I ran into this youtube video this morning and couldn't find it anywhere posted on the forum. I think this is a relevant video for the roadster forum as most of the content is centered around the roadster platform. It's very interesting and probably the first time I've ever sat through an hour long youtube video. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLr2wyoQzng
This is why I purchased a Mark I back in 1997! Thanks for the link
Thanks for the link, great interview. Really covered the history of the company well. Sorry it didn't work out with his brother, my father had a similar situation with starting a business with his older brother.
Put in my order this AM and this interview really makes me feel I made the right choice. This is certainly treated like a business the other companies I looked at still seem to be stuck in the early days of kit cars and treat it more as a hobby than a business.
Interesting enough to watch all the way through! Interesting too what he says about the Cobra name. It came from Co Bra as in Copper Braised, a process of constructing the early lightweight Crosley engines for the Hotshot, America's first sports car. It goes against what Shelby himself said in one of his interviews though, where he claims it was just something he thought up and had no other origins. It stands to reason, considering when the Hotshot was built and that Shelby was deep into car technology at the same time.
Great interview! Wished I'd gone to work for them back in the late 90's when I bought my first kit.
I thought the interview was an hour well spent.
IMO it was an excellent dive into running a successful business no matter what the product is. There were aspects I could apply to my practice/ business. It was most excellent!
A VERY interesting interview to be sure. Some big nuggets re: SEMA 2021...
...as well as some solid history re: Shelby and Ford.
:)
With all the research that was done, Dave knew more about Shelby than Shelby did!
I just hope that Dave and his brother Mark will one day mend their relationship because all the success, industry accolades, and wealth created means nothing in the end....
Factory Five Racing is a great company with an amazing story and super-tight community that has been brought together by its creation, but losing your best friend who will always be your brother doesn't seem worth the price that was paid by the Brothers Smith....I've watched my brother survive cancer at 22, a Tripple Bypass at 38, and a Quadruple Bypass at 48, get a pacemaker in his mid 50's with multiple stints along the way....I feel luckier than the Smith brothers because my brother who is now 60 years old, with a beaten-up body of a fellow 20 years older, is still here and he is still my best friend.
Sorry to throw cold water on this interview, because I thought it was great; however, my hope is that Dave and Mark will one day soon be the very best of friends once again.
Dave gives a great interview. He just gets it. Would love to meet him someday
I watched this yesterday and it REA::Y sold me of FFR and Dave Smith, whose passion is contagious.
I also found it interesting to watch all the way through. What a work/business ethic that guy has.
That was 100% worth watching.
I didn't think the brothers had a falling out, just that they had different visions then each other.
It is neat to experience this level of exposure to a "star" in the industry. Dave understands himself, his employees, the market, technology and his company. This engenders a sense of pride just owning an FFR product.
jim