I've loaded a few pics in my gallery so I can tell the story (as I like to do) and will add a bunch more pics tomorrow or so, of a lot of other fun times.
I'll just add the pics, and I'll let you know when I'm 'done' for tonight! THANKS!
I was determined the trip this year was going to be much much better than last year... not that last year wasn't fun, but I seemed to have a bunch of unfortunate situations that led to a less than perfect trip with a story of the 'misadventures of Tulsa'. Not this year!!!!
Got off to a little later start than I planned, leaving from Dallas and immediately getting stuck in a major traffic jam that left me 30 minutes 'behind' schedule! So, as usual, I came rolling into the parking lot of the Marriott with very little time to spare, and after quickly registering, I headed off for the Big Event at the Sonic. This is the official 'kickoff', and I heard there were over 500 cars lining Peoria Street. Everyone is there, and the Cobra's get the primo parking- under the awnings at the Sonic. Right out front are a few originals, and the new stars for the event, a couple of NEW GT 500's.....
As usual, it is as hot as hell, (literally, I'm sure) and despite the fact that I didn't change clothes, brush my hair, or tidy up a bit, I was interviewed for a news segment on 'tv at 6' or something like that.... Lori Fullbright was the cutie girl from the station. geez my hair is always such a mess!!!
You spend a lot of time walking around the place- up and down the street- it's blocked off at both ends of course, and everybody really loves catching up from the year before. About dusk folks start heading out. Here's 'slither' (Daren) leaving. Very nice car.
Sorry that a few of the pics are blurry. The lack of sunlight really makes a difference.
I thought this pic of the blue with one silver cobra under the neon lights looked neat.
After a little hanging around in the hotel parking lot after the cruise back from Sonic, I thought I'd check out the tv.... man, the car segment was way into the news program. Guess we didn't rate too high.... The cutie girl that did the segment was really nice, and she even got to drive around in the new Hertz Shelby!
Anyway, here it comes, and wow! That's an awfully big picture of my wild hair and yeah, that's sweat all over my face.
Did I mention it was hot? And humid???? I thought it was funny to take a pic of the tv.
Well bright and early Friday morning I head out to the track at Hallett. What a beautiful, almost cool drive at 8:00. I didn't have any passengers, so I just enjoyed the pretty scenery and the thrill of the cobra the almost hour drive out there. I made sure everything was good to go this year.
Oil cooler leak repaired from last year, and nice and early for the tech inspect. Uh oh. Forgot to put the safety wire back on after I had a flat fixed after the trip last month to TMS. Oh no, and bummer, my wire and tool were back in my trailer. Darn it. Well guess i'll have to go find somebody to fix it.... ah,,, there's Jay! Jay's used to doing little bits to my car..... He searched around Dean's well stocked trailer, and located the wire and tool. Jay to the rescue!!! thank you soooo much, Jay!
A lot of time to kill after tech; driver's meeting, and hanging around. Finally got to meet Dean, and David N.
Clois was off somewhere getting new tires mounted. The 'high maintenance racing' group let me park near their garage. Wondered where Buzz was, and remembered he had had spinner woes, and would make it to the track to hang out later in the morning.
The parade laps are fun, and even though there is a pace car and it's pretty low level, lots of folks like to go out just for the fun of it. I jumped in with Dean, and off we went! On the way out of the pit area to the track, we ran across his wife going the opposite direction- she hollered over "who the heck is that"??? She was just kidding..... We took a couple of laps around, and then headed back in so she could have a ride, and I could saddle up and get ready for my baby level 'track tour', which was next.
Getting ready for the parade lap, behind Clois.
Waiting at the starting grid, and John (sorry, don't know your last name!) popped over, asking if I'd like a passenger! Well yeah! c'mon! The track tour is the 'baby level'. No helmet needed, no passing, controlled speed with a pace car, and absolutely BORING!
I did this two years ago, right after I got the cobra, and as I remember it we went much much faster and it was much much funner!* I tried to make it exciting for John- held back a little on the tighter turns so I could 'punch it' and get up to 50 mph, and hit 3rd gear. Yeah, baby! we are cruising now!
I'm thinking I was such a 'newbie' then that I was still learning the car and thought we went faster??? Surely not! I think we went 70-80 that first year, and this year was the grandma pace! Oh well. I'm done with the track tour, next year- here I come! Level 3!!!!
It took so little concentration that John and I could BOTH look over and watch John Ross take our pic! Funny! Maybe I'm just a little better driver??? you think????
well that was that, and the afternoon was ready for fun and games, watching the different levels go round and round. Found my friend Doug Reed, and had some fun 'posing' (like the models do- I was directed) in front of the Shelby truck, and especially the granddaddy cobra, Dick Smith's #198.
Of course I had to catch Doug in his standard pose....
The Vintage Exhibition 'races' are always exciting! I can't imagine putting some of those very expensive Shelby's out there. They are running flat out, passing anywhere, and man it is scary! Dick was the 'pace car' for a couple of the exhibitions. No danger of being hit when you're in the front. His wife Heather is with him.
I loved watching the cars....
I think it was the hottest day of the year. I left the track around 3, and tagged behind this '80's Thunderbird'. I just got hotter and hotter and hotter. We went faster and faster and faster. I 'flew' the Indian Turnpike thingy, going 85 practically the whole way behind the tbird. When I got back to the hotel I was soooo hot I took a cold shower and just laid on the bed and took a nice nap. The heat just zaps you...
After my nice rest, I headed down to the hotel lobby, where everybody hangs out, waiting for the 'cocktail' hour, where you get free snackies, and such. After milling around the ballroom/meeting area, we all head out for the FAMOUS TAILGATE PARTY IN THE TEXAS CORNER! Our 'little group' has about 10 trailers, half with huge 'texas cobra club' stickers on the back, and a couple with the great flags of the usa and texas hooked on. We take up this lovely corner, with the biggest shade trees around. Of course we are very quiet, well mannered, and don't appear obnoxious at all! We invite everyone to stop on by, and have a Margarita with us, and if you're daring enough, enjoy some good ol' Jambalaya! I think Matt, Doug 1 and Doug 2, and Jay all had a hand in it.... no, not literally! If I missed a cook or two, sorry! It was sooooo goood!
Who's stirring the pot???
Always lots of visitors, admiring the cars. Here is my car, with John's Cobra behind me. I put my scrapbook on fender protectors in the back.
Earl and Gary having an 'enlightening' conversation. I'm not sure who the cutie girls are.... I do know Earl's and Gary's wives were sitting right there, too!
I can't comment too much on this party.... I guess I forgot to take pictures.
I thought Matt and Earl were gonna bust a gut, laughing so much about something about ORAL Roberts University, down the street. What was that Matt?? Earl???
Terrific Trip to Tulsa!
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