Hello Everyone,

First the answer - 36,

Now the rest of the story...

It's all my brother's fault - both of them!
They bought me my first tool set at age 3, and the wrenching has continued ever since.

As the youngest in a family of five kids, three of which are boys, I always watched my older brothers play with cars when I was young (there is at least 15 years in age difference between me and my brothers - shhhhh, don't tell anyone...).

For us boys it was always a common topic that transcended any age difference. Still does today.

There were always different cars coming and going in our family. They ranged from a little Vespa coupe that they hand carried into the backyard (because the bushes were in the way...) to HUGE Packard Patrician's.

Later it changed to street rods, open rail dragsters (driven on the street at 3:30 AM between friends houses), T-Birds, Bugeye Sprite's, Triumph's in all flavors, Spitfire, GT6, STAG, then MG, TVR, Sunbeam, Porsche, Benz etc. For me personally it was Camaro for a long time - still have the first one I ever bought.

We have always liked the Cobra's, Ooohed and Awwwed at them at the shows etc. Finally a couple of years ago my brother and I were at the Kruse event in Auburn. Cobra's in every configuration and color were there. I decided then that it was time for a Cobra.

I bought the first one in parts. I have been goading my brothers for a year now, and before long they will start bleeding with rest of us.

I find it best to bring them into the ring slowly, teasing them with stories, ads, auctions, pictures etc. Then it was the CRN Cobra Raffle (I'm sure we bought several hundred tickets between us). This spring it will be more test rides... then, -- then they will be hooked.

So, by this time next year at least two of the three will have Cobra-like cars. At least two of us will be regular contributors to the threads (the other brother is still trying to figure out how to click-n-drag).

Now the new challange is who will have the most esoteric Cobra. They are all fun, but our quest has turned into the search for the nicest Cobra (by our eyes). Yet another chapter in the arm chair racers guide...

Whatever the reason we all find to love these (and other) cars - we are all having fun, helping each other, and sharing the short lives we have together.

Perhaps the best part of this stage in our lives is that we all finally have (or are close to having) the three magic components place, time and money.

So, for now I have to go check on some Cobra cars listed for sale. Ahhh, a buyers market, ain't it grand to have cash!

Happy motoring to all. And buy the way, have you seen my list of items on the 'Parts for Sale' page... check it out, it could help you keep making your dream a reality.

Dave

PS Everyone say hello to Dan, he'll be the one that just joined our forum to read these threads. He'll add his chapter too I'm sure. By the way Dan, thanks for all the trips to 'Our Secret Place' - aka the ice cream store, and I promise I'll pay you the 3640 Bananna popsicles I owe you for loosing at 500 Rummy...