[klayfish]

Forgive the rant, but this just pisses me off. Enough already!!

I just can't see where it is necessary for a fellow Cobra owner (and possible forum member) to die and another to crash from a needless, stupid mistake!!!

Most of you recall that DV and I had tried to start a movement to organize a charter Cobra group to help deal with the mounting insurance problems we are having, due to losses such as these.

DV, I hope you don't get pissed at me, and forgive me if you do, but I really want everyones help to try to get this thing moving. I know we will never stop ALL crashes. Some people will street race and make dumb mistakes no matter what happens! Nor is it my intention in ANY WAY to try to cram this stuff down anyones' throat. If you don't want to participate, don't. It is entirely your decision.

But I believe strongly that we can help ourselves. At this point, f$*k the insurance problem. That is just a minor symptom. Human lives are infinitely more important. It is my proposal to organize our group in the following manner, as mentioned before:
1. We should come up with a standard safety checklist to "certify" the cars. NO AIRBAGS, NO ABS, NO GOVERNMENT FORCED REGULATIONS . Just simple, basic things. Similar to the NSRAs safety list. We've discussed this before. All I propose is the list to be comprehensive enough to make sure we are safe driving down the road, and take REASONABLE measures to try to survive if God forbid our car gets wrecked (whether our fault or we get hit by someone else).
2. Everyone who signs up will be a member of the charter group once the inspection is completed. I would hope dues could be minimal to none. But I know little about that.
3. We've got to find a way to encourage members to participate in autox, open track racing, high speed driving schools, braket racing at a sanctioned drag strip, something....these cars are dangerous as has been documented many times (wheelbase, hp, etc...). Why can't we come up with accepted events that would count towards driving skill and experience? This would also give everyone an outlet to whip up on the cars in a safe and controlled environment. I think it would help reduce the street racing and showing off.
4. Members agree to drive with common sense. There are no "rules" here. We can't force anyone to do anything, and nor should we. But just to always keep in mind what you are doing and the potential consequences of your actions on the street.

This is not meant to "control" anyone, be a government-like intrusion into anyones' lives, or anything like that. It is a group formed only by us, run only by us, and only we as an entire group will have a say in what happens.

As I said in another post, call me a safety Nazi, though as a proud member of Club Cranky and an avid autox'er, it should be noted that I LOVE to race my Cobra (I'm even trying to buy a 351W for my car to give me better open track lap times). Call me a kill joy, wet blanket, whatever. I hope people understand what I am saying. It really upsets me when we see a fellow member dead for things like this. And another car wrecked.

I won't sit here and do nothing.

All that said, I hope DV is reading this. Last I had talked with him, he was looking into filing for a charter in the state of Ohio. I'm not sure what the progress with that is, but hopefully he can chime in.

What does everyone else think? Who can help? I don't know how to organize something like this, I just want to try to help this stop. Advise and help needed/wanted

Sorry for the rant, I'll get off the podium now.

Steve