"Mid-America
Ford
performance
and Shelby
Meet to
become
official
Team Shelby
event in
2008
Las Vegas –
November 28,
2007 – In
another bold
move to
continue as
America’s
leading
automotive
performance
icon,
Carroll
Shelby and
Team Shelby
have signed
an agreement
to make the
Mid-America
Ford
Performance
and Shelby
Meet the
Team Shelby
Nationals,
which will
be held
annually in
Tulsa, Okla.
The
pre-eminent
Ford and
Shelby show
for the past
33 years, it
attracts
30,000
people
annually. As
the new Home
of Team
Shelby,
Carroll
plans to
attend the
Inaugural
2008 Team
Shelby
Nationals on
June 12–15.
“We formed
Team Shelby
to give all
Shelby
enthusiasts
more ways to
enjoy a high
octane
lifestyle,”
said Carroll
Shelby,
founder of
Shelby
Automobiles
and the
first member
of Team
Shelby.
“I’ve
admired the
way that Jim
Wicks, Randy
Roberts and
David Apgar
and everyone
at the
Mid-America
Ford
Performance
and Shelby
Meet have
grown their
event
following
this same
philosophy.
So instead
of creating
a new event,
we decided
to partner
with the
best and
create a
national
Team Shelby
event that
would show
just how
much we
appreciate
all Shelby,
Ford and
Mustang fans
across the
country.”
Mid-America's
new website.
The
longest-running,
multi-faceted
event of its
kind, the
Mid-America
Ford
Performance
and Shelby
Meet began
as a picnic
hosted by
Jim Wicks
and a group
of diehard
enthusiasts
in 1974.
Today, it
has
blossomed
into a
multi-day
event with
drag racing,
road racing
exhibitions,
a trade
show, a
cruise
night, car
show and a
banquet. The
agreement
with the
event
organizers
was
finalized
earlier this
month.
“When I
started the
Mid-America
Meet 34
years ago, I
knew it
would be a
continuing
evolution,”
said event
founder and
organizer
Jim Wicks.
“I’m excited
to join with
Team Shelby
and be a
part of
taking the
fun and
excitement
of this fast
paced event
into the
future.”
The
Mid-America
Ford
Performance
and Shelby
Meet have
not only
hosted some
of the most
famous names
in racing,
such as
Cobra pilots
Dick Smith,
Lew Spencer
and Don
Roberts,
chassis
design
engineer
Robert
Negstad,
former SCCA
B production
national
champion
Walt Hane,
noted
automotive
artist Bill
Neale,
author and
racing
driver Rick
Titus,
designer and
Shelby
American
employee
Pete Brock,
SVT Manager
John Coletti
and the
legend
himself,
Carroll
Shelby.
The event
recently has
served as a
hotbed of
vehicle
introductions
including:
• First
public
raceway
drive of the
2007 Shelby
GT500
• Unveiling
of the 2008
Ford Mustang
Shelby GT
Convertible
• First
public
appearance
of the
Shelby GT
500KR
outside New
York
• Launch of
the Shelby
Automobiles
Shelby GT500
Super Snake
post title
package
Team Shelby
is the only
club
officially
recognized
by the
factory for
all vehicles
built by
Shelby. The
organization
is directed
by Robert
Lane and
Sharon
Elliot.
Members
don’t need
to own a
Shelby to be
a member,
just share a
“life needs
more”
attitude and
celebrate
all high
performance
Shelbys.
“The Team
Shelby
Nationals
will
continue the
celebration
of Mr.
Shelby’s
85th
birthday
during 2008,
which will
begin at our
annual Las
Vegas
event,”
explained
Ms. Elliott.
“We’ll also
have
regional
activities
like track
days and
factory
tours.
Members can
learn about
these
opportunities
through our
Web site
where
videos,
forums,
podcasts,
exclusive
news and
briefings by
key Shelby
execs will
be available
only to
them.
Another huge
benefit of
membership
will be
access to
our on-line
Shelby
registry; so
owners won’t
have to wait
for print
editions to
be
compiled.”
While plans
are evolving
based on
this new
relationship,
the 2008
Nationals
currently
will
feature:
• 3 days of
open track
action at
Hallett
Motor Racing
Circuit
• 1 day of
drag racing
at Tulsa
Raceway Park
• Parts swap
meet and
vendor area
• High
Performance
Shelby
driving
school
• Car Show
at the Tulsa
Southern
Hills
Marriott
• Autograph
session with
Carroll
Shelby and
special
guests"
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