posted 08-19-2003 04:06 PM                  

Many of you, like me, was SHOCKED to receive such a hostile response from Rick Finzer, The TURKEY RUN Event Director regarding our organized efforts.

If you are just joining this discussion, please refer to an earlier topic "As a Prowler Owner, you CAN make a difference" for the details.

Even though I received a very encouraging email this afternoon from the Founder of the DAYTONA BEACH STREET RODS, we are not out of the woods yet!

I want to share this email with you to illustrate what a difference our organized "lobbying" efforts have made, even though some needless and offending remarks aimed at our attempts were carelessly hurled at many Prowler Owners.

Please note the contents of this email are in Blue... also within the email I have highlighted in Red some interesting and encouraging comments in support of our efforts...

Hello Jay,

Rick Finzer has asked me to reply to you concerning your correspondence with
us re: re-opening registration to Prowlers.

The Daytona Beach Street Rods are having their 1st "rod run" business
meeting this Thursday night. Your letter to me dated July 16th is one of the
first items of discussion on the agenda.

I am the founder of the Turkey Rod Run and currently the vice-president of
our club. Let me take a moment to let you know a little about the
"beginnings" of our event.

30 years ago the Ormond Beach Birthplace of speed auto event was one of the
premier "old car" events in Florida. I attempted to register my "t-bucket"
roadster in this event in 1973 and was denied entry because it was "modified
hot rod" and did not fit their "requirements". I was upset, just as you are
that I couldn't attend. I was so upset that 2 friends and I founded the
TurkeyRun the following year.

Participation in our event is based on Fun. No judging, classes or any of
the things that cause problems in many auto shows. That's perhaps why we
have lasted for 30 years. Our club has not forgotten this and intends to
continue this type of atmosphere for as long as this event is staged, in
spite of our "running out of space". You must understand however that this
event is run by volunteers. We all have jobs and we do this as a labor of
love. This is a huge event that's run by a "handful" of volunteers.

Rick Finzer does an excellent job of running the event. He is a paid "part
time" employee of the club as his job goes above and beyond a volunteer's
normal time. Decisions, however as to the rules of the event are made by
club committees at the monthly business meetings that begin in August.

I agree 100% with your comments on Prowler participation. I personally will
make every effort to see that Prowlers are allowed to register for this
year's TurkeyRun. I will do my best to persuade the other members of the
club to support this. It's my opinion that the only difference between a
$100,000 '33 Ford Alloway Speedstar roadster and a $30,000 Prowler is
$70,000.

I will advise you first thing Friday morning of the decision of our club. In
the meantime......please refrain from soliciting any more letters or e-mails
to Rick. Your point has been well made and I will personally follow through
with an answer this Friday AM.

Best Regards

Stuart

Stuart Sarjeant
Macintosh, the computer for the rest of us.
stuart@sarjeant.com

Stay tuned for more... especially Friday to see if the Daytona Beach Street Rod Club Members agree with the Club's Founder in viewing the Prowler favorably as a Street Rod and is just for having FUN, FUN, FUN with our Family and Friends.

posted 08-19-2003 04:23 PM                  

------------------

posted 08-21-2003 04:06 PM                  

It was the night before the car show
The first one of the New Year
And all the members of the highboy club
Were about to face their biggest fear
They all read the list of car show rules
Desperately hoping to find a way
To prevent a certain group of people
From entering their cars the next day

Their leader said, "It's imperative"
"That we keep these things out of the show!"
He knew that if they were entered
That would be where the trophies would go.

See, no one really cared any more
That the trunk didn't have any space
They had long since stopped suggesting
To put a V-8 in the six's place.

The fact that the trans is an auto
Was no longer of any concern
And no one talked of the rough ride
Instead, how that baby can turn

They could no longer say, "It's not custom"
"It came from the dealer like that"
For over the years they were transformed
Into every conceivable breed of Kat

All the other car's chances were ended
By what the calendar now told
The year was now twenty twenty-two
And the first Prowler was 25 years old.

To celebrate the Kat's birthday
Several members of the POA
Took home all the car show trophies
20 years after this poems posted day

Yes the Prowler was now called a classic
A truly American jewel
And Webster's used the Kat's picture
For the definition of "Ultimate Cool"