[What'saCobra?]

Correct. Mann ran the team and many contemporaries consider that it was really much of an AC championship win, although FIA paperwork obfuscate that point somewhat.

Shel' was told by FORD to stop playing with that old Cobra nit-sh.. and they would not pay CS for any of that work. The focus was the GT40 or else, rather well documented in most references and by most referees, including Shelby's own books.

Plenty of folks here have frequently commented on Shelby's remarkable skills both as a driver and promoter. Not noticing those comments or devaluing them to non-existence isn't any more fair than harping on Shel's weaknesses. Of course, Shelby continues to poke nice folks in the eye every few months, so no wonder he's not popular with everyone all the time.

CC is as fair and balanced as the only fair and balanced cable network, FOX. They are both an open and welcoming forum with great depth and breadth. But, somehow i fear that comparison will not play well with a star-struck/stuck-on-stupid progressive lawyer that unfortunately cannot choose to afford an original car but insists on investing in equivalancies and superlatives regarding the merits and importance of personal property and preferences.

We have the great freedom to prefer any team we wish, despite the probabilities. Every 100 years, even the Chicago Cubs can win the penant. We are not called the human RACE for no reason, i suppose.

Nor is it pleasing to have our postings characterized as trivial and sonehow unworthy, particularly when many here have a nicely balanced perspective of the Master's contributions to our sport's history.

It is indeed unfortunate that the Master's current machinations are not consistent with the rather glossy and not in-frequently misleading re-statements of his original contributions. It is the Master's current actions and characterizations that poke sticks in our eyes and remind us of past grievances, gross slander and self-aggandizements forgiven to what avail?

Like most human heros, up close and personal inspection isn't recommended if we wish to retain blissful faith and a simple life. Remember though that Shel' has frequently benefited from the polarization of his various antagonists and weakens their attacks thereby.

But, we all learn and this Club lesson will indeed be a bitter pill, despite any hoped for advantage. i cannot see much for him to gain, rather than the risibly better alternative solutions ignored to date.

Though we clearly love the car, most of us love the man's history, if not always the man. We admire his stamina and know it comes from still being a champion driver way down inside his loafers and above all things.

i suspect that Shelby still thinks that every single inch of "track" is of supreme importance and that the price of "success" is always a variable for which he is more willing to pay than most of us folk. His self-image may be a driving demon we monkey-less plebs cannot comprehend.

His acolytes might suffer similarly.