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This Month in Cobra History - MAY
This Month in Cobra History - May
(Cal and I wanted to start this type of thread, once a month, to provide some interesting tidbits and pictures from the days at Shelby American during the Sixties. Bob (Snakeeyes) and some of the other historians will hopefully add some insight to the monthly topics) May 1962- Coming off a successful unveiling at the New York Auto Show, CSX2000 was let loose for the magazines to review. The first one was done by Sports Car Graphic, May 1962... a magazine that had a very close relationship with Carroll. Before the Cobra was reality, Shelby advertised his Driving School in SCG, with a small ad requesting one dollar for an info packet. It has been said that he used to pick up the mail once a week and take the editor, John Christy, from SCG out to lunch with the dollar bills from the emptied envelopes. At that time (tested before the Auto Show, where it was painted bright "Dean Moon Yellow"), CSX2000 was bare aluminum, with no badges... the name "Shelby" was painted on the nose. They say it took the boys in the shop one day to polish the bare aluminum, with steel wool. (....hmmmm?) http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d.../11880scg1.jpg Christy wrote, "...Not even Shelby knew what he had by the tail at that moment; about all anyone could tell at that point was that whatever it was...it was mean." May 1965- The racing debut of the first "REAL" 427 Cobra (CSX3002) was at Riverside, a USRRC Race, on May 2, 1965. Ken Miles drove number 98. Because the model was new and not yet homologated for GT class, the car ran in class with Chaparrals and Lola T70; it ran well but was not competitive in that class. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...02-05-1965.jpg |
Thanks Ron, great fhoto's, great Idea!
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Ron,
Excellent history, and the pics are classic! You and Cal have a great idea there. Thanks..... - Bill - |
Oh I think this is a great formula for a topic of interest!!!!!
Ernie |
This Month in Cobra History - May
This Month in Cobra History - May
May 1964- The 1964 racing season saw literally dozens of race-prepared 289 Cobras competing on both the International level, as well as across the USA. There were Factory Team Cars - full-spec competition cars prepared by Shelby American- either raced as "works" cars or as independant but factory-sponsored cars ( driven by Bob Johnson, Tom Payne and Dan Gerber, to name a few). One such car, CSX 2189 under the drivership of Bob Johnson in the magic month of May, 1964, finished "in the money" at four appearances: Laguna Seca (CA), USRRC, driving with the Factory as a Team Car, 3rd. Place Mfg. Kent (WA), USRRC, driving with the Factory Team, 3rd. Place Mfg. Cumberland (MD), SCCA, driving as an independent, 1st. Place, A/Production Bridgehampton (NY), SCCA, driving as an independent, 1st. Place, A/Production (USRRC = United States Road Racing Championship ... SCCA = Sports Car Club of America) http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0/11880bj4.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0/11880bj2.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0/11880bj1.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0bj_poles2.jpg Today, CSX2189 is watched over by Cal Metal. |
GREAT OLD PHOTOS!! The SCCA official holding the victory lap checker at road america is George "Bud" Seaverns long time Chicago Region steward and starter.
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Great idea and great pictures!
Here's some "coupe" history for May :) May 23, 1965 http://www3.telus.net/public/flucas/...nurburing1.jpg Bob Bondurant and Jochen Neerpasch take 1st in Gt at Nurburgring in the #54 Daytona also same race: http://www3.telus.net/public/flucas/...ingferrari.jpg Andre Simon and Jo Schlesser in one of the coupes painted in "Ford of France White" (only time any of the cars were in this color) Looking forward to June! :) Francis |
Cobra Dave
May is also the month that (Cobra Dave) Macdonald sadly died. This happened at the Indy 500 in 1964 whilst driving the Mickey Thompson spl. Dave Macdonald was very successful in the cobras and king cobras,and was leading the Daytona sportscar race in the cobra daytona,s debut until a fire put them out of the race. He also raced the first Lang Cooper when it was still bare aluminium.
Life is full of ifs and maybes, i wonder what was next on Macdonalds racing agenda had he lived, indy cars or sportscars with Shelby or both. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...0macdonald.jpg |
Dave MacDonald scored the first Cobra win in a SCCA race on February 2-3, 1963. MacDonald took the win on both days with Ken Miles in another Cobra finishing second. These were the only factory wins for the 260 c.i. Cobras.
Dave did a lot of Corvette time before his year+ with Shelby |
The Mcdonald INDY crash is discussed first hand by Johnny Rutherford in the latest issue of Automobile in DED Jrs "American Driver" section. Interesting coincidence.
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Very nice Ron!
Question for Cal Metal: At what point did 2189 receive the cutback doors? I assume it was done to keep up with tire technology? |
Who is the driver in the 33 car at RA?
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Kris:
The cut back doors were done by Jim Bartel who owned the car in the 80s. The car was purchased from Ray Angus who was Dan Gerber's mechanic. Bartel removed the wide flares which he found very unattractive. His response in the Registry was: "I could have kept them ugly and original, or made them unoriginal and pretty.......I chose the later". Pat: The driver at RA is the man 'hisself', the legendary Bob Johnson of Columbus, Ohio. |
Outstanding thread Ron! I can hardly wait for the June edition.
Jeff |
Bravo to both of you. applause
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Great idea guys. Please include if you can from the race results the dates, location, starting & finishing positions, and drivers. Great stuff! Can hear them coming out of old turn 3 at Laguna now.....904's chasing them........WOW!!!
Rick |
Bridgehampton 1964
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...10583ch-64.jpg
Here's Charlie Hayes driving in Bridgehampton 1964 May race. EDIT...EDIT...EDIT... Oops, Bridgehampton was in September 1964. Here's May results... Spa 500 Km. - May 1964 6 GT B.Bondurant 3 Cobra Roadster CSX2345 CS 8 GT J.Schlesser 4 Cobra Roadster CSX2301 CS 11 GT I.Ireland 2 Cobra Roadster CSX2323 CS 12 GT P.Hill 1 Cobra Daytona CSX2287 CS DNF P.Hawkins/B.Olthoff ? Cobra Roadster CSX2130 FofF Nurburgring 1000 Km. - May 1964 6 GT J.Schlesser/D.Attwood 99 Cobra Roadster CSX2301 CS DNF B.Bondurant/J.Neerpasch 101 Cobra Roadster CSX2345 CS DNF P.Hawkins/B.Olthoff 96 Cobra Roadster CSX2130 FofE DNF T.Hitchcock/G.Thiel 95 Cobra Roadster CSX2155 Cust. DNS V.Arena/? 100 Cobra Roadster CSX2323 CS DNS J.Sears/F.Gardner ? Cobra Roadster CS-2131 FofE |
What a great thread!
I love the classic pictures. And the history.
Please don't forget about the 427 Cobras. |
MAY 65
MAY 1965 427's
Bridgehampton 65 USRRC CSX3009 ESSEX WIRE CAR Scott 5th OA Laguna Seca 65 USRRC CSX3002 SAI Car K. Miles DNF grumpy |
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