some of the higher ups wondered why their cars would only run wide open to the 1000' mark?

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

X2
And by the way John Force's first funny car was in fact a Mustang bodied car and initially Ford powered....
http://www.70sfunnycars.com/FunnyCars31.html

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Ford was spending huge sums of money on the drag racing program a few years back, when they were losing a billion dollars a month. I find it hard to believe that they would pull the plug, now, with the economic conditions they are in today. They are currently planning to add 12000 jobs, due to the sales increase they are experiencing. This report seems like it is more about sensationalism for the journalist, than it is about fact.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Yes, Steve's family Chevrolet...

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

That's funny right there! I do have to say that the Skillman boys aren't afraid to get a hit on their cars from time to time as evidenced by round 4 of SS at Columbus. Of course that may have been 1000' runs as fast as those rides are but, either way they don't seem to shy away of the 1 second under mark.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Amen Ed! I was thinking the same thing and out of all my time spent at the races, I've never seen any fan confused about what body styles were being used in Pro Stock.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Well, ED. someone doesn't know the difference, even for the Stockers!

Log on , image 13! Click on the image for text!


http://www.nationaldragster.net/dragster-xtras/item/1243-d6-lodrs-mission/1243-d6-lodrs-mission.html



How do you like my hand built HEMI powered Cobra Jet Mustang.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

^^ Fixed it for ya. ;) LOL

Seriously, whoever posted that really has no clue.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Ed: Not everyone understands the reason for the big lumps in the hoods and why the driver is sitting in the back seat, my girl friend is one for sure. She know's who some of drivers are because I'm interested, but when Shane Gray's Pro Stock Camaro came up to the line she remarked to what kind of car is that and why is the winshield almost up to the roof of the car. It's hard for a non racing person to understand why the cars look the way they do and not like a they do off the show room floor.
Not being a smart a**, just telling the way some people can't understand the functions of purpose.

Casey Miles

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Peter, the same though came to my mind!!! You trouble maker you!!!!!!

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

You need to take her to more races Casey. :-)

My wife knows the difference. But she has been to a couple.

Pretty rare car you have there Peter. :-)

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Wonder if this is connected with NASCAR leaving ESPN, and the NHRA ratings dropping to the basement. Not to mention NHRA pays ESPN for everything.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

The Ford folks should come out and put this baby to sleep if any or all of it is untrue. I've seen a few of them on this site. Might be a good time for one of them to speak up rather than speaking through surrogates and allowing this story to wonder around the Internet.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

When you make your living selling the Focus, Fusion, Taurus , SUV's and trucks why you would spend a bunch of money on drag racing. Especially John Force.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Its either a hobby... or a Professional Endeavor to make a profit from an investment.

IMO, the line has never been more blurred.

NHRA has to make up its mind towards their future marketing plans .. and as to the Auto mfrs.' factory involvement .
I.E., The presentation of NHRA style Pro Drag racing.. as a affordable family day/weekend,that makes the attendee/fan to consider purchasing/leasing the current offerings and products of the participating Mfrs. and vendors. You know..win on Sunday.......Sign on Monday.

The fans and their families have had their limited entertainment $$ being bombarded 24/7 by every product and service imaginable ..and the automotive related sponsors must know that..
Also , I would say that 18-34 YO males(and females) are NOT taking out 5 yr. books on Current 35 grand 12 sec.muscle cars..in droves. THE demographic that companies most covet , too.

THE factory pro (& sportsman) supported racers must have a tough experience when one must explain how well they will represent /expose their product(s) ..as NHRA often presents half (once unheard of) empty stands... ( One of a handful of Exceptions : NE Drag-way 2013 ) during qualf. and sometime eliminations..so that's a hard nut to sell..going forward. Throw in some less than full 16 ProStock / Fuel car counts, .uneven ESPN start times..and National Broadcast ratings that are far from a selling point. The final say bean counter would say.. "Why Bother?."

I would not be surprised at all..a major cut in funding for the Professional contractual sanctioned racing endeavor that prove to be a "drag" on the bottom line,.... and special sportsman projects (CJ's - COPO- DRAGPACK's etc.) that are for most part , stunning showcases (ringers?) of technologically advanced (sold out) super-car engineering ..but not affordable for 95% of current or prospective (new) class racers or ?.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

my 4 cents nascar has had there problems so they paint the seats in the grand stands multi color to make it look like there are more people there.
nhra has problems geting fans in so they dont paint the grand stands
(most likely cost to much to do mite cut into someone"s big pay check) they raise entry fees for the racers.nascar crates the chase kinda works, but sill
no improvement infan base. nhra raise entry fee then do there version of the chase no improvement in fan base. nascar the concert seires huh not working. nhra ?? not working. nascar big fines for cheating no improvement
in fan base. nhra fines for talking bad to officals no improvement in fan base. nascar has Danica works for women and famliy. nhra ???
nascar Dale jr in the # 3 car mite help. nhra naked person sponserd by
major car company and series sponser, sells magizines not cars. I mite
not be making any sense but france sr and wally are shaking there heads
just my 2 cents

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

And some of those people who can't tell a difference between them usually couldn't tell a difference between the factory showroom cars either. It's easy for us car guys to tell a difference between exactly what year a car is because of a different trim piece here, molding there and the things that are from the wrong year for a car. For others they can't tell a difference between a Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, Charger, Magnum, Cuda or Dart when they are all stock.

My inlaws are those types of people(although my mother in-law is starting to be able to identify a mustang exhaust note now because of me lol) they may have no urge to buy a Mustang but they sure were interested to sit in the F150,F250, Feista, Focus and Taurus sitting in the manufacturers midway and sign up for the information about them. The Cobra Jet also helps sells parts to the guys on the Street/Strip.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Most racers that I know are a loyal bunch. If they race a Chevrolet they most often drive a Chevrolet to work, etc. The fans are the same. It probably wouldn't hurt to contact your favorite manufacturer and point out what a difference their support makes in your purchasing decisions.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

With all do respect to Jeff Burk, When he says “very expensive Cobra Jet Stock/Super Stock program”, he fails to mention Ford does not loose money when building these cars. Ford is not about to cancel a program that makes them money. I think his article is misleading. I can not speak for the pro's and NHRA, but he starts his article off by saying "


I am no expert but I doubt the Cobta Jet program turns a profit. They only sell 50 cars a year at around $100K each. That works out to total sales on the cars of 5 million bucks. Thats not much when you consider the overhead and the rest. If the race cars really don't help new cars sales, they probably should drop the program for the benefit of shareholders.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

As you said your no expert, and its only your opinion. The fact is they do make money and the CJ's do help car sales. Ford Racing makes money with all the programs and parts. Its all about the big picture, not just one line of product or car.

People are the same everywhere when it comes to bad news, and the opinions on this subject prove it. Even if there are no real facts or reliable sources they still would believe a story that was posted on the net.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

This whole thing kind of reminds me of an old adage.

At least half of the money a company spends on advertising is completely

wasted..........If only there was a way of knowing which half.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

If Ford wanted to get out of the "performance" cars, why did they just announce the NEW 2015 Pantera to compete with the Corvette?

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

You're talking oranges when Burk is talking apples.

It would be nice to hear from some of the Ford guys who post all the time about the new CJ's testing. They should have the whole story.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

It's on the Internet. They can't put anything on the Internet unless it was true...... Bonjour.

One of the reasons why the CJs cost 100k now is help cover the all the background costs. Spreading it over 50 units instead of 200,000+ units price goes up. The CJ uses a lot of parts that are shared with rest of the factory line up so that helps with costs. Don't forget all the parts Ford Racing ends up selling because of these CJs that bolt directly to all the other Mustang models and other items in the FRPP book. There are many revenue streams from the front and the back. I'm sure everyone keeps a watchful eye on everything for their ROI.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

I know it would be nice to have Alan M. come here and say but Jesse has already said it. A person doesn't have to feed propaganda by answering every rumor started. They wouldn't have time for anything else if that was the case.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Feeding propaganda? It would be his opportunity to put an end to it. He has been out here enough on his own that he does not need surrogates. All he has to do is come out and say Burk has it all wrong. End of story. He or some executive from Ford will eventually have to deal with this story because its growing and not going away.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

D.Johns,

That was the quote I was looking for....very funny, but sad and true at the same time.
"It's on the Internet. They can't put anything on the Internet unless it was true...... Bonjour."

I can not understand why some members will just ignore what I posted. They would rather believe a story that is not based on any fact and has no named source.

If someone on the net told you ten days was all you had left to live from a unnamed source, and they said please take my word for it. I wonder how many would believe it.

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

Then again there are those of us who have not formed an opinion yet. We are scolded by folks who think we believe Mr Burk's article. Then the same people scold us for not believing what they post on this thread. How does that work?

Re: Big Wow, news from Ford??
 

I have a source, Burk does not, decide for yourself.

When you post, its an opinion. When you ask Ford to come on here to defend something that's has no source or facts, that's an opinion. I think your wrong and Ford should ignore a article that has no facts or sources.

I'm my opinion, you think there is some credibility is Burk's article. I have posted what I know, you can believe me and my source or not, your choice.