OK, OK, OK, one was at least MARIAH, certainly Cobra Earl and probably Mr. Viagra. All of us, Factory Five Mark Is with some mileage, some years and a few adventures behind us.
Sorry to be so late to the party you guys were having here last week
Since I stopped by I thought I would drop off a couple comments before getting back to things that really matter in life.
Im pretty sure I must have talked to ratdog that day but he did not leave nearly the impression on me that MARIAH apparently did on him. And after reading his comments, Ive pulled up my big boy panties and let them pass. Heck Ive criticized a car and owner or two in my day.
But by golly the world of Cobras (originals and replicas) here in the Southeast is pretty small. Thrashing fellow enthusiasts publicly seems a little well
(you fill in the word).
I expect to see ratdog again, probably sooner than later during this driving season. The next time that happens, MARIAH might appreciate a little more consideration of her patina and the love she has for spectators. Not an event passes without at least one if not several adults and children being given the opportunity to sit behind the wheel for photographs. Smiles and memories last far longer than trophies. At the AutoFair one gentleman was handed the keys to see what she sounded like. A couple years ago, a perfect stranger and his wife (potential FFR customers), drove her around the lot at a Cruise In. Foolish me to think that MARIAH should be only for my enjoyment
. an object to be protected, babied, worshiped and set on a pedestal; high above others.
At 53,000 miles she does show the wear and grit of her trips to Key West, London Ohio twice, Cape Cod, the LP & UP of Michigan, Door County Wisconsin, several times out to Ocracoke Island, NC, down to Parris Island for a Reunion, Amelia Island to see some real cars, many trips to Ocala to visit our daughter and every place within a 6 hour drive of Upstate South Carolina. She has been in rain with and without her hardtop, snow, sleet and down MANY gravel roads that seemed to offer adventure.
The first time she was on a trailer was when I picked her up at Whitbys with her bare frame sitting on the deck and boxes filling all her cavities. The 2nd time was when the painter picked her up. The 3rd time was $2,000 later when she came back from the painter.
MARIAH sets in the garage. I cant remember the last time she wore a cover other than her Snapless Tonneau. If I forget to put the hardtop windows in, the cat naps in the passenger foot box. At any moment, she is likely to head off to church, Lowes to pick up PVC pipe or fertilizer, dinner with Cobra friends of which she has many, a trash run to the Inconvenience Center, a Cruise In or any of the many adventures the wife and I can conger up. Saturday, I did take a paper towel and windex and wiped off the muddy cat prints before heading off on an adventure for the afternoon.
I have been known to wipe off the valve covers and air cleaner as a part of preps before a viewing. But I must admit the paint is peeling from her frame, some rust is coming through, the
oil vapors have collected dust and debris in multiple places and her once buffed aluminum panels remain grungy.
The nice thing about the automotive hobby is there is room for everyone and everything.
All that owners and cars can expect is
respect. So if you see MARIAH out your way, judge her by her adventures and the smiles that she has brought to the world not whether she is a buffed to your satisfaction.