"Open letter to Bill Alexander of Fun Ford Weekend Events"

[Mach1Marauder]

Here's a letter I got in email from a friend and I though it would be good to post here. It's about his frustration with FFW. I feel if FFW doesn't change its ways, we will see and even more rapid decline of the "little people" racing and attending these events. I think that would be a VERY sad thing for US, the people that love our Mustangs and our sport.
Please put your thoughts on the recent changes and any past experiences that you feel would be worth while and HELPFUL to the Officials of Fun Ford Weekend.


From: Jim Hatch
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 7:14 AM
To: bill@funfordevents.com
Subject:

Dear Bill Alexander,

I have attended the Dallas FFW for the last three years, spending between
$300.00 to $400.00 per year at your events with showing two cars to racing
one in True Street.
It was bad enough showing the cars right under the stands with the
announcers screaming in your ears all weekend, but then when I entered True
Street last year and completed my 30 mile drive only to find out most of the
other cars only drove 10 miles just went to show me how organized that was.
The people that bring their cars to show have them packed in like sardines
so there is barely enough room to walk between them. I will never bring
another car to show at your event.
I realize that you guys put on quite a few shows a year and travel a lot
and more than likely have to put up with some peoples bs at each event but
you really need to talk to your folks about treating people a little better.
Twice last year I was treated like I was an idiot. The first time was when I
went to get my wrist band for running in True Street. The woman running
things should have stayed home. The second and more important to me was on
Sunday I went to buy 2 t-shirts and had to use my credit card as I was low
on cash. The lady at the event trailer was pretty rude as she said "unless I
put $60.00 or more on the card I couldn't buy anything". As I started to
question the reasoning for this she basically blew me off. My parting
comment to her was that FFW will never see another dime from me. And I'm
sure some of my money was used to pay your employees so in the future I
refuse to donate any of my money to pay their wages which means I'm done
with FFW.
I might just be one small spender in FFW's eyes but you had better start
looking at some of the websites like dfwstangs, mach1registry and I'm sure
there are a few others where quite a few people are talking about not
attending your events anymore. It will only grow from there I'm sure. In my
group of 20 friends who love to race, there are now 8 who will not go this
year. That will increase as the year wears on especially with the price
increases you have announced. In fact a lot of people are talking of going
to Denton this year and holding our own competition complete with trophies
and t-shirts. If we get enough of our GM and Dodge brothers to join us we
could make it into quite an event. If you think that's a wild scheme then
you need to talk to some local Bullitt and Mach 1 people because last year I
helped put together the fist Bullitt/ Mach 1 Shootout. We had t-shirts,
trophies for the car show and racing, dash plaques for everyone and at the
race track we had sponsorship from a local Ford Dealership, a local
mechanics shop and a tire company. The Ford Dealer gave out tons of prizes.
It went like this. Dyno day at Dallas Mustang.....40 cars
showed,......Lunch/ Car show in Lewisville........60 Bullitts and 24 Mach
1's showed up,......Racing at Redline...14 Mach 1's and 24 Bullitts. Not bad
for the first annual event. The 2nd Annual Shootout is at Hallsville on the
22nd and 23rd of April 2005. Cars are coming in from as far away as Canada.
Why don't you come join us? We might even get some magazine coverage.
Is this how you started out?
I wish you all the best with your event but I think you had better start
paying attention to the "little guy".

Thank you for you time.
Sincerely,

Jim Hatch

[RyanB]

I feel the same way. I've been going to the Dallas event, and occasionally the Houston event, for the past 10 years or so. I've competed in True Street, and even took my chances a few years ago trying to build a car to race heads-up. Rules changed weeks before the event, prices went up, confusion everywhere(I was in the true street clusterfuck cruise last year at the Ennis event). I will not be there this year either. I have spent a LOT of money on my cars just preparing them to race at two events a year, on top of hundreds if not thousands just in entry fees, hot dogs, etc at the track. I've never got a trophy, dash plaque, or even a dime back in winnings, ever. I'm through with it as well. I'm sure I won't make much of an impact, but I totally feel where that letter is comming from. I typically arrive with at least 4 or 5 other friends either racing or spectating, but not anymore. If there's an event at Denton, I'll be there.:)

-MattB(although I'm sure RyanB feels the same way)

[fastgirl50]

FFW doesn't control True Street. MM&FF does. FFW just techs the cars and gives them their start time. MM&FF controls every aspect of the True Street cruise and the event. If you guys have a problem with TS, you should contact Jim Campisano or Evan Smith of Peterson Publishing.

[FatassLX]

get local police that know wtf there doing. like he said with the true street cruise, the last year i went half the cars didnt know wtf they were going because the cop blocking the highway for the cars to get out decided to stop half way thru and let 5 minutes worth of highway traffic go. between that and 2-4hr cool downs in previous years.

[Futurama]

FFW doesn't control True Street. MM&FF does. FFW just techs the cars and gives them their start time. MM&FF controls every aspect of the True Street cruise and the event. If you guys have a problem with TS, you should contact Jim Campisano or Evan Smith of Peterson Publishing.
SHIT, we are screwed then, people will pay anything to see themselves in a magazine

[blk93cpe]

I know Archie is good friends with George Klass but that motherfucker is a prick and I have told that to his face among lots of other things back in 2001-2002 FFW Houston. I don't care if they MM&FF is behind True Street because the event is FUN FORD WEEKEND they need to be involved to help correct the problems. Are you telling me that they don't make a dime from True Street?? Come on now :rolleyes: True Street is Ennis is huge 120 + cars on average and each car has at least 2-3 people(shit some have entire families there 10-20 people) there watching, helping or what ever. All these people are paying entries, buying food, drinks, fun ford event shirts, hats, etc. I have been attending FFW since 96 or 97 in Ennis and I can say it is getting less enjoyable each year.

I would love to post on the FFW forum but I was band and still banned from that forum back in 2002 for having a different opinion an Klass. I ended up having a entire thread of people supporting me and it was deleted and I was banned.

[fastgirl50]

I know Archie is good friends with George Klass but that motherfucker is a prick and I have told that to his face among lots of other things back in 2001-2002 FFW Houston. I don't care if they MM&FF is behind True Street because the event is FUN FORD WEEKEND they need to be involved to help correct the problems. Are you telling me that they don't make a dime from True Street?? Come on now :rolleyes: True Street is Ennis is huge 120 + cars on average and each car has at least 2-3 people(shit some have entire families there 10-20 people) there watching, helping or what ever. All these people are paying entries, buying food, drinks, fun ford event shirts, hats, etc. I have been attending FFW since 96 or 97 in Ennis and I can say it is getting less enjoyable each year.

I would love to post on the FFW forum but I was band and still banned from that forum back in 2002 for having a different opinion an Klass. I ended up having a entire thread of people supporting me and it was deleted and I was banned.

Eric, FFW makes less than you can imagine on the True Street event. Peterson Publishing pays X number of dollars for the event. Doesn't matter if one car or 200 cars show up to race, FFW makes the same amount. True Street is a major PITA for anyone NOT running TS. I ran True Street from 97-2000. While it is fun, it is a major waste of money, at least for me. FFW put in a Sunday bracket race just for true street. And it pays out more money than the actual event. Plus, the host track runs the concessions. Also, FFW has to rent the host track. So, FFW does not make a dime on that. FFW only controls the gate entry fees of the showdown classes, open comp classes and bracket classes.

I have had my problems with George too. My problems are with rules, more specifically, the ever-changing rules. These issues with money and the car show and the TS event don't involve George. Upper managment is who makes the money decisions, not tech.

Lastly, these same people who are crying about the money, or where they have to pit or, the show is run horribly or, I will never come to another FFW event and any other excuse you can imagine, are the same people who will be first in line at the gate to buy their tech card. Just for that slight chance their name/picture gets put in the magazine. It is just human nature.

TT

[blk93cpe]

I have had my problems with George too. My problems are with rules, more specifically, the ever-changing rules. These issues with money and the car show and the TS event don't involve George. Upper managment is who makes the money decisions, not tech.

Lastly, these same people who are crying about the money, or where they have to pit or, the show is run horribly or, I will never come to another FFW event and any other excuse you can imagine, are the same people who will be first in line at the gate to buy their tech card. Just for that slight chance their name/picture gets put in the magazine. It is just human nature.

TT

I felt bad for you when you started building your and they kept changing rules - seemed like every few months. Causing you and half the Renegade field lots of headaches + all the $$$$$$$$$.

But if George has nothing to do with True Street why does he always get involved in debates about it and he acts like he runs and makes the final decision? Why doesn't he say talk to so and so and let them explan or change their mind? If he had nothing to gain then why all the trouble?

[blk93cpe]

Also, I will be attending FFW to help friends out this year. But I can't see dumping thousands into my car to run it in Houston and Ennis true street. Waste of time and money for me - I must be getting old!!

[fastgirl50]

I felt bad for you when you started building your and they kept changing rules - seemed like every few months. Causing you and half the Renegade field lots of headaches.

But if George has nothing to do with True Street why does he always get involved in debates about it and he acts like he runs and makes the final decision? Why doesn't he say talk to so and so and let them explan or change their mind? If he had nothing to gain then why all the trouble?

George likes drama. He will argue, belittle, piss-off and annoy someone just for fun. Once he hears a serious question, he will then direct you towards the proper officials for your problems. I can tell you this, George, Jay and all the tech people hate True Street. It is a non-race in another race that causes time constraints on the showdown racers. Who whould you rather piss off, your class racers that your organization is built around or the guys racing for basically bragging rights, that you don't even have control of in the first place.

TT

[fastgirl50]

Also, I will mostly like be attending FFW to help friends out this year. But I can't see dumping thousands into my car to run it in Houston and Ennis true street. Waste of time and money for me - I must be getting old!!


That is why I built a class car to not run in that class. :D

[blk93cpe]

That is why I built a class car to not run in that class. :D


Wish my wife liked cars!! I would love to build a class car but that is not going to happen in this life time. Back in 2001 I shot my self in the foot by saying you can spend what ever I spend on my hobby!!! :( Thought that would just make her happy to hear that but she really started keeping tabs - she started cashing in on that the past few years :mad:

[fastgirl50]

Wish my wife liked cars!! I would love to build a class car but that is not going to happen in this life time. Back in 2001 I shot my self in the foot by saying you can spend what ever I spend on my hobby!!! :( Thought that would just make her happy to hear that but she really started keeping tabs - she started cashing in on that the past few years :mad:


Shit man....what were you thinking??? :eek:

TT

[blk93cpe]

Shit man....what were you thinking??? :eek:

TT

That the time I thought my coupe was done for a year or two? Then when it popped I was fucked.

[fastgirl50]

That the time I thought my coupe was done for a year or two? Then when it popped I was fucked.

I remember that. lol.

:o

[Mach1Marauder]

George likes drama. He will argue, belittle, piss-off and annoy someone just for fun. Once he hears a serious question, he will then direct you towards the proper officials for your problems. I can tell you this, George, Jay and all the tech people hate True Street. It is a non-race in another race that causes time constraints on the showdown racers. Who whould you rather piss off, your class racers that your organization is built around or the guys racing for basically bragging rights, that you don't even have control of in the first place.

TT
George is NOT the subject of this thread. Tech stuff..yep. Does he have control how the entire event is run and organized?........NOPE!
Let's please stay on the subject and yes True Street IS a PITA to run, but it's a "drawing card" to a lot of the locals. It's most likely a necessary evil that FFW has to live with.

[fastgirl50]

George is NOT the subject of this thread. Tech stuff..yep. Does he have control how the entire event is run and organized?........NOPE!
Let's please stay on the subject and yes True Street IS a PITA to run, but it's a "drawing card" to a lot of the locals. It's most likely a necessary evil that FFW has to live with.

Your right. Pinto is who you should be talking too. Bill will probably just foward that letter to him. We will see. Pinto is the "EO", Event Organizer. If someone has a problem with the way things are run, speak to him about it.

[aggie97]

Bill, I think Jim is getting a little bitter in his older age but I think he forgot something about the car show area from this last year......THE SHITTY FUCKING SMELL!! I swear the fucking sewer was backed up or something and in a couple areas it was unbearable to even walk near the cars.......

anyway, the only reason I have ever really gone to FFW at Ennis was to watch a few friends run, walk the midway looking for non-existant deals on parts and maybe see the Ford display of new cars. Hell, I have YET to see any hot women/organizer chicks walking around in skimpy gear like the other venues......

Basically, FFW sucks... :(

[BLK306]

Hell, I have YET to see any hot women/organizer chicks walking around in skimpy gear like the other venues......

Basically, FFW sucks... :(

Guess we will have to start going to ricer events to see that. :(

[Mach1Marauder]

Guess we will have to start going to ricer events to see that. :(
LMAO!!!
That would be a funny sight, me bringing Louise to a NOPI event! :D

[MattB]

LMAO!!!
That would be a funny sight, me bringing Louise to a NOPI event! :D

I've got a 3 foot tall or so trophy on top of about $400 for getting SECOND place in a 14.00 dial in bracket race from NOPI in 1999! And there were a lot less than 120 cars in my class too!

[Boss Hogg]

I also will not compete at FFW this year.

[MattB]

I also will not compete at FFW this year.
Your car exceeds the weight maximum.

[BLK306]

LMAO!!!
That would be a funny sight, me bringing Louise to a NOPI event! :D

Hell ya Bill take ol' Louise out there. Hell I'll go with you. Even if they don't let us race we can at least go watch the we T-shirt contests. :D

[aggie97]

I've got a 3 foot tall or so trophy on top of about $400 for getting SECOND place in a 14.00 dial in bracket race from NOPI in 1999! And there were a lot less than 120 cars in my class too!

Was this in a rental?!!! LOL!!!

[MattB]

Was this in a rental?!!! LOL!!!


C'mon man, what rental cars can run 14.0's......;)

[aggie97]

C'mon man, what rental cars can run 14.0's......;)

Hmmm, suzuki swift with a 100 shot and a tail wind?!! :D

[Mach1Marauder]

Hell ya Bill take ol' Louise out there. Hell I'll go with you. Even if they don't let us race we can at least go watch the we T-shirt contests. :D
Yeah.............Don't they have booty shaking contests too? :D
That would at least make the increase of the entry fee a little easier to swallow in FFW! :cool:

[foggedpacecar]

let us know if your friend gets an e-mail back i would like to know what it says

[Mach1Marauder]

let us know if your friend gets an e-mail back i would like to know what it says
I doubt if he'll get anything back, but I will post up if I hear anything.