Superformance MKII, Riverside Racer 289 FIA vintage race car

[1795]

Just received some wonderful gifts yesterday. In an earlier post Glenview289 offered some 289 Cobra signs that he had laser cut from stainless steel. I came home from a trip and there they were in my barn. Nice work. Feast your eyes and prepare to be jealous. Thanks a lot Bill!



I can't wait to figure out where to put them. Going to see if I ca make one fit on the front of the trailer. If it were an enclosed trailer it would be much easier.

I also received another "gift" yesterday. As I was going through a weeks worth of mail I came across the latest edition of Vintage Racing Quarterly, the magazine for SVRA. I was flipping through the pages and came upon the article on the US Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, and there on the bottom of page 91 was my car!



That was cool! Next week the upgrades to the car for next race season will commence and continue until it is too cold to work in the barn.

Jim

[FUNFER2]

Wow, nice sign. Does he lazer a 427 and how much ?

[glenview289]

You are welcome Jim. Enjoy. To everyone else, those signs were a test for a new digitizing software eleven years ago. Software and N/C controls have come a long way since then. I've retired in the interim and no longer have access to the machines.

Bill

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by 1795

I also received another "gift" yesterday. As I was going through a weeks worth of mail I came across the latest edition of Vintage Racing Quarterly, the magazine for SVRA. I was flipping through the pages and came upon the article on the US Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, and there on the bottom of page 91 was my car!





Jim

Everyone loves a Cobra! When David E. Davis ran AUTOMOBILE magazine he told me "a Cobra on the cover is worth 50,000 newsstand sales!"

[1795]

Well, Christmas is over and the New Year is coming quickly upon us. As I prepare for the SPF/Riverside Racers first full year of competition it is time to take determine which races I will plan on attending in 2018. That will help motivate me to get the car ready, once these single digit and negative temps abate.

Right now, barring unforeseen circumstances, the schedule looks like this:

May 16-20 at Summit Point in West Virginia for the Jefferson 500 with the Vintage Race Group

June 21-24 at Mid Ohio for the Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio with SVRA

July 7-8 at Watkins Glen for the July Sprints with the Historic Race Group

Sept. 6-9 at Watkins Glen for the US Vintage Grand Prix with SVRA

Sept. 20-23 at Virginia International Raceway for the Heacock Classic Gold Cup with SVRA

Nov. 1-4 at Circuit of the Americas for the US Vintage Championship with SVRA

Will start working on making adjustments to the cobra once the weather breaks. If anyone is interested in crewing at any of these races, please let me know in advance of the race. I get to bring a certain number of people, it varies by race organization, into the races as crew. Even if you do not want to crew, if you are in the area it would be nice to see fellow cobra owners and take a look at your cars.

A Happy New Year to all, and see you next year.

Jim

[CSX 4133]

Hope this hasn't already been posted, here's a video of a FIA 289 running on the the old Pomona Fairgrounds track with Bob Bondurant in a GT40.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nIEoQW9F9E

[1795]

Thanks, nice video. The FIA is a nice handling race car. That GT40 was sure burning some oil upon acceleration!

[HTM101]

Originally Posted by 1795

Thanks, nice video. The FIA is a nice handling race car. That GT40 was sure burning some oil upon acceleration!

Lots of smoke on decel too. Tired engine?

[FUNFER2]

Cracked valve seal or broken ring ?

[1795]

I was following a Corvette with a big block at Watkins Glen a couple of years ago and something went in his engine going into turn 8. You could not see him or the track the smoke was so thick. I backed off so that I did not hit him and followed the trail of smoke through turn 11and then it went away as he pulled into the pits. Not sure that I would have taken the car that far with that much smoke billowing out of my pipes.

[Moto One]

Hi Jim, Happy New Year, and best of luck this year. There is a possibility that I will be in the Ohio area in June. I'll let you know for sure as it get closer.

Mark.

[1795]

Mark,

That would be great if you could be there! Always looking for guidance and suggestions on honing my skills as a race car driver. Take care.

Jim

[Blas]

I'm looking forward to seeing your car too. RA for sure if you can make it, and Mid Ohio is also on my list this year.....
Blas

[1795]

Blas,

It would be great to see you. The nice thing about Mid Ohio is that it is the same weekend of the London Cobra Show, which is close to Mid Ohio. Take care and let's hope for an early spring.

Jim

[1795]

Greetings,

Registration has opened for the Jefferson 500 at Summit Point in West Virginia. I need to put my crew list together and I have a couple of openings. Just checking to see if anyone is interested. The dates are May 16-20. Can't wait for the weather to warm up and to get back to work on the car.

Jim

[Moto One]

Hey buddy, I'm still planing on meet you at Mid Ohio.

Mark.

[1795]

Mark,

Great! Looking forward to it. I will put you on my crew list, PM me your full name (not sure if I have it) so that I can add you to the crew list. I am planning on getting started on the pre-season prep for the car this weekend. It is finally going to warm up a little.

Have not been spending much time on the car much of late, as my Mom had been battling pancreatic cancer for the past year and have been spending a lot of quality time with her, easy choice to make. She was a pretty tough cookie, 92 years old and all of 4'10" tall. She raised 5 boys and kept us in line. She passed away last Tuesday and I am dedicating this race season to her.

I will have pictures to post of some changes that I am making over the next couple of weeks. The first race of the season is in a little over three weeks at Summit Point in West Virginia. A lot of work ahead of me.

Jim

[1795]

As I re-read my prior post it was quite apparent that it was awful. I have edited in a little, but it still leaves something to be desired. It comes off a little distant and I want to correct that. My mother was the glue that held our family together. She was raised in the depression on a small farm by parents who were immigrants when they were young. Her father fought in World War I for his new country. There were 10 children my mother being the third oldest, when my mother was 18 her mother died, so she had to help raise her younger brothers and sisters.

She started working at any early age to support the family. She learned to be tough and work through tough times. When we were growing up, if one of us started to cry over something, she would tell us to toughen up, she was raising boys not sissies.

I do miss her and my brain is in a fog right now, so please excuse a poorly written response, it will probably be a little while before my brain clears up.

Thanks.

Jim

[moore_rb]

These are the "seasons" we all go through in life... And they are more challenging than any hobby car race, for sure.

So sorry to hear about your mom Jim, and I totally understand (first hand) about the shift in focus away from the car.

Let the car sit, let it get dirty, and every time you glance at it, don't feel any guilt about neglecting it. Just be thankful that it's still sitting there (mine isn't )

Seasons pass... and when all the family business is settled, and all the bills are paid, and the fog on your brain has cleared; and when you can look at the car and smile about the fact that your mom wanted to to do the things that make you happy, then you will know that it's time to re-aquaint yourself with the lesser-important (but maybe more pleasant ) aspects of life.

All my best regards....

[66gtk]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. She sounds like she was a good woman who raised you right! I hope you can make her proud behind the wheel of your Cobra, which I am sure you will. Heck, you don't even have to drive it to accomplish that (: