As a matter of fact Ernie, I did have a Pinto drag car---and it ran mid 6s at 220-230 back in early seventies---I also had Chev Monza--one of the first pro stock cars into the 7s and high 170mph and that was later 70s.
The idea that a 600+ hp 90 inch car of any shape with the engine set back that a Cobra has is traction limited is rediculous, now with the nice ride built into them with there BMW and Lincoln rear ends its no wonder that they spin the tires
However since you can't use your power on the street, and the fact that they ( these days/replicas) aren't very good or even legal road race cars, drag racing a little bit is about all your going to be able to do---and the use of a Ford 9 inch with some gears and spool, set of slicks( new 10.5 ) a real 3 or 4 bar suspension---open the headers and let her rip----but don't expect a lot above 140-150 as the cars aero just doesn't cut it
I personally don't asspire to have my Cobra look like the Cobra picture posted above in order to get more traction. It's a rolling joke, an interesting joke, but it has little or nothing to do with the spirit of a Cobra's original design criteria. This is a classic 'waxers' car, as you might put it! Useless on the street and laughable on a road course.
The only race track Oahu has recently closed, no drag racing, no SCCA events, no more road course. I ran the 1/4 mile from time to time, but mainly I ran the road course, and did some cone hunting. I was very pleased with it's performance on the road course, but it was severely 'traction limited' on the 1/4 mile, and I'm not interested in mounting slicks or upsetting the suspension in search of a better ET. 11.90 at 121 mph, by the way, in road racing configuration.
Last edited by Excaliber; 10-03-2007 at 11:50 AM..
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique Motorcars 289 FIA, S. Automotive 354 stroker
Posts: 148
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You don't need a solid axle, spool or specialty suspension for a mid-11's car. I run 11's with a 354 stroker on a Jag IRS with open diff. 1.7's all night long. Here's a video of mine:
Get about 450 or so hp, a strong tranny, sticky tires (I use Nitto DR's) and lots of seat time. 11's no problem in a ~2500lb car.
Low 7's in the 1/8th is the thread topic, mine runs 7.98 in the 1/8th, to slow! My car is pretty darn close to the specs of an original, iron heads (1964), flat tappet cam, top loader, bias ply tires, irs, 427 side oiler, OEM intake, iron water pump, etc. Much like a typical Cobra you could buy from Shelby in 1965. Many 'independants' back in the day DROVE their Cobra to the track, ran it, and DROVE home, as I do. And THATS what I'm talking about!
Out dated design, a dinosaur, not as good as todays modern cars? The basic design is 40 plus years old. WHAT 40 year old car, priced in the range of a Vette 'back in the day' can you even seriously compare to a modern car based on performance? Any takers? Come on, gotta be ONE? What? Not even ONE?
And yet Cobras are consistently compared to a handful of todays modern cars, that in itself speaks volumes about the Cobra's potential. Vettes, Ferraris, Vipers. THESE are the typical comparison today, some FORTY YEARS later.
Last edited by Excaliber; 10-03-2007 at 01:10 PM..
Those of you who have taken your cars to the track... Do they really allow the roll bar equipped on most cobras to count as a safety device? This is tech at my track (Thunder Valley Oklahoma)
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance, Roush 427R-095, Pro Systems carb, 2" headers, Buckshot Racefab side pipes, 10s off idle start
Posts: 705
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With drag radials, limited slip rear and decent traction I'd imagine about 400 wheel HP on easy start should get you very low 7s or even high 6s given a 1.6 60 ft or better. 275/60 Mickey Thompson ET Street drag radials would be just fine with decent track prep and temperature.
With drag radials, limited slip rear and decent traction I'd imagine about 400 wheel HP on easy start should get you very low 7s or even high 6s given a 1.6 60 ft or better. 275/60 Mickey Thompson ET Street drag radials would be just fine with decent track prep and temperature.
I am shooting for 500+ wheel HP so I should be good.
My Excalibur roll bar was noted by the manufacturer as 'cosmetic' and even a quick inspection of it's design would lead one to the same conclusion. My ERA roll bar is quite different in it's design, I believe it is a 'real' one and passed inspection at my local track. Once I broke into the 11's I had to wear a Nomex jacket and arm restraints. Helmet of course, regardless of your ET. 10's would have required a roll cage.
My Excalibur roll bar was noted by the manufacturer as 'cosmetic' and even a quick inspection of it's design would lead one to the same conclusion. My ERA roll bar is quite different in it's design, I believe it is a 'real' one and passed inspection at my local track. Once I broke into the 11's I had to wear a Nomex jacket and arm restraints. Helmet of course, regardless of your ET. 10's would have required a roll cage.
Ya, I know the hurricane should be a pretty solid roll bar as well. I've seen some roll bars on cobras though that are BELOW the drivers head! Dunno what that'd do! I hate red cars usually.. but I love your car! It looks so... vintage! haha It's one of 2 red cobras i have pictures of, usually I pass by the red cobras.
Now that the dragstrip has closed, what do you guys do???If I remember there isn't many places to get on it except for a very short distance
Do you know if the guy still has my old rear engine dragster parked in a trailor somewhere? I recently got a call from an agent for a fellow that was collecting cars and is going to open a museum---he wants my front engine and rear engine car as both of them have considerable history
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance, Roush 427R-095, Pro Systems carb, 2" headers, Buckshot Racefab side pipes, 10s off idle start
Posts: 705
Not Ranked
I usually go with a car club in which we rent the track. They generally don't bother the group or me with faster passes in the Cobra. 10.0 is the number they give for the club as a cut off.
I have passed 10.0 tech on a couple of occasions with my Cobra at the run what you brung night too by having Superformance roll bar, battery in stock trunk location, drive shaft loop, scatter shield bell housing, five point with submarine belt, fire jacket, gloves and arm restraints. They do sort of smile and look the other way with the little roll bar.
I use my G-tech Competition meter for testing too.
We have a local 1/8th mile that is sponsored by a group called racelegal.com that will let us get a little below our tech but not too far. The do require the arm restraints for sub 7.50 in a cobra but we always fill in the tech form for 7.5 - 9.0 and get away with it. I was running consistantly in the 7.40's with standard street setup and the Goodyear billboard tires and 3.31 gear. Tried launching hard but just couldn't get the 60 foot time below 1.8. Soft launching got me in the low 1.7 range at 60 feet and finished at 7.40's and high 90's.
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Yeah it's a real 'drag' since the track closed! Where does a guy 'get on it' from time to time? Not on an open forum, I'll tell you that.
I never was big on the drag racing scene but I DID try to find the dragster your talking about, no luck. I mostly hung with the SCCA Formula Ford gang, and the road race guys in general. But pretty much everyone has 'evaporated' on the racing scene, even the Drifters! We DO have some support at the STATE level for a new track, but the city/county of Honolulu has shown little interest in helping at all.
Greg, there is no way they would pass the cobra roll bar at my track 10.99 and below. They would probably frown and say ok at 11.99 and below just to see the snake run down the track! haha With my notch, they wouldn't even let me on the track after my 10.80 pass because their rulles say 11.99 and below requires a roll bar. I said i'd put street tires back on and have no traction but they said, "put a roll bar in it and we'll let you back out here, you don't have to put a full cage in it like the rules say a 10.99 car must have, but you have to put a roll bar in at a minimum." I said no thanks!
Now my track back home in PA, I don't even think they have a tech! haha they make you sign a waiver when you pull onto the property because they have no insurance! Last I heard, it was for sale at a mere $1.5 mil. It's been very poorly maintained, probably needs a complete resurface.
Thanks for looking Ernie
Don't wax your car in the sun
I sure miss coming over there several times per year, but the feds say I'm too old to fly anymore,however I would like to at least one more trip---Gibralta, MediterianSea,a few undisclosed sandy areas,west central Africa, refuel, then stop see you guys, rest up and return to Illinois
And I'm not argueing the ideal Cobra thing, I'm disagreeing with the idea that for drag racing, that a 90 inch car with a severly set bacb engine is traction limited!!!!
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My car is pretty darn close to the specs of an original, iron heads (1964), flat tappet cam, top loader, bias ply tires, irs, 427 side oiler, OEM intake, iron water pump, etc. Much like a typical Cobra you could buy from Shelby in 1965. Many 'independants' back in the day DROVE their Cobra to the track, ran it, and DROVE home, as I do. And THATS what I'm talking about!
Dunno what that'd do! I hate red cars usually.. but I love your car! It looks so... vintage! haha It's one of 2 red cobras i have pictures of, usually I pass by the red cobras.
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