Team Cobras running at Road America right now

[Historybuff]

Found this story on the net. There's pictures on other websites too. Wish they were CSX3000 cars but in the heat of battle, if you squint a little, you will think you're back in '65...hope some cheeseheads post some pics


Team Shelby to run in vintage race at Road America this weekend
By GREG MIGLIORE



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PHOTO GALLERY Carroll Shelby is racing again with Ford this weekend. But before you dust off your 1960s Le Mans memorabilia and start checking those frequent-flier miles, here's the context. Shelby's company, Shelby Automobiles, is fielding a team of four replica 427 Cobras, which will compete in a vintage-car race at Road America.

The 85-year-old icon's role is largely oversight, and for practical purposes, Ford is simply the event sponsor. But for racing fans, the mix of Shelby, Ford and competition is sure to stir nostalgia and excitement.

Here's the kicker: There are some potentially intriguing product implications for Shelby's Mustang business if it continues racing. This weekend in Wisconsin is simply a turn-back-the-clock vintage race. But ultimately, Shelby wants to race pony cars, with the idea that the lessons learned on the track could be applied to help build better cars.

"It was always good to go racing over the weekend, win the race and sell cars on Monday," said Gary Patterson, Shelby's chief test driver and vice president of operations.

Souping up Mustangs has always been big business for Shelby Automobiles, which outfitted 6500 cars last year. This year, the company has been busy with the 540-hp GT500KR, which makes up a significant chunk of the 3000 cars the company expects to do this year.

Not surprisingly, Ford is a bit more cautious in talking about future Shelby Mustangs and said there are no new plans beyond this weekend's race. Still, with an updated Mustang likely to be unveiled later this year, the car would provide an obvious canvas for Ford and Shelby to continue their longstanding relationship.

"We're always talking with Shelby about what's next," Ford spokesman Alan Hall said.

For enthusiasts who don't care to read the tea leaves and simply want to bask in the opportunity to see a Shelby team on the track again, the Road America race should be great. The four CSX4000 427 Cobras are reproductions in the style of the 1965 cars, though the brakes and suspensions received minor updates to accommodate modern racing. They range in horsepower from 550 hp to 750 hp and check in at roughly 2280 pounds.

Shelby considered running original Cobras, but they were deemed too valuable--in history and dollars--for competitive racing.

The event, called the Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman, is one of the largest vintage gatherings in the nation. It starts July 17 with registration and testing and runs through July 20, which is race day.

This weekend is also the first time since 1969 that Ford and Shelby have collaborated on a race--though it's largely a marketing effort. Still, the road trip down memory lane should be a fun one, complete with exhaust fumes and competition.

Stay tuned for what's next. As Carroll Shelby put it in a statement released by his company: "My goal is to return us to professional racing, and this is just the beginning."

[computerworks]

These are 4 CSX4000 race cars, in the Challenge config, I believe.

They are running in Group 10, B/P. Group 10 is Post-Historic GT (1972-1997)

The other cars on 10BP with the CSX4000s are Porsche 911SC, 964RS, and 964C2, as well as BMW E46-M3.

Tom Barnard is one of the CSX4000 jocks.

Good for them....

[computerworks]

Bill Murray will be competing in the Vintage Class with his CSX3000 car... and I believe there is at least one other CSX2000 in the Entry list.

[Don]

Source: Autoblog

" When the vintage racers hit the track for the 2008 Kohler International Challenge at Road America this weekend, the Shelby Automobiles Racing Team will be officially represented for the first time since the late 1960s. Ford is one of the event sponsors and is backing the Shelby effort, which will field four CSX4000 Shelby 427 Cobras in the event. To hear Carroll Shelby tell it, there's probably more to come "

"It was never a matter of if, but when Shelby would make it back to the track," added Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. "


"Tom Barnard, Vincent Dean, AC and Tim Korzen will pilot four CSX4000 427 Cobras in Group 10 ".

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/s...-to-the-track/

[Historybuff]

Of course I realize it's 40-plus years later but would love to hear if any of the original racing mechanics, or racers made it back there for the event. also I wonder if the CSX4000 cars would be legal to run in an event like the 12 hours of Sebring or 24 Hours of Daytona today? I don't know if they would if they are sold as uncompleted cars but aren't Lotus 7s or their copies sold as uncompleted cars too?

It would be interesting if they could compete in modern racing because
basically the CSX4000 cars are simple cars and longevity is what these races are all about, and the less parts you have the less there is to break....

[Don]

The AutoWeek.com version:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...1/newsletter01

[mschjone]

This Cheesehead is here at Road America. . . . and enjoying every second of it. Anything in particular you would like pictures of??? I will post what I have after the weekend. The "orange" Tom Barnard car is fast!! Had him at 164mph at the Start/Finish line yesterday. It was not the most accurate reading because of where I was at. (Up on the bridge that crosses that straight-a-way).

Met A.C. D'Augustine, another one of the CSX4000 drivers. What a super nice guy! Saw Bill Murray, Dave Murray (with his red 289 car), Alden Rix (with CSX3017).

[Don]

mschjone:

The event your attending is sanctioned by the SVRA as: No SVRA Series points. Do not know the sanctioning org for the Lime Rock Rolex Vintage Special , 29 Aug-1 Sept. Has there been any mention of the CSX 4000 Cobras going to Lime Rock, or could you ask ?

.................thanks

http://www.svra.com/SVRA/SVRAHome.ns...E?OpenDocument

http://www.limerock.com/content/events-rolex-vintage

[mschjone]

Don,

I asked Tom Barnard (driver of the orange CSX4000 series car), he said they were not going to Lime Rock. The next track they will be at is tentatively Miller Motorsports Park in September, he thought.

[Don]

mschjone

Thanks for asking regarding Lime Rock ........could not find the race results on either Road America or SVRA web sites, how did the Cobra's do ?

The Lime Rock event is sponsored by BMW, and Ford was the sponsor at Road America, speculation , might influence where the CSX 4000 series are entered ?

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by mschjone

Don,
The next track they will be at is tentatively Miller Motorsports Park in September, he thought.

Probably the HSR event 9/11-9/14

Heroes of Speed - Grand East/West Challenge

[Don]

With the Mustang events, a good opportuniy to have the CSX 4000 Cobras at the event:

" Another series making its first appearance at Miller Motorsports Park is the all-new Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup. This series is an outgrowth of the Mustang Challenge class that was developed as part of the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School and Miller Park Racing Association here at Miller Motorsports Park. MMP owns and operates the series, which is contesting eight rounds in its inaugural season, with the final round this weekend. The series utilizes the 2008 Ford Mustang FR500S, the first racing car to be built on a production line in the long history of Ford Motor Company. The identically-prepared cars have 4.6-liter, 24-valve V8 engines producing 325hp that are dyno-tested and sealed by Roush Engineering, and provide an affordable venue for competitors looking to go racing in a professional series with a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive car. "

http://www.millermotorsportspark.com...hp?event_id=75

[mschjone]

Don,

The results are now up on the Road America website.

or

http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=232731

the red CSX4000 series car driven by A.C. D'Augustine wrecked on the final race on Sunday. He was battling a Porsche all weekend long and they tangled and he ended up in the wall by turn five. The majority of the opinions that I heard were that the Porsche was in the wrong and was the cause of the crash. I did not see the crash myself.

A.C. was not hurt but the car suffered some significant front end damage.

[REAL 1]

Neat stuff. Neat to see the Cobras back where they belong. On the race track in the heat of battle.

[kris-kincaid]

mschjone,

those results are from the 07 Kohler Int'l Challenge / Brian Redman - Road America.

Too bad about AC.

[Don]

Road America 2008 Results:

http://www.roadamerica.com/images/ra...08_results.pdf

[Slither]

A.C. is a very aggressive driver. I have a slightly damaged red Cobra body that belongs to A.C. in my garage that I am storing for Tom. I'm waiting for the call to get it back to Vegas. Good news that A.C. is OK!!!

[mschjone]

Sorry for the bad link. I see the right one is up now. On another note. . a few observations on the Shelby American Collection crew that was at Road America again this year. Bill and Dave Murray, Alden Rix, Rick Armitstead, were there and put on another good show. The 427 car (CSX3032) had engine problems on Thurs. and did not race the rest of the weekend. In 2007 Bill Murray recorded the fastest lap ever in a Cobra at Road America with that car. They again brought GT40 (P1021). Last year Bill dominated with that car. This year a Lola T70 was a little too much to handle and Bill came in 2nd.

Dave M. had his red 289 car there and Alden Rix had 427 CSX3017, both for show not race.

[Don]

A.C. D'Augustine

5 year old info:

" A.C. and Patti have purchased and refurbished an old ski lodge on Peak 7 in Breckenridge, CO, which is being run by son and partner Patrick. AC and Patti have relocated to Las Vegas, NV and AC is actively involved in road racing of his '65 Shelby Cobra racecar. Daughter Stephanie has completed her medical residency at Stanford and is now setting up practice in San Diego, CA. updated Mar 03."

Anyone know, is this the Ski Lodge ?

http://www.ahighcountrylodge.com/

[mschjone]

Here are some pictures of the Shelby American Collection crew. . .