Cobra accident

[lnfletcher]

I know this is a little strange, posting an obit, but I thought it was nice and shows that life is short and we have a great chance to enjoy what we have. I didn't know him, but I wish I had met him because he only lived about 15 miles away and was a fellow Cobra enthusiast.

From 6-10 local paper.

LITTLE ROCK — David Gieringer’s boyhood fantasy of cruising in a ’66 Ford Shelby Cobra became a reality in 2009. The ultimate car enthusiast, Gieringer didn’t just buy the car - he built it.

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, he decided it was time to build his dream car and won first place in a car show, said his wife, Cara Beth Gieringer.

David Gieringer died of cancer Monday at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock. He was 57.

David Gieringer was born Aug. 19, 1952, in San Antonio to Wallace and Suzanne Gieringer. His family moved often while his father was in the U.S. Air Force. David Gieringer graduated from St.Joseph High School in Farmington, Mo., and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Arkansas College of Business in 1975.

Being part of a large family of six boys, it was hard for him as a child to stand out. Joining Boy Scouts at age 11 gave him a chance to step out of his brothers’ shadows, his brother Wally Gieringer Jr. said.

David Gieringer earned the rank of Life, which is the second-highest rank in Boy Scouts.

Cara Beth Gieringer, who goes by Beth, said she remembered when her husband was leading a troop on a hiking trip in his 20s and attempting to resolve a conflict between two boys.

“He got their belts and interlooped the belts together and they had to walk together for the hike,” Beth Gieringer said. “They wound up being friends at the end of the hike.”

David and Beth met in Little Rock in 1977 and married on July 14, 1979. They went on to have three children.

In 1985, David Gieringer created Telecom Management in Little Rock and led the telecommunication consulting firm for 25 years. He retired in February. He remained active in business organizations including the Central Arkansas Executives Association and was a founding member of the Arkansas Executives Forum of the University of Arkansas.

He was also a member of Rotary International, served on the Pleasant Valley Country Club board of directors, participated in the FBI Citizen’s Academy and was an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister at Christ the King Parish in Little Rock.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003. Only three months after having surgery, he and his wife traveled to Dublin, Ireland, for a Vermont Biking Tours trip, Beth Gieringer said. The trip, which was for their wedding anniversary, lasted 10 days, covering 30 miles every day.

She said that after a while, the pain from the cancer made it unbearable for him to bike and golf, so David Gieringer decided to fulfill his lifelong dream: Build a replica of a ’66 Ford Shelby Cobra.

He started building the car in 2007 and completed it in 2009. When deciding what license plate to put on the car, his wife suggested “Mistress” because when he wasn’t with her, he was with the car, she said. He chose “66 Shelby” instead.

The replica placed Best Overall in the 1960-69 category in Batesville at the River City Cruisers Car Show in 2009.

Beth Gieringer said that although she joked about the time he spent with his car, his love for her never wavered.

“We were out driving the car on Highway 10 ... and I said, ‘Is this everything you’ve always dreamed of?’ and he said ‘No, you are.’ That was very, very sweet at the time,” Beth Gieringer said.

[cobrajeff]

Back in the early 70's, I drove a 1966 Shelby GT350 most of the time (my '71 BOSS 351 was my Winter "beater"). I modified it for occasional track use, with a roll-bar, "R" model front apron, dual quads, and side exhaust. I was living in Detroit, and my girlfriend (who I eventually married) lived in Akron OH (where I grew up). I drove the Detroit-to-Akron trip every weekend to go see her. I noticed when I'g get home, my ears would ring for a long time (it seemed like hours, but was probably a lot less).

I decided it might reduce the noise level somewhat if I wore my racing helmet on the trip. I started wearing it, and the noise level reduction helped considerably. Never got pulled over for wearing the helmet, but, the Ohio Turnpike toll-booth personnel sure did give me some strange looks.




Jeff

[Steve Gallegos]

One word "HEADRESTS". Australia requires them. You think they know something we don't?

[Silverback51]

I decided to check out the roll bar issue today with my car.

First off, a physical description of myself. I'm short and stocky. 5'8" inches tall, and I weigh in at 250 or so. Long waisted with short legs.

That means I have the seat adjusted slightly forward, and I slouch in the seat.

The first thing my head will hit is the body directly behind me. Same is true if I am thrown towards the passenger side of the car. The only time I will hit the roll bar is if I'm thrown to the drivers side, and even then, it will be a secondary impact after hitting the body.

Considering that I never wore a helmet when I rode motorcycles until it was required, and even then it was a non-DOT approved helmet (kind of like a piece of tuperware), I guess I can live with a non-padded roll bar.

Besides, they look ugly in my opinion.

[bobcowan]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

I
The first thing my head will hit is the body directly behind me. Same is true if I am thrown towards the passenger side of the car. The only time I will hit the roll bar is if I'm thrown to the drivers side, and even then, it will be a secondary impact after hitting the body.

Don't worry, your neck will snap like a twig long before you get any direct head trauma.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by bobcowan

Don't worry, your neck will snap like a twig long before you get any direct head trauma.

What neck? Didn't you read my physical description?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

... I'm short and stocky. 5'8" inches tall ... Long waisted with short legs. That means I have the seat adjusted slightly forward, and I slouch in the seat.

John, so you kind of look like this behind the wheel?

[Slither]

Some states won't let you wear headphones while driving, much less a helmet. But then some states require the use of a helmet when driving a motorcycle! Go figure!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Slither

Some states won't let you wear headphones while driving, much less a helmet. But then some states require the use of a helmet when driving a motorcycle! Go figure!

My state also has an anti-mask statute (you can't wear something that hides your face). It has its origins in anti-Klan laws, but it is still enforced to this day....

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by patrickt

John, so you kind of look like this behind the wheel?

Sorry Patrick, I'm a little taller than that.

From the waist up, I'm usually as tall as a someone that is 6'3" or so if we are setting on chairs.

[Cobra Lite]

It has been a year now, any news on the couple's injury recovery?

[crASH]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Considering that I never wore a helmet when I rode motorcycles until it was required, and even then it was a non-DOT approved helmet (kind of like a piece of tuperware)

We called 'em "skid-lids". I put 17K miles on my HD in a state with no helmet laws, but occasionally we ventured into other states that required 'em.

crASH

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by crASH

We called 'em "skid-lids". I put 17K miles on my HD in a state with no helmet laws, but occasionally we ventured into other states that required 'em.

crASH

Way back when, when Oregon first passed the helmet law it only stated you had to wear one. It did not say on your head. I used to just strap it to my knee and rode that way.

Needless to say, the law was ammended within a year.

[crASH]

My "lid" back then was a little larger than a hollowed-out half a cantaloupe. Today it might keep the sun off the bald spot on top of my head, but little else.