Essex 427 Cobra CSX3009, MOST WINS?

[Excaliber]

While it ran in a lot of races and has a great history there seems to be a lack of out and out "wins" to it's credit. Pretty cool it was running in the 70's! With such history it's surprising someone hasn't take the time to restore/display it properly.

Could this car be qualifed as the "winningest" Cobra?

Ernie

[Bruce Robles]

Hi Everybody!
I believe the Cobra with the MOST wins is a 289 raced by Don Roberts out of Phoenix AZ. For 5 years or so we raced against him in our GT-350 R. He acually sold the Cobra after winning the SCCA Runoffs at Road Atlanta I think in 1968 and ran a GT-350. He painted it RED, BLACK and WHITE, the 1969 Colors of the Bud Moore Trans Am Boss 302 Mustangs. I'm not sure how many times he won in that car but after Loosing his Championship Title in 1971 to a guy named Baker or Barker, who was a GM Engineer in a (Read Factory) 1970 350 cid. Corvette, Don bought his trusty 289 Cobra back on a mission to get the title back and to show that 7 year old 289 Cobra with a single 4 Barrel Carb. (as per the rules at the time) could still put the best GM had to offer on the trailer, in 2nd.. I was at both the '71 and '72 run offs and it was a joy to see the checkered flag back on #89 where had been for so long.
I will admit that I do not know how races the car won but I read in a Automotive mag. a few years ago that it has the most wins of any Cobra and a lot of other cars for that matter.

[computerworks]

Thanks, Bruce.

Don Roberts ran CSX2473.

Cobrajeff has a few pics of his car from the 70's in his Gallery



Don Lee now owns the car; it was at SAAC-27 last year...

[Excaliber]

Don't want to step on any toes here but,,,,,,,,

The 89 car looks to "over restored". I love the more "raw" look in the first pic. The shoulders on the fender flair, the color of the wheels, perhpas even the roll bar.

Racing cars DO go through a series of transitions in their life. It would be almost impossible to "restore" to original condition. The argument could be made: "What WAS orignial condition at WHAT time?"

The big issue for me is in fact the square shoulders on the fenders. Gives it that true FIA look.

Ernie

[Jim locke]

Hello everyone. My name is Jim Locke and I was Ed Lowthers crew chief from 1979 Thru 1983 on his A/P GT-1 car. Ed passed away of a heart attack 4-15-1999. He was on his way to deliver a eulogy to an old sprintcar driver friend in Allentown Pa. Ed was hands down the funniest man I have ever met and was one of my dearest friends. He loved the Cobra except to be honest he said they had no brakes. Don't yell at me! I remember him telling me, with a laugh, that he had gotten 10 grand for the car when he sold it to Sammy Feinstien and feeling like he had really made out on the deal! His first wife Jeannie, the blond in some of the pictures, still lives in Pittsburgh. His second wife Peggy lives in Ormand Beach Florida along with all of Ed's trophys and photos. Some more info can be seen at steeltowncorvettes.com (He became one hell of a Corvette driver when He sold the Cobra. He loved big cars!) Jim Locke

[cobrajeff]

Jim -

Thank you for the update and comments on Ed Lowther. I enjoyed his talk at the early SOA Convention. Sorry to hear he is no longer with us.

regards,

Jeff Burgy

[BT SNAKE]

This is one of the best threads I have ever read here at CC.
To see that some of the old track warriors are out there reading these threads is great. It's even better when they post comments as Jim Locke did to give us a little of the inside stories.
Thanks Jim, and please raise that post count..

Hersh

[PatBuckley]

I emphatically second that, BT!!

Jim - there has to be some great stories you can tell us!

Pat Buckley

[Jim locke]

Hi guys I'm busy tonight with domestic Christmas duties and digging out here in Pittsburgh. The Ed stories are endless and I will reply later tonite or tomorrow ( His standard line when being belted in was " Is this thing safe? to which I would say SURE it's safe! "Then how come you welded all these pipes over my head?!!") Jim

[Bart Carter]

I was always told that Dick Smith was the winningest Cobra driver. Anyone have some comparisons?

[CSX 4027]

It's been sold recently and is undergoing a full restoration. A lot of bodt was replaced if not all. I'll keep posted and get some spy shots as things progress.

[duvi]

Re: Essex Wire Cobra. One question.

To be considered to be the most "Winingest" cobra does the car qualify if it has only won one race and come in many losing positions, or is there some confusion in the term winning on your side of the pond.
Here in Europe winning generally means coming first.

Please accept this question in the light hearted manner in which it is put.

[Excaliber]

Coming in first was my idea of the most "wins". As such it does not appear that the Essex wire Cobra can make that claim to fame.

NASCAR takes a different approach to the championship DRIVER. Based on points earned for most lead laps, most top 5 finishes, etc. it is possible to "win" the championship without ever actually winning even a single race. This years champion in fact won only ONE race the entire season.

Ernie

[Steve Vague]

Who recalls Dick Workman and his 427, running SCCA Nationals (West Coast) through the 80s? I seem to recall that his car had so many dings and dents it was hard to distinguish as a Cobra. I think he may have been one of the last truly campaigned Cobras(non vintage).
What ever became of it? I think Dick was also running Formula 5000, and may have been killed or seriously injured in the initial Long Beach Grand Prix.

[computerworks]

Thanks to CC member Duvi for this recent picture of CSX3009...

[cobrajeff]

Steve -

I remember Dick Workman. Only met him once, at the SCCA ARRC Nationals at Road Atlanta in 1974. Went to the run-offs to watch Al French (GT350) and Sam Feinstein (427 Cobra) run after meeting them at SOA Conventions. Workman drove like a madman - guess sometimes that is what it takes to finish on top. He was the highest placing Cobra in the A/B Production race that included Feinstein, Col. Loren Pearson, and Mack Yates.

I recall that the steering wheel center on Workman's Cobra was engraved with a dedication to a friend of his he had lost. The guy was a real hard-charger. According to the SAAC Registry, Workman dissapppeared at sea in the 80's, and is presumed to have drowned.


Here is what their cars looked like at the run-offs in 1974:

Dick Workman's CSX 3137, built up from several wrecked race cars - (note 289 body configuration)




Col. Loren Pearson's CSX3343 - if I recall, he was having engine troubles this week-end




Mack Yate's 289 USSRC competition Cobra roadster - I recall this one flying around the corners, lifting the inside front wheel.




It was a great week-end, even though none of my favorite Cobras or GT350's won.

regards,

Jeff

[BT SNAKE]

Thanks Jeff, Great stuff !!

Hersh

[computerworks]

Ditto, Jeff ..thanks a bunch for those images... Early-70's cars are great to see!

[PDHse]

Thanks Jeff for sharing those pictures.

[CSX 4027]

3009 was supposedly burned in a fire on the Jersey Turnpike. The car that now wears it's number was examined before the restoration and was said to have no comp car indications. No bronze bushed suspension, no diff cooler and appeared to be a street car. I guess only his hairdresser knows for sure if it is the real deal or a replica.