Press Release- Rick Kopec retires from SAAC

[WT6066-2600]

Quick Rick story:

At Indy during SAAC19, Rick was there directing traffic (like he had nothing else to do) and I told him how much my kids enjoyed the lunch time parade laps on track days.  When I stated that my 20-month-old son fell asleep in his car seat during the lap, without hesitation Rick said, "must have been going too slow" and waived us on.  We still own that Shelby after 43+ years.

Thanks to Rick and Colleen, Joe

"Be proud of the work you have done, the people you are, and the difference you have made."

[98SVT - was 06GT]

At Indy during SAAC19, Rick was there directing traffic I told him how much my kids enjoyed the lunch time parade laps on track days. 

We were at Indy and I took our grandson out for parade laps. When we got back Rick made sure that he called his mom to tell her. You could hear the "let me talk to your grandfather" in the whole tent. I explained that he was in his booster seat and I did keep it under 100 (just because the Mopar ahead of us was slow). Finally reminding her she did the same laps at Laguna Seca when she was his age shut her up - Thanks Rick......
Rick & Colleen came to SoCal one time and decided to hit Disneyland. My wife and daughter went with them. When they arrived Rick told our daughter she was to be the guide and turned to her mom and said - you are not her mom today she can do whatever she wants... It did end well.

[rhjanes]

Thank you Rick and Colleen for all the service over the years. 

[csxsfm]

Thanks Rick for fighting CS's takeover attempt and allowing SAAC to survive and support our old cars.

[GTBULLITT]

Thanks for the ride Rick, you made the drive quite enjoyable.
But one last question do we still need to wear Hawaiian shirts at the SAAC dinners ?

[QuickSilverShelby]

Thanks for everything you've done Rick.  It was an honor to meet you at SAAC 43, Sonoma.

QSS

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Thanks Rick for fighting CS's takeover attempt and allowing SAAC to survive and support our old cars.

That is a story that needs to be preserved. Even if it tarnishes the carefully crafted CS image. Facts is facts. Some easily seen ones are - Team Shelby is merely an inhouse marketing tool of SA with a sealed registry. If SAAC had become part of that the "old" cars would have fallen off their radar and there would be zero ongoing protection or public records/scrutiny of the 62-70 cars. SA talks history but in reality they even sold the first Cobra.

But one last question do we still need to wear Hawaiian shirts at the SAAC dinners ?

We better that's all I own anymore.

[Cobrask8]

Thanks for the ride Rick, you made the drive quite enjoyable.
But one last question do we still need to wear Hawaiian shirts at the SAAC dinners ?

Got mine ready for 50!

[Hov]

I think this is a great way to give Rick Kopec a fitting tribute at the SAAC 50 dinner, everyone wear a Hawaiian shirt on Saturday night. Those people who are on this forum site but are also members of a local chapter of SAAC, mention this at your next meetings. For those SAAC members who know of other people attending the convention and dinner, tell them to get a Hawaiian shirt. It is easy enough to go to a Goodwill, 2nd hand store and you can find them on the racks. Wash it and you are good to go.   

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I think this is a great way to give Rick Kopec a fitting tribute at the SAAC 50 dinner, everyone wear a Hawaiian shirt on Saturday night. 

There are even Cobra/Shelby themed "Hawaiian" shirts available for $15-60. Google them and order online. The fact that several companies are making these shirts is another example of what Kopec did to save CS and SA from being a mere footnote in the automotive world.

[GrabberOrange69]

This was sad news. I'm not inside any angle of SAAC, but I remember talking with him at SAAC 32 in Utah.  Always pleasant, a wealth of information with a dry wit.  He'll be missed.

I'll be wearing a Hawaiian shirt at the dinner. 

[JohnSlack]

I think this is a great way to give Rick Kopec a fitting tribute at the SAAC 50 dinner, everyone wear a Hawaiian shirt on Saturday night. Those people who are on this forum site but are also members of a local chapter of SAAC, mention this at your next meetings. For those SAAC members who know of other people attending the convention and dinner, tell them to get a Hawaiian shirt. It is easy enough to go to a Goodwill, 2nd hand store and you can find them on the racks. Wash it and you are good to go.   

Mark, really? You don't see Reyn Spooner in the 2nd hand store.

[Don Johnston]

I think this is a great way to give Rick Kopec a fitting tribute at the SAAC 50 dinner, everyone wear a Hawaiian shirt on Saturday night. Those people who are on this forum site but are also members of a local chapter of SAAC, mention this at your next meetings. For those SAAC members who know of other people attending the convention and dinner, tell them to get a Hawaiian shirt. It is easy enough to go to a Goodwill, 2nd hand store and you can find them on the racks. Wash it and you are good to go.   

Mark, really? You don't see Reyn Spooner in the 2nd hand store.

I am not sure of this fascination of so called "Hawaiian "shirts.  We wear authentic Aloha shirts here in the middle of the Pacific almost daily, but I have never worn one at a SAAC convention.  At the conventions, I see a lot of polyester and rayon prints of Ford products and Tommy Bahama prints for the Key West lovers, but they are not related to anything from Hawaii.  But to each his own. 

However, calling these chest covers "Hawaiian" shirts is like calling a back yard modified six cylinder Mustang with stripes and scoops a one of one Shelby original.

And I can get my Reyns shirts at the local Nordstrom Rack for half price, by the way.

Aloha.   

[cobrachi]

Yeah ... Great Idea....too bad he's not coming..........

[6s1802]

Why would Rick just quit? It doesn't make any sense, his health is still good and SAAC was his life. I don't think the current board of directors is being honest with the membership why he quit. Who is going to publish the quarterly magazine now?