[Bill Kesner]

I was first introduced to Carroll Shelby and his outragous Cobra, listening to one of my friends Bill Cosby albums playing the 200 MPH routine. It wasn't too long after, that I identified the car in real life to the album. Everybody knew as a kid, that the Cobra was the fastest car around. Though growing up in Honolulu, all we had was the TV or car magazines to gawk at.

It was my dream to own one till the prices soared out of range, and decided to build or own a decent kit back in 1975. You could count the manufacturers on one hand, and was going to power it with a BB Chevy and 4spd., or a Gale Banks twin turbo'd Chevy small block. Needless to say, the years passed by, grew a little more smarter and wiser hopefully, and decided to keep the drive train vintage with some add ons.

Too many years passed by, and grew annoyed as to paying too much time at work, and not enough time away from work. I was finally ready to order my Cobra in 1997, which I narrowed down to 3-choices not in any particular order (Contemporary, ERA, and Superformance), when I began to hear word that Carroll was going to build a continuation series based off the original CSX3000 series. It took me over 2-years later gathering all of my overtime from work, along with an equity line, and the dream became a reality. Another 2-years later due to a few changes, the car was delivered to me in 2001 at the Monterey Historics, and I have loved this car every day since. It was a pleasure to meet Carroll in person the day I took its delivery, and have nothing but a lot of respect for a man that honestly changed the way we all feel about those very quick cars he had his hand in during the 60's. Without Carroll and his dream, what would honestly be our favorite hobby or past time? To say "Thank-You" is not enough, but to honor and pay tribute is just one small step in the right direction.

Bill Kesner
CSX4141