[CobraDan]

When I looked out my window early Saturday morning waiting for my brother to arrive at 7am to help load the Cobra for the trip to Lutz, I found that there was no rode but a new lake had formed. When my brother did come hours later but right on time the heavens where still forming newer lakes. We loaded up the Blazer and left the Cobra at home and headed off for the first Reptile Roundup. When your having a Cobra party you need Cobras but I couldn't let Ed down by not coming to his first event. By the time we arrived I found Ed and a few Cobras under a large home make tent. Ed's Cobra parked next to Mike Ritter's duel turbo charged Cobra. A gorgeous Contempory with a hardtop and Ruble Moore's red Hunter. Back at the motel was some real Cobra enthusiasts, Armondo Lopez (CobraDoc)and Manny Lopez. They drove over late Friday from Miami. CobraDoc had his convertible top but Manny thought when they said rain that couldn't mean RAIN. By the time they hit Naples the skies opened up and the RAINS started all the rest of the way to the Motels in Lutz. When Armondo got out of his Cobra he found out that his size 10 black boat shoes were now a size 6. The shoes were surgically removed later to find that his feet had been now dyed black. Manny was so wet that if it never again rains in his life time he will never complain. CobraDoc is sitting home now, as we speak soaking his feet in bleach trying to get them to look normal. It never really stopped raining on Saturday but we did have dinner that evening with over 25 people at the table. I met a lot of new people, Mark Weber from FFR. Mike and Melissa Ritter from Alabama, our offical club T Shirt makers. Reg Dodd from Backdraft Racing and many many more. I signed up 9 new members with many more checking us out. Norm Deeley brought in 2 of his Cobra hardtops that he makes. Trying to convince Cobra owners that a hardtop might be the way to go for a Deep South Cobra event. I think the offical Cobra count was 23, with one of our newest members Tom Sharon bringing his 1985 AC/Autokraft MK IV in red. Funbeam Chuck showed with his Sunbeam Tiger and we now have Les Berczy with our first 1970 original Shelby GT500 join our club. Jim Pomroy came to dyno his 2003 Cobra Mustang rated at 390HP. Ford has been playing some new games because Jim was pulling 406HP at the rear wheels. Mike Ritters duel turbo small block came through for the Cobra owners with over 500HP at the rear wheels winning the trophy for the most horse power on the dyno out of 17 differant cars. There were many people that I met, new and old friends and as always it's the people who make a party a success, and you can't beat Cobra owners rain or shine. I can't say enough about how important it is that you come to our events even if you have to come in your Blazer and leave the Cobra at home. I can't thank Ed and Renee Kamptner enough for throwing this event and all Cobras that did come in the rain. We all got a little wet (except the Lopezes, they are still drying out) and a little cold but I had a hellava time.
Dan and David Wulff