2008 A.H.A. / Knotts Show
Trophy Winners!

On Saturday evening at the banquet, Thunder Ranch and I were honored for the first time and awarded the Good Manufacturing Practices Award, a perpetual trophy given by the A.H.A each year to their choice of manufacturer of the year. The previous names on this trophy chronicle the history of the kit car industry, and I am honored to be part of this revered group.
           
In my acceptance speech, I reminisced about the Ferrari lawsuit I got into from the Miami Vice Daytona replica. I also mentioned Kurt Scott, who was the only one of three that came to my defense, and the only person in the media. An almost 3-foot trophy on Saturday evening, awarded for the G.M.P., set the tone for Thunder Ranch on Sunday.

Tom McBurnie accepting the “Good Manufacturing Practices”
Award at the2008 AHA Show at Knott’s Berry Farm

First of all, the car we built for Ron Padua, the Phantom Speedster #1, was honored to compete for the Extreme Award. I have to thank Dean Hornbacker and Dave Martin for the acceptance. The Extreme Award acceptance doesn’t guarantee you get the award, even if you’re the only participant. The 3-judge panel requires that the winning car meet the judging standard that has been set up in order for it to be Extreme. There wasn’t a winner of this trophy last year because no one met the standard. Well, the Extreme Award trophy was awarded THIS year - to Thunder Ranch. The joy experienced by my customer / co-designer, Ron, and myself…was overwhelming.

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