Dick smith record broken 4/11/2015

[Silversmith]

Congrats on great run! I was wondering what type of Hoosiers were you running? In a earlier post I didn't see the Hoosier ID listing for the tires. Thanks!

[Virgil]

Hoosier Tire Specs:

HOO2551015HOTDSHoosier 25.5x10.0-15 HOTD S 44296
HOO2751115 Hoosier 27.5x11-15 HOTD S 44316

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by Cobra #3170

First of all congratulations on your accomplishment, running a 90" wheel base 200 miles an hour takes a very brave person! I would bet if you lowered your car an inch or two you would pick up several miles per hour, good luck on future runs.

great point, I have seen many Cobras slammed all the way to the ground when racing, plus I think it looks cooler...

[DMXF]

Originally Posted by Virgil

Hoosier Tire Specs:

HOO2551015HOTDSHoosier 25.5x10.0-15 HOTD S 44296
HOO2751115 Hoosier 27.5x11-15 HOTD S 44316

Virgil - Do you run those same tires on road courses and street? What do you think about them, especially in comparison to other available tires run on Cobras? Those sound interesting, as the front and rear tread widths are around an inch wider than other comparable tires like Avons - and the price sounds enticing if they are indeed comparable in performance

[Virgil]

I absolutely love them! I think they're one of the reasons the car tracks so good, plus a LOT of work went into the alignment / suspension / cross weight balance etc. etc.

I wouldn't use anything else at Willow on the big road course - not super fast but respectable - mid-low 1.30's.

As for the street yes, but out of the 6800 miles currently on the car, probably 2000 ( tops)
are street miles- it's a track car.

[DMXF]

Do they hunt/wander as much as bias ply Goodyears on the street?

[Virgil]

Have a street set of the standard conventoinal Eagles on the standard size wheels, (2 complete sets track and street.) Wish I never bought the street wheels because the Hoosiers don't jump around near as much. Consequently the street set just sits on the rack and doesn't get used.

[fordracing65]

Would a fatter tire make you go faster or slower, those seem very narrow for such high speed, or do you use those specs to keep it somewhat original, I know my GYBB are 295 rear, im sure you can get the hoosiers even wider...

[DMXF]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Would a fatter tire make you go faster or slower, those seem very narrow for such high speed, or do you use those specs to keep it somewhat original, I know my GYBB are 295 rear, im sure you can get the hoosiers even wider...

The tires Virgil is running are wider than most of the other tires used on Cobras, e.g.; the Hoosiers work out to be 284 (F) and 335 (R) vs the Avon 245 & 295 are 251 and 310 respectively according to published specs. Since the wider tires theoretically create more wind and rolling resistance, Virgil should gain top speed going to something narrower just for his speed record attempts, which makes his accomplishment all that more impressive.

[CobraBoy]

Congratulations on the superb achievement, Virgil! The car looks superb.

Paul

[Virgil]

Thanks guys for all your compliments and kind words.

[Cobra #3170]

Will you be attending the COCOA event at Willow on May 9th, I will probably run my GT so may see you there if you attend.

[Virgil]

I usually can't make the mother's day event. For sure in October

[RICK LAKE]

Virgil Congrats on the record. It takes alot of power to push this body style 199.00. I guess the rules have changed for the early days to today. Safety would be the first and formost thing. I believe that Smiths car ran a full windshield and no splitters. 4 speed trans. A nasty 427 built by Joe B. in Frenso.
I have looked at this record and talked to Dick when he was alive and decieded to leave it alone, not having an orginial aluminum body Shelby cobra.
Building a motor with a 5-9 speed trans with 700 and up is the easy part. Keeping the car on the ground with out ground effect is a whole different thing. It's like the Cosby 200 mph cobra, I have a paxton hood, There is no way this car will stay grounded past 138mph. We are talking about 2705 pounds of car.
For the 200 club, taping the hood, covering the hood scoop, adding a belly pan to the bottom of the car will get you another 3-5 miles per hour. The smaller make the raditor opening, this will also help.
Congrats again. Rick L.

[joyridin']

Congratulations! Awesome run! You officially won the Cobra "Big Balls Kahuna" award! LOL

[mikeinatlanta]

Weighing this against an undocumented claim by a very accomplished and respected person who is no longer with us serves no positive purpose. The good new is that we now have a documented top speed with actual measurements, photos, known conditions, and car configuration. It's time we move out of speculation and recognize a provable accomplishment for what it is. Thank you Virgil. Can't wait to see the first one hit 200.

[mr0077]

So is the 221 mph run at Bonneville mentioned in an earlier post a not legit achievement? I guess the Le Mans hardtop might make it apples and oranges, but...

In any case, big CONGRATS on this achievement, good luck on breaking 200 next year! Superb!

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by mr0077

So is the 221 mph run at Bonneville mentioned in an earlier post a not legit achievement? I guess the Le Mans hardtop might make it apples and oranges, but...

In any case, big CONGRATS on this achievement, good luck on breaking 200 next year! Superb!

Was the 221 on the 5 mile or 3 mile course? Granted traction is an issue at Bonneville but doing it from a standing start in a mile is a lot tougher than having several miles and a hard top to boot. 199 in original configuration is a great big achievement and should be recognized as such. I think Dick had a full width short windscreen that they built for racing not a stock windshield which would blow off the way they are mounted.

[big-boss]

Virgil, what an accomplishment....... You make all of us proud.......

I took my street sorted KMP498 to 150 a couple of times- it was a handful to be mild. I even kept it over 120 for 30 min on the Lincoln Highway and that was OK.

I can only imagine 199- not only a great testament to your driving skills but to your abilities to set up the car. I did not know Dick Smith that well but I would certainly agree- he would be one of your biggest fans......

Congratulations again and Godspeed be with you.

[maurice19]

Virgil,

Your car looks great , even before clean up.

A nice run for sure.

Notenoughballs Maurice