Ford Using Their Muscle?

[macdaddy]

Interesting tidbit from Champweb:

Ford Using Their Muscle

Rumor has it that Ford is telling its clients/customers for their automobile manufacturing to sponsor CART in some way, shape or form. It appears as though, Ford is not too happy about some sponsors going to the IRL due to Toyota and Honda, and if those sponsors do not sponsor CART, they will lose Ford's business.

For instance, Pioneer is coming out with a new system for the Mustang and Focus as well as their mini vans, that has uses the Pioneer stereo system in it, with a DVD and navigation system...


If true, then I give my kudos to the management at Ford!

[Jay]

Damn, if I was looking for a car, which I'm not sadly, it would be a Ford!

[macdaddy]

But it's kinda late to be throwing deals together now, isn't it?

[Raven]

I drive a Ford

[ascarracinguk]

nice one ford!!!

[ASCII Man]

Ford sucks. (sorry for being blunt)

Ford Motor Company sue fans and supporters of Ford/Jaguar/Etc. cars for using their names in internet adresses.

You can ask Wally Rawson, a third-generation seller of replacement parts for Ford cars and trucks. Wally registered 4fordparts.com and 4fordtrucks.com as part of his parts business. Ford sued him. At the same time, Ford sued Hans Rekestad (the guy in Sweden running ClassicVolvo.com and yes, Volvo is owned by Ford, as is Mazda, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar and Aston-Martin).

Or you can ask the guy in England who published Jaguarcenter.com (an animal preservation Website). Or Jaguarenthusiastsclub.com (Also animals, also England.) They got sued, too. Ford didn't sue in England or Sweden. They sued all these people in Detroit, Michigan.

Ford don't just sue. Ford asks for $100,000 in damages. Not for all those cases put together - $100,000 per address! And Ford won't just let any of these people give up the names and walk away. Ford won't reimburse them for their registration and renewal costs.

Wally Rawson (the parts guy) didn't want to be bothered with the lawsuit, so he just gave Ford both names. Ford is still suing him. Ford tells him he can't crawl out of the soup until he pays Ford $6000.00 ($3000 per name). The fordsucks guy, evidently, decided it would be cheaper to pay the blackmail than to fight it out in court.


Nice company eh?

[Jay]

Originally posted by macdaddy
But it's kinda late to be throwing deals together now, isn't it?

It's never too late. Teams are ALWAYS looking for new sponsors....especially in this day and age.

[BootsOntheSide]

I think macdaddy means for new teams, and additional cars from current ones, rather than sponsors for cars that are already funded enough to enter. It is getting late to put deals together in time for St Pete's, but entering for Long Beach, or even not until June, allows for a good shot at a good championship finish.

[Jay]

Still....there are some rides that probably do not have the funding to complete the season yet, so any new sponsorship helps. And there are teams that would enter cars later in the season if they can find funding. so, as I said, it's never too late for sponsors.

[Liz]

Just the idea that they'd stand up for their investment is an encouraging word. I hope Bridgestone does the same if they can (like not carrying products in their shops that sponsor Another Series?)

As for Ford suing people, let us not forget that Helio Castro-Neves' lawyer has also threatened websites that use his name in their address; and TGF actually did sue a couple of CHILDREN who had done websites and built replica Ferraris because they used to admire him. Even when the extremely bad PR came out, he did not back down. This is a man (one single man) who makes $85 million PER YEAR. And he files lawsuits against kiddies for their lunch money.

So I wouldn't get too bent about Ford suing people, as if they are the only ones that ever did it.

[Snrub]

Ford cars suck, but the Ford motor company has made some good moves lately. Jaguar was brought back from the dead and now they make good vehicles. Mazda is turning around (controlling but I don't think a majority stake) and picking up Volvo was a great idea. The japanese killed their gravy train high end vehicle lines so they bought replaced it with Volvo and Jaguar. Smart move.

It's nice to see someone other than Pook fighting for CART. Good move making Ford a title sponsor.

Now if only Ford will allow Mazda to offer crate or rebuit Renesis engines I'll support them. That and a certain new 1.4L engine currently being developed must see the market in a pure vehicle.

[f1manoz]

Good to see from Ford. Get those sponsors back where they belong!!

[DNQ]

Originally posted by ®îjñtjûh
Ford sucks.

Well perhaps in that case, but overall, in terms of motor racing, no company has had as much official involvement as Ford over the years. Right now they've powering/running factory teams in CART, F1, V8 Supercars, World Rally and NASCAR (just to name a few) - and have had for a long time too...

I'll even go as far as saying I love the FoMoCo.

[indycool]

It would be difficult for Bridgestone to do what Ford is said to have done. Bridgestone's Firestone brand shoes the other series.

[Liz]

Riding two horses, are they? Well never mind then.

[KC]

I can understand people not being happy that Ford is vigorously defending their intellectual property. However, take a look from their point of view. Say I put a website devoted to Ford Motorsports and then go on to report conjecture, inaccuracy, untruth and finally libel statements and attribute them to Ford. They own the name, they own the rights to its use, its publication, etc. They can be held libel for my remarks by damaged parties in a lawsuit. Ford is not required to reimburse anyone for the use of their name, they own it.

As far as Ford leveraging their business partners, that's how its done. Ford, GM and Chrysler all ran Tucker out of material years ago by letting it be known that they would not buy from any supplier that supplied Tucker. Hard ball is how the game is played.