Drag race - Kirkham 65 side-oiler vs Ferrari 458 italia

[David Janowic]

Originally Posted by tommygold

I wonder if you all could help settle another debate for us. When he first proposed the bet (it was him, not me), he said that he had a "65 Shelby Cobra." It was only after we made the bet that he explained that it was a Kirkham -- I guess with the original engine, and registered as a 65. In ordinary parlance -- as opposed to this specialized community, where such a detail is critical -- is it fair to call his car a "65 Shelby Cobra"? Thanks.

Yes this is fair, everyone refers to the kirkhams/kits/csx cars as 65 shelby cobras, or A/C cobras. If you just say its a cobra, or a kirkham cobra, only a fraction of a percent of the population will have any idea what you are talking about. I had a kirkham and the first and most annoying question after the 700th time you are asked is what kind of car is that? One other question, if i can arrange for a drag strip and a friend of mine with a kirkham cobra to race you would you let me take 20,000 of your bet? Last question, how much are you betting?

[CobraEd]

Is it ok for him to throw on a set of Drag Radials???


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[Mark Thompson]

Let's see, a clueless person in a Kirkham vs the most highly automated automotive missile ever....

The Kirkham driver as everyone knows will have his hands full every foot of the way. The Ferrari driver has to remember to wait for the light to change, push the correct pedal, and squeeze the right paddle twice at the rev limit. It is obvious which car will win.

btw, I heard some automotive bigotry in the commentary. I love my Kirkham, have never driven an Italia, but the F430 is every bit as engrossing and charismatic a car as a well done "Cobra", particularly in spider form. You all should try one.

Mark