[BLACKJACK]

THERE IS JUST "NO WAY IN HELL" TO MAKE A COBRA "SAFE".

THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS TO MAKE THE DRIVER "SAFE".

I AGREE WITH CRANKY. (HE SAYS I CAN - AS LONG AS I DON'T OVER DO IT). IF YOU WANT TO BLAST IT AROUND TAKE IT TO THE TRACK.

I'M AS GUILTY AS THE NEXT GUY - BUT SO FAR LUCKIER THAN MANY. I HOPE SOME DAY TO LEARN TO PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH. GOING FROM A "FAMILY CAR" TO A COBRA IS LIKE TAKING A CESSNA PILOT OUT AND LETTING HIM "LEARN AS HE GOES" FLYING AN F-16.

PLEASE, PLEASE. PLEASE - - - - TAKE AT LEAST ONE GOOD DRIVERS COURSE - - - THEN TAKE REFRESHER COURSES PERIODICALLY. IF YOU NEED (WANT) TO "KICK IT IN THE ASS" - - TAKE IT TO THE TRACK.

I DROVE COMPETITIVELY (IN FACT "VERY" COMPETITIVELY) FOR FOUR YEARS. EVEN DROVE AGAINST MR. SHELBY AT EAGLE MOUNTAIN LAKE. (HE WON). AND, I HAVE "SCARED THE HELL" OUT OF MYSELF MORE THAN ONCE IN A COBRA.

IT'S VERY EASY - ON A CRUISE - WHERE THE "BETTER" (SOMETIMES READ "CRAZIER") DRIVERS GET OUT FRONT AND LEAD (?). THE "MACHO" INSTINCT IN ALL OF US (IF WE DIDN'T HAVE IT WE'D BE DRIVING HONDAS) TEMPTS US TO FOLLOW THESE GUYS THROUGH THE TWISTIES - THERE BY BECOMMING ONE OF THE "CRAZIES". DON'T DO IT. IT'S OKAY TO BACK OFF AND CATCH UP LATER. YOU'LL BE MUCH FARTHER AHEAD - AND THE GUYS WILL RESPECT YOU FOR BEING SMART - AND KNOWING YOUR LIMITATIONS. HELL - - WE ALL HAVE LIMITATIONS - - BUT WE ARE NOT ALL SMART.

PLEASE - BE CAREFUL. AFTER ALL THE INSURANCE DOLLARS THAT YOU SAVE MAY BE MINE.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT - AND SAFE DAY,

BLACKJACK