Road America

[scott coyle]

I was out of brakes so that was the reason for early braking, pumping like crazy. You might be braking way later with better brakes and less speed. The time is still a 2:30. I only know of a few cobras (with much better drivers) that have gone under 2:30 at RA.

With some more time there, only been there twice, and good the brakes I have now, mid 2:20's is within reach. It would be scary, but it sure would be fun.

Curious, what times did you run there? I assume the vipers are in the 2:20's?

Scott

[01yelrt]

It's been a while and I don't have any time sheets to go back to with the Viper. 220's should be reasonable. The Porsche is going slower than the Cobra for sure at top speed because mid 230s to 240 would be what I expect. The Cobra just gets up to speed way fast. The corner exit speed and mid corner speed in the Cobra is way below the Porsche but it doesn't take long to make up the difference with same or less weight and 2x's the HP! I go back to the fact that a full cage and all the safetey gear is needed in a car as fast as the Cobra. It just gets scairy moving that fast in a car that had no wind tunnel aero considerations, and even less impact testing when being designed.

[Remod]

Kristin,

Road America should definitely be on your short list of things to do with your Cobra IMHO. Not to win a race with as 01yelrt mentioned, but a "spirited fun run" is still a blast! It is one the premier road courses in this country.

You may even look into the Skip Barber driving school they have there....you could do some track time in a Viper or one of their other types of cars that are available. You certainly would leave that place a better driver!

I've been to RA, and its something you'll never forget!

[scott coyle]

01yelrt,

Most vipers, street guys with better brakes, a few mod's, and slicks are running mid 2:30's at best. You might think your porsche has higher corner speeds, but I doubt it. I have driven many porsches and the transition between back to back corners is precise and much easier to drive at the limit consistently. Road america has no transition corners. The actuall speeds in the corner are not higher. Since 1965 there are only 2 guys that have broken 2:30 in a cobra. Dick Smith, Don Roberts, and Bob Bondarant have run best times at 2:32+ in a cobra.

You can critique the video all you want to, but from my research, and me being an average driver at best, a 2:30 is very respectable. Most of the porsche and z06 guys don't break 2:30, and then just barely, unless highly modified and or a very good driver.

Scott