My Velocity blog on how a ride in a cobra changed my life

[kvisser]

I've been chasing cars for well over 35 years now. But you alway remember your first. In my case it was a 66 427 Cobra. I talk about that story in my latest blog for the Velocity Channel. I thought you guys might get a kick out of it.

Amelia Island Concours, the Shelbys - Velocity

It sorta funny, I don't think I would be in this position if it hadn't been for that initial contact with a Cobra. I just knew I had to find that car. It took 2 years of sleuthing and pedaling to discovery the location.

From that point on, I was enthralled with cars of all sorts of genres. But the Cobra was always my dream car. Now I live vicariously thru my friend's superfomance side oiler.

Below is the intro to my piece.

Shelby, a name that invokes an image, a brand, a legend. Throw Cobra in the mix and you have fear and speed all mixed into one muscular four wheeled beast.

My infatuation with the Shelby Cobra dates back the mid 70’s, when I caught my first glimpse of a blue 427 Cobra rumbling down Reading Blvd. It took me nearly 2 years of furious pedaling to finally figure out where the Shelby lived. As a gangly 14 year old, I went up the door and introduced myself. I showed the owner my Shelby binder of magazine articles and ads. Then asked if I could have a photoshoot of his Cobra. Rick said yes under one condition, that I not tell anyone about where the car lived. Even better, he gave me a ride. I can remember every second of that short blast. “I’m going to accelerate now, don’t let you head snap back and hit the back of the cockpit.” Seriously...

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I found the slides some years ago. Sometimes it pays to be a pack rat. They were a little worse for the wear but I still scanned them.


I'd like to other's stories of how they found or were introduced to Shelbys. Who was your Rick? Who took the time to show you the ropes?

regards

ken visser

my other 3 blogs

Amelia at Sunrise: Automotive Sensory Overload - Velocity

Saturday at Amelia, Finding the Cars ... - Velocity

On the Road to Amelia Island - Velocity

[computerworks]

Did anyone proofread it?

1962 Shelby Dragsnake (CSX20930

Rick says "gonna accerate now

[kvisser]

Originally Posted by computerworks

Did anyone proofread it?

1962 Shelby Dragsnake (CSX20930

Rick says "gonna accerate now

Thanks for the catch, fixed it.

Second part is just vernacular, paraphrasing the initial statement.

[computerworks]

"accerate"?

What planet's vernacular? :-)

[Silversmith]

I had just transfered to a new Jr/Hs school & met Steve. Who would become one of my best friends. He was 2 yrs older & had his licence already. Sometimes people just mesh! Anyway, Steve's dad was a Dr. & Stevie had gotten him hooked into car's. I mean all types of rides! Jags, Healey's, 300SEL Gullwings & Shelby's, GT's & AC's. In all Doc had 28 rides when I met Stevie. He (Doc) was in comp. with a neighbor who collected (jones syndrome) covette's. Stevie would scour the add's of Hemmings & the like & find the cars & then he & Doc would go check them out & buy them if Doc liked'em. Of the group Stevie/Doc had 7 GT's & 4 AC's. Of the AC's Stevie had a 63/260(#53), a 64/289, a 66/HM427 & a 68/428. I will speak of the 66/HM427 from here out. When Stevie/Doc bought the HM, they bought it in1970 from a guy who right after getting the car (new) from Shelby, sent the car to Holmon & Moody Racing to have the engine rebuilt! He told Doc he wanted the best! It turns out, this was the only way one could get a HM in a AC. As HM didn't have much to do with Shelby other than send them the engines for there cars. As HM was; at the time, the main warehouse for all of Ford's high performance engines. OK, OK long story short! That AC was the baddest of all the cars in Doc's collection. Doc was a great guy! & let Stevie & some of older guys in our group take the cars (with him) out on the town @ night looking for chevy's & mopar's to romp with. What a sight! A pack GT's & AC's crusing the streets 4 to 8 @ a time!! Well my 1st ride in that Cobra left me scared for life! Stevie told me just before he dumped the clutch. Remember "Sex is only temporary, For everlasting pleasure! Drive a Cobra!!" I was 14!! The only thing I thought about was SEX!! Till that moment! As we hit 2nd @ 90 mph & 7+ grand; in my screaming, I knew Stevie was right! I was hooked! That was 40+ yrs ago! It's an addiction I have never gotten over

[kvisser]

Originally Posted by Silversmith

I had just transfered to a new Jr/Hs school & met Steve. Who would become one of my best friends. He was a 2 yrs older & had his licence already. Sometimes people just mesh! Anyway, Steve's dad was a Dr. & Stevie had gotten him hooked into car's. I mean all types of rides! Jags, Healey's, 300SEL Gullwings & Shelby's, GT's & AC's. In all Doc had 28 rides when I met Stevie. He (Doc) was in comp. with a neighbor who collected (jones syndrome) covette's. Stevie would scour the add's of Hemmings & the like & find the cars & then he & Doc would go check them out & buy them if Doc liked'em. Of the group Stevie/Doc had 7 GT's & 4 AC's. Of the AC's Stevie had a 63/260(#53), a 64/289, a 66/HM427 & a 68/428. I will speak of the 66/HM427 from here out. When Stevie/Doc bought the HM, they bought it in1970 from a guy who right after getting the car (new) from Shelby, sent the car to Holmon & Moody Racing to have the engine rebuilt! He told Doc he wanted the best! It turns out, this was the only way one could get a HM in a AC. As HM didn't have much to do with Shelby other than send them the engines for there cars. As HM was; at the time, the main warehouse for all of Ford's high performance engines. OK, OK long story short! That AC was the baddest of all the cars in Doc's collection. Doc was a great guy! & let Stevie & some of older guys in our group take the cars (with him) out on the town @ night looking for chevy's & mopar's to romp with. What a sight! A pack GT's & AC's crusing the streets 4 to 8 @ a time!! Well my 1st ride in that Cobra left me scared for life! Stevie told me just before he dumped the clutch. Remember "Sex is only temporary, For everlasting pleasure! Drive a Cobra!!" I was 14!! The only thing I thought about was SEX!! Till that moment! As we hit 2nd @ 90 mph & 7+ grand; in my screaming, I knew Stevie was right! I was hooked! That was 40+ yrs ago! It's an addiction I have never gotten over

Great story, fun doctor. Any pictures from back in the day?

regards

ken

[kvisser]

Originally Posted by computerworks

"accerate"?

What planet's vernacular? :-)

You got me there! The planet where I learn how to spell. The spellcheck feature on blogging software is rather poor. Evidently my English skills need improving.

thanks for the catch again.

regards

ken

[mdross1]

Will never forget seeing my first Cobra back in the 60's,had to drive 60 miles just to look at it sitting in a shop the owner was an A-Hole.He relunctly let me look at the car and loudly barked don't lay a finger on it.His reason was aluminum was so thin even touching it would leave a mark.Still never wavered my desire to see more of them.Next one was a 427 Cobra with side exhaust,this guy was different but offered to give me a ride and was vocal about the side pipes.That was the ride that did it as soon as we were able bought our kit in 93 after 2 yrs of long hours finally had my own big block Cobra.

[Dangerous Doug]

Interesting how people first come across Cobras.

For me it was a red 427 that showed up around town in Ukiah, Ca one summer. Everyone that saw it was awestruck, and the impression didn't abate as we all learned it was a "kit car". It was awesome. Beautiful. Menacing.
The next one I spotted in the parking lot of the grocery store I worked at, while saving for college. I walked out to get lunch and there it was, a dark green slabside with wire wheels. Interestingly, years later, while working as a engineer I was looking for consultants the company I was working for (Tektronix) could refer our customers to, and I stumbled across one in Ukiah. I called him up to chat, and as it turned out he would be I San Jose the next week.
When he came by my office he was greeted by a poster of a black Porsche Speedster on my office wall. He asked me if I had one and I said "No, but do you?". He coyly replied "No, but I have a pretty cool sports car.". I threw out a few guesses: Big Healey; XKE; or 'Vette? No, no and no. I studied him a bit and then asked "Cobra " and his grin gave it away. Subsequent discussions revealed that he owned the green slabside I had seen so many years prior.

Very cool memories, both Cobras. Now I'm the guy that gets to grin.
DD

[Silversmith]

Alas no; lost in a house/apt. fire in 1989

P.S. Don't let drunk women try to cook frozen fried shrimp @ 4am! Bad things will happen!!

[*13*]

Love the picture of that Light blue 427. I think I'd replicate a car like that if I did another.
I had a big flat black 59 cad with a BB Chevy under the hood. I pulled into a gas station to fill up & there sat a 427 Cobra. I'm almost sure it was a replica, now that my learning curve is mostly behind me. But, it was a very well built car & the sound from that thing, just idling, had me planning my way into a Cobra. The Cadillac, as big & bold as it was, just didn't have an appeal that measured up. It had to find a new owner.

[danc30]

Got one more correction:

The 1962 Shelby Dragsnake (CSX2093) is the most successful competion Cobra in drag history.

forgot a ti

Great blog btw.

Dan

[kvisser]

Originally Posted by danc30

Got one more correction:

The 1962 Shelby Dragsnake (CSX2093) is the most successful competion Cobra in drag history.

forgot a ti

Great blog btw.

Dan

Fixed, I really appreciate the eye to detail. Funny, I find myself using a pen less and less that I need to almost think about what I'm writing.

And yes, thanks for the nod on the blog. I've put some time into crafting a story and am rather grateful for the opportunity. When I first post my blog, it jumps to the top of the blog page. That puts me one click from the main Velocity page.

And here is a challenge issued, How many other folk have a picture of the first Cobra they ever saw? It would be cool to hear some other first Cobra sighting stories from the group.

regards

ken

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by kvisser

It would be cool to hear some other first Cobra sighting stories from the group.

Be sure to credit this Forum if you use any content in that blog

thanks

[kvisser]

Originally Posted by computerworks

Be sure to credit this Forum if you use any content in that blog

thanks

Without a doubt and with permission as well. However, not the intention of my thread. I know there are some great stories out there. I once met a guy who as a young kid watched Shelby and his truck with the team Cobras come into the pits of some mid west race track. They ran into a sagging electrical line, this fella ran up with a rake, got onto the truck and pushed the line up high enough so the they could pass. 40 years later same fella gets to meet Caroll Shelby, he mentions the name of the track and then Caroll relates a story back about some kid that pushed up the sagging line, then Caroll put 2 and 2 together and said "You weren't that crazy kid were you?"

Turns out he was.

[jbmatth]

I have pictures of the first real cobra I've ever seen, it was a couple months ago, I was driving to a race (triathlon), when I passed by an old store front that had one behind the glass, just sitting there for all passers by to enjoy. I first real interaction with a replica was when my neighbor bought one 2.5 years ago, it was dark blue with white stripes and a built 408w with about 430 to the rear wheels. He invited me to go for a ride while I was working on my truck, I couldn't turn him down but felt bad because I was filthy. He didn't mind so I jumped in and away we went. At the first stop sign a teen was yelling at us to fire them up, once we cleared the intersection he let it rip, it blew me away. Two months later I bought one for myself, and have never looked back.

[flipscobra]

My love affair with the Cobra started in 1964. Me and a friend use to talk about the Cobras in my 12th grade homeroom class. I finally saw 1 coming from the old Effingham dragstrip an heard it had blow away all the Corvettes an I think it was just the little 260 version. Then 1968 I was coming from Macon Ga when I met a 427 Cobra at a stop sign. He was going 1 way an me the other. It was solid black an sounded awesome, never will forget it. It took 43 years before I could realize my dream of owning a 66 Replica Superformance Cobra, I have had it for 6 years. People are always taking a picture of it an telling me how beautiful it is. It has the Shelby FE aluminum block an is stroked to 484 cubic inches with Eldebrock heads. 550 hp. Me an my son had been out riding around an was headed back to the garage. We had just made the last turn before we got to the garage an were just idleing along when I stompped the gas. It snapped his head back an it near about bounced off the back of the Cobra, I heard him groan an damn I was not ready for that, I told him when he rides with me he better be ready all the time lol. The only thing I hate is when I am asked if its real or a kit. I just tell them its not a kit

[Turbonut48]

I had sort of followed the advertising about Cobras thru my early teens. Then I saw one in person at the 1966 car show In Milw. It was a little rough, had a paint chip on the front. It still looked great to me.
I was 17 at the time. Took me 27 years before I got my GT350 and got my Daytona about 15 months ago. Life is good !!

The Nut

[kvisser]

I have an interesting update to my initial Cobra experience. To recap :My infatuation with the Shelby Cobra dates back the mid 70’s, when I caught my first glimpse of a blue 427 Cobra rumbling down Reading Blvd. It took me nearly 2 years of furious pedaling to finally figure out where the Shelby lived. As a gangly 14 year old, I went up the door and introduced myself. I showed the owner my Shelby binder of magazine articles and ads. Then asked if I could have a photoshoot of his Cobra. Rick said yes under one condition, that I not tell anyone about where the car lived. Even better, he gave me a ride. I can remember every second of that short blast. “I’m going to accelerate now, don’t let you head snap back and hit the back of the cockpit.” Seriously...

Here is the update, this past Sunday I was involved in an enthusiasts rally thru the horse country of Northern Virginia, starting in Middleberg. We were number 4 in line with an Austin Healey up front, a 70's Porsche 911S and a real deal 73 Porsche Carrera RS with the factory lightweight setup and the duct tail then my friend's 328 Ferrari. At times, the Porsche just walked away from us. At the lunch following the rally, the owner of the Porsche emailed me for contact purposes. As I was leaving the event, the organizer mentioned that the Porsche owner was from Reading and his dad was a serious collector.

Then the last name rang a bell. I emailed John the Porsche photos and then separately sent an email telling the above Cobra story.

He emailed me back " Rick is my dad. He passed away 2 yrs ago. That blue cobra was my uncle johns. I went to gov mifflin sr. High. The Shelby was my dads and he also owned a red 427 cobra after they sold that blue one. Great shots. Thanks for sending them to me. Really a treat. We will have to catch up more sometime.

John"

I was stunned at the coincidence but immediately enthralled as well. What a small world. John is awaiting the return of his dad's C3 Cunningham roadster. I can't wait to see that.

[Marc #561]

It was 1973. I was 15, working in a gift store stocking merchandise. The owners son, Bruce Meyer, himself a young man at the time, pulls up in an original 427 S/C. The SOUND, that amazing sound, so menacing, brutal. Out of this world. And the car ? Holy crap!!! It took me another 38 years to get my hands on one. Oh, the waiting ? Worth it.