I go to the drags here, I haven't seen any Vettes running a 130 lately. A "427" Vette, bored, stroked and built to that level is a pretty serious car. A "high dollar" car! Your "average" Viper won't be in the 10's either, and yet THEY run 500 horse off the showroom floor! Flywheel horse,,, of course.
We have some "pretty serious" Cobras here on the club, but they, like the "built" Vettes and the Vipers, are in the minority.
It's pretty impressive to me that the "majority" of replicas, big or small block DO run in the 12's. Without being set up for "drag racing". Just drive down there and "run what you brung", you WILL be in the 12's.
Those people running 10 sec 130 mph Vettes, Vipers and Cobras set out to do just that! They spent the money, they focused on the drag stip.
I see VERY FEW Cobra owners "that serious" about turning 10's in the 1/4 with their replica. It's just not something the "average" Cobra guy is interested in.
Maybe we love our cars to much to abuse them? And Lord knows most of us have all ready spent more than we wanted to!
The guys I see running "built" Vettes and Vipers have pretty deep pockets. While they "like" their car they don't have anywhere near the "emotional" investment the average Cobra owner has. If they want to go faster, they spend more money. If they break the car, they hire someone to fix it.
Most of us do our own work, we don't WANT to break stuff.
There is NO DOUBT in my mind that if I were to get "serious" my car WOULD run 10's and 130 with no additional engine work required.
I have the motor out right now. I'm going with a "milder" cam and dropping the compression. I'll never see 11's again, and it's OK! I figure I'll loose about 150 horse. I'm pretty sure 500 will still be enough to challenge the "typical" Vette or Viper!