[JAM1775]

Guys...first let me thank you for opening this local Long Island forum.
Terrific idea !

Regarding a chartered LI Cobra Club, I am in disagreement with the idea.
On cursory view, we may appear disorganized but we are not.
If you read the recent article in KITCAR what we have at Nick's is unique and attractive mostly because it is NOT an organized club. It is an informal weekly gathering of guys who have established friendships and Cobra service related co-dependancies. We gather at Nick's because he is gracious enough to provide us space in his own private business. Nick has a tremendous work load because he is a great mechanic. John Lucido collects 10 bucks a month which is the best deal on the planet. A small amount of that money goes to Nick to compensate for his leased space. The rest of that money is returned to those who contribute with everything from breakfast, pastries, gourmet coffee, direct TV and an occasional summer barbeque hosted and prepared by "chef" Bobby Burns. (oh Yeah!) Again....these benefits center around the room behind Nick's shop because he extends the use of his place of business for us.

Some of the guys gather at HRE. Some gather at Nick's. Sometimes guys pass each other enroute to either location or simply jump in their cars and pop back and forth . Me....I am mostly at Nick's with the larger group but do enjoy a sunny day drive to HRE because we have friends in both places. It's not about a charter allegience, club shirts, flying the same colors etc.
It's actually bigger than that.

We have planned at least 30 LI Cobra Runs to destinations ranging from Lime Rock to Manhattan ( thanks bobby!) to the North/South forks. We have done many day trips that often spur from spontaneity of simply being together on a sunny Saturday. Tony Aprile has been taking the helm the past few years on most of the LICR's resulting in conflict free Cobra fun ! The only conflicts on these LICR's are the trash talking hysterical exchanges by quite a cast of characters ! As info...also attend car meets on 2-3-4 nights per week across the island as well as weekend events. How do we do it ?? The cobra forums, posters, bulletin board notices are key but much....most of it is done by word of mouth. We have been assembling in this disorganized fashion since 1995.

You guys appear to have the right interests in mind. I wish you luck because I know it is not easy to organize groups. But do you know what ?
Why not just try to stick around for a summer and have some fun? You may find the informality of the way we get things done to be the best part of belonging to our group. Personally...I like the freedom we each enjoy individually .......as well as collectively. I have not been to Nick's shop for about 4 weeks but it is my perception you will find most of the guys simply like it as it is. When I say if it ain't broke don't fix it I might rephrase by saying just fire up your Cobras and see what we already have .

Please realize these are MY OWN personal opinions. So feel free to fire away. But ....my 10 bucks will continue to go to 401K. Why ? Because the rest just seems to fall in place.

Jim Marotta
JAM1775