I see no reason for someone to attack you. You are right to lean towards caution. I will probably do the same thing as I grow with this hobby. I have seen a few go out and buy a 1200hp drag car and say they can drive,knowing full well they have never driven with two back tires and two wheelie bars to keep it in the lane. It usually ends up the same **)
I will do just as you said and grow with it.
I figure it will take about a day or two:LOL:

Bill, I'm not sure I'm reading your response correctly, but here at a local gas station, 100 octane unleaded premium is available at the pump. Also, 110 or 112 octane Sunoco leaded premium is available too if you bring a gas can. In any case, most crate engine builders build engines for today's gas.

There are many here in the audience with 600+ HP engines measured from an engine dyno.

I have 605 HP with a 2,128 lb car. The car handles great, but be careful with the gas pedal, especially in turns. As you get experience, you become more comfortable with the capabilities.

Here you go:

"CARB bans race gas use in street registered vehicles even used only on the track

No More Race Gas for Licensed Vehicles in California..

In a nutshell if you have a car or bike that sees dual duty you can't run race gas even if you're only putting it in at the track. You can use the 100 octane CARB legal VP you sometimes find at some service stations. Also service stations will have to keep records of who is buying the race gas and document what race it was in. I would think this would effect people who race doing track days as this is not a sanctioned race.

Here is the poop from CARB:

www.arb.ca.gov/enf/advs/advs397.pdf


SALES, SUPPLY, AND USE REQUIREMENTS

The purpose of this advisory is to inform refiners, blenders, importers, and
distributors of racing fuel of the regulations and requirements concerning the
supply, sales, and use of gasoline used in racing vehicles (referred to herein
as "racing fuel" or "racing gasoline") in California. This
advisory applies only to motor vehicles. See the definition of "motor
vehicle" below.

The California Reformulated Gasoline Regulations (RFG) found in Title 13 of the
California Code of Regulations (CCR), Sections 2250-2273.5 require California
gasoline sold, offered for sale, supplied or offered for supply as a motor
vehicle fuel to meet certain and specific chemical content and physical
property specifications, including, essentially, a zero lead (Pb) content
requirement.

"Supply" means to provide or transfer a product to a physically
separate facility, vehicle, or transportation system. Thus, any person in the
marketing chain, including an end user / purchaser fueling his own vehicle, is
supplying gasoline and is subject to the California RFG Regulations.

"Motor vehicle
" is defined as a self-propelled vehicle in section 415
of the California Vehicle Code. Therefore, racing vehicles are by definition
motor vehicles. Please note that boats and airplanes are not defined as motor
vehicles.

"Racing vehicle" is defined as a competition vehicle not used on
public highways. Further, if you can drive it to the track, it is not a racing
vehicle. Racing vehicles are exempted from California Air Resources Board
(CARB) vehicular air pollution control requirements in section 43001 of the
California Health and Safety Code. Racing fuel (gasoline used in racing
vehicles), however, is not exempt from the California RFG requirements except
as provided in Section 2261(f) of the CCR.

Section 2261(f) specifically provides, in part, that sub-article 2 (Standards
for Gasoline) and section 2253.4 (Lead/Phosphorus in Gasoline) "shall not
apply to gasoline where the person selling, offering or supplying the gasoline
demonstrates as an affirmative defense that the person has taken reasonably
prudent precautions to assure that the gasoline is used only in racing
vehicles."

CARB considers gasoline (leaded or unleaded) used in racing vehicles for
testing, practice, or actual competition for and during a sanctioned racing
event to be exempt from the reformulated gasoline (RFG) specifications.
Competition vehicles driven to a racing event on a public highway rather than
being transported on a trailer or other carrier are not racing vehicles. Motor
vehicles used for work, pleasure, or recreation, i.e. cars, trucks,
4X4’s, motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATV’s, dune buggies, sand rails,
and other vehicles not strictly used for racing events, are not racing vehicles
and gasoline used in these vehicles is not exempt from California RFG
requirements. Therefore, it is illegal to sell, offer for sale, supply, and
offer for supply non-complying racing fuel (leaded and unleaded) for motor
vehicles in California except in competition racing vehicles. Many refiners,
blenders, and distributors of racing fuel sell and supply a "street
legal" high octane unleaded gasoline (racing fuel) blend that complies
with the specifications for California RFG. This complying racing ED –
Form #075 (Rev. 07/04) ED – Form #075 (Rev. 07/04)

Leaded and unleaded racing fuel that does not meet the California RFG
specifications (non-complying racing gasoline) can only be sold, offered for
sale, offered for supply, or supplied for use in true, competition racing
vehicles. The retailer, i.e. service station, speed shop,auto store,
fuel distributor, and race track fuel dispensing facility, etc., who is selling
or supplying this non-complying gasoline must "take reasonable prudent
precautions to assure that the gasoline will be used only in racing
vehicles." If the vehicle this fuel is to be used in is registered or
licensed for on-road or off-road use, this usually indicates that non-complying
racing fuel cannot be used in it and the sale or supply of the fuel should not
take place. CARB will consider this and all other relevant circumstances to
determine if "reasonable prudent precautions" were followed in any
particular case. In evaluating whether "reasonable and prudent
precautions" were followed, CARB will consider whether the retailer kept a
record of each sale of non-complying racing gasoline and whether each sales
record contains the following information:


Date of Fuel Purchase

Name, Address, and Telephone Number of Purchaser / User

Brand, Name, and Grade (octane rating) of Fuel Purchased

Type or Description of Vehicle(s) to be Fueled

Is the vehicle(s) to be fueled registered or licensed for on-road use?

Is the vehicle(s) to be fueled registered or licensed for off-road use?

License Number and VIN, if any, of Vehicle(s) to be Fueled

Name of Sanctioned Racing Event

Date of Event

Name of Racing Association or Sanctioning Body

Racing Association or Sanctioning Body Membership ID Number

Signature under penalty of perjury that the gasoline will be used only in the
above racing vehicle(s) for the above sanctioned racing event

Refiners, blenders, importers, and distributors must also take "reasonable
prudent precautions" and prove that adequate steps have been taken to
limit sales of non-complying racing fuel to racing vehicles, exclusively. CARB
will consider, but is not limited to, the following to be reasonable prudent
precautions: import notifications, production reporting, labeling, record
keeping, distributor training, and providing customer education materials. The
requirement to take reasonable prudent precautions applies to all shipments of
non-complying racing fuel regardless of container size, i.e. railcars, cargo
tanks, barrels, drums, cans, etc. Specifically for importers and in-state
refiners and blenders, in addition to the above, reasonable prudent precautions
should include notification to CARB of the import shipment or in-state
production, and labeling of each batch and container of non-complying racing
gasoline. Refiners, blenders, importers, and distributors may enter into an
enforcement protocol with CARB or modify their existing protocol as
appropriate.

Bulk containers, including but not limited to railcars, cargo tanks, barrels,
drums, and cans, as well as bills of lading, delivery tickets, and invoices for
all shipments of non-complying racing fuel offered or supplied for sale and use
in California must be conspicuously labeled with the following:

Legal For Use ONLY In Competition Racing Vehicles

Not Legal For Use In Any Other Motor Vehicle

Letters or statements included with shipping documents outlining the legal uses
of the racing fuel, instructions sent to distributors and retailers concerning
legal sales and use of racing fuel, or other specific steps outlined in a new
or modified enforcement protocol with CARB Enforcement Division, are additional
ways for refiners, blenders, importers, and distributors to comply with the
taking "reasonable prudent precautions" requirement. CARB will
evaluate whether all of the information discussed in this Advisory #397 is
included in the records. The absence of such records or records that lack the
above information argue against "reasonable and prudent precautions"
having been taken."


Aren't you glad you asked :LOL:


Bill S.

I didn't see this part of the advisory in your caption above:

"Many refiners, blenders, and distributors of racing fuel sell and supply a “street legal” high octane unleaded gasoline (racing fuel) blend that complies with the specifications for California RFG. This complying racing gasoline is readily available and is legal for use in all motor vehicles both on and off road. Retailers may sell this racing gasoline as complying California RFG."

So, my 100 octane unleaded from the pump should still be available.

I didn't see that either. Perhaps you are right, for your sake, I hope so.


Bill S.

Yes, but I may have lost access to the leaded race gas for those track events that I planned to attend in 2010. ;)

EDIT: BTW, the paragraph that I quoted was taken from the text of the link you provided.

I just called Nickey Petroleum in Placentia, the source of my Sunoco 110 (the really good stuff). I get it straight from their pump 24/7 with the account I have with them. Ultimately I may have to complete a form with each invoice they send me stating which racing event I plan to use the fuel. No BFD.

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ra_015-adj.jpg

For grins I might write down, "91 Freeway Flying Mile Contest, Saturday Night, 9pm". :D

Sorry to the OP.

-Dean

Thanks to everyone that is posting,Some of the things that came up have kept me from asking:D NICE looking car. The tire choice is going to be hard. I like the vintage look,but I imagine there not great all around tires? input welcome.

:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

There are plenty of threads here on Club Cobra about the advantages and disadvantages of various tires. The search button is definitely your friend.

E85 is 105 octane. I can't imagine it would make your Cobra go faster.

For a price between a Superformance and a CSX, you can have a Kirkham. Aluminum body car that is superior to an original in every way except it is not an original. Dave is on this site a lot. Helps people all the time, regardless of the make cobra they have. Asks for input on improvement ideas. Bottom line a great guy. No doubt if I had the money, I would own a Kirkham. My opinion, it is the top of the line.

To be fair there are other dealers on the site as well. They too are helpful to everyone. They have excellent Cobra's, too. I would be happy with any of the cars that these guys sell.

I have only driven one Cobra. Mine. It is the best handling car I ever drove. It will outcorner, accelerate faster, and stop quicker than anything I ever drove. The only thing I ever rode in that could outperform it, is other Cobra's and there are plenty out there that are light years ahead of mine.

The short wheel base is a true hand full, if the wheels get loose. If you let it get very far side ways, the back end will come around real fast. I have never spun it out, but I have come close on an autocross course a couple times. Your correction has to be dead on, with very fast reflexes. Over stear it and the swing back is tough to overcome. I'm no expert driver, but I also have no ego pushing me. It is my experiance that getting out of the throttle at the first hint of loosing traction is best. Few people can power there way out of trouble. To sum it up, because the handling is so good, when you do loose traction, you are going to be going way too fast and turning way too hard to recover. I absolutely will not push the car on the streets.

As for Hp, forget about peak numbers. Look at the torque across the entire rpm range. The flatter the torque curve, the easier the car will be to handle. An engine that only has 200 lb-ft at 2000 rpm and 500 lb-ft at 5000 rpm is more difficult to handle because every time you step on the peddle, depending on the rpm, the reaction is different. If there is a rapid increase in torque in a short rpm range, it is even trickier to handle.

Bill I think the net effect tracking who and where it gets used will only apply to the leaded fuel.

PS: I wouldn't own a "street" car that required race fuel. Been there done that. Ain't no fun. It isn't difficult these days for a stroked 427 like RodKnock has or the one I had to make 600HP at the crank.
My friends SPF has a 514 with 765 HP and 700 TQ and he drives that thing all over the place. And yes he does have traction issues if you stab the pedal.

I built a second home on the lake and cant really swing more than the 50's. I am like you and would love to have a Kirkham. I know its possible to buy a car with a budget,only to sell it and get what you really wish you had. I have seen me do it:LOL:

If you have a budget of 50's,come on down and take a look at my ERA, you won't be sorry that you did. ;)


Bill S.

So, all that posturing and postulation just to sell a car?

That was cold man.....
Wiplash...
Dex..

No posturing required. Bill is always selling a car.

Shoo, I think you are a little off base on Mr. Mustang's intentions. the last thing he is doing is posteuring just to sell a car! Mr. Mustang is a respected member here on CC and to call him out on this subject in my opinion is unjustified! If you were to do just a little research you will see what im talking about. He has helped out literaly 100's of people trying to buy new, used, including all makes, and everything in between in regards to Cobra's. To say something as glib as that, is in my opinion, silly!

Chris