ERA 717 heading to Katy Texas

1795 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 02:11 PM

It is with mixed emotion that I announce that ERA 717 is heading to Katy Texas in a couple of weeks. The new owners name is Richard and I mentioned that he should reach out to the cobra owners in Texas. I will miss driving this car, but the racing bug is taking hold of me.

Will probably keep my eyes open for a good buy on another cobra at some time in the near future. Leaning more towards a 289 slab side at this time, maybe GT40 at the right price. Looking at a 1965 GT350 race car, although my fiancé is not so keen on me racing something with a lot of horsepower....

Jim

lippy · #2 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 02:58 PM

I wish someone had pointed this out to me before I got married, but only your *wife* can tell you what to do.

DanEC · #3 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 03:19 PM

I'm sure you will miss it but good luck with the new endeavors. Let us know how the racing bug works out.

1795 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lippy

I wish someone had pointed this out to me before I got married, but only your *wife* can tell you what to do.

Not saying that she will have the ultimate say, a lot will depend on if the guy with the GT350 andI can come to an agreement on the price.

At least I gave the new buyer a long test ride today and got to enjoy the cobra one last time. We put about 100 miles on today, wanted to make sure that he was satisfied with what he was getting and the quality of the car, and wanted the thrill of getting into it one last time.

patrickt · #5 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1795

Not saying that she will have the ultimate say...

She will.

1795 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

She will.

We will see....

Just in case, Patrick do you have a license to practice in NY state?

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1795

We will see....

Just in case, Patrick do you have a license to practice in NY state?

Just keep your car in a rental storage bin and tell her you're going out on Saturdays to help mentor abused foster children.

Dimis · #8 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 04:30 PM

Jim congrats on the sale and good luck with the hunt for your new steed.

Just one little thing if I may...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1795

Looking at a 1965 GT350 race car, although my fiancé is not so keen on me racing something with a lot of horsepower....

This is misguided thinking on her part... Even low powered cars reach speeds that can hurt/kill you. At least with high horsepower rules and safety regs are normally pitched at a higher levels.
And a further an arguement in favour of the 65 gt350, as far as horsepower numbers go, I believe originally they were quoted around the 300 mark... I dare say much less than your Cobra.

That should help win her over...

Best wishes

1795 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-24-2016, 04:55 PM

Dimis,

Thanks for the thoughts. Yes, I have explained to her that the 350 hp that the GT350 has is a lot less than the 500 hp in the cobra and it even weighs more than the cobra.

I am trying to restrain my desire for the GT350 a little myself and want to explore other options too. It was easy to contemplate a car when you still have yours, but now that my options are open I want to consider other possibilities. You do not make good excisions when you decide that there is only one option.

Either way, both my current MGB race car and any other one will be built to SCCA specs and are quite safe. Much safer on a race track than driving down the highway in a car without a full roll cage and fire suppression system.