Club Cobra Member dies in Cobra wreck

[Scott S]

My good friend and Club Cobra member Ben Mahaffy died Thursday evening on Highway 22 just east of Stayton, Oregon.

Ben,59, and his passenger Brent Strohmeyer,20 were ejected from Bens Cobra while still strapped in the seats. Brent died at the scene and Ben passed away at a local hospital.

The Cobra was turning onto the westbound lane of the highway from Old Mehama Road when it veered into the eastbound lane and was struck by a 1998 Acura sedan in the right rear. The driver of the Acura was not hurt.

I have helped Ben several times work on his Cobra, It was unusal with a Midstates body on a EM frame. He had just installed a 765 CI stroker in it and was working on getting the bugs out. Ben had no shoulder harnesses in his Cobra but had mentioned many times that he should get some.

What a shame,

Scott S

[Todd & Kris]

Words cannot express the anguish and sorrow I'm feeling after reading this post. That is a terrible tragedy.

My prayers go out to his family and friends.

Respectfully,
Todd & Kris

[Zderf]

My heart and sorrow are beyond words one can post. Prayers will be given to the family.

How sad.

Zderf

[Red Era]

Scott

It is so sad to read this. Our prays go out to Brent and Ben's family and friends.


Take care Scott.
Cars are fun, especially the Cobras, but be carefull.


Tim

[Bish Wheeler]

Scott,

I'm so sorry to here about Ben and Brent. I met Ben two weeks ago on the Cobra Run. He was the nicest and most gentle guy. Very humble, funny and childlike in the fun he was having with his car. His Cobra was an amazing machine, very powerful and fast, but he seemed to be so careful. I didn't know Brent, but will hold them both in my prayers.


Be careful,

Bish Wheeler

[Walt Tomsic]

I just learned of Ben's shocking death. Like Bish, I met and talked to him at length during the Oregon Cobra trip. He was just the nicest and most soft-spoken guy you could ever meet. We talked about how much fun we were having and about meeting again for next summer's group trip.

I know nothing of the details of the accident, but I feel compelled to say this...please friends, realize that in addition to being a fun 'toy' these cars are also potentially leathal instruments. They are generally overpowered and dynamically unstable with absolutely NO crash protection. We need to always keep these facts very much in mind and never let ourselves get complacent. At 300 hp, my car is dangerous enough. To friends running 4 & 500+ hp, I can only say, be very very careful.

Walt

[Walt Tomsic]

I just learned of Ben's shocking death. Like Bish, I met and talked to him at length during the Oregon Cobra trip. He was just the nicest and most soft-spoken guy you could ever meet. We talked about how much fun we were having and about meeting again for next summer's group trip.

I know nothing of the details of the accident, but I feel compelled to say this...please friends, realize that in addition to being a fun 'toy' these cars are also potentially leathal instruments. They are generally overpowered and dynamically unstable with absolutely NO crash protection. We need to always keep these facts very much in mind and never let ourselves get complacent. At 300 hp, my car is dangerous enough. To friends running 4 & 500+ hp, I can only say, be very very careful.

Walt

[BSEYMOURALBION]

BEST WHISHES TO THE FAMILYS

I DONT KNOW ARE REPLICARS SAFER THAN THE ORIGINALS

TALK TO YOU LATER
BRIAN SEYMOUR

[Bill Wells]

wow, condolenceses to both family's....the reality of lack of occupant protection in these cars vs moden day cars and air bags, etc, is certainly brought to the forefront. The original posting said 'ejected while still strapped in their seats'. Can anyone elaborate on this with facts vs speculation as it would be helpful to us other owners if there is something that can be done to improve passenger safety , ie, would shoulder belts have helped ? did seats come detached and lap belts were attached to them ? maybe there is something we can learn from this most unfortunate experience if someone has more details....Bill

[Scott S]

Ben's funeral will be held at Weddle Funeral Home in Stayton, Or on Thursday 13, 11:00 AM.

This really has been bothering me, so many times I went over to just shoot the bull or help with his HUGE engine I never gave his seats or seat belts a once over. He commented several times on how he was going to get some shoulder harnesses like mine and even asked how I attached them to frame.

I was there at Woodburn Dragstrip when he was booted for making a sub 11 pass, while we all thought it was funny to see him blackballed from all the strips in 3 states, it ain't so funny now.

From now on as I go to car shows and Cobra events I won't be looking at the paint, wheels or engines untill I give the safety equiptment a good looking over. God forbid if I catch anyone with seatbelts and seats not bolted separately to the frame!

Scott S

[Bish Wheeler]

Scott,

For what it is worth! My S.O., after reading about Ben, informed me that she would not sit her pretty butt in the car until I put in new shoulder harnesses and made sure everything was bolted to the frame.

I'm still in shock over this tragedy, we had so much fun just a short two weeks ago. Do you know anything about Brent that you can pass on to the club? Is there an address for Ben and Brent's familes so that we may sent a card? The internet is ok, but I think a card would be so much better.

Kindest regards,

Bish

[Grant Garrison]

I just heard about this post, and first would like to express my regrets to family and friends who have known and lost what sound to be some exceptional people. If it's any consolation, one can hope that they died happy & doing what they loved.

Without question, by today's standards even the best of Cobra replicas (not to speak of the originals!) are by design inherently unsafe vehicles. Tiny wheelbase, tiny track/tread and LOTS of power, wrapped with virtually no crush zones, let alone airbags, etc.

I'm close to religious about my adulation for my Cobra, but one has to remember --at all times-- what a risk just being in one of these things is.

Not that I'm any role model, but let's all be careful of our own exuberance, as well as the other guy.

[cobra fever]

who loves cobra is a friend of mine. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM AND THE FAMILIES.