Manny's 50th Birthday Party

[CobraDan]

Well, Jim Milliken (West Coast) and I (Elegant Motors) were waiting to drive over on Sunday February 27th to the other coast for a birthday party for Manny Lopez (BackDraftRacing). Jim was going to pick me up in his Cobra but on Sunday morning it was raining cats and dogs and this was the dry season. After I bought breakfast we headed out about 8:30 am for a 2 ½ hour trip to Tuskeegee Pavilion at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach. We arrived about 11am and of course there were no Cobras in attendance as they had a lot of rain in the morning also on the east coast. When we arrived there were a lot of people under the pavilion even though the rain had actually stopped as we drove into the West Palm area. We saw a lot of Cobra people in attendance and most we had not been seen since the Reptile Roundup back in November of last year. Ed & Renee Kamptner (DSCC Club President), Terry & Carol Lee, Reg & Jaquie Dodd & daughter (Reg from BackDraftRacing) & Frank his business partner. Of course Joanne Lopez, Manny’s wife but where was the birthday boy? I guess Manny had driven home to get a permit for the band that was coming to entertain us at the party. When Manny did return he came back in his Cobra as now the rain had stopped. The weather looked as if it was going to cooperate with having a Cobra party, although the rain stopped the 40 mile an hour winds continued all day and I think they are still picking up plastic cups and paper napkins out of the many lakes at the park. After a few of the local Cobra owners went back home there turned out to be five Cobras in attendance. All were the standard blue/white strip but one who had the same yellow/white strip as my Cobra back home. I met up with Kent Gladder the owner of a recently completed Street Beast cobra painted the exact color as mine. He had an album of pictures taken during construction of his car with him and as he thumbed through the pictures I saw a picture of my Cobra on a trailer. He said a buddy of his had taken the picture about three years back to let him see a yellow cobra with a white strip. It turned out to be a really big birthday party with two bands, Manny’s personal band and the Dewey Street Band. Lots of food and drink and what turned out to be a nice day after the deluge we had earlier in the day. I asked Manny if his band that had only played twice before could come to a party I was planning for later in the year. I wanted to know how much he would pay me for another gig. See I wanted to get Manny’s band before we had to pay them. I told him he threw a great party and I couldn’t wait until next year. Manny said he only throws a party of this type every ten years so I can’t wait until he turns sixty. The pictures that follow were taken and sent to me by Joanne and I want to thank her as I left my camera at home.
Dan

Terry & Carol Lee


Manny with his birthday cake only one candle that says 50 so we didn't have to get the fire Department.



Manny and his band


Kent Gladder and his friend Kenny who help him build his Street Beast My Yellow and White


Dewey Street Band


Dan Wulff- Armando Lopez- Jim Milliken- and Bobby


Boca Bob- Jay & Janet Barzano



A gag birthday gift for Manny's Cobra a Chevy steering wheel cover



00 Manny Lopez's BDR, 52 Jay Barzano's BDR, 42 Steve Calhoun's ERA