Is it just my perception or have FFR builds been setting the bar higher lately?

[NiceGuyEddie]

• the kit is better
• the supporting vendors are better (aftermarket parts and final touch do-dads)
• this forum is better, with better archives
• we are wasting other people's money better than ever
• seems that with the economy nowadays, you don't build unless you REALLY have money, so the builds are higher-end.

[tjmotter]

Agreed with all of you but really want to call out the vendor support. Mark (Breeze), Mike Forte, Gordon, Whitby's, Tangent, Darkwater, Enzo, Russ Thompson.... All these vendors build quality products that are specifically designed to plug into an FFR. This is a beautiful thing and is something that sets the FFR approach apart from the others. I too have seen underwhelming kit cars and what I noticed is that they often had a frankenstein look about them with mismatched parts that just didn't look right together. The beauty of the vendor support we have is that these upgrades not only work right but they look right. It makes the finished product so much more enjoyable.

The master ASE mechanic who signed off on my DMV papers was extremely impressed by the fit and finish of the final product. He had actually owned an original but noted that everything on my kit from the hydraulic clutch slave (from Fortes) to the interior (Gordon, Russ and Whitby's) to the engine compartment and brakes/suspension (Breeze and Whitby's), just fit together perfectly.

I believe that these vendors are a HUGE reason why perceptions are changing.

[Chuck Robertson]

[QUOTE=tirod;2726017]

It's very much unfortunate the show cars don't get track time, tho, to proof the huge expense actually benefits a future owner. Much like a Rolex, those cars are built for status - the performance can be easily matched in commodity priced goods.

QUOTE]

I guess that I didn't get that memo. In 2003 at the FFR Nationals, FFR2826 won overall Beast of Show, spent time on the autocross coarse and did three track sesions on the road coarse at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, all in the same day.