Essex 427 Cobra CSX3009, MOST WINS?

Excaliber · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 10:53 AM

Rumor has it that CSX3009, a Ford Factory/Essex Wire sponsored car in 1965 had more "wins" than any other single Cobra.

As sponsored by Ford/Essex it ran only one year, the team switched to the GT-40 after that. As a private entry following it's sale it is said to have wracked up more wins than any other Cobra.

If true, what races, sanctioning bodies, etc. would it have competed under in 1965-66 or possibly 67?

Makes a strong case for a BB Cobra.

Ernie

computerworks · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:08 PM

Ernie... maybe more wins than any other 427 Cobra.

..I'll check on it tonite.

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:25 PM

Ernie, Ron,

I have a small poster f
that is many years old in front of me about the ESSEX 1965 Team 427 Cobra.

I will type what it says. The Beach Boy's hit song "Hey Litttle Cobra" took on special meaning for ESSEX Wire Corporation in the mid-1960s. In those years the Ford 427 Cobra was one of the most exciting new sports cars on the road, designed to shut down the legendary Corvettes and XKEs. These Cobras were manufactured by ESSEX Wire's biggest customer, the Ford Motor Company. In 1965, ESSEX entered the intense world of Grand Prix Road Racing with an unparalled team of drivers and the impressive 1965 Ford Shelby 427 Cobra. Driving in the straightaways at speeds up to 150 mph, the car performed beautifully with ESSEX products. Team ESSEX driver Ed Lowther once commented that the car was so good that, "I can start the engine in this car, put it in gear and go to the men's room, and it will win the race by the time I get back." This Cobra known affectioonatley as "Ollie the Dragon", was, in fact, the winningest Cobra ever made. There is more on the poster but it is mostly just some background of the drivers and such. Skip Scott, Dr. Dick Thompson, and Ed Lowther. And of course a black and white picture of the car at speed with the number 91 on it.

Ron

computerworks · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:28 PM

Like this?...

Ron61 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:32 PM

Ron,

That is the picture. I just didn't have it scanned in and knew that you would have all the information. By the way, I didn't see on this old poster just how many races that car did win. How about telling us so I can add it to my collection of stuff ?

Ron

PDHse · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:32 PM

What happened to these drivers ( Ed Lowther, Dick Thompson and Skip Scott) since the Cobra racing days? Are they still involved in racing in one way or another.

Excaliber · #7 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:50 PM

..and WHAT "races" are we talking about?

Hey Ron (CW), hurry up and finish work so we can get the info. ha ha

Ernie

computerworks · #8 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 01:12 PM

I do know that the car was delivered in March 1965, as one of the first few 427 Comp cars... and that it's first race was Pensecola USRRC 4/11/65 - it took 4th Overall.
That was the first appearance of a 427 at a major event.

I'll look for the rest tonite.

computerworks · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 05:14 AM

Here is 3009's scorecard for the 1965 season:

Pensacola USRRC Driver's/Mfg's Race, April 11, 1965
4rd Overall / 2nd in class Skip Scott

Bridgehampton USRRC, May 23, 1965
5th Overall / 5th in class Skip Scott

Watkins Glen USRRC, Jun 27, 1965
3rd Overall / 3rd in class Skip Scott

Continental Divide USRRC, Aug 15, 1965
6th Overall / 5th in class Skip Scott

Road America 500 USRRC, Sep 5, 1965
3rd Overall / 3rd in class Dick Thompson, Ed Lowther

Bridgehampton 500, Sep 19,1965
3rd Overall Skip Scott, Dick Thompson

Monterrey GP (laguna seca), Oct 17, 1965
10th Overall Dick Thompson

LA Times GP (riverside), Oct 31, 1965
15th Overall Dick Thompson

Stardust GP (las vegas), Nov 14, 1965
11th Overall Dick Thompson

Governor's Trophy (nassau), Dec 3, 1965
D-N-F Dick Thompson

Nassau Trophy, Dec 5, 1965
D-N-F Dick Thompson

computerworks · #10 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 05:30 AM

...and the next two years were much lighter...

1966

Riverside SCCA American Road Racing Championship - Nov. 1966
1st AP Ed Lowther

1967

Daytona SCCA American Road Racing Championship - Nov. 1967
2nd AP Ed Lowther

Tony Aprile · #11 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 05:31 AM

Ron61
It looks like now you know why they didn't list all the wins on that poster.
Tony

computerworks · #12 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 05:41 AM

...plus:

The car changed hands and was raced thru the early 70's (1970 thru 1975) in SCCA.

So much for the "..last year's race car" syndrome

Ron61 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 05:47 AM

Tony,

Boy are you right. Not nearly enough room. They would have had to publish a paper.

Ron ( CW ),

Thanks for the run down on the cars racing history. I will now add that to my stuff on it.

Ron

cobrajeff · #14 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 05:56 AM

Here is what CSX3009 ("Ollie the Dragon") looked like in the mid-seventies:

"Sam the Sham" Feinstein piloted the bright green monster to many more victories in the seventies. Pretty unusual for a ten year old race car to be so competitive in SCCA racing, but the Cobras managed to show their tails to the 'Vettes and Jags for a number of years past their prime - with no factory support.

Hal Keck (CSX3008) and Ed Lowther (CSX3009) were both guests at the first SOA National Convention in Reading, PA, in 1972. It was very interesting to hear their racing tales as they wandered around the parking lot where their championship winning racing Cobras sat silent amongst a small group of original Cobras. At this time, the cars were not restored, they were still active race cars, battle scars and all.

regards,

Jeff

computerworks · #15 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 06:05 AM

Thanks for that shot, Jeff...

I had poorer b/w's of Sam in 1976...

PDHse · #16 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 06:12 AM

Does this car still exist and what became of the original drivers?

computerworks · #17 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 06:40 AM

Don't know about the drivers, Paul... that would be an interesting hunt.

The car exists; as I hear, in pieces... and may have just changed hands (unconfirmed).

Specialk · #18 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 07:02 AM

Ron,

You posted the wrong picture:

images courtesy of prveqty

Before and after

computerworks · #19 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 07:19 AM

damn, Kris ...I was saving the "after" for later.

Johan · #20 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 08:25 AM

I've pushed that car all over the paddock at Road America so I know it still exists. It was owned by George Stauffer until a couple of years ago, when he traded it for a race transporter, a Morgan, and a Porsche RSR. It has huge fender flairs and lots of Horsepower, but is so original it was no longer trackworthy.