Miles B&W race picture

[niles]

The 1960's pics ofracing cobras pictures.
Note the extreme body lean ans skinny tires. The modern "fake" cars don't roll like that! I believe todays todays replicas would would do a horizon job on these classic cars? Comments/arguements?

gn

[RallySnake]

Niles,

You are probably right about the handling of modern cars versus the older leaf spring cars running rock hard Goodyear Bluestreaks. Some people have referred to their handling as "scary".

However, there is the human factor. In so many sports, it's not always the best equipment that wins; it's more often the player who, "wants it the most". When Ken Miles was racing against Ferrari for the world championship, he was using every bit of traction, every bit of power and every inch of the track. "Teddy Treebagger" had big brass ones! Could you or I wring every last bit of performance out of our machines, lap after lap to run with him?

Remember too, that the early Cobra racecars suffered differential and transmission failures until they installed coolers on the cars. Our cars are not set up for the extreme punishment of long races. What Carroll and team accomplished in those days was largely due to very aggressive development of the cars.

Just look at Ken Miles Nassau Special with the 390 engine. Ken Miles built the powerful car to beat the Corvettes at Nassau. The first lap he was several hundred yards ahead of everyone else. But, the car blew up after a few laps. That's a pretty good picture of the capabilities of a big-engine, modern-suspension "fake" Cobra if it could be driven by one of the best.

Paul

[Excaliber]

I'm always amazed when I see those old pics too. Yup, EXTREME body roll on SKINNY tires. ......... and yet, in their time, they clearly kicked butt. Good drivers without a doubt but I believe there were other things at play also.

1. Extreme light weight. FIA 289's were around 1900 lbs. When was the last time you saw anyone with a replica that was that light? Pretty rare, and often the replicas are 2500 or higher, with FFR being among the lightest (2200 maybe?).

2. Competiton cars in that era were similiar and often WORSE in the handling department. Certainly Vettes (WAY heavy by the way) did NOT have "great suspension" at that time.

Footnote to #2: Shelby didn't just "stumble" over the AC. He KNEW that car all ready had a decent "track record". For the time it's suspension was quite advanced.

3. Superior brakes. The Vettes of that era did not get disc brakes and IRS until many years AFTER the AC all ready had those advantages.

For the time, it was a first class car to go racing in!

So how would it stack up today, with modern tires, brakes etc? Not that bad as it turns out! STILL a worthy competitor.

How hopeless the first 260-289 cars were! Clearly NOT yet ready for prime time in SO many ways. But what a great place to "start".

Ernie