David Flint Is Gone........

[Firefox7]

Just read the paper.....( hoping this is not true ) David Richards has done a major overhaul within FPV.....David Flint has been given an excellerated retirement while the FPR manager John Russel......resigned last night.

All I can say is.....it's a sad day to see David Flint go. He has given us some Kick *** cars over the years & he is a top bloke too.....very sad day.



Cheers.

[paul7v7]

WTF? This really is a sad day indeed if true. Looks to me that Dave Richards isn't impressed about all the bad publicity.

[rob_o]

So who's filled David's boots? Is there an internet article about this?

[T3man]

... I am not at all surprised ... just hope FPV can regain the direction that Tickford once had ...

[JR.]

John Russell's resignation was actually announced a couple of days ago in a short press release.

What paper was this story in?

[Firefox7]

Originally Posted by JR.

John Russell's resignation was actually announced a couple of days ago in a short press release.

What paper was this story in?

Page 7 in the latest Auto Action....



Cheers.

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by T3man

... I am not at all surprised ... just hope FPV can regain the direction that Tickford once had ...

You guys will look for any opportunity for some unecessary Tickford vs FPV rhetoric. Leave it rest!!!

Wishing David Flint all the best for the future, and a big thankyou for all that HAS been achieved during his time at Tickford/FPV many fine cars have been produced under both badges.

Lets hope David's sucessor is given the scope and support for bigger and better things.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

You guys will look for any opportunity for some unecessary Tickford vs FPV rhetoric. Leave it rest!!!

good call..

[TS50]

Well I agree that David flint was a top bloke, and gave us some kick *** cars, but he has to take some responsibility for the poor customer relations. I mean how many people that have these lovely FPV / Tickford vehicles, when they have troubles, they only get the run around. Better custer backu is required from this company.
As I have said before, its easier to sell a car to an existing happy customer than it it is to a new customer. Is almost impossible to sell a car to an existing unhappy customer.

Anyway David , we will miss you, you have changed the outlook of Ford vehicles, actually gave us vehicles we can be proud off

so who is taking over. maybe the F6 clutch was the last straw ???

[XRchic]

I will believe it when I read it with my own eyes. Not saying you guys are wrong, just I would like to read it before coming to any conclusion. Does someone have a link???

If it is true, then it's a sad day. Despite the problems with F6s and clutches, and some poor customer relations issue, I think David Flint did a lot for Ford and I liked how he got so involved with the masses, like at the V8 Supercar series and such.. and I will always remember his quotes in various mags:"Torque curve flatter than a witch's tit" I think was one...

I know there are customer service issues, and dont know how much of that he is directly responsible for, but given it all has to come back to him. However, I wrote him and Geoff Polites a letter complaining about some issues with my car (there was an FPV issue), and David Flint rang me at work, personally, and had a chat to me for quite a while about various things. I wont forget that in a hurry.

So if it's true, then I will be sorry to see him go and I hope his successor can fill his shoes and perhaps have a better run with luck.

All the best David, good luck for your future, if this is all true!

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by XRchic

I will believe it when I read it with my own eyes. Not saying you guys are wrong, just I would like to read it before coming to any conclusion. Does someone have a link???

Survival in a corporate world is not easy but the Quoted comments from Tom Gorman in the thread below say he is still backing DF.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...2519#post62519

We shall wait and see. The one good thing is we are seeing reaction when problems arise, interesting times.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by james

.... maybe the F6 clutch was the last straw ???

Yep, too many mistakes, too many false starts, too much bad PR.

Nice guy or not something had to be done. : Bye Dave :

[Smoke Pursuit]

This could be good guys, some new blood and new direction for FPV, there has been alot of people complaining about the direction of FPV and how it willl hold up against HSV.

David and some of the other guys who have gone however did alot of the initial hard work which got the company on its feet.

[JPFS1]

I am trying to get this confirmed.

If true, then it does come at a surprise. Everything 'FPV' stand for hangs on David's head, but he can only do the best he can with what he is given and work within the budgeting contraints that he is given.

In an engineers world, we would all have that dream GTHO, but unfortunately even David's outfit is controlled by bean-counters and thats why we drive a compromise.

If true, good luck with what ever road you decide to drive down David.

[SSbaby]

Although its a great loss (if true) he is a true gentleman and I wish David all the best in his future endeavours.

Although it seems harsh, if I were FPV, I'd head-hunt Crennan, post-haste. No matter what you think of the guy, he can turn the company around.

At least, that's what I'd do!

[HSE2]

Originally Posted by SSbaby

Although its a great loss (if true) he is a true gentleman and I wish David all the best in his future endeavours.

Although it seems harsh, if I were FPV, I'd head-hunt Crennan, post-haste. No matter what you think of the guy, he can turn the company around.

At least, that's what I'd do!

The problem really isn't with FPV, and Crennan’s reputation with PR is the worst in this country. Much of what has been talked about by Tom in relation to FPV is no where near as bad as what John has come up with on various occasions through out his tenor when the subject turns to arrogance.

When you get a company forced into the measures FPV have been just to be competitive, cracks are bound to appear. How one responds to those cracks are a completely different issue and that appears to be as much of a concern as the failure itself.

[SSbaby]

Originally Posted by HSE2

The problem really isn't with FPV, and Crennan’s reputation with PR is the worst in this country. Much of what has been talked about by Tom in relation to FPV is no where near as bad as what John has come up with on various occasions through out his tenor when the subject turns to arrogance.

When you get a company forced into the measures FPV have been just to be competitive, cracks are bound to appear. How one responds to those cracks are a completely different issue and that appears to be as much of a concern as the failure itself.

I believe the problem is with FPV... their product portfolio is a little bare and JC has good business acumen... he wouldn't release a product that isn't capable of (for want of a better description) 'crushing the opposition'. Besides, he knows what's around the corner at HSV...

[HSE2]

Originally Posted by SSbaby

I believe the problem is with FPV... their product portfolio is a little bare and JC has good business acumen... he wouldn't release a product that isn't capable of (for want of a better description) 'crushing the opposition'. Besides, he knows what's around the corner at HSV...

The only thing I will say is have a good close look at what Ford US have provided FPV with as a starting point then compare Holdens situation with GM.

[Happy Jack]

Guys,
Thanks for all the kind words and the not so kind since I obviously made an impression. A boss once told me "you may not like me, but you will never forget me". He was right on both counts.
Anyway, Autofiction have never been known to let the facts get in the way of a good story.
I am planning to retire and we are looking at the organisation of all of the entities here in Australia since currently, I am responsible for all each of them. Nothing David has done is planned to, or will accelerate that. By the end of 2006, God willing, I will pack up my wrenches and head for the hills.
We are not being rushed into anything and David is certainly not swinging a big axe. John Russell resigned his post. He was not sacked. He left for his own reasons.
We need to appoint the right people and we will take our time to find them. I am part of that process being currently the keeper of the flame(s) and I promise that we will find them.
I would rather not get into further dialogue on this. Its a distraction that we can do without. Again, thanks for your support.
Have, Fun!
Happy Jack

[JPFS1]

Sorry SSbaby, can't agree.

I stand by my comments that FPV are controlled to a point where they can't produce what we want as the base product is quite a fair way ahead of the opposition in terms of chassis rigidity, suspension design and a far more rigid body structure, let's not forget the heavy V8's....

All this contributes to the performance we see today, where some say is too far behind HSV etc... but what can FPV do when the base product is as developed as it is. We can't expect carbon fibre, custom alloy blocks etc for 60,000 odd dollars.

I believe David sure does have all that is required to make a great product, he has already proven this as i think the FPV range IS exceptional considering everything i've already said. He also has class.. something Crennan lacks.

I'd rather not see him at FPV.

[SSbaby]

So moving forward, JEM, who is the man for the job? You've countered all my suggestions... how about some (constructive) suggestions?

[JPFS1]

Originally Posted by SSbaby

So moving forward, JEM, who is the man for the job? You've countered all my suggestions... how about some (constructive) suggestions?

btw, i don't see how my initial response to you wasn't contructive. Wasn't meant to sound like a personal attack or anything.

[SSbaby]

Originally Posted by JEM

btw, i don't see how my initial response to you wasn't contructive. Wasn't meant to sound like a personal attack or anything.

Sorry I wasn't trying to be rude with my comment. I was merely making the point that it is easy to be defensive about something without offering solutions. :voldar02:

Elaborating further, if David couldn't demand what was required from FoMoCo, then maybe somebody else could. GM wouldn't just give HSV the LS7 without some good head-strong people representing them (i.e. Hanenberger and Crennan).

[JR.]

Originally Posted by SSbaby

Elaborating further, if David couldn't demand what was required from FoMoCo, then maybe somebody else could. GM wouldn't just give HSV the LS7 without some good head-strong people representing them (i.e. Hanenberger and Crennan).

Forgive me if I'm wrong here, but wasn't one of the prerequisites of Walkinshaw getting a renewal of his contract for HSV (and have them continue as Holdens performance arm) that Crennan NOT be in charge anymore.

I thought Holden had had enough of him and HSV had to create some bullshit position for him now so it looks like he's been promoted but it's really to get him out of the day to day running of the company?

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by SSbaby

So moving forward, JEM, who is the man for the job? You've countered all my suggestions... how about some (constructive) suggestions?

Pick me, pick me!!! : :rofl:

[Chris]

buried himself with bullshit.

Ford owners been putting up with it for too long.

typhoon final nail in coffin.

my 2 cents

[XRQTOR]

Originally Posted by Chris

buried himself with bullshit.

Ford owners been putting up with it for too long.

typhoon final nail in coffin.

my 2 cents

Hi Chris, you dont beat around the bush. Short & to the point as usual.


What's required to put the blue oval out in front again. Who's got the balls to implement the changes if Flint is gone, he admitted he didn't want a power war.Like it or not Ford/FPV are in one. Take the 2 main rivals HSV & FPV, what makes one better than the other. HSV has the straight line speed that FPV needs so badly, dont know how the aftermarket service with HSV is but it probally wouldn't be to hard to beat FPV's. Asides from that they are pretty much equal.

[XRchic]

I remember something Crennan said once... something about Ford being their main competitors, and he said "if I would be as kind as to rate them as that" or something like that. I wasnt impressed. I dont think anyone would want him at Ford and I dont reckon he would be interested...

He might be good at some of his job, but he is rude and thats no good for marketing. Give me someone who can behave in public, not act in a condescending and rude manner and who also loves Fords any day... lets hope they can find someone like that!

[SSbaby]

Remember people, being a good businessman has nothing to do with kindness and how you rate that persons public persona. ;)

No disrespect to David... but he has had a fair time at the helm (Tickford and FPV).