This deal was a you snooze you lose from the start. Think about it, each of the 4 tracks might have had 50 openings, with over 8000 invites going out....you do the math. I applaud Ford for doing this, but most of us didn't stand a chance of getting in at all..........so be it.

I didn't snooze, and I barely got in. I registered within minutes of getting my invite in the mail, and was probably one of the last to get into Laguna Seca. I just count myself lucky.

And if anyone thinks it's not a big deal to get in and run a few laps...feel free to give up your slot. :

Bellyaching about bellyaching...*sigh*.

Didn't get a Ford invite even though I had a new 12 Boss. Got my invite through PBOC as I think Ford is trying to target the non Ford enthusiast also.

Peter

Grant 302 said:

That's really easy to say when you're going...and used to work where you did.

I don't think Ford needs you to defend their actions either, because this could have been handled better.

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I think it's just really easy to say that no matter if you got in or not...do the math and realize that there are VERY few spots relative to the all the folks who could be invited (dealership personnel included). I think that getting in was nearly completely random. I don't think my having worked at Ford has one iota to do with it.

In an attempt to bring some hope & cheer back to this thread ;-), I think there's a really good chance that there will be a track program for the GT350 that is similar to the track attack. Nothing confirmed...but a good chance, I think. MMP will be bought by someone (there are multiple investor groups lined up to acquire it), and I doubt Ford Performance will walk away from the programs that been building there (Raptor, ST Academy, etc)

fuhrius said:

In an attempt to bring some hope & cheer back to this thread ;-), I think there's a really good chance that there will be a track program for the GT350 that is similar to the track attack. Nothing confirmed...but a good chance, I think. MMP will be bought by someone (there are multiple investor groups lined up to acquire it), and I doubt Ford Performance will walk away from the programs that been building there (Raptor, ST Academy, etc)

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I would love to see that happen. The more opportunities I can get to learn the better. It's like anything else, there's always room for improvement and to learn new things. If they do offer a GT350 program, I would definitely be in for renting a race prepped Boss 302 for the second day, similar to when we could book the FR500S......or I might do the comp school that Nick just went through

cloud9 said:

I would love to see that happen. The more opportunities I can get to learn the better. It's like anything else, there's always room for improvement and to learn new things. If they do offer a GT350 program, I would definitely be in for renting a race prepped Boss 302 for the second day, similar to when we could book the FR500S......or I might do the comp school that Nick just went through

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I'd talked the guys at MMP a few weeks ago about that same program...sounds like a really great 4 days and a fast-track to a NASA license. The cost may be the only downside...but it sure sounds like a hoot. I'm a big believer in driving schools, whether you're going to turn that into a competition license or not.

fuhrius said:

I'd talked the guys at MMP a few weeks ago about that same program...sounds like a really great 4 days and a fast-track to a NASA license. The cost may be the only downside...but it sure sounds like a hoot. I'm a big believer in driving schools, whether you're going to turn that into a competition license or not.

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I could get my NASA license this Saturday morning at MPH instead of running Time Trials if I wanted, but I'm with you, I'd rather have the instruction first.

fuhrius said:

I think it's just really easy to say that no matter if you got in or not...do the math and realize that there are VERY few spots relative to the all the folks who could be invited (dealership personnel included). I think that getting in was nearly completely random. I don't think my having worked at Ford has one iota to do with it.

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No, of course not. : It wouldn't have nearly guaranteed you getting in if you were unlucky to get a snail mail letter a full week later like the majority of us did. The word 'disingenuous' needs to be inserted somewhere here, but I can't think of a clever way to do it.

I don't really want to hear bellyaching either. What I'm defending is his right as a member to do so here.

Grant 302 said:

No, of course not. : It wouldn't have nearly guaranteed you getting in if you were unlucky to get a snail mail letter a full week later like the majority of us did. The word 'disingenuous' needs to be inserted somewhere here, but I can't think of a clever way to do it.

I don't really want to hear bellyaching either. What I'm defending is his right as a member to do so here.

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fine to defend the bellyaching...everyone has a right to...just think it's unproductive and a bit petty to be moping about first-world problems.
I don't think there's any reason to be calling me / my comments disingenuous.
If you think, critically, about how / why Ford selected attendees, I'm guessing (just guessing) that 'ex-ford employee' would have little-to-nothing to do with it. Ford's got way too many ex's to make that a viable criteria.
Multiple-Ford owner? maybe.
Someone who has signaled purchase intent on some channel? maybe.
Could even be (and likely is, to some extent) based on inputs from their 'social listening tools' (http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/top-8-social-listening-tools-do-way-more-listen) or tools such as Lithium, that are looking for 'influencers' in social communities.

I've unlocked this thread and please direct any additional complaints to Ford. Their contact information is in the link below.

Again, I urge any participants to take GoPros to share footage with us!

ArizonaBOSS said:

Again, I urge any participants to take GoPros to share footage with us!

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A Go Pro with the Periscope app built in would be great.

ArizonaBOSS said:

Again, I urge any participants to take GoPros to share footage with us!

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Thanks for the reminder I forgot already!

While it does eat up slots that could have gone to loyal Ford owners, it is probably a good move to invite drivers of competitors cars who would not give the GT350 the time of day otherwise, because Mustang... How many dealers do you think will actually let you test drive one of these? I bet VERY few will until you actually sign paperwork. If I was sent an invite to drive a C7 Z06 around a track (even if slowly) for free I would hop on it. In the end, Ford has a business to run and they are trying to expand their owner base. If the invitee loves the car he/she might buy one instead of a competing slow and expensive pile of snobbery. Then they will have to justify their purchase to their fan-boy buddies and maybe convert a few after a ride. It might not work out, but it is certainly better than not trying.

Keep in mind that a lot of people are still ignorant about how well Mustangs handle now (and have been since 2005 m.y. ). They still have that knee-jerk reaction of "Mustangs are only good in a straight line". But the hilarious thing is that those people do nothing but try to drag race in their "better handling car" anyways...go figure.

four-walling said:

A Go Pro with the Periscope app built in would be great.

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Ill do a Periscope broadcast this Sat at 11 AM PDT from LS. I'll start a separate thread but in the meantime download the app if you don't have it.

VooDooBOSS said:

Ill do a Periscope broadcast this Sat at 11 AM PDT from LS. I'll start a separate thread but in the meantime download the app if you don't have it.

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I'm still 'in the dark' on when / where the gt350's (new ones) will be. any insight? I think I'll be down there tomorrow...maybe come back down saturday...but if there are cars there tomorrow I'd be happy to share.

VooDooBOSS said:

Ill do a Periscope broadcast this Sat at 11 AM PDT from LS. I'll start a separate thread but in the meantime download the app if you don't have it.

Click to expand...

Great-periscope will also keep your video online for 24 hours for those who cannot watch your broadcast live.

fuhrius said:

I'm still 'in the dark' on when / where the gt350's (new ones) will be. any insight? I think I'll be down there tomorrow...maybe come back down saturday...but if there are cars there tomorrow I'd be happy to share.

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I beat you to it. I found the GT350s (4 of them, 2 red, 1 yellow and 1 blue) as well as a blue on its side so you can see underneath. As soon as I upload the pictures off my phone, I'll edit and post.

I literally just drove right up to the paddock and could see anything I wanted to. No one seemed to care. If my son didn't need to get to bed, I'd probably still be there.

Edit: GT350 Porn. Probably NSFW. J/K.










I apologize for some of the grainy pics. I wasn't sure if I'd get shooed out. The blue one at the front doesn't have the big rear wing, but the other three do. I don't remember if there is a badge, but I didn't notice any R badges (GT350R, or otherwise) on them. I do believe the one on its side is an R though. I didn't want to bother them since they were setting up. I wonder if these are the cars you guys will be driving for the Track Tour.

On a side note, I did NOT see a GT. I was hopeful.

The location of the display is to the left of where we grid the cars for HOD, near the Skip Barber building. At least 6 old GT350's were back there as well including one they were starting up, seen in the foreground of the picture with the top view. I managed to get a video of it as well.

ufnavy06 said:

I beat you to it. I found the GT350s (4 of them, 2 red, 1 yellow and 1 blue) as well as a blue on its side so you can see underneath. As soon as I upload the pictures off my phone, I'll edit and post.

I literally just drive right up to the paddock and could see anything I wanted to. No one seemed to care. If my son didn't need to get to bed, I'd probably still be there.

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awesome! (with the only exception that they didn't have an AG one so I could see it in person)
Were any of them R's? or all non-R's?
I was in Scott's Valley this evening near Canepa (http://www.canepa.com/) and saw an orange / black strips non-R drive past me. it looked good.

I was at Canepa on Saturday for their Cars and Coffee. Their showroom is quite amazing.