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06-10-2003, 02:52 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Out West,
Posts: 50
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Not Ranked
Mr. Potato Head is now Spudless
I am bringing this over from FFCOBRA......
From Mr. Potato Head
Janice (Mrs. Potato Head) and I went to Carmel by the Sea to spend the weekend and catch up on a little relaxing and some serious power eating (great restaurants) and maybe wee bit of the grape. Monday on the way home on I was planning on picking-up “The Potato” which had spent an extensive stay in the engine shop to solve a head gasket problem. Seems a #1 piston was milled improperly and was out of square and was
elevating about 10/1000th above the deck height of the block.
The Cobra was finally, finally done. New Dart Stroker motor pushing 9 lbs of boost with a
million HP. New interior, new dash, gauges, seats, a recent gorgeous paint job, new tires
blah, blah, blah. $$$$$$.
We stopped by Laguna Seca Raceways just to see what was going on when my cell phone
beeped indicating a message. The engine shop left a message some like this:
“Larry, I’m sorry but we got in an accident in the Cobra” call me at the shop. I tried to
return the call but there was no answer. Finally the next day I was able to contact the shop, the information was no one was hurt but the Cobra was pretty bad.
When I stopped by Monday to see “The Potato” it was under a giant blue tarp. When we
pulled the tarp off my heart dropped to hell, I honestly got an lump in my throat andwanted to cry. “The Potato” was totaled! The front end was gone, well it wasn’t gone, there was a pile of fiberglass and parts alongside the car. The body was cracked, broken and fractured front to rear. The trunk broke off from the hinges on impact. The new dash was bent and the windshield was broken out. The frame in bent and front suspension and steering ware destroyed. The new chrome custom built 4x4 headers and sidepipe, history.
Thankfully no one was hurt in the accident, well actually, the driver, the engine shop owner, not wearing the shoulder harness bent the steering wheel with his head but other than a minor cut and a bruise he faired pretty well. Apparently, he said there was a front suspension failure and the car spun and veered across the road and hit a parked car.
I didn't have a camera with me so I've asked Al Solomko to shot a few pics of the car which I hope he post. Thanks Al.
I’ve had some trials and tribulations with “The Potato” going down the road there’s been quite a few stories, I’m not sure how to top this one. “The Potato” is dead, I’m sure it went to vegetable heaven!
I removed my personal belongings from the car and said goodbye.
I think this is the final chapter.
This is “Mr. Potato Head” signing off.
“Mr. P....”
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06-10-2003, 03:46 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: brentwood,
ca
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique 289 FIA
Posts: 103
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Not Ranked
UN(EXPLETIVE DELETED)BELIEVABLE.
GARY
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sometimes lucky, sometimes not
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06-10-2003, 03:58 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SF Bay Area,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF #1019
Posts: 1,657
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally posted by gary289fia
UN(EXPLETIVE DELETED)BELIEVABLE.
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Agreed!
Here's the link to the thread on FFCObra.com:
http://www.ffcobra.com/ubb/ultimateb...c;f=1;t=020547
It's a sad day 
Regards,
Randy R... |
06-10-2003, 04:05 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Niceville, FL , USA,
Posts: 167
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Not Ranked
Sorry to hear about your loss. That's got to be one big disappointment.
On the surface, this looks like another excellent example of why you never leave the keys with the engine mechanic, alignment shop, tire shop, etc. I imagine the front suspension gave out after your Cobra swapped ends under hard accelleration out of a corner. 
Who knows maybe it really was the front end giving out.
__________________
Jer
Last edited by Jerry Cowing; 06-10-2003 at 04:37 PM..
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06-10-2003, 05:19 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: so cal,
Cal
Cobra Make, Engine: I used to fix them for a living
Posts: 2,563
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Not Ranked
Common guys, you tell me how you work on an engine when you can't drive the car? I have driven so many cobras, can't even count. I have never crashed one. I bet the owner of the engine shop is an above average hot rod pilot, but things can happen, which is why they have insurance on your car when it is in their pocession.
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In a fit of 16 year old genius, I looked down through the carb while cranking it to see if fuel was flowing, and it was. Flowing straight up in a vapor cloud, around my head, on fire.
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06-10-2003, 07:04 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Cobra Make, Engine: A CSX Cobra,1966 GT350 and an '06 Ford Heritage GT
Posts: 1,829
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Not Ranked
I've owned and managed shops, and I would NEVER leave my Cobra with ANYBODY...wait with the car or disable it. I've had to explain to too many customers why a dip$hit tech decided to drive the crap out of their car for personal amusement...thankfully I never had to replace one!
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"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious." Thomas Jefferson
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06-10-2003, 07:17 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: P. O. Box 96, CATAUMET, Massachusetts 02,
MA
Cobra Make, Engine: Butler with home-rebuilt 393 Cleveland stroker(Ya---ikes!)
Posts: 3,036
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Not Ranked
What about that super engine?
...why doncha get the insurance $ and build a new car arond the Dart stoker? 
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Freddie
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06-10-2003, 09:56 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Uranus,
cal
Cobra Make, Engine: NAF replica, 351W, about 420 HP
Posts: 3,046
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Not Ranked
I'll bet they were going pretty fast, and the time came to step on the brakes. As we all well know, the accellerator is offset to the left, where the brake is on most cars, in relationship to the driver. The tech decides he has to stop quickly, hits what he thinks is the brake, (actually the Gas pedal,) speeds up accidentally, and WHAMMO! By the time he was through 'SPLAININ' ", his name was LUCY!! LOL !!
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Edley, The Cobra Rogue!
"If you think that you can cut it, if you think you got the time, you'll only get just one chance, better get it right first time. 'Cause in this game you're playing, if you lose you got to pay, and if you make just one wrong move, you'll get BLOWN AWAY. Expect no mercy.
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06-11-2003, 12:38 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Livermore,CA,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: Arntz/Bennett, FE with lots of shinny parts that make it go fast
Posts: 907
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Not Ranked
Please don't jump to conclusions without READING the entire thread over on FFcobra.
Mr.Fixit has made some good observations.
427Sharp Thanks for the info on your shops I'll try to avoid them.
As for Mr.Potato, his car was being driven by the owner of the shop (details are on the noted thread at FFcobra) , a pull had been noted by the owner of the shop on a previous road test and he was on his way to get the front end checked for alignment. I personally feel that the shop owner was being conscientious in noting the handling issue and trying to get it resolved.
Edley: read the post before putting your keyboard in gear.
Mike "monster"
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06-11-2003, 02:35 PM
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Senile Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Buffalo, NY USA,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance
Posts: 4,566
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Who would you trust with your car?
Would you trust Jack Roush? Back in 1985 one of Roush's guys stuffed an AC Mk IV into the back of a Chevy station wagon. He was road testing the car and got his work shoe caught under the pedals and couldn't get the binders in time. A true accident, not "hot rodding" not showing off just a classic FUBAR.
The MK IV bent was not one of my cars but was repaired and sold to retail buyer. He only found out it was bent when I showed him pictures several years later...
Rick
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"I'm high all right, but on the real thing....powerful gasoline and a clean windshield..."
rick@autoventureusa.net
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06-11-2003, 03:50 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Uranus,
cal
Cobra Make, Engine: NAF replica, 351W, about 420 HP
Posts: 3,046
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Not Ranked
Monster: Missed the part of the Cobra pulling. Looked again. Still didnt see it. Front suspension "failure", huh? I believe the gas pedal was mistaken for the brake. Honest mistake. Expensive, but honest. If the front suspension fails while driving in a straight line, would not the car just collapse, and still travel in a straight line? The post said the car spun, and crashed into a parked car, leading one to surmise that the car was in a turn under power, or indeed "got away" from the driver under power. Looking forward to your reply. Still missing the part about the car "pulling", though. If I am wrong, and did miss that part, I will admit it.
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Edley, The Cobra Rogue!
"If you think that you can cut it, if you think you got the time, you'll only get just one chance, better get it right first time. 'Cause in this game you're playing, if you lose you got to pay, and if you make just one wrong move, you'll get BLOWN AWAY. Expect no mercy.
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06-11-2003, 04:16 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Northern California,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: -Sold- Contemporary 427S/C # CCX-3152 1966 427 Med Rise Side Oiler, 8v 3.54:1 Salisbury IRS, Koni's.. (Now I'm riding Harleys)
Posts: 2,567
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I am in engineer in N. Calif. If you need a failure analysis on the alledged "part failure" feel free to contact me. We have a facility in the south bay and would be happy to help.
I say this not to cast dispersions on your shop or the owner but as often as not the loose nut is behind the steering wheel in cases like this. Please preserve and retain any and all parts until you are fully satisfied with the outcome.
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michael
A man that is young in years, may be old in hours, if he have lost no time. But that happeneth rarely. Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For there is a youth in thoughts, as well as in ages... Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
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06-11-2003, 04:26 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Northern California,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: -Sold- Contemporary 427S/C # CCX-3152 1966 427 Med Rise Side Oiler, 8v 3.54:1 Salisbury IRS, Koni's.. (Now I'm riding Harleys)
Posts: 2,567
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Not Ranked
Again, not wanting to throw rocks.. But..
If a mechanic noted a "pull" significant or otherwise on a prior outing the car should have been on a rack not on the street.
I do not know more than I have read here nor do I want to. I won't be reading the FFR post. I will tell you in this state there is a part of the professional code that requires those with "special knowledge" to act differently than someone without. It is the same statute that REQUIRES a shop to report an unsafe car to the CHP should the owner try to leave without having repairs made to certain systems, steering, brakes etc.
Who drives a car whos horsepower to weight ratio is 4.5 or 5:1 with a KNOWN mechanical malfunction which would or could effect steering or braking?
I'm not saying he was screwing around I'm not saying he wasn't. I am only saying you should be very careful what you sign off on.
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michael
A man that is young in years, may be old in hours, if he have lost no time. But that happeneth rarely. Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For there is a youth in thoughts, as well as in ages... Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
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06-11-2003, 04:30 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Northern California,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: -Sold- Contemporary 427S/C # CCX-3152 1966 427 Med Rise Side Oiler, 8v 3.54:1 Salisbury IRS, Koni's.. (Now I'm riding Harleys)
Posts: 2,567
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Not Ranked
The average hotrod has a horsepower to weight ratio of 10-12:1.. The average hotrod pilot dropped out of high school in his junior year..
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michael
A man that is young in years, may be old in hours, if he have lost no time. But that happeneth rarely. Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For there is a youth in thoughts, as well as in ages... Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
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06-11-2003, 04:50 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Northridge,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: Arntz Cobra
Posts: 1,839
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Not Ranked
I feel bad for Larry. A similar thing happened to a BMW that belonged to me years ago. I got a free paint job out of it, though. The good news is, one Tercel is off the road!
Paul
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"It doesn't have anything on it that doesn't make it go faster."
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06-11-2003, 06:52 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Danville,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: CSX4285, Shelby aluminum block 427, 40th Anniversary Model # 5
Posts: 154
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Not Ranked
Potato
Larry--
Sorry to hear about your car---bummer 
As it was said earlier--you can build bigger and better from here!!
Mark |
06-12-2003, 12:15 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Livermore,CA,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: Arntz/Bennett, FE with lots of shinny parts that make it go fast
Posts: 907
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Not Ranked
Edley,
As I noted on the "other" thread, I spoke directly to Mr.P shortly after the incident and got details that he did not include in his original post. I didn't say that the "pull was noted on the other thread this was information that Mr.P provided me in our conversation on what had happened and which I included in my post here.The "details" I refered to were those which Mr.P and other's who had talked to him provided.
Russ Thompson (a fellow Cobra owner and friend) also posted in the FFcobra thread "I talked to Larry and Al, both have seen the poor potato and it looks like an upper A arm bolt was missing. One of the recent mods was the instalation of adjustable upper A arms and it's possible that something didn't get tightened well enough when the front end was alinghed and we all know what this can lead to. "
The owners story which seems to follow the facts, that is that the upper suspension broke causing the wheel to flail around in the wheel well, severing the brake line and tearing the steering rack loose. This appears to be what caused the car to veer and spin with out control into the parked car.
Mike "monster"
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06-12-2003, 06:45 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Mesa,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR MK-I, 302, 780 Pro-Systems custom double pumper, 425HP
Posts: 595
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Not Ranked
It's a sad day for Mr. Potatohead. We enjoy the events he runs along with Monster Mike. He is a constant participaant in the USWC Cobra events in both North/South Calif. We all should show him our support and try not to point the finger of blame at anyone. No one reading or commenting here really knows what actually casued this to happened. It happened, the patato is mashed and we will miss both Larry and his car at our events.
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Mesa Mike
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06-12-2003, 08:32 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Pleasanton CA,
Posts: 108
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Not Ranked
Hi Guys,
I don't get over here to often, but I just wanted to say this was an accident. The shop owner is a responsible individual and was ferrying "The Potato" to the alignment shop which was the right decision. If he didn't fold, staple and mutilate the car it would have been me going down the freeway at speed or through the Santa Cruz mountains. There's always something good that comes from the bad.
Here's a pic of the car:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/asolomko...otos.yahoo.com/
There's lot of hidden damage and dollarwise the Car is beyond repair. The shop's insurance company has stepped up to the plate and we're currently determining full replacement costs.
This was a accident..I'm satisfied with that.
Thanks for your kind words and support.
"Mr. Potato Head" |
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