tin-man needs some advice....... - Page 3

ItBites · #1 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 01:44 PM

More or less nice than having "your expertness" tell me and others who actually road race with automatics that we are headed for a casket?

I support you expressing an opinion on what transmission is best, but do not tell me I am headed for a casket if I do what I've been doing for longer than you've owned a Cobra.

From your post on page 3:
"An automatic transmission should be for gentle, easy cruising. If you try and road race a light, short wheel base, high horsepower Cobra with an automatic, I think you're going to end up in the trees... or a casket."

patrickt · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 01:46 PM

IT, I didn't tell you anything. You and Tom are in a different category from someone who has virtually never driven a Cobra before. You need to check your blood pressure....

ItBites · #3 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 04:24 PM

Its like freekin Laurel and Hardy around here. I am sure the OP was looking for witty repartee instead of advice from folks with relevant experience.

tin-man · #4 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItBites

Its like freekin Laurel and Hardy around here. I am sure the OP was looking for witty repartee instead of advice from folks with relevant experience.

OP? tin-man

ItBites · #5 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 07:18 PM

do not respond... do not respond... do not respond... do not respond... do not respond... do not respond...

I cant take it!

Pat, is your assessment from personal experience this time, or as usual, from your keen powers of observing others who actually know something? hahahahahaha

Sorry, it was just too 'right' to pass-up

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItBites

Pat, is your assessment from personal experience this time, or as usual, from your keen powers of observing others who actually know something? hahahahahaha

I need to get you and ERAChas together. I think you two would really hit it off.

Bernica · #7 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItBites

do not respond... do not respond... do not respond... do not respond... do not respond... do not respond...

I cant take it!

Pat, is your assessment from personal experience this time, or as usual, from your keen powers of observing others who actually know something? hahahahahaha

Take my money, I'm out............

ItBites · #8 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 02:10 PM

You know, I knew you couldn't shut-up...

Jamo · #9 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 02:20 PM

ahem...anyway, getting back to the topic

ItBites · #10 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 03:39 PM

OK Jamo, its just become really hard to tell what the topic used to be on so many threads these days...

tin-man · #11 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItBites

OK Jamo, its just become really hard to tell what the topic used to be on so many threads these days...

was my last question coupled with and how could it have been prevented. [jhv48 post with pictures] Beacuse whatever I hear on this forum as to the possibe reasons for the stuck throttle will be one of the first things I will check when I get my car in, well, lets see, maybe November, or December, or, well, whenever it arrives. Guys, any thought on the root cause for the accident? tin-man

patrickt · #12 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 06:55 PM

A lot of the one-car accidents that I see out on my favorite driving roads often have skid marks that look like this. I mean I see marks like this a lot. You can surmise that the guy came in to the curve a little fast, and instead of pushing through it, he lifted off the throttle, and maybe even touched his brakes. The weight transferred to the front of his car and his rear got loose and came right around on him. He then runs off the road on the inside (and of course crosses in to and through the oncoming lane). Now there are a ton of ways to wreck, but if I had to guess, I would say this scenario is the most common "spirited driving" mistake. Most of us have done it at one time or another.

tin-man · #13 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

A lot of the one-car accidents that I see out on my favorite driving roads often have skid marks that look like this. I mean I see marks like this a lot. You can surmise that the guy came in to the curve a little fast, and instead of pushing through it, he lifted off the throttle, and maybe even touched his brakes. The weight transferred to the front of his car and his rear got loose and came right around on him. He then runs off the road on the inside (and of course crosses in to and through the oncoming lane). Now there are a ton of ways to wreck, but if I had to guess, I would say this scenario is the most common "spirited driving" mistake. Most of us have done it at one time or another.

and it wasnt even a Cobra. That said, I have never experienced such an incident in all my 50 years of driving. Maybe the dude was a) drunk or b) a first time driver, or both, don't know, was there a follow up on this or an accident report? Anyway Patrickt, thanks for the input, it visually tells a tale. But it begs the question why just one set of skid marks, it would seem to me if I was driving I would have crushed the hell outa the breakpedal and thus there would have been two sets of skid marks, one from the front wheels and certainly one set from the rear wheels while they spun round, am I right? But then I guess we need factor in the response time and if the dude was drunk then it would explain the single set of skid marks, happened too fast. Just my two cents guys, just my two cents.

Why am I getting the feeling I got more than a tiger by the tail? But then again, if the the Cobra was so bad to drive why do many people have them and enjoy driving them?

I know, I know, because they got situational experience...cuz Jamo told em so. Jamo, no offense, just seemed to fit. tin-man

patrickt · #14 (**permalink**) 09-16-2010, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tin-man

it would seem to me if I was driving I would have crushed the hell outa the breakpedal and thus there would have been two sets of skid marks, one from the front wheels and certainly one set from the rear wheels while they spun round, am I right?

No, you are wrong. As soon as you lock up all four wheels with the brakes the car goes in a straight line (remember, no ABS on a Cobra). All you would have accomplished by that is to wreck the car on the other side of the road. Learning the basics of "weight transfer" is absolutely mandatory. Cobras are particularly dangerous because of their short wheelbase. That short wheelbase is the same as a short radius of a circle; the circumference is then reduced. What that means to you is that the car comes around on you much faster than a long wheelbase car would -- once you realize it's happening, it's usually too late. Believe it or not, the only prayer that guy had, once he realized he was too fast in to the curve, was to stay off the brakes. (Porsche 911 guys, like my brother, like to chime in here that this is when you accelerate, not brake.

) In a similar vein, yet different, Cobras pose another challenge because of their ability to break the rear loose with the tremendous torque that they produce. That's entirely different than a drop-throttle oversteer condition, but can be just as lethal. There are threads on here having to do with peformance driving classes for new Cobra owners, or tips for learning what your car does out in a stadium parking lot where there is nothing to hit (and a drizzly day helps, as well).

Jamo · #15 (**permalink**) 09-16-2010, 12:03 AM

none taken

dcdoug · #16 (**permalink**) 09-16-2010, 09:10 AM

Just take it really easy in the car until you get used to it. Then go to a local autocross day and find out how it handles when you push it in a relatively slow, safe environment with nothing to hit other than a few cones.

dcdoug · #17 (**permalink**) 09-17-2010, 06:44 PM

You have to really not be paying attention to fail to notice that one of your springs has broken. Pretty noticeable difference in throttle resistance.

Tin-man: run 2 springs, check them as part of pre-flight if you want to and pay attention to how your car drives and feels and you won't have any problems. Heck you can replace them once a year if you want as part of your tune-up for a few bucks.

Also, more importantly, pay attention to where your floormat is going....that probably causes more "stuck throttles" than anything.

Relax and stop sweating this issue.

patrickt · #18 (**permalink**) 09-17-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Relax and stop sweating this issue.

Yep, he needs to now move on and start worrying about his spinners coming off in spite of the safety wire.

TButtrick · #19 (**permalink**) 09-19-2010, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yep, he needs to now move on and start worrying about his spinners coming off in spite of the safety wire.

They tighten toward the front... correct?

mrmustang · #20 (**permalink**) 09-19-2010, 06:50 AM

Tin-Man,

I am a firm believer in the less is more attitude these days (posts to get my point across that is), again,take your time with your new car, learn it's quirks at low speeds and in a controlled atmosphere, as you get used to the car and how it handles, you can then add more power (through the throttle pedal) to the equation. With the wheelbase at 90", keep in mind the combination of throttle, braking, and over/under steer as the weight transfer is pretty quick in these cars. Again a slow learning curve is suggested so as to protect not only yourself, but the people around you. Taking the Bondurant course is a great idea, I went through one of his course in 1983 and still use the basics I was taught today. Most of all, regardless of anything else, enjoy the ride as there is nothing else like it on the road today.

Yours In Fords,

Bill S.

PS: Don't forget to take lots of pictures of your new ride and post them here in your photo album.........