tin-man needs some advice.......

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by tin-man

I was surfing thru the threads and came across the comments regarding fires in California and seeing there are fires there now, concluded the post was current and did not pick up on a post date. Mea Culpa pal, Mea Culpa. But then again how can a three year old post be on a current thread? Yep, I certainly missed that one.

Now as to situational awareness, I am endevoring to get as much information as I can before my Cobra is finished and since I live and work in China my only access to advice is thru this forum and yes sir, I am payin' plenty of attention to the feedback I get.

Gotta find that original thread that pissed you off man and caused you to bash my post. tin-man:

Hi Jamo, I found the thread bigger'n life under "Active Threads":

Prayers & thoughts for California ( 1 2)

Accordin' to the news here on China TV there was a fire in the San Fransisco area being some type of gas explosion that wiped out several homes and killed at least one person, so naturally I thought the post was current and about that. What I failed to do was see the original post date and yep I feel like a turd now since you were right. Like I said Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa.

So Jamo, can you tell me out of all the posts on this forum how you came to isolate mine in this particular instance. I am just curios? tin-man

[Jamo]

Eh...cuz it popped up as the most current post on the whole damn site...under Active Threads...you "activated" it.

You had to have dug many pages back in history to even find that thread. You found the thread, not the other way around.

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Eh...cuz it popped up as the most current post on the whole damn site...under Active Threads...you "activated" it.

You had to have dug many pages back in history to even find that thread. You found the thread, not the other way around.

its rainin' like a ***** here and its Sunday afternoon and I am doing what I like to do being surfing Club Cobra, how I got to that page I will never know, but it sure was coincidental. Anyway thanks for pointing that out to me, I will pay more attention in the future.

All Hail Jamo, All Hail Jamo. tin-man

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by tin-man

on driving a SPF 600HP MK111 Cobra with a Roush 511 IRFE engine and automatic transmission. What I am looking for are the basic newbie type driving tips, the do's, dont's and don't even think of, type of driving hints I would need to know to prevent me from getting into trouble with all that power. All advice will be much appreciated and valued.

Thanks in advance guys, my Cobra is due to be ready in November. tin-man

The simplest advice to be given is that when you are driving the car, think of it as walking on a smooth sheet of ice with a pair of leather soled penny loafers on.......Every step you take in the car should be cautious, smooth, simple in nature so that you do not fall (in your case crash) and kill yourself or someone else around you. 600HP in your first Cobra, even with an automatic transmission seems a bit overboard, but hey, it's your dream/money/life so I won't go into that aspect further........Also, regardless of whatever other driving experience you have (cars, venues, etc), a Cobra is unlike any other vehicle you have driven (unless you have driven formula fords in the rain without rain slicks on )......Treat the car with respect, or again, it will kill you.



Bill S.

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

The simplest advice to be given is that when you are driving the car, think of it as walking on a smooth sheet of ice with a pair of leather soled penny loafers on.......Every step you take in the car should be cautious, smooth, simple in nature so that you do not fall (in your case crash) and kill yourself or someone else around you. 600HP in your first Cobra, even with an automatic transmission seems a bit overboard, but hey, it's your dream/money/life so I won't go into that aspect further........Also, regardless of whatever other driving experience you have (cars, venues, etc), a Cobra is unlike any other vehicle you have driven (unless you have driven formula fords in the rain without rain slicks on )......Treat the car with respect, or again, it will kill you.



Bill S.

Hi Bill, thanks for the advice, the reason for the 600HP is because I wanted the biggest, meanest, nastiest sounding big block motor on the block. Heard that one before? I've waited ten years for this baby and now that I am close to retirement its a retirement gift for myself. All the advice I am hearing is eccoing your comments treat this car with the utmost care and respect, so given Bondurant is in Phoenix I plan to take one of his driving courses on how to handle high performance cars. I believe this to be perhaps the best thing I can do immediately after receiving my car. Cheers, tin-man

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by tin-man

...I wanted the biggest, meanest, nastiest sounding big block motor on the block. Heard that one before?

Yes. And often times the person is not happy with that choice after experiencing it for a while. Sometimes less is more.

[Bernica]

What has been said above: Take a Performance Driving Course!
Also, I would add the following:

1) Get some driving shoes. Don't wear your big wide typical running shoes. And NEVER try to drive it wearing flip-flops!

2) Resist every temptation that may be presented to you by a passenger trying to egg you on to show what the car can do. Stay within your limits, particularly with someone else in the car.

3) Stay off of wet pavement! Unless, of course, it's on purpose and you're in a 10-acre parking lot or something similar.

4) Get to know your brakes!! Particularly how they work when cold.

5) If you're not a religious person, you will be very soon if you ignore all of the advice provided in the thread above.

Pay attention at all times and learn to respect the beast. You'll have alot of fun!

[jhv48]

And every time you are getting ready to plant your butt in the driver's seat, review this picture. http://www.ffcars.com/forums/showthr...light=accident

[undy]

Originally Posted by patrickt

And often times the person is not happy with that choice after experiencing it for a while.

Never have, never will.. There's no such thing as TOO much horsepower.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by undy

Never have, never will.. There's no such thing as TOO much horsepower.

I understand; I just raise an eyebrow though when I see 600HP and an automatic transmission in a Cobra. I just wonder if the thrill will last....

[ItBites]

tinner,

Sticky tires will degrade over time, same as any other tire. The tread 'grip' will degrade as they get older (harder), but starting from a position of higher grip will still leave you better a year or two down the road.

Flat spots are not really an issue I have noticed. I think that is more an issue with the billboards and Avons, which are bias-ply tires as compared to modern radials. modern radials will not flat spot near as much. Get a nice set of 17" rims, put good raidals on, have fun.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by ItBites

tinner,

Sticky tires will degrade over time, same as any other tire. The tread 'grip' will degrade as they get older (harder), but starting from a position of higher grip will still leave you better a year or two down the road.

Flat spots are not really an issue I have noticed. I think that is more an issue with the billboards and Avons, which are bias-ply tires as compared to modern radials. modern radials will not flat spot near as much. Get a nice set of 17" rims, put good raidals on, have fun.

Avon's are radials and do not flat spot.

[YerDugliness]

Some tire compounds are sensitive to heat cycles more so than miles. A friend raced a Boss 302 Mustang and kept precise records of the number of times his Hoosiers were heated up. Most racers kept a few extra sets so they could swap out between tours of the road course. Something to think about when you look for sticky tires!

Cheers from Doug!!

[ItBites]

I stand corrected on the Avons. Thank you silverback.

[ItBites]

Patrickt,

Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

You don't have an auto in your Cobra AND you have never been on a road race track with your Cobra (or any other car for that matter). I and others with real experience with autos in Cobras AND road race experience have provided the correct guidance here. Please feel free to provide advice about washing and waxing and LED lights and leave the questions about performance and driving to those who have a clue.

Modern performance automatics with semi-automatic valve bodies do not unexpectedly downshift when you depress the pedal. In fact most will not even upshift unless you're in "D". As I explained in an earlier post you chose to not read, with the kickdown disabled, these transmissions only downshift when approaching a stop. As has been written by me and a couple of others in this thread, who have real experience, road racing one of these cars with an auto is not a direct path to a casket, as you purport. In fact it can be more forgiving in some ways - for example it is very hard to miss a downshift to 4th and hit 2nd instead. Further, less shifting in general is required due to the converter, leaving more time to focus on braking and your line. But I am wasting my time repeating myself here.

Please check your credentials before giving advice on what makes an acceptable road race car and what will put drivers in a casket.

[patrickt]

Well that was certainly nice of you to post.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Well that was certainly nice of you to post.

This is why I weighed in early. I knew this was going to get ugly....

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

This is why I weighed in early. I knew this was going to get ugly....

... which you did with alacrity and grace that clearly evidences your fine breeding.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

... which you did with alacrity and grace that clearly evidences your fine breeding.

I get this feeling that Patrick is the Black Knight from that famous "Just A Flesh Wound" fight scene with King Arthur from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[Bernica]

Why, Thank You Sir! Gentlemen and Scholars......