Anyone in Perth with an AP cobra i could sit in please?

[Donunder]

Mike it's been a while since that photo of me in a Pace shell was taken.

Firstly, yes I'm 195 cm tall, I'm about 110 kg and I have v e r y long arms.

Since that photo was taken, one of the Qld Pace owners took me for a drive in his newly completed car, or rather I took him for a drive in his newly completed car. What I thought was going to be a quick squirt around the block turned into a drive from Brisbane up around the dams in the Brisbane valley and back over Mt Glorious, a trip of just on 180 klms that included some highway, some back roads and the challenging (it's a favourite with motor-cyclists) climb up and over Mt Glorious itself. I drove all the way.

I have had my own car extensively modified to accommodate my long arms and legs. I can honestly say that simply by sliding the Pace seat back, I was able to drive the car safely and in complete comfort. In fact I seemed to sit much lower in the Pace -- wind always blows up my shirt sleeve in my car-- not so in the Pace. Even with the Pace floor-mounted pedals there was plenty of room for my size fourteen to slide down beside the clutch pedal when cruising along the highway. In other cars I've had to suffer sore shin muscles from having insufficient room to the throttle and having to keep my right foot arched back. Not a problem in the Pace. Distance to steering wheel and gear lever was perfect. There was plenty of knee room under the dash. I could view all instruments clearly.

When I arrived back home at the conclusion of this thoroughly enjoyable drive I truly didn't want to get out of the car. For years I had not been able to buy a Cobra because even though I'd been associated with the club through my son, I hadn't been able to fit into any of the local cars, and I'd tried plenty believe me. It was only when, after much research, we discovered that the Arntz came with 20 cm of pedal adjustment that I decided to import one, with fingers crossed. Even then I've had the floor dropped 20 cm and the pedals converted to pendant type to create more leg room.

It blew me away then to see the owner of this Pace, who is noticeably shorter than I am (let's face it, who isn't?) hop into his car, quickly readjust the seat and drive away. Easy!!! I've had my Arntz for five years now and I think it's an old champ, but if the Pace had been around ten years ago I would have been into a Cobra ten years ago, not five.

There are a thousand good reasons to own a Cobra, and there are probably a few as to why you shouldn't, but trust me, not being able to fit into a Pace is not one of them.

And by the way, I am not associated with the Pace organisation in any way. Like most guys who live in the area I drop by the factory occasionally to check out what loveliness may be happening there at the time and to scrounge a cup of coffee, but that's it.