Wow...as most of you know, I'm not usually at a loss for words..... I thought August 27th, 2002 was the worst day of my 25+ year career at GM...the day we built the last 4th gen and shuttered Ste. Therese.
Today sure approaches that event.
As a Camaro nut going back as far as September, 1966, I was "pumped" when SLP took a "kickass" 4th gen to the next level with the '96 SS. That first ride in the '96 SS put a smile on my face that didn't come off for a week. What an awesome car. Who knew it would only get better?
Since then, SLP has helped to build (and I think most if not all of you will agree) Legendary Camaros and Firebirds. I maintain that 20 years from now, the Camaro SS and Firehawk will be some of the most sought out cars on the collector market. And those of us who, for whatever reason get rid of our SSs and Firehawks will be kicking ourselves....just as those of us who had a '69 Camaro or '69 Firebird still do..........
SLP in my eyes, was a dream come true. It allowed us to provide product updates that I simply could not get done otherwise. -- the RS & GT packages, the SS and Firehawk....the performance parts.....the new Camaro grilles and Center Mounted Exhaust...and when we finally got the 35th Anniversary package approved (no small feat) SLP was there to execute the package. ......the 335 and 345hp upgrades....and all the great 2nd sticker equipment that allowed you to personalize your Camaro or Firehawk. SLP did this and did it first class. Furthermore, with people like Chief Engineer JeffY, we knew that buying from SLP would ensure that the parts met GM's validation standards.
Additionally, Dave and his group made a 'community' for we, the enthusiasts -- the SLP Forums. I have made countless friends over the past several years, due in part to the SLP Boards and SLP Owner Appreciation Days. Guys and Gals, I feel like I've lost my best friend....and I guess perhaps I have.
There have been days when the emails went back and forth to SLP with requests....and I always got a prompt, professional response....and that's getting more and more unusual in business these days. I can't imagine not being able to email Carm with a trivia question that I can't answer 'cause the answer is lost in the 'gray matter.' (Carm is a walking encyclopedia....)
To Ed, Dave, JeffY, Carm, Reg, and all the other men and women at SLP.....I'm so sorry. I can never ever thank you enough for what you did for the Camaro, the Firebird, and the Camaro/Firebird Community. You are truly great people and good friends -- and a class act. Please...don't completely disappear. I know that SLP Performance Parts is still there for us, but it won't quite seem the same without all of you at Axtell Road. Meanwhile, I will continue to preach "SLP."
No one knows what the future holds...but I believe there is a Camaro in the future....and I don't know how we do this at this point in time...but I want SLP involved.
Again...thank you, thank you, thank you!
Posted by SSHEETS (Member # 1989) on :
Yes, best wishes to all at SLP
...perhaps someone at GM might find a new car that offered the performance of a Vette, but offered some back seat room. They could market it as a simpler and therefore more economical and family oriented performance car. Then to add more punch they could hire a tier 1 vender to add those extra touches that don't fit into the assemblyline production.
...it's just a thought.
Thanks Dave and all at SLP. If not for you, I would have never met people like Scott and exchanged emails and posts with the thousands of F-body enthusiasts.
And most of all, I would not have have 02 SS #1587
[ 21. August 2003, 12:17 AM: Message edited by: SSHEETS ]
Posted by xero (Member # 2001) on :
Such sad days Posted by Bandit (Member # 1867) on :
Thank you..
Never Forget..
Posted by Bello SS (Member # 1304) on :
LONG LIVE SLP.......
Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
quite simply.....thank you, SLP
Posted by el ess1 (Member # 1544) on :
Fbodfather said it well, as did many others. I'm still sorta reeling at this, almost disbelieving it.
This is SO not a happy time. Some of you may know (or not) that along with an F-body enthusiast, I'm also an Oldsmobile fan, of the 442, Hurst/Olds ilk.
So in the past 20 years or so, I've seen all my favorite cars and companies go the wayside.
Oldsmobile? Effectively toast. Scheduled for termination.
Hurst? Not the company it once used to be. Especially in the early 80s when SUNBEAM (yeah, the gas grill makers) of all companies ran it for a while. It was more like SLP when George Hurst was running it. Performance parts for performance cars.
Camaro? RIP. Hopefully it will have a Frankenstein revival with a bolt of lightning sometime in the future. But for now, it's gone.
SLP Engineering? They did for the F-car what Hurst did for the 442s, convert them up a notch to premeire muscle car status. From what I gather, SLP's not going to be around any longer, at least not in its current form.
So sad too, I felt a good bond with all these companies/products. I feel so abandoned. Now I know what it feels like for the obsolete AMC car clubs.
But we won't suffer forever. But it will take some time to absorb all this in and adjust. Hopefully, the Fbodfather will stick around long enough to keep fighting for a new Camaro (we got your back, Scott!) so at least we, as enthusiasts, have something to look forward to. We're about out of options.
Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
I'm not even going to follow after teh 'father' himself....but thanks SLP! Brought a tear to my eye. You'll always live on in our cars!
Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Well said Scott. While many of us are not nearly as eloquent as you, we share your passion for these cars and your appreciation for what SLP has done for us and we hope that the whole team at SLP knows how grateful we are.
Like many of us on this and other boards, if not for SLP I would not have re-discovered my passion for good old American muscle, and developed all of the freindships that resulted over the past few years.
Like the Camaro and Firebird, I remain hopeful that we have not seen the last of SLP engineering.
Posted by ss_rs_z (Member # 1888) on :
I couldn't agree more with all of the assessment above especially from the FBodFather.
Long Live SLP and thank you for everything all of you have done for us and for the Camaro/Firebird. Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
Well now, I go away for a couple of days and WOW J.R. you must feel like you've given birth to quints! Lots of new activity on the board.
I have mixed feelings about the SLP board. I believe it was the first board of any type that a lot of us used. I know it was for me! I met people that I never would have known save and except for that board. We have truly become the F car family and the family was born and nurtured by SLP. But times change.
I wish all the staff at SLP, Dave, Jeff, Reg, Ed, Mark, et al all the best. They have lots of talent there and I am sure they will emerge again.
Let's hope they'll be involved with the next generation Camaro and once again we'll be able to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Thanks for everything Dave - the board really was a great help to all. Hopefully we can maintain what we've developed here, only with more friends.
-------------------- Hawkeye: SSOA F98-C98
1998 SS - Black All Options - Mods Whisper Lid, K & N, Lou's Short Stick, Shift Light, Skip Shift, SLP Y, Borla, 4:10's, BMR STB, SLP SFCs, Granatelli MAF, Hypertech III, 160 Stat, Mallory Billet Pedals, Metco Aluminum LCAs,Fast Toys Ram Air Mod, Spohn Panhard Bar, BMR Torque Arm, free EGR mod,power antenna, BMR LCA brackets, Mobil 1 & lots of Zaino.
Posted by Blu SS 98 (Member # 1812) on :
I never had interest in the 4th gen camaro's until I drove an SS, now I own one. Thanks a million folks. I can't imagine never owning my SS, and thank you also Scott for ordering my cool ride.
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
Scott,well said! I am at a lost for words.Thanks you Dave,JeffY and everyone at SLP for helping in the design of my dream car that I now own.Hope to see new vehicles from SLP in the future. Posted by KevinA (Member # 139) on :
Well Said. I've amlost sold my Hawk a few times, but in the end I could never do it. If SLP did not make the Hawk, I would be driving a Mustnag right now Posted by Doug 97SS #1499 (Member # 100) on :
You can always count on Scott, to say the right things and put it in a form that makes sense.
And here we are the F-body is gone and SLP is...I am NOT going to say it cause they are still here and I hope for a very long time. But I am hoping something comes down the line for them very soon.
Damn.....its just a sad day in the Auto Industry today....
Posted by Bill Mason (Member # 1807) on :
Lordy, lordy lordy....the hits just keep coming. Enough all ready.
To the people I have met at SLP Engineering (Ed, Dave, Reg and Jeffy) and all the other men and woman there who have given us such great cars and of themselves...thank you thank you thank you.
It saddens me that you find yourselves in this position. I can only imagine what you must be going through and all I can say is that the sun still comes up in the morning and there is a silver lining in every cloud....it just may take a while to see it.
Again thank you and I wish only the best for all of the men and women at SLP.
Bill M 98 TA
Posted by STONES_SS (Member # 1694) on :
Thnaks SLP!
[ 21. August 2003, 08:00 AM: Message edited by: STONES_SS ]
Posted by Mike Bonte (Member # 1892) on :
Scott said it best.
Thank you SLP for everything you have done for us.
Posted by RonF00-2614 (Member # 923) on :
As usual Scott no one could put it into words better than you! Sorry if this gets long. As some of you know I have a very strong background in drag racing(Stock, Super Stock and PRO Stock)and started dealing with Ed H. in the late 60's or early 70's and have been giving him my money ever since. After moving to Toms River from North Jersey in the late 70's I got into road racing with a GT1 Corvette. I had rented a small building in the same industrial park as SLP to put the car together. We could not get an oil pan to fit and in desperation I remembered Ed, stopped in one evening, he took a quick look at my chassis and in a few days had an oil pan that not only worked but was a work of art. It's been a real treat watching Dave grow from a snot nosed kid to a true gentleman. Watching him leave to deliver those first Hawks towing a small open trailer with a sorta ratty S-10 still makes me chuckle. I feel so lucky that for years I have been able to just drive about 5 miles and visit the guys at SLP, to sit with Dave and BS was like having access to a looking glass into the industry. Most people have no idea how much time the board took up, and several times Dave had mentioned he was not sure how much longer he could do it. Even better were the times Dave, Keven, or Brian would call and ask "Ron can we borrow your car for a few days". Having been in the automotive industry and dealing with many AM and perf. companies I was all ways impressed with not only with the quality of the products SLP put forth but the true loyalty they felt towards their customer base. Having spent time not only in Dave's and Kevin's office but been in the warehouse, Brian's domain, and on the floor itself I had seen this on many levels. Ed has built one hell of a company over the last several decades, from selling parts out of his garage to what SLP is now. I am sure SLP will do what they have to do to survive, and myself and my family wish them nothing but the best. What the hell my friend just bought his second Mustang GT, you never know.
Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
Thanks for finding the words to capture our feelings, Scott!!
Thank You, SLP!!
Art
Posted by DWS44 2K2HAWK (Member # 1317) on :
Very Sad indeed to see SLP Eng. go. They've certainly been a big part of my life for the last few years...from getting the Hawk...to purchasing mods for a car for the first time (practically all have come from them)...to daily life on the SLP Board.
Just won't be the same w/o them. Thanks to everyone at SLP Eng...for the fun, for the help, and for creating two of the coolest cars ever, the Firehawk and the SS.
Good luck in the future to everyone involved!
Posted by Y2KSS1363 (Member # 1564) on :
I first heard of SLP in the mid '90's on the internet newsgroup alt.autos.camaro.firebird. I signed up for their message board and met a great group of folks. If not for that board, I'd not have known about the SS or Firehawk and why they are so special. I first heard of Zaino there as well.
SLP's board was a daily read for me, I'll miss it dearly. It was very good while it lasted, but I guess all good things must pass eventually.
Posted by Elie Garfinkel (Member # 1635) on :
quote:Originally posted by DaddySS: Like many of us on this and other boards, if not for SLP I would not have re-discovered my passion for good old American muscle, and developed all of the freindships that resulted over the past few years.
Yeah, well I also fall into this category and will truly miss having SLP front and center every day. I can't thank all of the people at SLP enough for all their contributions which have allowed so many of us to make good friends and enjoy this crazy passion. The attachment that I have to my SS, and how it has translated into pure enjoyment is beyond desription. Today, I am able to do the things with this car that I was only able to dream about as a teenager! I am hoping that this is just the close of the latest chapter in the ongoing evolution of the F-body. Not knowing where it is headed at this point has to be accepted by all of us. However, I do feel secure that the path is definitely not over - our journey will continue! Thanks for saying it so well Scott!
Best regardSS,
Elie
Posted by OBSSD (Member # 1258) on :
Here here! Maybe one slight consolation would be to see Dave & Jeff (and hopefully some of the other SLP folks) post around here more often now that they're not so busy with the SLP boards.
Who cares if they're not directly involved with the F-Body any more...they've become involved with us over the years and I, for one, enjoy hearing from them.
Posted by Rob 94Hawk 319 (Member # 103) on :
I'm not sure that I can type out the feelings that I have from what happened with SLP, I'm not gonna sit here and type "well I was a member of this and that since this and that", we all have our beginnings on the net and messageboards. I will say Dave is a very good friend, and I'm sure that the decision that was made, was made with great anxiety. The F-Body era as we knew it is gone, long live the F-Body (yeah, I know, sounds odd but you prolly understand what I mean), SLP Engineering was a great company, had a lot of great people running it, and I'm sure all involved will move on to bigger and greater things, and I wish everyone the greatest of luck. If you know any of them personally, please do email, or call them to check on how they are doing. Remember, it wasn't just a company, it was people, our type of people.
Thanks Scott. You always say it best. I would not even own an SS if it were not for the SLP board. So I guess I owe a debt to Dave as well as everyone at SLP for even having the board and allowing me to stumble across it, hear all the good things people said about the SS and SLP, and then go buy one.
Thanks guys. I'll miss the SLP board and the wealth of information on it.
Posted by Dustin98SS (Member # 681) on :
I'm a diehard Camaro guy and a SLP guy. But after all it was just a message board. Its not like someone died.
Posted by CJ_BLKSS (Member # 2036) on :
sorry to see the board go, but glad I found this place!
Posted by XSSV (Member # 1726) on :
Scott,
You have said it best.
SLP,
SLP you are the ones, that got us to commit to buying a Camaro. This all occured at the very first SLP CAD in NJ when very few cars attended and we had the Mustangs wanting to push us out of Englishtown. That day we decided that we were going to buy a SLP Camaro. We waited for the revealing of the 35th SS in Carlisle, and then ordered our SS with the options we wanted. Without all the SLP Camaro SS enthusiasts and engineers input, we would have ordered a typical SS camaro.
I hope you continue to hold SLP CAD's, remember Texas (two years in a row) the crowds only keep getting bigger and bigger (rain or cold).
Keep on developing newer components for our cars. SLP has done what Chevrolet was not able to do, bring back the muscle car into the next millenium!
Posted by Orange 01 SS (Member # 1700) on :
This really is sad. Man, I haven't been on really for a few days and this happens.
Well, it was nice that they gave us a cool community to hang out in. Don't know what's going on with Jeff, but I hope everything works out for the best.
Anyway, thanks for the fun times and the great car! Posted by BadRag (Member # 1566) on :
Saw my SS on a lot, didn't know to much about it other than i liked the looks & knew it would be fast, didn't even test drive it, just bought it... Later, i found out SLP had a hand in building it,then i found out only 287 Droptops where made that year and only 81 were Black and only 31 of those had an A/4. All from SLP
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