If you had a Cobra replica to drive for 24 hrs or so ,where is ideal place?

[Historybuff]

I first posed a similar question about renting one for 10 days, but at rental costs of $200-300 a day,plus a cost per mile, this is out, now maybe even one week is out but
maybe 1-2 days is doable.

Now the question is, if I am doing it to write about the experience, where is the ultimate place to drive it that you would think would offer some good photo ops ? So far I am noodling about the following possibilities

-up highway 1 from Cambria to Monterey

-from SF to mendocino

-from Phoenix to Sedona

-in Monterey during the Thursday of historic week when there's a whole lot goin' on, from auctions to race practice

-around wherever a big convention is featuring lots of Cobras (in which case it might get "lost" in a sea of identical cars...)

Any other suggestions?

I haven't got a good model for a book but there is a book called A Road Trip Journal by Stephen Shore where he meticulously documents a trip across the US. I am advertising to find a bookstore in SoCal that has the book so I can see it, I guess at $250 each they aren't ordering too many

[Jamo]

OK...a little different but a worthy route done by many of the California-based magazines when reviewing new stuff.

Ojai north on 33...beautiful canyon work after that lovely little village, opening up to big sweeping condor-country foothill/mountain terrain and down into the San Joaquin for a quick dash up to 46, which will take you over to Paso Robles, and Cambria and beyond to Monterey.

Here's another and a bit closer to home for you...a route I used to take weekly from Newport Beach into the desert, and what I consider to be the best haul ass drive in the state. Take the Ortega Highway from San Juan Capistrano over to the 15, and jog down to Temucula and catch the road around the backside of Palomar (or catch it by taking the road south from Hemet). Go through Warner Springs, etc. and hang a left at the bakery and head up and over through Julian. Now, the best part: As you down the grade, don't go to Borrego...hang a right and head towards Ocotillo...through the high grazing Rutherford Ranch and following the old Butterfield Stage route through the rocking and rolling desert beneth Mt. Laguna. You can head over to San Diego, or work your way through El Centro and Brawley and find your way back home with the Salton Sea on your right.

Or...head up 395 at the right time of the year with the Sierras on your left and enjoy the little towns. When you get up to Lee Vining, hang a right over Tioga Pass and drop down into Yosemite Valley...stay at the Awhanee or you're a fool. Then head down 41 through Fresno (I'll give your directions to pass by my house so I can give you the full moon) and head home via 58/395.

Or....north from Frisco on 1 through the Muir woods up to Bodega Bay and then turn east on any number of roads into Sonoma, etc.

Or...you want more?

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

A dream of mine would be to take (trailer) my Cobra out to CA. and drive the chit out of it for a week or two. Maybe someday...

[Tom Kirkham]

What time of the year are you looking to drive?

The Rocky Mountains offer some spectacular vistas and drives...

[Joe Viola]

Two long days of open track at the Glen with no pass restrictions. Great scenery, Great track, Great photo ops & a Great driving experiance especially up through the Esses!!! (with out lifting) That would cover 16 hours of driving time Can't wait until next year!!!

[Rickd]

Zoera. Man, you live in some nice cobra driving country too!!! Vermont, NH, Maine Coast, Mass country side. U kidding me!! You've got hills, mountains, historic villages, great coastline., twisting roads. The only "hill" we have in south Florida is the causeway bridge from downtown Miami to Key Biscayne!!! Vermont and Maine would be cool (literally and figuratively), but yeah California has great spots, but don't forget Colorado.
Rickd (settling for cruises in the Florida Keys - great in January(.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Yeh, I guess I take New England for granted. Great drivin' here, but the left coast, Ahhh

[Ibr8k4vetts]

Jamo,
How could you forget Willow Springs.

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by Historybuff

Now the question is, if I am doing it to write about the experience, where is the ultimate place to drive it that you would think would offer some good photo ops ?

You have two diametrically opposed positions in that question.

If you want to write about the experience of driving a Cobra, you have to hit the cities. You have to drive around where the people are located in large amounts. Go to the local cruise nights. Drive around the city or towns and listen to all of the complements. Driving down Rte 1 in California is super nice, but you do not get the true "Cobra Experience". The attention a Cobra gets is truly remarkable.

In regards to photo op situations, they are everywhere. Every state, every country. You need to take the photos close to high noon preferably in bright sunlight. The ground around the Cobra is important .... like white lines in a parking lot are just not too pretty. But the most important factor is the background.

I am not a good photographer, but I know what I like in a good picture .... so I take tons of digital photos ... with the camera set to automatic. Yesterday I took a ride and I posted about 4 pics that were just OK. But I had taken maybe 90 shots in maybe 8 locations.

Any water (ocean, lake, pond, river) is usually a good backdrop. Some of the best backdrops can be a long series of bushes in back of an elementary school. You really have to search out the local areas for good places. It also helps if you have a GPS (Magellan, etc) in the car. I use mine to circle various lakes to try to find good photo op places.

Check out my Gallery. I have tons of photo's and nearly all of them were taken within 30 miles of my house.

If you just want scenic pictures without any Cobra in the picture, refer to Jamo's post.

Good Luck on your adventure. I have one every time I drive my Cobra.

[RACERAL]

My fav0rite place

Enough said.....

[Trueoo7]

Most challenging would have to be AMALFIE Dr. over in Italy, just ask the double decker bus drivers...

[Ronbo]

Any place with no law enforcement...