[Tommy]

If there are SCCA Autocross events near you, do some of them. They will let you test and exceed the limits of both your car and yourself in a safe environment. After you've done that several times you will find track day events more fun and you'll have learned some about your capability. . . I'm a bit older former AF pilot who did what you are starting when I was your age. It's fun to learn new skills. But I urge you to save your high performance driving for the track. It's bad enough to embarrass yourself by losing control on a public street, but you'd never forgive yourself if you let your ego injure someone else.

One more thought: The difference between a Cobra and most contemporary cars is not unlike the difference between civilian and older military aircraft. Civilian cars and aircraft are deliberately designed to limit how much trouble the operator can cause. For example, you can't press hard enough on the gas or brake to cause the tires on a Honda Accord to lock up and cause loss of directional control. In order to maximize maneuverability in all directions, older military aircraft and old race cars leave it up the the operator to decide when to limit the control inputs. Thus a typical Cobra can break the rear tires loose by either pressing on the gas too hard OR lifting on the gas too much at the wrong time. There are few limits to what you can TRY to do with a Cobra. So its up to you to know when to not press too hard.