Factory Five Customer Karen S. Brings #28 Home!

[Dave Smith]

If you’ve followed any news in the Factory Five community, you’ve likely heard of Dr. Karen Salvaggio. Karen’s list of accomplishments is almost as long as the list of people who are lucky to call her a friend… and that’s A LOT! Karen has raced her numerous Factory Fives (Challenge Cars and Coupes) to West Coast Championships, she has completed the astoundingly difficult 25 Hours of Thunderhill many times, and has been a tremendous friend of anyone connected to the words Factory Five Racing. In 2010, she was awarded the Factory Five “Legacy Award”. It seems every time I hear of some cool West Coast event, Karen’s name pops up!



Last week, I got this cool picture from Karen of her street-legal race coupe on hallowed ground… the Bonneville Salt Flats. She had just finished running her car up at Miller Motorsports Park, and made a small trek over to the Salt Flats on her way home.

Karen is going to be leading a team of women in an upcoming, all-women Factory Five build for cable TV next year!

Thanks for the beautiful picture Karen, and for all the love, stoke, and friendship you’ve given to so many in the FFR community!

[Ray]

If I may steal a line from an old Honda ad from years past: “You meet the nicest people in a FFR.”

Ray

[Mark Dougherty]

great pic That's funny I have one just like it in a rental. covered in salt.
Did Karen run it on the salt? or just stay on the pavement.
what did it do.

[David Hodgkins]

I gotta get out there some day.

Awesome pic Karen!

[68GT500MAN]

Great photo. Karen is everywhere!

[Garry Bopp]

Karen,


Are you making this an annual event? Much nicer in the sunshine than in a salty thunderstorm. Great picture!

Garry

[WIS89]

Karen-

Keep doing all of those awesome things; I am in awe of your many achievements!! Cool picture.

Regards,

Steve

[JL1958]

You sound like an exceptional woman Karen.
Great job representing that real women love fast cars and can handle them too!

[Russ Thompson]

I say this should be POM, there wasn't one so now we have a good one to use.:-)

Looks good sitting there Karen!

[Movieman]

I saw this and was expecting to read that she drove the car to the salt flats, tossed on her driving duds and proceeded to break all the existing records without even doing a plug change!
Yea, that is what I think of this lady!

[tirod]

Well, Karen made the right decision. Bonneville takes different tires, drive ratio, etc etc. A track car would need some changes.

Traction alone is completely different than what we think: http://saltflats.com/traction.html

The Salt is forecast a high of 97 today, mid 60's tonight, 10% humidity. Sun index 10+. Imagine sitting in your car in line to run, in a track suit with fireproof longjohns, waiting in the afternoon sun . . .

[68GT500MAN]

Karen already has enough electrical gremlins in the coupe to keep her busy, no need to add problems with salt.
Doug

Electrical, how about cooling? I worked to try and get a thermo switch going to turn on the fan and it didn't even like that! Karen has it burned out the fan relay again? Or is it still going?

The car looks great. I loved driving it around this summer. It was a huge hit at Cars and Coffee and really big on the Memorial Day! Thanks again for letting me have the privilege.

Erik

[CHOTIS BILL]

Tirod,

That a cool day at Willow Springs or Buttonwillow.
Bill Lomenick

[tirod]

Thirty days at Ft. Irwin, you get the hang of it. One of these days I'll start going out to Speedweeks. Just more desert training.

I'll let you know ahead, there will be record rainfall just like every other time.

[vnmsss]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Dave and everyone! We just returned to So Cal from a 4 week adventure which included driving the Coupe at Laguna Seca (Monterey), Portland International Raceway (PIR), Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, CA), and the 3.1 mile outer circuit at Miller Motorsports Park. Larry Miller, founder of MMP, collected what has become one of the most significant collections of Cobras from the mid-60's era of FIA competition, and his collection includes one of the six original Coupes (#13), which I simply HAD to visit while at Miller MP.

As many here know, I am crazy about these cars, and am honored to be campaigning a Competition Coupe at these significant racetracks. The Coupe is always very well-received, and turns heads everywhere it goes. While we are having some teething pains with the new car, it's always a joy to be fielding the car at track events. I am fortunate to have the support of a great race team, and to have paired up with Rupert Bragg-Smith on the day-to-day operations and preparation of the car for the track. He's been an amazing supporter and champion for the car and our team, and I simply could not have made this lastest four track circuit without him.

Rupert snapped these photos at Bonneville, and we'll be submitting the iconic rear tail shot at the salt flats as a potential POM. Thanks so much Rupert, and everyone for your continued support. I am indeed the luckiest person to be living this life and experiencing so many wonderful things through my association with Dave Smith and the Factory Five Community!!! Karen

[frankeeski]

I've said it before Sweetheart, you are "Living the Dream"! Hard work pays off, and it is well deserved. Don't let anyone ever tell you anything different. Looking forward to seeing you down here in SoCal.

[tcoon]

Go Karen Go!!!!

[QSL]

Karen is going to be leading a team of women in an upcoming, all-women Factory Five build for cable TV next year!

I would love to see Julie involved with that. She would make it funny as hell! I can see now... my job is to mount this thingy majob... LOL.

[frankeeski]

Or how about a team of Julies?

[WIS89]

Frank-

I don't know; it sounds like Julie might be one of a kind!!

Karen as well. One of a kind to be sure!

Now, if they could run a class for all the ladies whose mates have been bitten by this bug, they would be doing all of us a service. They could share their perspective, as they too have been bitten, and are able to share first hand exactly what disease we have contracted so our ladies could better understand...

My hunch is that this class would be well attended.

My hat is off to you both!

Regards,

Steve

[frankeeski]

Frank-

I don't know; it sounds like Julie might be one of a kind!!

Karen as well. One of a kind to be sure!



Regards,

Steve

Sorry Steve, it was an inside joke and needed some explaining for those not intimately in this circle. Mike (QSL) has a wife named Julie (Mrs.QSL) who most of you know here on the forum. I also have a Julie, the original Julie in the SoCal group, my Julie rarely makes an appearance on the forums. When the two Julies get together it is somewhat unforgettable let's say. Sorry for the confusion. Both Julie (Mrs. QSL) and Karen are one of a kind as you mentioned.

[QSL]

Oh no frank. Your Julie is definitely one of a kind.

[frankeeski]

Oh no frank. Your Julie is definitely one of a kind.

Is that a good thing????????????????

[WIS89]

Sorry Mike and Frank!

I am pretty good at sticking my foot in my mouth!

I am certain that both Julie's are awesome, and thanks for letting me in on the joke!

Regards to all four of you!

Steve