Cobra's Creator: Carroll Shelby Speaks Out

[snakeeyes]

Bill,

Having typed in a few semi-long posts myself, all I can say is I hope you hired somebody to punch this one in! Man, you must have started on New Year's Eve. ;-)

Having been a SAAC member in the early '80's, a Cobra fan before that, and having devoured every Cobra-related magazine, book, and videotape I could find, I have read and heard many interviews of CS. He is really pretty consistent with his recollections of "the old days", and the credit he gives to various parties involved. The thing he has obviously altered his stance on is with regard to replicas. As a replica owner, I obviously don't like his position. As part owner of a business, I can understand his anger at others making a profit from something he thought of, worked deals on, brought to fruition, and turned into not only a success story but a racing legend. More to the point, I can understand his feelings when others make a profit and he receives no part of it. This, of course, is where the "closing the barn door after the horse is out" argument comes in. Understand I am not defending him, just saying I appreciate his position (empathy vs. sympathy, you know).

CS has been called plenty of names on this and other forums, but I can't help but appreciate him for his accomplishments on the track, which were impressive, and his contributions to my favorite hobby. I hate like hell that he is trying to hurt the Cobra kit industry, but at the same time if it weren't for his idea I wouldn't be typing this post, or driving my ERA, in the first place...

Bob