Cobra Make, Engine: Contemporary Cobra, 427 side oiler
Posts: 1,850
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Big Bend Open Road Race Here We Come
Its the third year for us Houstonians to participate in the BBORR. Team Cobra has grown considerably these past three years. This year we will have a Ferrari 308, a Mini Cooper, a few Mustangs including a recently-acquired FR500C Challenge car, a few Cobras, a DEI Winston Cup Car previously raced at Daytona by Michael Waltrip, and a brand new orange McLaren MP4, fresh off the boat. We truly are an "equal opportunity" team. No Chebbies though.
For those who don't know, this is one of the three remaining sanctioned open highway races in the US. From fastest to slowest one hundred fifty cars will cover 59 miles from Ft Stockton to Sanderson Texas via US Highway 287 (closed for the day just for us), line back up and run back north the same route. Elapsed times are averaged and posted against your chosen speed bracket. He/she closest to the benchmark time for that speed group gets the hardware. Generally margin of victory between 1st, 2nd and 3rd is all under 1 second. Unlimited class cars (one GT40 in particular) will exceed 200 mph during the runs and the back of the pack (Earl and Pearl in their showroom new Corvette) will try and nail it in the 85 mph class. Mix a few armadillos and rattlesnakes, some cactuses, a buzzard or two and 100 degree heat and you get a race to hell and back. A cold beer afterward never tasted so good......
I'll try and post up a few pics during the week. Charity events, alternator rebuilding school and practice runs this week, race on Saturday.
Cobra Make, Engine: Contemporary Cobra, 427 side oiler
Posts: 1,850
Not Ranked
We got a little distracted last week and I didn't take much time for internet and email (which is why you go racing in the first place.) So below are a few pics from the practice day and the race day. The race involves you picking and qualifying for one of several speed classes ranging from 85 mph to Unlimited. Each class has a posted flat time for each 59-mile leg. Whoever comes closest wins, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. We ran in the 105 mph class again this year but did not place. Most groups have between 12-15 cars, except for Unlimited which only ran 3 cars this year. The weather was excellent, but very hot. Practice day temps were over 100F and race day was a milder 93F. We all had a great time and everyone completed their respective stages successfully.
Our car ready to practice:
The pits:
A few of the other cars from Houston, including a FR500C Ford Factory Challenge car (this car was very fast) and the 1999 DEI Michael Waltrip Cup car:
A 13-year old Contemporary with an all aluminum Shelby 427 with custom fuel injection. This car was very fast as well, nearly ripping my helmet off my head as we went on the qualifying practice run:
The showroom new McLaren MP4-12C belonging to our friend Dave from Houston. This car was spectacular on and off the course, but was required to run in the 110 mph class because it was his first year. (I think he ran it with the cruise control on.)
A small block GT40, which won the Unlimited class with an overall average of 166mph and a top speed of 197 mph. I spoke with someone who was at the finish line of the northbound leg who said that when he crossed the line, the tires were peeling up rocks from the otherwise clean road surface and showered the officials and spectators.
A Nissan GTR. Very fast off the line using launch control:
An Audi R8, V-10:
And a couple of video clips:
Lots of other videos will appear in the coming days on YouTube as people out on the course load up their clips.
Great cars Jim. The contemporary driver must have got a buffeting. It's a nice car. I was watching it at the hill climb track at the Texas club day and it certainly has some legs. Must have been fun in the Gt40 at 195 mph also.
Looks like u got some good weather.
Thanks for the photos
Bruce
Big Bend Open Road Race Here We Come
Keep us informed how things go and post plenty of pics!!!
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