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Originally Posted by NASSTY
Correct me please if I'm wrong but you have 2 cobra's and four sets of wheels?!?
Must be doing something right!  |
Yeah,I know,
Stupid enough to be pouring a ton of moolah into just ONE Cobra.... but I HAD to have the race Cobra as well.
AND, On that subject of tipping cash down the drain......
Just arrived home from dropping off a gearbox at the workshop, and inspecting the new engine.....let me tell you what happened......
Only owned the race car a short time,and on only the third lap into a two day race meeting at Queensland Raceway.... and BANG...I managed to split the block.....yes....AGAIN.
i.e. I Split the block right down the middle/top to bottom a few years ago on the
street Cobra, three days after I had completed the full build ,and installation of the 347 stroker, and this time the race car was split down through the mains.....no where near as dramatic this time.
However, the "all new" engine has been built over the last few weeks,
( 302 Windsor, Arias forged pistons, Crane cam, Scat crank, light weight flywheel, solid lifters, Heads re-machined,Romac balancer, Rollmaster double timing chain etc. etc. etc.....and bloody etc.)
and it looks like it will do the job.
HOWEVER.....
There's MORE !!!
Whilst installing it on Tuesday, and ready to bolt on the T5 Gearbox...
Upon closer inspection of the gearbox, we discover that it has MAJOR problems also !!!
Cluster shaft....Input shaft.....busted...teeth missing...etc. etc....and bloody etc.!!
It now seems that perhaps the engine split, may have been "assisted" by a gearbox detonating.
Fingers crossed....the T5 I picked up today will be bolted on, and all running, ready for the Dyno by the weekend.
Now the Street Cobra......
Just had a lot of money spent on it,( All new leather interior/boot etc)
now that it will be a semi-retired race machine, and this brings me back to the new regulations for the roll bars etc.
Not too keen on changing anything on the Black and Yellow beast, and consider it to be modified enough for the race track, without any more money needing to be spent on it.
The intention was to race both cars at the Nationals...so we'll see what happens.
Again...I know that the organizers are just thinking of the safety aspect, but I can assure you, the height of the roll bars is the last thing I'd be worried about.
The danger in driving the Cobras, is usually nothing to do with the possibility of a
roll over.
Their low centre of gravity will simply make the cars slide sideways once they've reached their cornering limits.
There's plenty of other concerns...
Tank slapping,
Sliding sideways,
Lack of decent brakes,
Head and shoulders sticking out above the height of the doors,
with not much protection in the case of a side impact,
Poor brake bias,
Poor steering,
Poor suspension set ups,
Rock hard, rarely driven on ,tyres,
First time on racetrack,
Never really opened up the Car...didn't realize what a weapon it was,
Driving well beyond capabilities.
Sometimes I think that the fact that these Cobras are not the safest cars in the world, stops a lot of us from pushing our luck,and we learn very quickly that it's not worth it to push the limits too often.
I also hope that a roll bar doesn't make anyone think that they can push a bit harder, with a false sense of security.
I believe that those who are doing the sub 1.12s around Wakefield, all have a pretty good idea of what's needed and have all addressed the above list of dramas.
I think that it should be up to the individual owners to have their self preservation at the top of their list, and if you want to have a car that gets around the track at the faster times, you will already have covered all of the safety issues.
Making new requirements for those doing 1.12 or better is probably targeting the wrong participants....it would make more sense to make the new rules apply to everyone OVER 1.12........semi-serious....just trying to make a point of course.
Food for thought anyway,
Regards,
Warren.