Cobra vs Today's Cars

[Tommy]

I'd like to add a comment solely on the topic of aerodynamics. Back when I was earning my degree in aerospace engineering, I learned about the big step forward aircraft design took when they went from bi-planes to single wing planes. The advance was made possible primarily by advances in metallurgy and wing design/construction that allowed a single wing to be as strong as two wings tied together by a network of struts and wires. The new mono-wing aircraft were immediately much faster than the bi-planes primarily because they didn't have all the struts and wires. Wind tunnel tests demonstrated that even something as small as a wire produces significant drag. I think of that whenever I see a car with lots of things protruding from it. KMP259 looks like it does a good job of keeping air from getting under the nose, and the rear wing might do some good at high enough speeds. But I can't help but wonder if all the struts sticking out in the wind offset some of those advantages. It would take a Formula 1 super computer to calculate the wind flow reaching the wing after it swirled over the nose, the windscreen, the roll bar, the head rest and the wing struts.

[elmariachi]

I have had Vettes and Porsches that I have run on and off the track and in my opinion, the biggest difference between a Cobra and today's street car turned weekend racer is the fact that its topless. As Hal suggested, the notion of a rollover is almost guaranteed to get you a ride in either a helicopter or a hearse, or both. I can't say that I was ever really "scared" when running my 911 Turbo hard at Road Atlanta. Looking back I have to believe that was due in part to being strapped into a car with a roof. Having only owned my Cobra for a few hundred miles, I won't say I am scared of it, but I am damn sure humble, and not nearly as anxious to take it to the track. I am an okay driver, but I could see where it would gladly kill me instantly, and I never felt that way in the 911, even when I was going 150 mph. So while newer cars like the Ford GT and others can likely kick my car's a$$ on and off the track all day long, I can't recall having ever driven a car that commands as much respect and careful consideration as the Cobra. But I like that about it.

[REAL 1]

I agree with this last post and Hal's comments. While not a "racer" I know serious track guys that have made that very observation about an open/no top track car like the Cobra. Steve Sunshine for one actually sold his beautiful CSX4027 which was a dead nuts accurate reproduction of the Shelby #98 car for that very reason and bought a Winston Cup car for his track work instead.

While we can all debate the technical issues of chasis design, wheelbase, track width yaddy yaddy blah blah blah all night long about the Cobra the facts remain established that in its day it was a force to be reckoned with on the FIA race circuit and SCCA winning championships in both and against very competent and formidable competition. No one doubts the race prowess of the Ferraris, Grandsports, Jags that it raced against.

While Cobras in the right hands are still very fast today they are just outclassed by some of the high performance machines of today. Who can really be surprised that modern design and technology can outperform in many respects technology dating back 40+ years? Really. I am sure that my "09 Carrera C4S with PDK trans whose main rival is the Audi R8 with equivilent performance would likely turn a better track time then the Cobra at most tracks no less the FGT.

I agree that no other car still demands respect as overtly as the Cobra does and you always have that sense that true to its name it is like a deadly sinister snake waiting to bite and potentially fatally if mishandled.

Tom: Thanks. So there are front mid engined cars and rear mid engined cars and mid mid engined cars not to be confused with front front engined cars and rear rear engined cars. Got it. Just learned something.

[Aussie Mike]

I've done a couple of track days now. One was pretty much all Cobras with a few Mustangs and GT40s. No real surprises the Cobras certainly seemed quick. Many were punted round quicker than the GT40 guys.

The 2nd go on the track was with a real big mix of cars and was a bit of a wake up call. Along the straights the Cobras and a couple of hot Porsche 911s were the quickest but round the tight twisty back section of the track it was the Lotus 7 replicas and new Minis that were quick. It was a bit of a laugh because the guys in their tricked out Minis with big brakes and such were shaking their fist at me as I held them up round the back section. They would get past OK only to be gobbled up and overtaken on the main straight again. I laughed all the way round.

It was this event that prompted me to put a lot of effort into redesigning the suspension and putting together a big brake package. The car has more HP than it needs. Serious performance gains will be in making it easier to drive, pull up and go round corners.

Cheers

[Jamo]

Evan...just remember you're talking about a guy that put Dick Smith into the grass.

[PANAVIA]

The main differences ;

A> Z06: all the sophistication is in the software (computer)
B> Cobra: all the sophistication is in the software (Driver)