You fast guys are Nucking Futs!!

[RedBarchetta]

A spectacular day in So Cal today, so I make a jaunt to the local hardware store for some "honey do" items. This "quick" run would entail about one hour, as I took a circuitious route to maximize my seat time and get to know this car more. I decided to make a beeline for the 91 Freeway just to see how the car felt at speed.

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! I CAN'T BELIEVE SOME OF YOU ACTUALLY DRIVE THESE CARS TOWARD THE 150mph MARK!! YOU ARE SICK PUPPIES!!

Well, I first took it slow and 65 was just plain bouncy and windy. I think I need to back off a few clicks on the shocks. After about 2 miles, I started getting comfortable. Then after getting sandwiched for a 1/2 mile and then having no less than three other cars trying to jockey around me for a looksie, I finally saw an opening to rid myself of these other drivers. A quick blip of the throttle and a downshift to 4th brought the RPMS up to four grand, and I eased into the throttle and didn't shift until the tach flashed 5,500. The speedo was now dancing mightily just north of the century mark, so I backed off.

My hats off to you guys that bomb around tracks at speed in these cars. I barely hit 100mph and I swear I saw the grim reaper peering over my shoulder. LOL

-Deano

[clayfoushee]

Deano/Red,

Thanks, I got a very big grin from your post. That's exactly the way I felt the first time I drove mine at speeds above 70mph. Later, I became a little more comfortable, but not that much. Just barely into 3 digits is plenty for me, too! It's getting there quickly that's the vast majority of the fun.

[Excaliber]

.......and true! At 100 the reaper only looks over your shoulder. At 150 he's sitting right beside you!

Ernie

[trularin]

Deano/Red,

Probably not a good idea to tell anyone what your shorts looked like after that "short blip". LOL

Fun, isn't it?

[maxrpm]

In a month you'll be posting "how do I get more power from my..." all over the place!

[Rick Parker]

Just wait till you see Elvis, then you'll know you're hauling the freight!

Rick

[Doug I]

Originally posted by Excaliber


.......and true! At 100 the reaper only looks over your shoulder. At 150 he's sitting right beside you!

Ernie

When you get up toward 160 or so the reaper starts to look a little uneasy as he glances your way. When the needle gets north of 170 he gives up riding with you as a bad joke and goes home.

If you get up near the 200 mark the Good Lord himself stops in for a look to see just how it's done ......

[BANDIT 1]

I wondered what had happened to my passenger after I passed 170 mph, now I know...

[Unique580hp]

I'm not sure if it is in my head or really happening, but at "only" about 125 is seems my steering is already getting light. Do you guys that are going 150+ have front spoilers or any other tricks to glue the front end down?

[Dan Semko]

Deano,
Try this. Back all of your shocks down to the lowest the dial turns. Rotate to the first palpable click, then add 5 more clicks. Do this on all 4 shocks.
Also drop your tire pressure down to 18 psi on the front and 19 on the rears. It should ride and handle better.

[RedBarchetta]

Dan, I'll try that....thanks!

[GOCATS]

I guess that explains the cold chill I get every now and then I remember taking a friend out for a ride whom I've know since childhood dowhshifted to third at about 95 nailed it and felt the rearend start to go sideways... WHoa big fella! I 've run mine at about 120-125 range felt comfortable but steering starts to get a little light. The problem is getting to 100 doesn't take that long

[CSX 4027]

4027 was dialed in for the track so when I had it on the street, it was great at the sacrifice of the tires wearing funny.

Driving fast is a lot more than pressing on a pedal. I have always suggested all Cobra owners to take racing schools. It not only teaches you to drive fast but it will also make you a better street driver. I am still amazed at the typical sporty car, "I know everything about fast cars and have done it all" kind of guy that stares at the nose of his car when he drives and has the reaction time of a dead person. Also, I have seen many pull old hot rodder stunts that they remember their friend doing in High School with Solid axel heavy full bodied GTO type muscle cars.

I have also seen the results of a Kit car guy who thought he really drove well and didn't realize that if you kick loose the tires as you make a turn at a light and keep the throttle pinned, the care will first fishtail the expected way then come back and fishtail the other way and violently snap back. I heard the pole he hit came throught the passenger side and almost killed his son.

Light steering? Yes the car will have lift at over 145 or so. It happened to me. If you do the math, I was chipped at 7000 with 3.73 gears and 26.5" tires. At 7000 that was about 155. The rev limiter was my alarm system.

Bottom line. Be careful on the street. The car is easy to lose even if you are a schooled driver.

[TimG427]

I was a passenger in my car in 1999 when the Midwest Shelby Club rented Road America for the weekend. The fellow that had the car built lives in Milwaukee and took me for a ride of my life.
I was actually glad when the five or so laps were done because I was scared to death. This guy drives on the edge and is a National Champion Toyota Atlantic driver. No windshield and nearly a one mile front straight make for lots of wind in the face.
A GT500 owner said he was going 130 and we passed him on the front straight like he was standing still. I would never, never drive one of these cars much over 120. That is plenty fast for me.

[RaceDeck]

I race out on the Slat Flats and hold all 3 land speed records in the F/ blown gas roadster class ( with qaulifying passes over 200mph... I am all about speed...With that said, I would never think of bringing my cobra much over 150 mph...That is extremely fast on the pavement for a Cobra and you are definetly playing with your luck...I do not think anyone should be out there playing with tires pressures at these speeds...I would hate to read about anyone getting killed trying...I have been close to 180 in my Viper GTS and that was even a little sketchy because it is set up to drive on the street ( though has major suspension, brakes and motor work done...plus a 6 point roll bar and harness)....

**At 200 mph I was passing the mile markers at a rate of 1 every 8 seconds,....Speed Safely!

RaceDeckRacing

[niles]

make sure your ride height is not nose up.
Your front should be about a inch lower than you rear to give the car a slight nose down. At 100mph, doing about 5200 rev in third; my car tracks perfectly, only hint of going fast is that the steering is quicker and wants smooth inputs. 2nd rule of cobra'an squeeze the throttle always. No slaming it down like your stove bolt 6

gn

[RaceDeck]

I race out on the Slat Flats and hold all 3 land speed records in the F/ blown gas roadster class ( with qaulifying passes over 200mph... I am all about speed...With that said, I would never think of bringing my cobra much over 150 mph...That is extremely fast on the pavement for a Cobra and you are definetly playing with your luck...I do not think anyone should be out there playing with tires pressures at these speeds...I would hate to read about anyone getting killed trying...I have been close to 180 in my Viper GTS and that was even a little sketchy because it is set up to drive on the street ( though has major suspension, brakes and motor work done...plus a 6 point roll bar and harness)....

**At 200 mph I was passing the mile markers at a rate of 1 every 8 seconds,....Speed Safely!

RaceDeckRacing

[John 550]

One of my first rides with my new engine has taken most of the fun out of driving a high powered car.
I could not have go fifty feet , could not have been going that fast , maybe 30 , but had it floored .
A little dip in the road I guess , and it just snapped into a spin that was uncontrolable. Thank god no one
got hurt !
I don't want that to ever happen again , so that is my mission . I will do what it takes to learn how to
properly drive . Or jut drive proper for now , and sell it . There is no grey area .
I am interested in what / how it happened . limited slip rear ? I drove 7000 miles with my 390 400hp (hyd) .
I guess the 427 (solid) is just alot for the street . I have a lot of respect for those of you who drive at speed
with a tork monster.

[petek]

Hey, here in Missouri even 60 mph can be a challenge as we've got the world's worst highways! Pot holes, chunks, and the ever popular rut.

There is a section of highway I am on every day. There are two long dips (ruts) in the road surface that will more or less take over the steering of the car for you. Barely noticable in a big Ford Expedition but in a Cobra (or Mini), wow, what a ride.

150 mph in a Cobra? Sure, on a pristine racing surface or salt flat! Or for a similar experience, just take a Missouri road at 60 mph.

[RACER X #99]

150+ MPH on the racetrack is thrilling. 65 MPH on a crowded Interstate scares the crap out of me. I'm taking the plates off this year.
Cranky