Safety: Cobra vs C2 Vette or other cars

[AdamIsAdam]

I got the car in the winter and drove it, hard summer tires and all. The traction was nonexistent. As the weather got warmer I found that the seven-year-old Kumho tires with only 1500 miles on them aren't much for traction. Between the lack of traction and the stories of cobra's getting away from their drivers very quickly has kept me respectful of the car.

That being said. I do have some track time with instructors and several different cars. And a lot of street time and a lot of cars over my 50+ years. I like to call it respect and not fear and maybe a little bit of maturity sprinkled in, although I don't tell anybody else about that part. LOL

I can't wait to get a new set of tires and feel the difference. I've been waiting for the whole pandemic thing to die down before doing that but I'm not sure I'm gonna wait much longer.

I will say this though, I can't imagine racing this car in the 60s. Those guys had balls.

[1795]

Adam,

There is nothing like racing a cobra. Even on the race track, you are the smallest car out there in your race group. I wonder if people can see me at times.

Jim

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by 1795

Adam,

There is nothing like racing a cobra. Even on the race track, you are the smallest car out there in your race group. I wonder if people can see me at times.

Jim

We see you Jim....but then we also see dead people!

[Snake2998]

Originally Posted by AdamIsAdam

I will say this though, I can't imagine racing this car in the 60s. Those guys had balls.

Maybe they were just used to driving the unsafe street cars of the time and never thought that cars - even race cars - could be safe in an accident, and in fact thought

"Oh this has got a safety belt, disc brakes and a roll over bar - wow it is really safe" - and it was compared to what they raced 5 years before.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Snake2998

Maybe they were just used to driving the unsafe street cars of the time and never thought that cars - even race cars - could be safe in an accident, and in fact thought

"Oh this has got a safety belt, disc brakes and a roll over bar - wow it is really safe" - and it was compared to what they raced 5 years before.

Those of us who remember racing in that era also remember the number of drivers who lost their lives pursuing their dreams. While racing drivers still die, the frequency has been reduced from an expectation to an anomaly.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by AdamIsAdam

I will say this though, I can't imagine racing this car in the 60s. Those guys had balls.

Close to 200MPH on the straight with bias ply tires. Brass ones.

[AdamIsAdam]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Close to 200MPH on the straight with bias ply tires. Brass ones.

As I got more and more comfortable with my car this year, I started driving it faster, even just brief blasts on the open road. I've done 125 (in Mexico) so far (and have the recalling speedo function to prove it ). I will say the car is rock solid. It's downright cozy at 80. But as I cruise down the road in a 2,200 lb HOME MADE "car" my mind can't help but wander!