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

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Remember Jim Hall's Can Am Chapparrals? They were automatics and did very well. A lot of it has to do with how they are set up.

... and you would recommend a 600HP auto for a man's first Cobra?

[patrickt]

The wings were also movable. The Chaparrals used an automatic transmission, so there was no clutch pedal, which allowed Hall to add a third pedal. While accelerating, the driver would hold the pedal down with his left foot. This kept the wings horizontal for less drag. Releasing the pedal put the wings in an angled position, for greater downforce in the corners (the increased drag also helping slow the car).

Source: http://www.vintagerpm.com/can-am-history-of-chaparral/

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Source: http://www.vintagerpm.com/can-am-history-of-chaparral/

Did you see the Sucker car? He tried to pass those off as cooling fans.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by patrickt

... and you would recommend a 600HP auto for a man's first Cobra?

I went back and re-read all of Tin Man's posts on this thread, and no where do I see any reference to his experience with high performance cars. I can draw a conclusion based on some of his posts, but all that is is a guess.

Seeing as to how he has mentioned that he is approaching retirement age, I have to assume that he's not a 20 something kid that will automatically (sorry, I couldn't resist) go out there and flat foot it in the first corner. After all, he is asking for advice, not to be publicly flogged for what he has decided he wants in a car.

Would I recommend it? Not my call. It's his choice, same as my choice was mine. As long as he does not say he's going with dual roll bars, he's okay in my book.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

As long as he does not say he's going with dual roll bars, he's okay in my book.

Hmmph... and no 3rd brake light as well.

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Did you see the Sucker car? He tried to pass those off as cooling fans.

Yes. Pretty amazing.

[Tom Wells]

Silverback51,





Tom

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Tom Wells

Silverback51,





Tom

Damn, it's spreading.

Nice looking car Tom. At least you did not wrap them with foam rubber and electrical tape.

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

I went back and re-read all of Tin Man's posts on this thread, and no where do I see any reference to his experience with high performance cars. I can draw a conclusion based on some of his posts, but all that is is a guess.

Seeing as to how he has mentioned that he is approaching retirement age, I have to assume that he's not a 20 something kid that will automatically (sorry, I couldn't resist) go out there and flat foot it in the first corner. After all, he is asking for advice, not to be publicly flogged for what he has decided he wants in a car.

Would I recommend it? Not my call. It's his choice, same as my choice was mine. As long as he does not say he's going with dual roll bars, he's okay in my book.

Guys, My only "racing" experience with high performance cars was engaging in "weekend racing" a Bentley Turbo R [all 4000 pounds] 485 HP and a Turbo charged Lotus Elise [1800 pounds] 175HP around the Sepang FI Speedway in Malaysia. Arguably with totally different power to weight ratios, but still loads of gut wrenching fun, but have never had the experience of driving the likes of a Cobra.

That said, owning a Cobra has, I guess like many folks on this forum been a lifelong dream and only now that I am close to retiremnt can I really afford to buy one, thus I want the nastiest, meanest sounding Big Block I can get in a high end roller so I chose a SPF MK111 with a Roush 511 IRFE and a Bowler automatic transmission. The Bowler high performance transmission and the 511 engine has been tested extensively by Roush and Roush offers it as a preferred combo when somebody wants an automatic transmission.

While I fully understand this is going to be a handful to drive I am performing what I consider is the appropriate due diligence in a) asking for advice from the members of this forum plus the folks in the Arizona Cobras, and b) will take Bondurant driving classes for high performance cars. After that it will be up to me to put into practice what I learned, hopefully without any incidents.

BTW I chose the race roll bar as opposed to dual rollbars, dual roll bars are just not my cup of tea and it will be a cold day in hell before I would even think of wrapping the roll bar with foam and covering it with black tape. Sorry guys not bashing anyone, its just my choice and is decidedly my personal preference.

Cheers, tin-man

[FredBMOC]

Tin-man,
You will have a blast no matter what color, transmission or roll bar, now hurry up and get one of those 10 day leaves and go get this car!
I sure want to see some pictures of this beast when you finally get it.
Best of luck...
Fred

Originally Posted by tin-man

Guys, My only "racing" experience with high performance cars was engaging in "weekend racing" a Bentley Turbo R [all 4000 pounds] 485 HP and a Turbo charged Lotus Elise [1800 pounds] 175HP around the Sepang FI Speedway in Malaysia. Arguably with totally different power to weight ratios, but still loads of gut wrenching fun, but have never had the experience of driving the likes of a Cobra.

That said, owning a Cobra has, I guess like many folks on this forum been a lifelong dream and only now that I am close to retiremnt can I really afford to buy one, thus I want the nastiest, meanest sounding Big Block I can get in a high end roller so I chose a SPF MK111 with a Roush 511 IRFE and a Bowler automatic transmission. The Bowler high performance transmission and the 511 engine has been tested extensively by Roush and Roush offers it as a preferred combo when somebody wants an automatic transmission.

While I fully understand this is going to be a handful to drive I am performing what I consider is the appropriate due diligence in a) asking for advice from the members of this forum plus the folks in the Arizona Cobras, and b) will take Bondurant driving classes for high performance cars. After that it will be up to me to put into practice what I learned, hopefully without any incidents.

BTW I chose the race roll bar as opposed to dual rollbars, dual roll bars are just not my cup of tea and it will be a cold day in hell before I would even think of wrapping the roll bar with foam and covering it with black tape. Sorry guys not bashing anyone, its just my choice and is decidedly my personal preference.

Cheers, tin-man

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by tin-man

Guys, My only "racing" experience with high performance cars was engaging in "weekend racing" a Bentley Turbo R [all 4000 pounds] 485 HP and a Turbo charged Lotus Elise [1800 pounds] 175HP around the Sepang FI Speedway in Malaysia. Arguably with totally different power to weight ratios, but still loads of gut wrenching fun, but have never had the experience of driving the likes of a Cobra.

That said, owning a Cobra has, I guess like many folks on this forum been a lifelong dream and only now that I am close to retiremnt can I really afford to buy one, thus I want the nastiest, meanest sounding Big Block I can get in a high end roller so I chose a SPF MK111 with a Roush 511 IRFE and a Bowler automatic transmission. The Bowler high performance transmission and the 511 engine has been tested extensively by Roush and Roush offers it as a preferred combo when somebody wants an automatic transmission.

While I fully understand this is going to be a handful to drive I am performing what I consider is the appropriate due diligence in a) asking for advice from the members of this forum plus the folks in the Arizona Cobras, and b) will take Bondurant driving classes for high performance cars. After that it will be up to me to put into practice what I learned, hopefully without any incidents.

BTW I chose the race roll bar as opposed to dual rollbars, dual roll bars are just not my cup of tea and it will be a cold day in hell before I would even think of wrapping the roll bar with foam and covering it with black tape. Sorry guys not bashing anyone, its just my choice and is decidedly my personal preference.

Cheers, tin-man

Please do not take what I said as negative. It was an observation of what I read in your posts.

Sorry if I offended you, as that was not my intent.

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Please do not take what I said as negative. It was an observation of what I read in your posts.

Sorry if I offended you, as that was not my intent.

Silverback51, no issues, I did not take what you said as a negative in anyway. There is nothing in these threads that can offend me, its all in fun and good taste and is highly constructive, well, perhaps the only exception being when Jamo bashes a post I made due to an error. But that's his job.: LOL:

In China the expats call them Sphincter Police because they exist in every company and are generally a pain in the ssa. Jamo, no offense pal.

Silverback51, really, your post was enlightening, whereas Patrickts post was disturbing, particularly when he said I could end up in a casket, Patrickt, that was a bit over the top pal, even if you believed it, but that said you were doing your best to give me advice and I do appreciate that.

Bottom line guys, I am a newbie looking for advice so I can enjoy the car of my dreams and if I can get appropriate counselling from this forum so I don't inadvertantly kill myself, then I am very much appreciative of that advice. Even from Jamo, since when I re-read his comment he was correct in his admonition..

Cheers, tin-man

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by tin-man

... whereas Patrickts post was disturbing, particularly when he said I could end up in a casket, Patrickt, that was a bit over the top pal, even if you believed it, but that said you were doing your best to give me advice and I do appreciate that.

I can think of half a dozen Cobra fatalities without even trying, both from this forum to my local club (member on a turn by his house that he'd probably seen a million times before, too much throttle, the result? Our local club leader admonishing the members "guys, please be considerate of the family and don't drive your Cobra to the funeral." ) Or how 'bout the guy from California, about this time last year, that let his girlfriend take the wheel? A flat, easy curve (showed up great on Google Earth), too much throttle from a novice driver, killed them both. But even really slow accidents are potentially life threatening in these cars. Take the guy out in Florida last month going to dinner with his wife -- hits the curb at a pretty slow speed (the Cobra didn't even look banged up). Both of them off to the hospital, him in critical condition with blunt force trauma to the head. Remember, just because your Cobra stops from 20mph when it hits a curb or embankment doesn't mean your head stops. It continues in to your unpadded roll bar at that same 20mph. These cars are like M-80s when we were kids. And there was always that kid in class who couldn't wait to buy a pack around the 4th of July. Remember? We used to call him "three finger Sam." But I've made my point. I'll shut up now.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I can think of half a dozen Cobra fatalities without even trying, both from this forum to my local club (member on a turn by his house that he'd probably seen a million times before, too much throttle, the result? Our local club leader admonishing the members "guys, please be considerate of the family and don't drive your Cobra to the funeral." ) Or how 'bout the guy from California, about this time last year, that let his girlfriend take the wheel? A flat, easy curve (showed up great on Google Earth), too much throttle from a novice driver, killed them both. But even really slow accidents are potentially life threatening in these cars. Take the guy out in Florida last month going to dinner with his wife -- hits the curb at a pretty slow speed (the Cobra didn't even look banged up). Both of them off to the hospital, him in critical condition with blunt force trauma to the head. Remember, just because your Cobra stops from 20mph when it hits a curb or embankment doesn't mean your head stops. It continues in to your unpadded roll bar at that same 20mph. These cars are like M-80s when we were kids. And there was always that kid in class who couldn't wait to buy a pack around the 4th of July. Remember? We used to call him "three finger Sam." But I've made my point. I'll shut up now.

Were these cars all automatics?