This Month in Cobra History - December
Cobras at Nassau Speed Week - 1962
(text mostly from The Shelby Archives)
In December 1962, the factory Cobra was sent to the Bahamas to compete in the Nassau Speed Weeks with Bill Krause driving. This was the first International appearance of the Cobra, although it was not a championship series race. This event also saw the debut of the first two customer race cars, driven by privateer John Everly and Augie Pabst for Holman & Moody... the Cobras were fast and impressive, but did not finish due to a number of 'teething' problems.
Bill Krause was impressive at Nassau. He ran well enough to give notice to the Ferrari 250 GTOs that the Cobra challenge would be serious. If it hadn't been for a slight miscalculation in refueling, the Cobra might have won its first race at Nassau. It finally ended the race early with a broken steering joint.
Here are the three entrants arriving in Nassau...
Augie Pabst drove #18 (CSX2009) as a Holman & Moody entry. Bill Krause drove #98 (CSX2002) and John Everly drove #106 (CSX2011), the first customer race car sold by SA.
Here is CSX2011, pre-race...(note the early "earmarks"..no side louvres, recessed hood latch that used the T-handle tool.) Interesting racing windscreen, as well.
CSX2002 is currently in the Shelby Museum in Boulder, CO....
(anyone have current pictures of CSX2009 and CSX2011?)