Do you let people drive your Cobra? - Page 2

Jamo · #21 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 11:59 AM

BEFORE I even got to drive my own car, this crazy dude named Little Davey Kirkham jumps in the driver's seat, tells me to get in, and then he proceeds to drive me up his own little private raceway--up the canyon, and up a few thousand feet to the top of Squaw's Peak--no guardrails, etc., and he's hanging it out on every corner.

Then he lets me drive it the last mile or so back to the shop.

I have no problem with folks I KNOW driving it. Tom Kirkham only had a short time with it at the Fling...he'll do more when I take it back to the nest to make sure of the settings. Buckley can drive anything I own...he's that good. Turk can drive anything I own...he's that slow.

BPWilliams · #22 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 01:27 PM

I only let 2 people drive my car, One is the Boss, the other is the Alignment guy.
It took me two years to build my car, and we went to a lot of car shows during that time, I never sat in one, or drove one. I knew that the Cobra was something special, kinda like your first girl. My wife on the other hand, sat in them all, and went for rides when she could!
I drove my wife to a secure location, and cautioned her again for the 5K time. She drove around the block (quite well) and pulled over. She got out of the drivers side and gave me the keys. That was the last time she drove the car, and she has no desire to. She said that it's hard to drive with her eyes closed, something she does in the passenger seat for comfort. She would rather sit in the passenger side and go for the ride, rather than drive.
The Alignment guy did not want to drive the car, but for the money he was paid for the alignment I wanted to make sure it was right.
I have an issue with letting somebody drive the car, it's like my child and I want to protect it. The car is dangerous, and can get away from you very fast. YES, it's personal, and it's MINE so there I said it, na na na.......
I also do not like giving rides, only because I do not trust myself, and I know that they want a good ride. The heart stoping speed can only be felt if you use the gas pedal, and I can not stop that from happening..........
Brian

65 Blur · #23 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 01:29 PM

Wife gets to drive it anytime - well, it is her car. Also have let a short list of friends drive as well as my 19 year old son. I too love the looks / feelings they convey after driving a no frills beast like the Cobra.

Roy

flipper35 · #24 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 01:59 PM

My wife, mom, and dad can drive mine anytime. I have two friends that are paid to drive race cars, although one has a back injury and doesn't race anymore. My daughter when she is old enough. I hope I raise her with enough common sense that I don't have to set the rev limit to 2500rpm. I have another friend that has built and driven several race cars and has his own body shop, so if he breaks it he can fix it. I also told Jamo he could drive it when he is down here (secretly hoping he would let me drive his Audi sometime). Any of the above can drive with or without me, they are trustworthy, have good common sense, and I have good insurance. There are others, including close friends that get rides only. I have noticed that lots of people assume because they can toss their car around a parking lot, they are qualified to drive a short wheelbase, low #/hp car.

Tony Aprile · #25 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 02:18 PM

No one has asked, nor have I offered. Does that make me a bad person ?????

Tony

blykins · #26 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 03:20 PM

My Cobra is currently in the build process with no drivetrain or suspension. However, I will let anyone sit on a bucket and make as many engine sounds as they care to. I won't tolerate hot-rodding though...no clutch dumps or speedshifting. :-)

Jamo · #27 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 03:34 PM

Got to get to IV, got to get to IV.....

Okiesnake · #28 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 04:48 PM

A hand full of friends have driven my car. Lately I have let my 16 year old daughter drive it a few times (the rule is only with me in the passenger seat!). She does OK. I am going to install adjustable seat rails for the driver's seat so she can fit better. She has to scoot way down in the seat each time to use the clutch. It'll probably be a while before I let her drive it with out me in the car.
Okiesnake

excelguru · #29 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 07:15 PM

My wife can't drive a stick and I can't seem to find time to teach her (imagine that).

During my prolonged "research" phase, I had the opportunity to ride in several cars and drive one person's Cobra on two occasions. The first occasion was actually the first time I'd met him! He rode with me the first time and I was... how do you say it... GENTLE!!!!

The second time, he handed me the keys and allowed me to take someone else for a spin. I was careful to make sure it was pointed dead-straight before giving it about 1/4 to 1/2 throttle (enough to make some noise and make the passenger happy). Of course, I was stiff as a nail at the time... is anyone around?... is the car pointed straight?... is that squirrell gonna cross the road?... is the car pointed straight?...

So far, nobody has piloted my car except me (unless I've had a lapse of memory). But only because I haven't had the chance to offer it to some other Cobra owners. Most likely, I'd be happy to toss the keys to any fellow Cobra owner. I know that he/she has a true understanding of what the car is capable of (and what it's NOT capable of). As for others, it would just depend. My dad? You bet!

I would give the keys to my son, but he'd just slobber on them. (see photo album)

Hal Copple · #30 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 07:21 PM

i have had probably at least 40-50 other guys drive my car, but after a few of them scared me, i am much less likely to let them do so any more. You really can't predict what someone else is apt to do.

I am very careful nowadays when i give a "demonstration" ride, too. I have become more careful than i used to be.

DAVID GAGNARD · #31 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 07:31 PM

While my car is only a 65 Fastback,I'll still chime in...... I have a "short" list of about six people who can drive my car,but with me as a passenger or at least there. Two guys have driven at open track events,talk about trusting these two guys,but I do....nothing like seeing your car go down the track at speed with an SCCA licensed driver behind the wheel....

Wife has driven it once or twice and doesn't care to drive it ever again,17 year old daughter wanted to go to school in it last year to race some kid in a new Mustang GT,yea right,like I would let her drive it to school to race some pimple face kid.....Later I did take her for a ride down a long empty country road,went a mile or two down and pulled over and let her get behind the wheel,she took off slowly shifting gears at 2,000rpms,when in forth at about 45mph I told her to give it some gas,she gave it a very little and I told her three or four times to give it some more gas,which she did very gingerly,once she got it up to 60 mph,she put it in nuetral and pulled over to a stop and she she was too scared to ever drive my car again,I said GREAT,just what I was hoping for,now she has a healthy respect for cars like mine.....

I have actually had total strangers come up to me and ask to "take it for a spin",always said "go right ahead,just as soon as you leave a 25K cash deposit",that usually takes care of those knuckle heads....

Friday morning I went to work in the car and stopped at a local convience store for a coke around 8 am,lady working there had her son (about 10 years old) there with her,he came to the door and went outside as I went in and was admiring my car,when I came out he asked if I owner the car and told me it was beautiful,I thanked him for the compliment and opened the door and asked if he would like to sit behind the wheel,his eyes lit up and he got in,I pulled the seat up and buckled him up in the racing belts and told him to put one hand on the wheel and the other on the shifter,which he did,just wish I'd taken a picture for him,he looked soo happy.... His grin probably lasted all day,that made my day,afterwards going down the road I could still see the look on that kids face and I thought,life sure is good......

David

speed220mph · #32 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 07:37 PM

After Jim Maxwell had me drive his REALTHING 427 to troubleshoot a suspension problem I returned the favor by letting him drive mine. It's amazing how we both felt at home in each other's cars. The ERA 427 felt like the "real thing", telling me how hard the guys at ERA worked at duplicating the original Cobra. Jim commented to me it was the best feeling Cobra he had driven, and he's owned a few "real ones".

btsai · #33 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 08:41 PM

Mikiec -- you're forgetting someone.

(Well, at least for about 3 blocks...).

I guess my mother was right -- I am special. LOL

Ben

mikiec · #34 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 09:21 PM

Yes, Ben you are special....

Do you want to drive it again????

Mike

f4steri · #35 (**permalink**) 08-04-2003, 10:19 PM

I call 'ol SPF # 725 "Silver". Only the Lone Ranger rides Silver!
Frank