Mike is
right. When I got the first blue 347
Cobra, I quickly realized, it would be nice to go and get some instruction. This was not necessarly just for the Cobra. In the 4 day grand prix they take you through a bunch of stuff. Basically, all new cars will do stuff normal drivers don't think they can do; usually just panic and crash.
Bondurant is nice because it is all controlled using corvettes and those little ford open cars on the last day. In the 4 day and the 1 day refresher course they will let you take your cobra out with the corvettes. (Saves them money using up their stuff; you sign a wavier of course). This is a eye opener as you go from driving automatic everything to a fast car with nothing automatic. I could always catch or leave the corvettes on the main strait but quickly found them on my ass in all the curves. I mean I had to go from 90+ down to 20 and my foot was touching the radiator trying to get the car to slow down. You had to really concentrate. That heel toe crap (keeping the rpms up and car weight balanced was a
***** for me; I just double clutched like old men that don't know any better do).
Most fun I have ever done. Took the 1 day refresher course 2-3 more times in their Mustangs Cobras (not very fast at all).
What happens after you own these cobras is you get comfortable in them and speed is a second thought. That is when your troubles happen. You take your car and yourself for granted and the next thing you know you are doing circles. I also decided a long time ago to get very good tires. I would use them up 50% and get new ones. Tires are cheap compared to your head or your passenger.
Bondurant course & track gave me a whole new appreciation on brake / tire usage, running the cars up at proper RPM (Whoa). I mean how many of us are driving these cars in 2nd and 3rd gear at RPM limits.......not! There is no place to do such stuff safely except at a track. Go and watch a few times. It is all about learning the track.
FYI - Going to places like this is very expensive.
The other way is to have guys like Gordon, Mulv, Brian work with you at one of the tracks. You just have to worry about those other guys. I remember one day at Firebird (as a group) when Stewart and I drove around David like he was standing still. Next thing both of us were backwards. Most fun I had in one of these besides Bondurant. FYI, I have never been happy riding passenger in one of these cars. You feel so helpless. Especially if you are with someone that thinks he knows what he is doing. You know the friend that had a uncle, grandfather, that owned two back in high school and that makes your friend know how to drive one of these. No way Jose!
Great Article in the latest July Kit Car Magazine on Bondurant (Has the GTM on cover).
Again ---- The other way is to have guys like Gordon, Mulv, Brian work with you at one of the tracks or drive with you few times...in a parking lot full of water.