Text From Live Chat With
David Smith from Factory Five Racing
April 11, 2002
| admin |
Welcome to FFCobra Chat
|
| Bill |
Welcome to the FFCobra Live Chat
with David Smith! Thanks David!
|
| Lancair
IV |
hey guys. Is this working?
|
| fljmarz |
just testing to see if this works
|
| Lancair
IV |
Seems to be! This is awsome!
|
| Bill |
Hi Carl! Glad you could make it!
|
| Bill |
How many people do you guys think we
will have?
|
| Bill |
That would be very cool if we got
40!
|
| Lancair
IV |
give or take 25
|
| Lancair
IV |
this is a great set up. Nice job!
|
| CobRat |
Nice piece of software
|
| Bill |
Galt did all the work to get this
going
|
| CobRat |
Builds cars, builds servers. What's
next?
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Bill asked me to be here today to
answer questions about FFR. I am happy to do this and I figure
you guys deserve as much information as we can provide.
|
| David
Douglas |
hey bill, is David already on? what
will his username be so we can ID his responses?
|
| Robrph |
i think people will pop in and out
actually... I know im at work right now, heading home! How is
everyone!
|
| sbrookeinmd |
is this moderated in some way?
|
| RacingRob |
To see the latest questions do we
just send empty mesg ?
|
| CobRat |
Is the SuperCoupe the replacement
for the 275?
|
| Robrph |
strange the text doesnt keep
rolling???
|
| Lancair
IV |
What is the status of the 289 FIA?
|
| MikeS |
Hows the midengine car coming?
|
| fljmarz |
Hi Dave, this live chat is a great
idea!
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Let me just get my sea legs under me
and figure out how this all works.
|
| Robrph |
Gordon.... thank you from everyone
for all your help!
|
| CobRat |
It's like riding a bike
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Gordo, didn't I just finish with you
on the phone? Alright. Lets start with the mid engine car
|
| MikeS |
take your time... we just want the
skinny on the mid-egine car!
|
| Richard
Oben |
Maybe and opening statement is in
order. Just a litte update on the status of FFR
|
| Robrph |
Hey Bill we should have a live chat
on the forum too! just an idea!
|
| Bill
Lardner |
Good afternoon David
|
| Gordon
Levy |
Your Welcome, So when do I get all
this bear I have been promised
|
| Richard
Oben |
Gordo I want Beer no BeAr. HE HE
|
| Robrph |
Gordon hope you mean BEER~! HEE HEE
|
| sbrookeinmd |
gordon: got a thing for Bears?
|
| Bill |
Mid engine pictures?
|
| Gordon
Levy |
Dave, Small world isn't it? I look
forward to finishing our conversation.
|
| Rick
Young |
David, I just joined and have not
yet seen any messages, so I will start with one. I have FFR 3243
and paid the price increase but didn't get all of the attributes
that the MK-II cars are shoen to have. How do I get the rest of
the MK-II items?
|
| CobRat |
Baer. No stop that!
|
| Gordon
Levy |
I never said I could spell
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Thanks to Bill for inviting me here.
Thanks to all you guys for feeding my car habit. A few quick
notes on the mid engine car to start. It has a mid endgine
platform.
|
| Richard
Oben |
Tough crowd, Dave are you wearing
your thick skin.
|
| John
MacKechnie |
Dave, Is it possible to set up a
spec racer without the shoulder high bars, but leave the door
bars in place. I really like that idea. Could the doors be
opened if that was done.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
On the mark II upgrades I'll give
you what I can (welded backbone is tough) but let's do that
off-line on the phone.
|
| MikeS |
Give David the floor and let him
tell us what he wants, and wait for him to open the floor for
questions. please
|
| Gordon
Levy |
John, We have done a few cars with
door bars that allow for the door to work. Give me call.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Custom mods can alwyas be done (spec
racer sans bars or with IRS) however the margins we run at
(lean) mean that custom stuff always costs more than we really
charge. Custom questions on frame can go right to Jim in
engineering. We can do just about anything, should we do it is
what makes the difference between a good year and going bust.
|
| Rick
Young |
I must be doing something wrong,
when I posted my question I then got the data up to that point
but nothing since!!
|
| michael
everson |
Mike Everson is present
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
No problem, if I miss a question
just keep after me but maybe we should try to stick to subjects
first like ME Supercar questions or the like. I'm sure we'll get
better at this as time goes by.
|
| Robrph |
Keep hitting return and the text
will refresh!
|
| CobRat |
Rick. Press {F5} or REFRESH
|
| Lancair
IV |
What is the status of the 289 FIA?
|
| Bill |
David - Please tell all about the
mid-engine car and future fun stuff
|
| RacingRob |
If you hit the send button with no
msg in it. The page will refresh and you'll see new posts.
|
| Galt |
Rick, you may have an older browser.
To refresh the screen you can hit the "Send" with
nothing in the Message box.
|
| Robrph |
see guys named rob think alike!
|
| Rick
Young |
OK, it seems to be updating now maby
I just had to wear a rut
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
This is really cool. Now I know why
people use these dang things.
|
| Rick
Young |
Where is the photo of the new car?
|
| Robrph |
UT oh bewtter NOT get dave hooked on
chat forums.. we want car parts! Hee Hee
|
| michael
everson |
Dave whats the scoop on the new
super car
|
| CobRat |
Back to Bill's Q. What powertrains
are you targeting?
|
| Eric
427 Shelby |
I finished my physics lab quickly,
just to get here!!!
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
We have had molds from the old
contemporary company for a few years. The small block version
car with the petty bar and gas cap in the middle.. We have that
car in development for the last few years. Not much wsas
|
| Robrph |
lets all shush and let dave tell ua
about the new SUPERCAR..... Go for it dave... ALL INFO were
reading!
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Right now the 64 roadster CE
(Champions Edition) is being built. I have molds done for body,
doors, hood and trunk (yes with nipple). The MK II frame is
being changed to adapt to that body but right now it's not
available. There is a FFR customer doing the work. The 64
roadster CE will be sold if it passes muster after being built.
|
| Rick
Young |
If you are shooting for a Mustang
donor, are you going to use the newer platform and save a lot of
extra assembly work, and cost?
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
I'm still talking about the 64
roadster CE and the plan is for the same platform (ala 65
roadster) same running gear and obviously folks would use an old
HI-PO 289 motor.
|
| BBC71Nova |
Is there any chance that FFR could
offer a special time promo that would allow current owners to
get a discount on options/upgrades? This would help us upgrade
and get new Mark II stuff, 3-link, adj upper CAs, etc. I think
that would be great since us with older kits missed out on the
new upgrades and fixes to problems like wheel-hop. Other
companies do similar things and I think it does great things for
customer satisfaction which will definatly spread the good word
for FFR.
|
| Richard
Oben |
Good Now mrmustang will leave us
alone. He He
|
| Eric
427 Shelby |
First off, thanks for comming and
talking with us, I know this question has come up before, but i
don't think it was ever anwered, can you tell us the supplier
for the leather you use in the cars, I can not find a match to
it anywhere.
|
| Eric
427 Shelby |
I like Ricks idea!!!
|
| Lancair
IV |
Will it be avialable this year?
|
| Rick
Young |
I'm not familiar with the '64 CE
car.
|
| Bill |
David: Will the CE be a retro body
or will it be a new kti?
|
| Advil |
admin, you need to do this moderated
next time.  too busy for this
format.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Even though the upgrades are
significant, we got a huge deal due to volume. I have to look at
a case by case basis on parts but if you guys want to upgrade to
newer parts I think we can do it at our costs or just above.
Things like the new upper control arms are easy. The rear
brackets for the frame you would have to weld on (that elims any
wheel hop issues cause they are hieght adjusrtable) seats (easy)
the backbone is tougher since the mods require a narrower trans
tunnel if i sent you the steel alone to be welded in
|
| Rick
Young |
Is that the Small Block body that I
have heard you are working on? To be different than the FIA?
|
| Rick
Young |
These messages are not getting in in
time.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
I agreed not to use that term and
we'll sell our car as an ORIGINAL DESIGN FACTORY FIVE CAR. The
64 roadster CE would have to be a separate kit really tough to
retrofit.
|
| Robrph |
Hey Eric hope you taking notes... By
all.. im heading homr... ROB
|
| fljmarz |
I know it’s not the current topic,
but I’m going to have to log off soon & I’m not sure
if/when I’ll be able to log back on. All my questions are
about the California 250gt: Is this still an active project? If
so: What is the projected release date? Will it be a 5.0-based
car? Will you be bringing it to Carlisle? Will it have an IRS
option? Will it have a carbon fiber body option? Will it have an
optional soft top? Thanks Dave!
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
It's a kit that should make Mr
Mustang happy. You don't think I missed all those posts did you?
|
| BBC71Nova |
David, that would be awesome.
Specifically I was thinking about the rear CA mounts and front
adj. upper CAs. That is better than spending dough on Autowelds
and widgets. Maybe we can get a post going here later to check
the interest.
|
| Rick
Young |
Is there any reason I can't weld in
a 'back bone' and make it fit to the aluminum I now have?
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Here are the R&D projects
underway.
|
| Tim
S |
Dave, We just started to find out
about F5 and Miller. Can you tell us about how it happened and
what it entails.
|
| Eric
427 Shelby |
another suggestion, can you make the
dialog box for the conversation larger, like up to the header
for the ffcobra line?
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
ME Supercar, GTV8- Italian inspired
roadster with Jag V-12, 64 roadster CE, Musttang aftermarket
parts line incl IRS and three link for 5.0 guys, let me think,
The black convertible (no name yet) is getting a new arse end,..
|
| CobraEEARL |
what happened to the R & D list?
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Dave borden welded in his own
backbone. i can get you our pre-cut parts but like I said the
aluminum has evolved.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
I'm going as fast as I can, please
excuse typois
|
| Bill |
What engine for the supercar?
|
| Bill |
no problem... type away. I'll
correct the spelling before saving everything to a web page.
|
| Gordon
Levy |
You spell as bad as me
|
| CobRat |
Consider this creative & not
corrected. We'll understand
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Miller beer and Mark weber came
together one night. I yelled over at Webs and he says he's got a
HUGE shipment of posters and the like (no live supermodels 
|
| TOYOKOGYO12ATURBO |
CORRCET THIS: GRIEJEUC
|
| Bill |
OK< where's my posters?
|
| Gordon
Levy |
We will take some posters anyway.
|
| Eric
427 Shelby |
.....um....there
was a car in that picture?
|
| Tim
S |
I know that MANY of us would LOVE to
get our hands on soem posters. Is there any way that we could
get some?
|
| mikiec |
Gordon if you get the posters I want
one...OK
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
This is part of a truly huge
national ad vcampaign. i think a miller exec had a car and
tought it would be a good way to attract beer drinkers. We
thought beer drinkers would be a good way to attract car
builders
|
| RacingRob |
WE NEED POSTERS!!!
|
| Tim
S |
Maybe even buy them off your
website?
|
| CobRat |
Works for me! Any pilsner in a
storm.
|
| Gordon
Levy |
An you think you deserve one how?
|
| Lancair
IV |
Everyone participating in this
should get one!!!!!!
|
| Tim
S |
Normally beer and cars are a bad
mix, but this seems to work.
|
| Richard
Oben |
With proceeds to Team Jenny. Miller
will pay for the poster for charity.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
We'll have plenty of posters and the
like, no charge. The car war ours the guy was Dave
"Hollywood" Z. a welder at FFR
|
| BBC71Nova |
Being that, like the Mustang, there
are tons of LT1 and LS1 F-body Chevys hitting the boneyards,
what about a roadster that uses that as a donor? The 89-93
Stangs will eventually run out and some people just like Chevy.
Painless makes the harnesses so I doubt it would be too much
trouble.
|
| TOYOKOGYO12ATURBO |
Even though I'm only 18, I'm gonna
start drinkin' tonite
|
| Bill |
pleeeaaaase give us Mid-engine
supercar details!
|
| BBC71Nova |
POSTERS: What about setting up a
paypal and using the money for Team Jenny? There are enough
computer geeks here that we could get it lined up.
|
| Rick
Young |
I can follow Dave Bordens' idea ok,
I just need the critical locations for the connections and some
rough dimensions along with a recommendation of material. You
know, the basic idea to get started and not end up doing
somethning that has to be redone due to unforseen interferences
with existing structure and panels.
|
| Olli |
Yes, mid engine car details please.
|
| Richard
Oben |
Bow ties are for little boys dare to
be different.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
We have thought a ton about the bow
tie crowd. There is a future with the 350 chevy and the newer
motors/drivetarains, nothing in development right now though
(outside of pure R&D)
|
| CobraEEARL |
toyokogyo12, i bet you drink
already. fess up
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Supercar stuff?
|
| CobRat |
I just wish FoMoCo was as aggressive
in Crate engines and HP EFI setups for their BBs
|
| Tim
S |
I'd just like to say thanks to Bill
and Dave for setting this up today.
|
| TOYOKOGYO12ATURBO |
only on school days 
|
| mikiec |
Gordon, If I don't get one I'll come
by the shop every day and pester you and the gang...
|
| Gordon
Levy |
Bow Tie? what's that?
|
| Bill |
YES! Supercar! Focus everyone! 
|
| BBC71Nova |
Richard: I don't have a Chevy in my
FFR. However, in business, a sale is a sale and diversification
always helps . That LS1 is SWEET!
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
This'll take some typing so have
some patience please.
|
| Gatorac |
Yes. We need supercar info.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
Huge thanks to Bill for setting this
up. Let me give you the things I can go into on the su[percar.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
We're not building a GT-40 replica.
Hold on my daughter's school is on the line.
|
| mikiec |
Dave, My car is done but what is
being done to address the back order situation others have?
|
| Bill |
you're welcome, but we ALL think
you! And we want supercar info!
|
| Eric
427 Shelby |
Bill, ya know what, i
"think" you too!
|
| CobRat |
Wouldn't it be nice if Ford had a BB
EFI motor to compete w/the GM 502 Ramjet
|
| Richard
Oben |
Building a GT40 would be suicide
with Ford coming out with one.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
let me go through backorders next
and finish on the supercar.
|
| Rick
Young |
The best thing about 'bow ties' is
that they give a novice something to practice with until they
are ready for some real power.
|
| CobRat |
Filler while waiting for Dave's
return
|
| CobraEEARL |
I had zero backorder problems.
everything came in before i needed it. Only one item never
showed...and FFr made that good on simple request, the weather
strip under the door. No back order problems HERE. Now about
that super car
|
| Gordon
Levy |
The Ford version isn't any
competition for a well built Replica.
|
| TOYOKOGYO12ATURBO |
How 'bout rotaries?
don't hurt me.
|
| CobraEEARL |
Dave, what grade did you make in
TYPING in High school??
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
We started out by baselining all of
the world's best mid engine cars. We looked hard at the GT-40,
the McClaren, the diablo and the lotus all for different
reasons. The GT 40 was just too small
|
| CobraEEARL |
Hope the call from the school was
not serious.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
The opportunity came to a head when
I was at the SEMA show. We were studying the Saleen S-7 on
display. FFR customer Cheney was crying cause he couldn't have
the car (S7)
|
| CobraEEARL |
Must be a lot to say about this car.
|
| FACTORYFIVERACING |
No problem at school.
|
|
