Who's Cobra?

[TERRY M KRYSTOFIAK]

I WAS THE ORGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR. ERA #328. THIS CAR WAS SET UP FOR TRACK USE WITH 650HP/640 FT. THE GUY I SOLD IT TO SAID HE COULD HANDLE ANY HORSEPOWER. EARLY IN THE MORNING HE WAS "SHOWING OFF" IN THE PARKING LOT AT CAL-EXPO (SACRAMENTO), LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL IN AN ANGLE. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT WARING A SEAT BELT, THE DRIVER ONLY THE LAP BELT, NOT THE 5 POINT HARNESS. HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD AND WAS KNOCKED OUT. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE, PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO CRAWL AND GET THE DRIVER OUT BEFORE HE TOO PASSED OUT. THEY WERE CARE FLIGHTED AND I BELIEVE THE DRIVER WILL NEVER BE RIGHT. THE CAR RAN ON ONLY 110 OCTAINE, AND THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS WERE WIRED TO THE KEY, THUS PUMPING MORE FUEL ON THE FIRE. NO ONE THOUGHT TO ACTIVATE THE HALON SYSTEM. NOW HERES WERE IT GETS INTERESTING. THE DRIVER INSURED THE CAR AS A CSX3000, TAKING A NUMBER FROM THE REGISTRY, AND REMOVING THE ERA VIN TAG. THE CHP AT THE SCENE KNEW ALITTLE ABOUT COBRAS, (HE WAS A NOR-CAL MEMBER), CALLED THE OWNER OF THE REAL CSX TO TELL HIM HIS CAR WAS TOTALED, THE GUY TOLD HIM HE DIDN'T THINK SO AS HE WAS LOOKING AT IT AS THEY SPOKE. FROM THER IT HAS GONE DOWNHILL FOR THE OWNER. THE INSURANCE CO IS DENING THE CLAIM, THE PASSENGER IS SUING AS HE TOLD THE DRIVER TO SLOW DOWN, THE STSTE OF CALIFORNIA IS DEBATING WHO HAS JURISDICTION FOR FRAUD SINCE IT WAS ON STATE PROPERTY. THIS PICTURE DOES NOT SHOW JUSTICE TO THE FINAL CONDITION OF THE CAR. I SOLD THIS CAR AS I WAS GETTING BEYOND THE ENVELOPE ON THE TRACK, AND ESP. DOING THE VIRGINA CITY HILLCLIMB. WHILE I HAVE SAD FEELINGS FOR THIS TRAGIC ENDING, MY SON HAS A SAYING, "STUPIDITY SHOULD HURT". NOT SURE I AGREE WITH HIM IN THIS CASE. ONE THING I HAVE CHANGED WITH THIS TRAGIC EVENT....MY GT350 IN ADDITION TOA MANUAL OFF SWITCH NEXT TO THE DRIVERS SEAT, LOSS OFF OIL PRESSURE ALSO CUTS OFF POWER TO THE FUEL PUMPS.
TERRY