(Las Vegas, NV) October 28, 2013, ~ Tracy Marshall. Karen Salvaggio’s road to the 2012 SEMA Show began more than 30 years ago when she picked up her first wrench as a professional mechanic, and began forging a career in motorsports. Across the years, the journey included building race cars for NASCAR dirt track racing, NHRA drag racing, performance and instructor driving, and for the last six years, campaigning her Factory Five Racing Challenge car, and the first ever Type-65R Coupe in road course and endurance racing. Accomplishments span five road racing championships, recognition as Instructor Driver of the Year, and include the 2011 Western Endurance Racing Championship.
Karen’s racing success in campaigning the Type-65 Coupe has drawn great interest from the racing community. As a five-time competitor in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, and service as Series Leader for the Western Endurance Racing Championship Series, Karen has earned recognition as an industry leader in the development of endurance proven racecars, as well as expertise in team leadership, logistics, and organizational management.
The Factory Five Racing Competition Coupe featured in thi s year’s SEMA Show is built by Thunder Valley Racing as a street legal, full competition (SCCA/NASA logbook ready) race car. Chassis modifications include the addition of competition door bars, fuel cell cage, and front/rear tow hooks. Racecar components used in the build include:
Factory Five Racing Type-65 Coupe, DSS Racing 331 CID Engine (450 HP), Edelbrock upper intake, Trick Flow Heads, ARP fasteners, FelPro Gaskets, TKO 600R, 5-speed trans., QuickTime Bellhousing, Fuel Safe cell by Bits N Pieces, Summit Racing accessories, Moser 8.8 rear housing/3.27 gears, Schroth Racing belts and right side net, IO Port window net, LongAcre rearview mirror, PPG Paint by The Body Shop, Santa Rosa, CA.
The build began in early February 2012, and was completed August 4, 2012, in time for the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Original Coupe designer Peter Brock graced the Competition Coupe with his signature at the event, and the Competition Coupe proudly took to the track in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Cobra.
The build was competed at RLA Sheet Metal, Healdsburg, CA. Rick Anderson, owner. Rick is a seven year competitor and champion in the FFR Challenge Series, and is a master craftsman in metal working and fabrication.
Karen created and maintained a build blog on The Factory Five Racing Forum, where specs for the car, chassis modification processes, and information on the build are available for reference by future builders. Documentation from the build will be incorporated into a Supplemental Build Manual for future Competition Coupe builders. Complete, race-ready Competition Coupes are available through Thunder Valley Racing.
2012 SEMA SBN Mentor of the Year Nomination
Karen was very honored to learn that her work in the motorsports and aftermarket industry garnered her a nomination for the 2012 Mentor of the Year award at this year’s SEMA Show.
