Thunder Valley F1 ®

Spring Break begins here on April 2nd and the kids return to school on April 13th so that will be some down time for the business. Karen is continuing to be a big help and in addition to helping with the business, she will be helping with watching the boys some during Spring Break, and later, during Summer Break so I can continue to produce parts through the summer.

Presently, she has taken over making the company’s network and server operational again. The system runs on a Dell Server and power is provide through a Libert Power Back-Up. She is linking all of the computers used throughout the business so they are backed up on a daily basis as well as automating the power back-up system so it will direct the server to perform a quick search and back-up of all data, mirror it and then shut the netwoek down in the event of a power failure. As Thunder Valley moves more heavily into NC, CNC and CAD it is ever more important that all of our data is secure and backed up, both on-site and off-site.

This coming week she will wrap up the network and will begin moving through some paperwork to address backordered items and orders. She will be working heavily with the order entry system and I will continue making parts and shipping anything I can.

I had been planning to stop production for the Summer months but with Karen coming on-board and helping out so much I have decided its possible to keep right on working.

I am addressing a product at a time and presently the McLaren MP4/6 Set 1 kits are nearing completion to be shipped complete. I have nearly completed the dampers and need to anodize some more halfshafts and they will be good to go. The PE is in production and should be here in approx. three to four weeks. If you have pre-ordered one, then now is the time to contact us to confirm your order and make certain you get everything before the dampers run out. Once they are gone, they’re gone.

The Ferrari 641/2 Set 1 is staying on schedule and we are still planning to begin shipping on May 1st.

The Brake and Spindle Kits are next to be completed and returned to stock as well as to fulfill existing orders.

We will be taking a break to visit Grandma this summer and I will complete the development of the next new product during that time so it can go into production and hopefully begin shipping on Sept. 1st. I’ll announce more in an e-Newsletter that will go out sometime in August.

I feel the web site is still a bit of a mess but I have pushed back updating it until this summer when the boys are on break and I have days that I can’t be in the shop to work. A new page will be developed that will list all products and what is in stock and well as what date is planned for something to be released or returned to inventory. Additionally, we may begin using a “Shopping Cart” system, but not until all prodcuts are in stock and we begin making product to replenish stock rather than working to produce items to fill orders.

I think thats it for now but I’ll update this note if something else comes to mind. As always, if you have a question please e-mail me or give us a call. E-Mail is: thundervalleyf1@gmail.com or call 616-365-0583

Welcome and Hello,

A newsletter was sent out on March 6th announcing the Ferrari 641/2 kits are in production with a planned shipping date to begin May 1st. We are offering an introductory price of $95.00 which saves everyone $20.00 off the retail price. Plus…if you are in the US we are giving FREE shipping and if you are an International customer we are holding the shipping to $9.50 We hope this is a sweet deal for everyone.

We are accepting paid pre-orders which are helping bring this great new kit to market even faster. Your support makes a tremendous difference. The sales of this kit are also helping us restock all of our products quicker, build inventory and get this little business moving in the right direction once again.

The photo etch for the Ferrari 641/2 is in the works, as well as the cast metal parts, and it is those components we are waiting on to complete the kits and start shipping. The velocity stacks are run and the new air box base is in the works, which only requires a little modification and it’s off to the production mold process.

A large batch of packages was shipped out of here on Monday and today (3-10) so it’s back to some production work until this weekend, when I’ll work at packing up more orders and sending them on their way this coming Monday. If I can pack it up on Saturday or Sunday then it ships on Monday. Kind of like the old marketing / racing line: “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday”

I am tackling a product at a time, not only to complete what needs to be produced to fill orders but also to get an ample supply in inventory. So far, this approach is working well and will finally get us out of the manufactuing / shipping mess that caused so many problems.

Karen is already making an impact on the buiness as she takes on and addresses several important and business critical issues. She and I are developing a plan that will, hopefully, radically transform the opertaions of the business.

While the 641/2 product was fully developed by December ‘07 and held in waiting until now, another new product, that was partially developed during December ‘08 is now being scheduled for release Oct. 1st of this year.

The economy is certainly creating a rough road for many, and that includes us as well, but with your continued support we will make it and we will be around for a long time to offer a wide range of new products. Thank you for all of your support, patience and encouragement. In the newsletter I spoke of “Fabric Economics” where we are all the “Fabric” and where spending a little here and there is like sprinkling water over the fabric. Eventually, every square inch of the fabric is wet and everyone has been helped. Purchaseing something from Thunder Valley not only helps the business continue but it helps many other families, in many different citys, towns & states. I will continue to not take any pay from the business as my wife has a feull time job that appears to be pretty safe and reinvesting everything into the business helps many others, from the metal casters, to the photo etcher, and to Karen who has just started to help out. If you enjoy this hobby and are interested in continuing to support it and see it grow, please consider purchasing a model and building it. Be it from Thunder Valley, a hobby shop, a big box store or ebay, it all helps so many families.

More news to come…

Stay well everyone,

Paul

Welcome…

The Ferrari 641/2 “Formula Perfect” kit is going into production. Everything is going very smoothly with this release and every kit will ship COMPLETE….that should be good news for everyone and a good indicator that we are getting the business straightened around……finally!

The Injector stacks have been coming off the CNC lathe for quite awhile now and they are beautiful.

The new air box base is finished and the production molds will be made this weekend….March 7 & 8

The metal parts are going through the manufacturing process and should arrive back in the shop in 6 weeks, hopefully less.

The photo etch is going into production and should also be here in 6 weeks as well.

Product packaging is already in the shop awaiting the arrival of all the goodies so we can quickly pack them up and ship them to everyone.

The price for this kit is $115.00, but for everyone who would like to confirm their pre-order with payment, we will reduce the price to $95.00 and give free shipping in the US and reduce the shipping to $9.50 for everyone outside the US. This intro price offer will end April 30th or as soon as the kits begin shipping.

We’ll post pictures for the Velocity Stacks and the new Air Box Base next week.

Please give a call to 616-365-0583 or e-mail us at sales@thundervalleyf1.com if you would like to take advantage of this reduced intro pricing.

Another update will be posted soon detailing the great strides we are making on restocking and completing the McLaren MP4/6 and Williams FW14B kits.

Kind Regards,

Paul