930 .... Wow! a GT 350!!!! Could you post a few pics of your car in action on the tack. I'm green with envy. I hope to be able to race historics someday .. if I win the lottery that is.

It's not how fast you go (or can go), but rather how fast it feels.

Hey Uber,

I truly enjoyed your post. But if you wanted to strike up some sunday afternoon controversy why couldnt you have just picked on Evan like everybody else?

Hey Goober,

Must have been a pretty lame Cobra.

Some people are just not cut out for it. Obviously, you're not.

I question his approach but I think I know what he was trying to say. Folks, this is my first post. Please take it in the nature it is intended.

First, let me say I'm very seriously researching what Cobra replica I may be building in the future. I currently have a late model Mustang that has been prepared for open track events; koni DAs, k-member, coil-overs, cage, panhard bar, etc. The car is pretty darn track capable but it just lacks the soul of let's say a GT-350 or Cobra.

I have a very good friend that open tracks a GT-350 clone. Fairly recently, I attended the Nor-Cal Shelby mini-nats with him. I can't impress upon you what he's had to do to that car just to be competitive against late model Mustangs with far fewer modifications. The early model Mustang suspensions ('65 fastback) have very humble beginnings.

Please, bare with me as I'm not trying to be inflammatory. I LOVE the early Shelby Mustangs and Cobras too. I bleed Ford blue. I know some of you also attended the Nor-Cal Shelby mini-nats? Generally speaking, what I witnessed was the late model Mustangs were very, very competitive with the higher horsepower and lighter Cobras and Shelby Mustangs. Although, I believe the fastest car I witnessed was the TCP shop car. '66 fastback Please, if anyone else attended and feels my observation are inaccurate, I'd really like to hear your take on that weekend.

So, what's my point? I very much want a car with the "soul" of a Cobra, but the performance capabilities of the newer iron. That search first brought me to the JBL offering but I'm not sure what I think of it from an aesthetic standpoint. The FFR Spec racer seems track proven, but again, the aesthetics don't appeal to me. Does the short wheelbase and narrow track of most of the Cobra replicas hand it an immediate disadvantage?

I've read some of the recent threads about Cobra owners waxing Z06s at the track, which give me hope. Personally, I haven't seen it but I want to believe it. Ultimately, I believe I'll end up building a Cobra. I'd just like to think I'm not taking a step backwards with regards to track performance.

Thoughts? Flames? Suggestions? I'm open to hearing them all.

It took uber $200,000 to figure out something most of us could garner from reading a few magazine articles. :LOL:

Hell......

He probably scared himself in the Cobra and needed a "Computer Controlled" car to help him drive!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

Anybody noticed that he has vaporized??:confused: :confused: Musta crashed his "Porch".....**) **)

BTW......None of the new stuff would be here if the "Muscle Cars" of the 60's hadn't starting things!!!!:3DSMILE: :3DSMILE:

The defense rests!! ;) ;)

Jack:MECOOL:

TS -

I don't think there is anything in your post to flame as I think your observations are correct.

I just don't think that you can have your cake and eat it too. The only car that comes to mind is the Shelby spec racer - I think it is the CSX4000R Series (?). Aesthetics should be as good as it gets with those but the cost is a little higher.

You may also want to consider why you are out there....it seems to me that the open track events are more for having fun and being able to drive to your limits without having to go crazy trying to get that last hundredth of a second! (It is those last time increments that cost all the money and can kill all the fun - to some people).

Unless you are driving a new Trans Am Mustang or something you will probably always encounter faster cars - so what.

Pat Buckley

Uber,
I beleive it is against Club Cobra rules to make negative comments about Cobras and any Ford products made in the sixties.
Most here spend little time at racetracks and their racing knowledge is learned from reading out of date race coverage articles or watching vintage race films.
Those that do frequent the track know that you speak the truth.

For a more racer friendly forum try, www.nasaforums.com. or the R rated www.clubcranky.com

See you at the track,
Cranky

I don't think its about truth or rules or something. The members of this forum all know about the disadvantages of their cobras and love them anyway. Hell, its 40 years of development! So what is such a statement good for?

btw, I'm not sure if some just wanted to have some fun and registered under a different name, or if this is really a 1 post wonder who just wanted to tell us we are all idiots!

at the HSR event at VIR this past spring, chris and hopped into our SPF, paid our $35 to the guy at the gate, and were about to go out for a lunchtime spin on the whole course, when an M5 blasted by, the course by now pretty clear of most other cars, and the gate guy said "go get'em, let me hear that thing", and waved us out to persue the M5. By then the M5 was pretty far ahead, but Chris got hard into the thottle, and by the time we were both on the South Course, he had run right up the M5's bumper.

Now, even though the M5 was really hauling, using the correct line, and obviously hard on the gas, Chris has over 500 laps on that South Course, so it is like his home course. As soon as we both went around the Oak Tree to begin the long straight, and the BMW lunged ahead, Chris just put the Holley Secondaries fully open, and in fourth gear, we easily overhauled the big Bimmer, pulled up even and i waved over at the driver, then to avoid being yanked off the course, we dropped back, and let him run ahead, but again, on the back of the South Course, Chris did it all over again.

So, what did that prove? That that day, those drivers, the M5 was no match for our SPF on a race course.

They are entirely different automobiles, but if you stick to performance, i can tell you it was no contest on a race track.

All the performance M cars are formidible, but in the essense of performance, no match for our car.

Then too, my business partner has a '71 911S, and an early turbo 930, and one or the other is virtually always in the shop. I have driven them, both are handsome silver cars, but they drive like trucks, and are basically worn out old cars. If he wants to go in a sports car on a trip, he takes his drop-top C-5, so he can be sure of getting back home. I used to cruise in my '69 Dodge Charger R/T on the Autobahn at about 95-100 mph, but it would not make a complete stop from that speed, due to brake fade.

A few months ago, had the incredible honor and privilege of driving an original, unrestored, very perfect GT 350. What an experience, but it too drove and handled like a pickup. A friend two years ago bought a '65 Mustang GT, with only about 6,000 miles on it from new. Took me out, i wondered if cars of that era really rode like this.

Fortunately, they really don't make them like they used to, excepting our Cobra Replicas. For that we are greatful.

Gentlemen!!!!!!
 

I for one am appalled at the type of comments aimed at this individual. Having just emerged from a four hour long corporate diversity training session, I for one am ready to fully embrace diversity and practice it in a completely broad and inclusive fashion. With that said I feel it is only right to stand up for our newest member and point out that every a$$hole has their own opinions. And even if this a$$hole doesn't phuckin get it.

Rick

The M5 is no dog, and an incredible car (for what it is). Anytime a company can turn a 4000lb 4-door "family" car into a vehicle that can run side by side with a C5 Corvette from 0-60 and 1/4 mile, that's an accomplishment. ........but a Cobra, in aint. 0-60, 1/4 mile, in looks, sound, and everything else........it isn't even close.
I think 930Turbo needs some driving lessons.....or a new mechanic to work on his Cobra. His car (and his head) doesn't seem to be hitting on all 8 cylinders.

Tony S,

(First let me recommend that everyone visit the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy in order that we may truly define aesthetics and the roll they play in our perceptions of certain vehicles or anything else in the area of opinions based on feelings rather then pure data.)

Aesthetic Judgment



Now, I will have to agree that aesthetics were not high on my list when I drew up the body on the JBL. I was focused on the functionality and ergonomics of the package rather then the goal of pleasing everyone's eye. (Besides, I knew that I could achieve the one goal and never the other, therefore why waste ones time and effort?)

I only really paid attention to one viewpoint in particular and I am pleased to say that I have had many positive comments based on this viewing angle.

The rear view. Typically seen at speed.

http://www.jblmotor.com/images/pm15b.jpg

Richard
 

If it helps, I want one!
Rick

Good points Pat. I suppose it's just testosterone fueled competitiveness. Ultimately, it is all about the fun. As someone else pointed out too, I guess I'm trying to have my cake and eat it too. I've been somewhat spoiled by a car that can be driven to the track with the A/C blowing and CD changer playing. With a change of tires and pads it performs admirably at the track.

The friend that I mentioned that drives the GT-350 clone, originally built it for vintage racing. In an ever escalating bid to be faster he's built the car such that the car is difficult to class. I think at this point he's left to race in AIX or GT1. I originally planned to join him and build a GT-350 clone, but after some soul searching I determined I'd really enjoy the process of building a Cobra. I've been researching the idea ever since.

Richard, I hope you didn't find my comment insulting. I just meant to say that the body styling is different from what I was originally looking for in a Cobra replica. I've actually searched for some of your past threads and understand your form follows function philosophy. I really hope I run across one of your vehicles in person so I can get a better feel for its proportions and lines.

Thanks for everyone's observations and input. I'll be at SEMA in November and plan to attend the FFR Nationals and the American Iron race that weekend. Hopefully, that weekend will provide a few more data points that will help me with my decision.

TS- no matter have much money you spend or how fast the car there is always someone faster. As I've said before.... Bob Bondurant in a cobra or Ron Fellows in a Z06 if both had the same lap times who is the better driver? I'd rather "learn" to get my cobra around the track than "ride" the Z06 or M5. To each his own.
Roland

sell tha dang GT350...
 

PORSCHE930,
Tried to ignore this ridiculous statement of motoring, but couldn't shake it.
Try running a 1965 BMW against the silly Shelby creation, or better yet.....
You need to dump that junk GT350 ride cheap, and start racing a Bimmer like you drive. Then we'll see who gets their "arse whupped" as Shelby said. You really wanna run with the big guys do it, don't mouth off about it.
grumpy

Re: Gentlemen!!!!!!
 

rdorman,
What's up with this diversity training? I have to attend a mandatory 8 hour diversity seminar/session. I guess they want me to be able to get along with my Reactor. Don't want it to go prompt critical on me. Just curious if this was a wave of training going accross the states or just you and I are the lucky ones?

P.S. Uber, you stink.