JayDog, I am just four years older than you, am in Dallas and bought my first Cobra, an SPF with a Keith Craft engine, six months ago, so I am also new. Two thoughts. First, for maintenance in the Dallas area, C&S Performance in Plano.
http://www.candsperformance.com/ Rob Camp in the principal, used to be in business with Keith Craft. Gary Morris and Michael Turner are very helpful. Second, the DFW owners group is very active, very welcoming to new guys like you and me, and very helpful. Go to the Texas Cobra Club forum on this site. The group gets together at least one a month for a lunch (cool months) or breakfast (warm months) around the monthly Cars and Coffee, first Saturday of every month. And there is lots of other stuff. John Shelton has organized a November 13 trip (which I cannot make) to the Great American Peanut Butter Festival in Grand Saline. Gary Tucker has organized an October 23-24 trip (which I can and will make) for a National (seems a bit ambitous) Championship Barbeque Cookoff and car show in Meridian. Larry Carlson