what Our Toys are all about !!

vettestr · #1 (**permalink**) 09-13-2003, 09:18 PM

I was reminded what our Toys are all about this past week. I gave a man his first ride in a Cobra and got to see his smile and relive my first ride. I then tossed him the keys and he took both his sons for a ride around the block for their first ride in a Cobra. I am not sure who had the bigger smile= Dad, his sons or me watching all of it. He already has a kit from Shell V. in his garage and it is pretty far in the construction but I am sure this just jump started the build in a big way.
How about it gang isn't the feeling from that first ride or drive what it is all about? Every time I go for a ride the thrill is there but getting to see that in somebody else brings the joy of these cars home.

joea · #2 (**permalink**) 09-13-2003, 10:40 PM

I've been on the ERA wait list and I am a few long months from production (December I hope). I have yet to even sit in a Cobra! There is a glimmer of hope...a generous member has offered me a ride in the next few weeks. I haven't slept since ;-)

Excaliber · #3 (**permalink**) 09-13-2003, 11:40 PM

I was out driving around tonight and thinking about that very thing! I drove down by the docks, my car came in on a ship. I was there to watch the giant crane pickup the skid it was on, carry it across the lot and set it down near me. Unfastened all the straps and such and drove it off the skid and headed home.

Fun? Well, not exactly, that first ride was SO nerve racking! The soft top was up and it blocked some of my vision. Traffic was kind of heavy and I was SO scared I might "scratch" it. Once I got out of traffic and could open it up a little, it was "grinning time"!!! Smile hasn't left me in years now!

Ernie

vettestr · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2003, 11:52 PM

Joe,
I do not know who will get more out of your ride in terms of satisfaction. It was pretty cool seeing the grins and then I tossed him the keys. The car I brought was quick enough to hurt him if he got crazy and I mentioned that to him, I also knew he was taking his son for a short run and did not worry he would let it get away from him. These cars will as talked about on many threads just get away from you. I am not discounting his driving ability but the HP to weight ratio and no real traction can get hairy. If you do not know just where it is going to brake loose from you and are ready to be wrong !

vettestr · #5 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 07:32 AM

How about it Gang, what is your best memory of sharing your dream car with others?

CowtownCobra · #6 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 07:39 AM

I'm just finishing up on mine and I took my first drive Wednesday. I was in "awe and shock" after that first drive. But yesterday I found a deserted piece of road and let my 15 year old son (who's never even driven a stick) drive it for a ways. Between the 2 of us, I don't know who out-grinned who, but it was very, very special...

trctrdrvr · #7 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 08:51 AM

Jeff won't mention my name but I will, thanks again for the memories you helped create. My boys are still talking about it and showing the pics to their friends. Jeff has an awesome car with horsepower to spare. I've rode in a cobra before but never had an opportunity to drive one, what a thrill, still have a grin on my face and it's a week later. It was both of my boys first ride in one. When I turned back into the driveway with my oldest son his comment was "its time for you to get back to work on the cobra", well potato season is over and it is time to get back to work on the car. Thanks for the jumpstart on the build process, Jeff. Just to see one off these cars on the road is a thrill, but to get to drive one really gets your blood pumping.

Mike

If you want to see Jeff cars go to http://www.cobrasnvettes.com

vettestr · #8 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 09:26 AM

Mike the honor was mine to see that smile on your boys. Mike is a very capable driver and multiple year champion in his area for drivers / point champion. I still get a little concerned and he is only the 3rd driver of this car, I do have a SB car that others drive and is in many ways more fun to drive. You do not have to be on your toes always and can play more. Get to work on that car Mike and enjoy the help and times with the boys!!!

Jack21 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 05:46 PM

The year was 1965, and I test drove a Shelby GT350. The Shelby GT350, or Pontiac GTO? Unfortunately, neither. Our favorite Uncle had other plans for me at the time.

Any Ft. Benning (school for boys) guys here? Victory Blvd. just off base was notorious for its car lots (among other things). There was a Shelby GT350, numerous Vettes, numerous GTO's, a Sunbeam Tiger, and a 289 Cobra. I drove the Cobra, and the die was cast. "I got to get me one of these!"

Every man has at least one woman in his life he'll never forget. For some, she's your wife. For others, she's the woman you would leave your wife for. Cars can have the same effect.

Vettes today are little more than 2 seat Caddilacs. Certainly not the "Ba!!s to the wall" Vettes of the '50's and '60's. Porches' although quick and fast are sedate, and conservative as BMW's. Not a drop of adrenalin in anything off the showroom floor you can buy today, or could have bought in the last 35 years to make you say, "Holy Sh!t (MF), this thing (F'ing) ROCKS!!!!!" Only a Cobra will do that. It accelerates like a "Cat launch" off a carrier. It corners and stops like a roller coaster. And, it draws attention like a Hollywood celebrity. Wow, Jay Leno, or Jennifer Lopez gassing up at your local Amoco station.

Kids. Our kids didn't live through the musclecar era of the '60's. They have no concept of "Performance!" Today, you can't tell a Pontiac from a Toyota. Molded from a bathtub, it has a 100 HP engine, a 1,000 watt sterio, and may eventually make it to the end of a 1/4 mile track. It attracts absolutely no attention beause it looks like every other car on the street.

Our kids are the auto buying public of the next 10 - 20 years. They don't like their purchasing options any more than we did when presented with the "Blue flame 6" in the '50's.

Neither the Japs, or the Germans (or Detroit) are going to get American young mens juices flowing with todays overpriced, underpowered, Ho Hum examples of automotive mediocraty.

Giving your kids, sons (and daughters), a taste of what a real car is supposed to perform like can only reinforce what we went through in the '50's and '60's that led to the Vettes, GTO's, Stangs, and Cobras that we plunked down our hard earned cash for.

Heh, Heh. My kids are already arguing among themselves who will get my Cobra when I leave this world.

foothills gary · #10 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 07:45 PM

My first experience in a true muscle car happened in the fall of 1969.I was out with my buds,thumbing our way to town when a guy stopped and picked us up in a brand new Mach1,complete with shaker scoop.I jumped in the back seat,and will never forget what happened next,When he stood on it,all I could see was blue sky!The sound from the pipes to my youthful ears sounded for all the world like a fighter jet going into afterburn.Though I rode in many potent muscle cars after that,the desire for a BB Mach1 or Cobra has never lessened.A few months ago when I went to test drive a Superformance,I took my 19 year old daughter with me(it's the only thing a responsible gearhead Dad could do,right?).She was ready to give me the money in her college trust fund to buy it on the spot!I think she has now had her"Mach1" experience.

427sharpe · #11 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 08:06 PM

Most satisfaction has been working with the Make A Wish folks here in Dallas. The Make A Wish Foundation is a charity that helps to get terminally ill kids a few last requests filled. Some wish for Disneyland, some for a date with actresses, and a few want to ride in a car at speed or drive one in controlled conditions. I have been humbled by some of these kids that I have given laps in the Cobra or my GT350, or taken on flights in our jet trainer and the reserve base and what it does for them and what it teaches me. I have let a few of them drive the GT350 at Hallet, TMS and TWS and it really is a great time for everybody. The best time I ever had was taking on of the kids on a 'road rally' thru the beautiful east Tx area in the Cobra before he got too ill to make any extended trips. He was a great teacher about what life is really all about. I would suggest that each of our members and our smaller groups reach out to our communities....you will not regret it.

foothills gary · #12 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 08:21 PM

What a touching post,Robert,and a reminder to us all as to why the Good Lord entrusts us to oversee his assets-that we might use them to enrich the lives of others and thereby again receive a blessing ourselves.

John S Peterson · #13 (**permalink**) 09-14-2003, 11:07 PM

I was mezmorized by the Cobra, but my cousin had a 66 GT350 that I got to take care of while he was off to far east. I drove that car for a year, and had the time of my life. He sold the car shortly after he got back. I could nor afford the price. He traded it in on a 70 Chevelle SS....go figure. Not too long after that I picked up a lightweight Galaxie, but no one really knew what they were back then, just a very fast land yacht. Boy hindsight is always 20/20. I recently gave a young boy a ride who ran up to my cobra and was saying I know what this car is....a Shelby Cobra. He was just so excited as he never saw one up close. He was with a gentleman in a motorized wheel chair. He asked if he could take a picture of him neer the car, so I said lets do one better than that. I gave him a short ride, and he took many pictures, but it was that ear to ear grin that was the best part.

John

PatBuckley · #14 (**permalink**) 09-15-2003, 07:45 AM

Last year, when Turk and Jamo and I were driving back from visiting SAI in Las Vegas we stopped in a small town in Death Valley to fill up with gas and get something to drink.

When we returned to our cars there were two of the cutest young ladies standing by them - just staring! So we asked them if they would like to sit in the cars? The eagerly accepted the invite - we helped them in, making sure of course that no legs were burned on the sidepipes!

After Jamo went on his way, heading South on 395 toward Fresno, Turk and I had to stop for gas again and wouldn't you know it? Another two young ladies asked if they could sit in the cars!

Later that evening, near Gardnerville we stopped again and had the same thing happen - this time it was a slightly older young lady - probably around 16 or so - but we didn't mind!

I am just glad that Turk took pictures that day - my wife certainly would never have believed me!

Clois Harlan · #15 (**permalink**) 09-15-2003, 10:24 AM

Last week at Road America Lew and Patti Payne had some of their friends visit. Amoung them was a 4 yr old named Lea who really wanted a ride but not without her mommie. Saturday after lunch the Nortwoods Shelby Club allowed 15 minutes to take children and family on the track under certain conditions: all passengers seat belted, speed under 60mph and no passing--helmets not required.

Soooooo mom got in my passenger seat and Lea sat in her lap. We fastened the seat belts around both of them. And guess what we made it out of the pits with the other 40 or so cars but as we turned 14 I was black flagged and had to pull off the track. So for the rest of the weekend Lea informed everyone new that came in the pits that she and I had been black flagged.

She enjoyed the 4 mile ride and deep down I knew we would be lucky to get on the track. I would do it again!

Clois

Jason Lee Nye · #16 (**permalink**) 09-15-2003, 02:15 PM

I remember thinking F#%& YEAH as the guy driving hit the gas and the people at the intersection got real small, real fast behind us.

vettestr · #17 (**permalink**) 09-15-2003, 05:04 PM

Jason,
How long was that before you had to build your own and whos car were you in ? Do you have a target date for your new Spec Racer or is the new house driving that train for right now>

Jason Lee Nye · #18 (**permalink**) 09-15-2003, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vettestr

Jason,
How long was that before you had to build your own and whos car were you in ? Do you have a target date for your new Spec Racer or is the new house driving that train for right now>

As you know I bought my first one already built. After about 6 months I started thinking about the idea of building my own. After tinkering with the frist one, I knew I could do it so about 1 1/2 years I made the bold move.

Since we haven't sold our old house it is driving the delay 100%. I would have been done by now if we hadn't bought our current place. But the idea of being able to own 3 +acres with a block home on it took priority. I took the risk and now my Cobra fund slowly disappearing each month I have to make two mortgage payments. We fired the first realtor and went with a new one. HOPEFULLY we will only have to make one more on the old place.

Interesting though, as I was delayed I had plenty of time to stare at Spec Racer and I have made up my mind to do it right the first time around. Meaning I will ahve the engine I want, tranny ect. If I have to wait to complete it because the funds are limited, then I will. The money I am using was the last thing my dad gave me and he always said, "Son if you are are going to do something, do it right the first time." The day the Spec Racer starts and it rolls out in all its primered glory, it will sound as I wanted it to and have the HP I want it to have (give or take 10 or so).

However one problem because of the move, I had an addional $5k to spend on the motor and tranny, now I will be lucky to have $1K.....bummer but oh well, I am still young and have plenty of time to make it up again.

Once things get in order and we are able to get a shed ect and clear room in our garage, the good thing is I will be able to basically get the car set up short ofdropping the motor and tranny in.