TMSBrad

After a yearlong endeavor working with Ford Racing, the directors of a well-known enthusiast club operation have been awarded exclusive ownership of the Ford-founded Special Vehicle Team Owners Association (SVTOA). Ken Eber and Rick Kopec, long known in the Ford enthusiast community as co-founders of the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC), have formed a new private enterprise, Specialty Performance Vehicle Clubs LLC, to operate the SVTOA and allow for future expansion of the club.

“High performance vehicles like those created and sold by the Ford Special Vehicle Team deserve a high performance owners club," said Eber, new head of Business Operations for the SVTOA. "Just as we have helped promote the passion for Shelby's cars all these years, we plan to put together the right group of people to help fuel the same kind of Ford passion for the thousands of enthusiasts who own SVT vehicles."

Back in 2000, Ford SVT had created the SVT Owners Association with the motto, “Drive Safe and Have Fun,” as a way to enhance the SVT ownership experience and build upon the core values of Ford performance vehicles. Through its network of regional chapters all across the United States and Canada, the SVTOA offered plenty of opportunities for members to get out and drive with other SVT vehicle owners during road trips and cruise nights.

But what really differentiated the SVTOA from most other car clubs was its series of Ford-sponsored On Track High Performance Driver Education events. Unlike typical open-track sessions, the SVTOA On Track events were run by experienced instructors, so that all drivers – from beginner to intermediate to racer – could get personalized help improving their skills in a single weekend. By 2005, the ranks of the SVTOA had grown to some 5,000 members.

The new SVTOA is “dedicated to the enjoyment, care and history of all SVT vehicles produced by Ford Motor Company.” The operating directors of Specialty Performance Vehicle Clubs not only bring more than three decades of club experience to bear on enhancing the SVTOA – but they are joined in the effort by many of the longstanding SVTOA regional and chapter leaders. SVTOA membership is open to anyone with a passion for high-performance Ford SVT vehicles – although ownership of Ford SVT or other Ford performance vehicles is NOT required to join.

"This is great news for Ford and SVT enthusiasts," said Mickey Matus, Ford Performance marketing manager. "We've worked out a way to keep the SVTOA operational – with the same name, mission and organizational structure that has served it so well since its inception – while also positioning it for continued growth so that it may become one of the largest auto enthusiast clubs of its kind in the world."

Eber noted that beyond such club standards as a membership card, windshield sticker, special sponsor offers and the like, joining the new SVTOA will bring a variety of benefits, including:

• Subscription to the ALL-NEW official club publication, SVT Enthusiast
• How-To and Technical advice from former SVT/SVE engineers
• Insider stories, product histories and original photography on every SVT vehicle
• Special discounts on official SVT merchandise and Certificates of Authenticity
• Participation at Regional SVTOA On Track driving events nationwide
• NEW: Annual SVTOA National Convention (this year held in conjunction with the SAAC Convention July 6-7-8-9, 2007, at Miller Motorsports Park, Utah)
• NEW: Access to SPECIAL features planned for www.SVTOA.com
• NEW: Inclusion in the OFFICIAL Ford-recognized SVT Vehicle Registry

"With the all-new SVTOA now officially up-and-running in the hands of proven enthusiast leadership, Ford Motor Company – through Ford Racing – can now turn its attention to creating an even stronger bond with current and future Ford performance owners," Matus said. "Ford enthusiasts should look forward to the very first joint SAAC / SVTOA National Convention this July at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. Ford Racing is planning a special relationship with events like this to bring additional value to membership in a Ford enthusiast car club."

As a limited-production Ford Mustang engineered and developed by SVT, the new 2007 Shelby GT500 qualifies for inclusion in the official registry of either club, so owners are encouraged to join the SVTOA by visiting www.SVTOA.com, or learn about membership in the Shelby American Automobile Club at www.SAAC.com.

About Ford SVT
The Ford Special Vehicle Team was founded in 1991 to develop and build high-performance, fun-to-drive cars and trucks that add luster to the company's lineup – or "Polish the Ford Oval." The official SVT launch came in February 1993 with the unveiling of the 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra and SVT F-150 Lightning. Since that time some 150,000 SVT vehicles have been produced, including several versions of the Cobra (both coupe and convertible) and Lightning pickup, the SVT Contour sports sedan, and both three- and five-door versions of the SVT Focus. SVT has also produced special Cobra 'R' models in 1993, '95 and 2000. In addition, SVT was responsible for the development and production of the 2005-06 Ford GT supercar – as well as the most powerful production Mustang ever, the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500.