Rodknock, there is no way the Cobra really ran a 14 or 15 second 1/4 mile. Paced off distance, stop watch, etc. We don't know what he might really run, but I gaurentee it will be well under 13, even if he totally screws up AND misses third!
I'm not assuming the Cobra is as inexperienced as some seem to think.
A couple of thoughts on a possible "screw up".
This drag racing thing aint that complicated! A couple of test runs on the street or some discreet area (like we ALL do from time to time) is sufficient to get him in the ball park. On the other hand, for Tom in the Ferrari, I think it's more complex than simply "steering in a straight line and holding your foot down." There is plenty of room for either driver to make a "dumb mistake", but at the same time, this 1/4 mile thing "aint rocket science".
Accidents in the 1/4 can and do happen, but frankly, they are pretty darn rare, not a likely scenario for this race on either side.
Various tracks have various rules for how fast and what kind of equipement. Sometimes the rules are relaxed, or strictly enforced, thats a tough call. When I dropped into the 11's at Hawaii Raceway Park I had to have:
1. Arm restraints.
2. Nomex jacket.
I alway bring both with me to any drag race event, just in case, but have never needed them anywhere else, nor been kicked off. All though, breaking into the 10's could get substantially more complicated, on several levels.
I'm not surprised Tom hasn't got any responses on a Ferrari site. "New guy" posting about a drag race, or even worse, a drag race against a Cobra! I would think most Ferrari guys would tend to blow off such a thread from a newbie. Mainly because I seriously doubt ANY of them even consider drag racing an option in their life. Whereas, Cobra guys are ALWAYS talking about hole shots, traction issues, ET, horse power, gear ratio's, comparing one car to another. Heck thats what WE do all the time, it's WHY we have a Cobra. Of course were going to respond to any thread that suggests a Cobra might be beat, by anything.