Forum Member vnmsss‎ Coupe Pictures

[Mad Dog]

Factory Five Racing customer Karen Salvaggio took her car to Interlink Source Media's brand new photo studio in El Segundo, CA and pro-photographer Randy Lorentzen from Hot Rod Magazine and Street Rodder Magazine shot her 25 Hour endurance racer. Here are a few of the pictures, but if you want to see the car in action, you'll have to travel to Thunderhill Raceway for the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

[Mad Dog]

Team Thunder Valley Racing at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill

[riptide motorsport]

I like it better when its dirty!!! Nice picts.

[John Card]

Ooooh! Got links to even larger versions?

Any idea what the photos are going to be used for?

[Mad Dog]

Hi John,

I do have larger versions of the images but they're not exactly web friendly. Is there a specific image or images you'd like to see a larger version of?

[jtpayne]

This car is an inspiration. Battle worn veterans are so much cooler than show ponys! Thanks for sharing

[KodiakCoupe]

Great photos of an incredible warrior!! Thanks for the post!

I can only think of oh...about six cars that compare.

[Dave Smith]

Amen to that. Karen is carrrying on a great tradition and this year, without Andy, I think it's super cool that everyone support her and remind her how much we all love and respect her. I worked with Karen at SEMA and she reminded me that she never got these pictures as they were shot last spring. I had Sally call Doug at ISM and we just got these. When people talk about the "best" replicas they always seem to think it's about looks... I say Karens car is right up there with the original cars in pure purpose and use. Plus the car looks even more mean in person! Good luck Karen and Team Thunder Valley in the 25 hrs. I know Jim S. and John George are here getting stuff prepped on this end (and fixing Johns car from Nats!).

[Jeff Kleiner]

Ahhh, yes! Not much I like better than a well used race car.

Jeff (not a waxer )

[vnmsss]

Dave and MadDog....I was completely stoked to see the photos from the Interlink session. Thanks so much for posting them. These pics were taken last spring, not long after the car had completed the 25 Hours, and following the car's display at the Riverside International Museum in all of its "filthy" glory.

As we prepare for this year's 25 Hours, it's hard not to think of Andy, and how much of his effort, and the effort of our amazing team, is etched into every inch of road grime, rock chip, cracked glass, and hammered paint which has formed a "patina" on our Coupe which can only be hard-earned and proudly worn by a true road warrior. She sure ain't no "show pony," but wherever she goes, she sure turn heads!! Andy is indeed smiling.

Thanks everyone for the kind words of encouragement, and for being amazing supporters of our racing effort!!! We'll be proudly flying the Factory Five Racing banner for our fifth time at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill this year!! We're looking forward to seeing Jim, John, and everyone from Team Boothman.

Karen

[Russ Thompson]

I agree, it's great to see these pics of Karens coupe with all the battle scars. I look forward to seeing the beast running at this years 25!

[tcoon]

Wow! The beast never looked so good! Karen you truly are an inspiration to us all. I am totally stoked to be competing alongside you in the concurrent 6 hour enduro. FFR should be well represented. Building the next generation coupe is likewise a gear head's dream come true! I am sure Andy is smilin' down and will be rooting us all on. Drive it like you stole it!

-T

[68GT500MAN]

Three weeks from now Andy will be smiling that Team Thunder Valley did very well in this years 25 hours. Thanks to everyone who is supporting this and the other FFR entrants in the race.
Doug

[vnmsss]

Thanks so much for the kind words everyone!!! I am so lucky to have such good friends!

Doug, Russ, Tom....Can't wait to see you at the 25!

Steve....You gotta make the trip down from Kodiak some day!!! Hey, maybe I'll just drive the old #28 up the Al-Can Highway and you can meet me halfway with your Coupe! ;.)

Karen

[Jim Schenck]

Car looks great! See you guys out there.

[KodiakCoupe]

Steve....You gotta make the trip down from Kodiak some day!!! Hey, maybe I'll just drive the old #28 up the Al-Can Highway and you can meet me halfway with your Coupe! ;.)

Karen

Hey Karen! Well I was in CA for almost 3 weeks last summer but I was kinda busy hiking your Sierra from Yosemite to Whitney on the JMT. That was one of the coolest things I've ever done.

Re the 25: Man I wish I could be there but this year I'll be in DC for the Army/Navy game during the 25. My oldest kid's a senior at USNA. I'm putting next year's 25 on my calendar right now. You can bet I'll be watching you guys from afar.

I'd be more than happy to meet you halfway down the ALCAN but our Alaska group will be meeting here in Kodiak in their rides next summer and guess what? We're inviting YOU to be our special guest. We're gonna shake and rattle this town.

Here's a sneak peak at the event's logo (I had to touch it up in this preliminary version to avoid chicken farmer police)

lastfrontierwcrab_PC.jpg

[John Tongish]

But isn't Kodiak an island?

[vnmsss]

Wow! Now THAT would be an adventure! Thanks so much Steve. ;.) It's only 3,462 miles from here (a little more than twice the distance we're planning to run in the 25 Hours)

You know, our own Ed Gavin (Challenge Series legend) rode shotgun in a Corvette in a re-creation of The Great Race (New York to Paris) earlier this year.....He runs Pikes Peak every year as well, and might be up for a rugged adventure. John.....You've been known to make some long distance hauling with your roadster, but I'm thinkin' there'd have to be a track up there for it to be worth your while.....You got any road courses up there Steve? Sure looks pretty.....Karen

http://kodiak.org/

[John Tongish]

Hi Karen,

The Yellow One (and its trailer) are always interested in new adventures and tracks. Victoria can fly Alaska Air if she doesn't want to ride in the Blazer. My preliminary 2012 track events are focusing on eastern Canada and the New England states, though Alaska could be added to the mix.

But this is your invite, make the plans and do the drive. Sounds like another great adventure to add to your resume. Who knows, you might make a few new friends.

[vnmsss]

Eastern Canada and New England, John....You might think about the Targa Newfoundland...That should be on the Bucket List as well.....;.)

Steve......Thanks again for the invite....Keep me posted on the details (date, etc.)....Never been to Alasak, and this might be a good chance for a roadtrip! ;.)

Karen

[Arrowhead]

Karen, Awesome photos. Great meeting and hanging with you at SEMA. You car has that no bull get it done attitude - just like you! Love it!

[KodiakCoupe]

Karen, Ha! Can't help but imagine your crew rolling their eyes wondering what the frost heaves on the ALCAN will do to your suspension. Another endurance test I guess...

And John, yes, Kodiak is indeed an island.

But we're only a ten hour ferry boat ride from the nearest mainland embarkation at Homer, AK. Homer's typically a 3-4 hour drive from Anchorage (or 2-3 hours by roadster or coupe cause you can just go right underneath the moose on the roadway ). All this of course just adds to the adventure. BTW, we have no moose on Kodiak, just bears about the size of moose and small deer.

Road courses? Well, unofficially I guess. We have an incredibly beautiful stretch of about 50 miles of winding roadway along the coast south to our rocket launch complex. I would either A) talk to our local AK state troopers about making it more official or B) turn it into some kind of rally (read FAST rally). Plan B is more realistic. There are competitions up around Anchorage, but I'd have to talk to my friends up there about the schedules.

Lots of other fun stuff planned but I'll keep you posted.

GOD SPEED at the 25!

[John Dol]

Steve,

I've heard of a training bra, but what's a c bra?

John

[Fluge]

A hand full?

[KodiakCoupe]

Steve,

I've heard of a training bra, but what's a c bra?

John

LOL! Good question John! I think Marc provided us both with a perfectly good answer.

[vnmsss]

You guys are killin' me....;.)))

Steve......Keep me posted on the Kodiak event......I'm sure the guys are already rolling their eyes, but hey, what an adventure!!

K

[Arch]

Karen,
The car looks great! Seattle is on the way to Kodiak .

Good luck at the 25. Hope to get together next summer,
Arch

[vnmsss]

Karen,
The car looks great! Seattle is on the way to Kodiak .

Good luck at the 25. Hope to get together next summer...
Arch

Thanks Arch...Seeing that I've never been north of Mount Shasta, even making it to Seattle would be a landmark trip for me......Alaska sounds pretty tempting though...Rick and Diane and I were talking about next summer's trip today....We're thinking big redwoods this time and a true roadtrip....We'll send smoke signals when we get a bit more of the un-planning done....It's gonna be hard to beat last year's un-adventure...;.)

Karen

[loeffler1]

Hey Karen,

How in the world do you drive at breakneck speeds and have time to check all the electronic devices (photo #4). This old brain would haqve a tough time multi tasking to do all that needs to be done. I notice some of the photos show you actually driving one handed as if you're on the freeway, albeit at a much higher speed!!! My deepest respect for your abilities, I think a lot of us live vicariously through your endeavers. Keep up the great work and if I ever get out your way I'll be sure to catch a glimpse of you "at speed"! And kudos too for your support group. I'm at the 80% stage with mine and I'll be absolutely ecstatic to finish late spring / early summer and do some driving. We have an awful short summer here in Maine.

Again, keep up the great work

Bill