I just sent this in to Overhaulin- maybe they will listen. A few follow ups from some other members might help as well. Contact them at:
[email protected]
Dear Overhaulin crew,
I know that I am not following the normal procedures for the show, but through the Viper Club of America I have become aware of a situation that could work out very well for your show. One of our well respected members has been trying to get a Shelby Cobra built for almost 2 years now, and he has run into some major roadblocks along the way. Unfortunately, he has been fighting cancer all during this drama, and has recently been given only 2-3 months to live. It has been his dream to have this Shelby, and it might take a miracle to actually get it built in time. That's where I am hoping you can come in.
Here is an excerpt from our VCA web forum so you can see his circumstances.
My Best Buddy and Car Guy is dying of Cancer, his name is Dwayne. We just spent the last 11 months traveling around the country with my Vipers and His Renegade Motorhome and our Harleys in his car hauler. We went to Willow Springs, Button Willow, Thunderhill, Mid America, Gingerman, The U.S. Grand Prix, VOI 8, and Hallett. We had a great time and made some great friends. Along the way we hooked up with other Viper Days regulars and VCA Members and road our Harleys after some of the Viper Days events. We even won a few trophies along the way.
Dwayne has been battling Bladder Cancer for the past 5 years. He has under gone many surgeries but always managed to have a good attitude about it all. After returning from Viper Days Finals in Hallett, OK, Dwayne went in for a checkup. The next morning they operated on him and have discovered that his cancer has spread and his liver is now affected. The Doctors say he has about 60 -to- 90 days to live. He leaves for the Mayo Clinic for treatment.
Dwayne's dream car is the 65 Cobra. The whole time he battled with his Bladder Cancer and endured the many surgeries that followed we always talked about getting a Cobra. As soon as his health improved he went to Las Vegas to see and on November 1st 2002 gave a $50,000 deposit to Roy Hunt from Finish Line Motorsports, Inc. ( Dealer for Shelby Automobiles, Inc.). Dwayne signed a contract and was told that his car would be done in 9 months.
Four months later (February 2003) Dwayne got a call from Shelby's Dealer (Finish Line Motorsports, Inc.) and was told that the car was ready for paint and that, per the contract, he would need to send another $50,000 (total to this point $100,000).
In March Dwayne and I traveled to Las Vegas to attend a meeting for Harley Owners Group (HOG) officers and Dealers. We got into town early and went out to the Las Vegas Speedway Industrial Park were both Carroll Shelby Automobiles, Inc. and Finish Line Motorsports, Inc. assemble the cars. You see Shelby provides the chassis and parts (less the engine & tranny) and Shelby's dealers (Roy Hunt aka. Finish Line Motorsports, Inc.) actually put the car together. Upon arrival Roy Hunt waltzed us around and showed us some cars and took us over to Shelby were the car was SUPPOSE to be getting painted. Everything looked good and we got back in our car and started to leave. The I remembered that I had taken the Glove compartment door off M my 2002 GTS F.E. so that I could get Carroll Shelby to sign it. I left the door and a $100 donation to the Childhood Cancer Foundation ( Carroll's pet project). As we were leaving Bob Marsh (Shelby's Manager) invited us into his office we chatted about Viper and Cobras. Dwayne asked him about the Shelby Registry and told Bob that the number was CSX4311. Marsh replied, no that car does not belong to you. Dwayne then said Yes it does, it's being painted in you booth as we speak) on further inquiry we found out that Dwayne's car had NOT EVEN BEEN STARTED. Roy Hunt was summoned to Shelby's and upon arrival admitted that he had taken the $100,000 and had not yet started on the car!!! After some tense moments Dwayne told them that he very much wanted his dream car and it was agreed that they would star the car immediately, and that no further money would be needed until the car was done. And it was left at that.
In January 2004 (14 months later) after the first Viper Days race at Willow Springs Dwayne, myself and a couple Florida VCA members to a Harley ride to Vegas. We went to see how the car was coming. We stopped at Roy Hunts place and got the song and dance and then went to Shelby's and saw the painted aluminum ***-y. It was awesome. We then went to Kroyer and saw the 620 H.P. engine they were building still in pieces. We were told that the car would be done in a few months.
In February 2004 Roy Hunt told Dwayne that he was having financial problems and did not have the money to finish the car. In March 2004 (16 months later) Brent Fenimore from Shelby told Dwayne that they would personally see that the car got finished. Thereafter, Dwayne sent them another $20,000 (Total to this point $120,000).
In July (20 months now) Dwayne took his attorney from Texas to Las Vegas to meet with Roy Hunt and Shelby's people. More song and dance and the engine was not done. Hunt told Dwayne that he did not have the money to get the engine from Kroyer across the street that they would not finish the engine unless they were paid. Dwayne gave Hunt another $20,000 (Total to this point $140,000). It was agreed that Hunt would now finish the car within 90 days.
In October after Viper Days Finals in Hallett, OK Dwayne drove back through Las Vegas so he could check on the car and arrange for pick-up. Upon arrival he was shown a car far from complete with no engine or tranny. Dwayne went next door to Kroyer and was shown his engine, which needed to be dyno-ed. Kevin Kroyer told Dwayne the engine was paid for and showed him that his serial number had been stamped into the block.
December 2004 (25 months later and he still has no car) the people at Shelby will not return any phone calls Roy Hunt has no money to finish the car and Dwayne is dieing. He has but one final request that he gets to drive his finished car. I need to speak to Carroll Shelby to ask him to please finish the car as soon as possible. If anyone in VCA land has a number for Carroll, please call him and have him call Dwayne 541-297-6522. Sorry this is so long but we really need someones help.
This episode has both drama and a huge personality in the automotive field(Carroll Shelby) involved, so it would make for a great show.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
) and make things right. There's simply no excuse for taking that amount of money from one person and having nothing to show for it.
Hopefully Dwayne will be driving it on Christmas day. 
