Weclccome to CC

[OZCOBRA]

Bernie ,Good to see another Aussie on CC ,i believe everybody attending this coming w/end is looking forward to the drive and catching up with you.It sounds like the car has progressed Ilook forward to seeing it in the future.
I'm not one of those coming over but i'm sure you'll have a great time,look forward to talking in CC.

Regards...Paul..Ozcobra

[BMK]

Hi Paul

Weekend is looking really sh... with rain and storms. Will however test the men from the boys.

I am making progress with the car and really trying to get it ready for Wakefield Park in early October.

It is currently at McDonald Bros. racing in Thomastown - if you are nearby drop in and have a look.

I will be going to Illinois for the Run N Gun in October after the Wakefield Park leaving three days later. So will be Cobra dreaming after seeing so many.

Did you realise I purchased the Homebush body from Doug?

Motor is a 351 windsor stroker with Dart heads, Ice ignition, Victor jnr. This is the ex Mike Moore motor.

Will talk soon. Email at kni-time@bigpond.com

Bernie 08 87 233433 home 0408 564448 mobile.

[Aussie Mike]

Hi Bernie,

Welcome to the Cobra Therapy Group. I agree with Paul, it's good to see another Aussie on the forum.

Unfortunately I won't be going to Mt Gambier this week end. It's my wifes birthday so I'm staying home (she does hold the Cobra purse strings after all).

I'll be going to Wakefield for the nationals. Adrian Soeberg and myself will be driving up (unfortunately not in a Cobra). I'll take my ute and act as a support vehicle for the other guys. I couldn't go last year due to work comitments but I won't miss out this time.

The US was awesome to visit with great hospitality from everybody. I realy felt welcome. You will have a great time. 750HP should chime in here as he is sure to know the places to go over there.

Keep an eye out this week end for a light blue with white stripes Superformance this week end. The owner is "Justbetter" (Garrett) on this forum. This car is realy something with a blown intercooled LS1 under the hood. So say Hi when you see him.

Cheers

[750hp]

Bernie - now you have my attention! McDonald Bros.... Mike Moore small block, 9".... I like the sound of that!!!! Seeing Mike try to get the power down while on the West Wyalong Airport Runway was a blast! Got any pics? What are McD Bros doing to your car? They seem to have a really high standard of workmanship there.

What to do in Illinois? Retrace the Blues Brothers movie, I suppose! Gateway seems to be a great venue for the Run'n'Gun. Scott, Hersh and myself dropped in there last year for a quick look. A quiet chat to the security guy, and we were in! I reckon we should have done a few laps in Hersh's Dodge Durango. No lap records, but it would have been a laugh!

You might want to think seriously about getting back to Las Vegas for the following weekend. If you're into drag racing, the NHRA round is in LV on the 23 - 26/10/03. You can't possibly miss the Shelby Factory, and Finishline Motorsport. They're both in LV, both beside the racetrack. One of the Shelby employees (Kris Kincaid) is on this website, and he took all the time we wanted to show us right through ALL aspects of the Shelby factory. Fantastic. After that, walk across to Finishline and be prepared for more alloy Cobra eye candy, but with more of a motorsport flavour. these guys build the Spec Racers, and every car in the factory is worth spending time checking over. Dry sumped, EFI alloy big blocks, 13:1 compression high rpm small blocks, chassis' all across the factory, more alloy bodies stored against the wall. Avgas hanging in the air after one of the racecars fires up to move to the wheel aligning bay. I think you get the idea!

Yeah, I think you should get to Las Vegas.....

[arks robnell]

Hi guys, I'm also new and from oz, joined last month. excellent club, I've already learnt heaps. keep up the excellent work everyone.

[wtcobra]

Bernie-glad to see that you found Club Cobra. It was nice chatting with you the other day. Call me any time, and look forward to meeting you at this year's Run & Gun. If there is anything I can help you with, let me know.

Wayne Turpin

[OZCOBRA]

Ark's, a big welcome to you too mate ,sorry i missed your earlier posts hope to see you around . That's a very good wieght i'd certainly be happy if i get anywhere near 1100kg plus fluids and my HULK LIKE BODY in the drivers seat!!!

Regards Paul

[BMK]

Hi to all,

Mt.Gambier was a great weekend with 11 cars involved and 2 others calling in during the weekend. Anton from Portland Victoria has a great story to tell about locking his steering column. No doubt Bruce Allen - 'Snake Tales' editor in Chief will tell the tale.

Whilst it was cold and occassionally wet in Mt. Gambier we had a great weekend and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Both Bruce from Sth. Aus and Jason from Victoria are keen - `as is everyone' - to have an annual event to Mt. Gambier. Watch 'Snake Tails' for details. Bruce is considering calling it 'Weekend at Bernie's' I dont know if I should be flattered or concerned. I have just watched the movie..

I spent a fair bit of time looking at every part of the two Superformance Cobras from Victoria. Garrett - portifino blue car -took the motel owner Evan for a spin and really impressed him. Everyone was impressed with the two cars.

I have picked up some good ideas on how to stay warm and dry in a Cobra also.

I am now really keen to get on with my car.

I travel to Melbourne two or three times each month and work on the car at McDonald Bros. Racing. Nothing to do with the food business!!! The guys there have designed a great chassis that sees me sitting down between the rails. I can just see the leading edge of the guard. After this cold weekend I think this has been a good design.

Will keep you posted on my progress. Thought I was a bit of a dill trying to pick a colour for the car until I was told most have gone through this dilemma.

I have been getting some great advice.

Thanks also for the ideas for my trip to the 'Run N Gun' in October. I think I will visit the Shelby and Finishline business when going through Las Vegas.

Will keep checking this site. Cheers to all.

Give me a call when in Mt. Gambier.

Bernie

[justbetter]

Bernie, a personal thanks for a great weekend, being my first cruise, blast and warp in the new Superformance i was impressed by your organization and egerness to ensure we all had a great time and open our eyes to what your town has to offer. WELL DONE.
P.S I Know Hash Browns are your specialty, but there is definetly a market there for a " would you like a Berocca with that ".
A Good hard weekend, looking forward to you being on the blacktop in your cobra.
Regards Garrett

[BMK]

Garrett,

Glad you enjoyed the weekend.. I have been asked to pass on thanks to everyone from Victoria by our host Evan at the motel.

He enjoyed the guys staying. He is still talking about that 180 pass down the back street. In fact he is asking a hell of a lot of questions about your Superformance cobra. They may have an interested punter. He is even talking of selling the Corvette convertable and his Holden Special Vehicle.

Have spoken with Jason who told me you guys had a fantastic trip back with a few runs at 170 and some great sounding passing moves through the hills.

Since your visit to Mt. Gambier I have been at the workshop in Melbourne and have really made progress with four solid 9 hour days on the car. Its amazing how much you can achieve when motivated.

All parts now fitted and aligned on the body. Chassis basically finished with a tidy up required before I paint it. Boot finished with fuel tank only to go in. Have put the jacks on the front and back. Windscreen in and roll bar also all done.

It is great to sit in and see how low I am. It is like my old hotrod with just my shoulders and head above the door line. In fact I am sitting about 1 - 1/2 lower than Jason does in his car. Yes it is kart style with seat on the floor under the chassis.

The motor and box are now in. I am keen to get it started. You may recal its the ex Mike Moore motor from that car with the 'lift' off body. 351 windsor strocker to 377 with Victor Jnr, 750 Holley and Ice ignition. etc. So you can imagine I am keen to get it going.

Will be back in Melbourne next week at McDonald Bros. Racing to do some work. Let me know if you are in Thomastown and I will give you direction.

Will talk soon


Bernie

[BMK]

750hp - Hi Craig

Sorry, been a bit slack with a response regarding what we are doing up at McDonald Bros. Racing.

The guys there have built a few cars for me or with me and the Cobra is one we are doing together.

Basically, I am working on a as need help basis. When I need their help they are in there helping. I am trying to do as much on the car as possible including cutting steel and 'G' clamping it in place.

The boys there are doing the welding and the design.

To date, I have fitted all of the body parts and the jewellery items such as window frame, boot hinges, handles, fuel cap, lift jacks etc. etc

I have a bity of a head start with the motor and gearbox in and ready to go. Mike Moores old motor the 351 strocker (377ci)

I have used the Jag upper arms with a tube fabricated lower arm all attached to a crossmember and hanging brackets. A Ford 9' rear end shortened to 53 and a 1/2 " with Commodore end grafted on. Will use the Commodore discs on the front and the rear now. Traditional four bar rear end with coil over shockers. The lower arms are parrell.

Russell McDonald will wire the car with me and we have designed the dash and I am fitting guages at the momment. Hope to have that done in the next few weeks.

Paint - well I am going to have a go at this myself!!

Sorry Doug!!

Seriously Russell and a young painter are going to prep the body with me and we will hire the booth at the young guys factory to complete the body. I will paint the chassis in black - what else.

The boys at McDonald's lifted the body off last week and this gave me a chance to do some basic fibreglassing. Overall the body a Homebush from Doug in Melbourne is in good condition. I went for their bigger footwells which are 100mm higher.

This makes for easier pedal box fitting and more room around my size 12's.

Additionally Doug talked about the 50mm longer body and I went in that direction. It is dam near impossible to see where the 50mm is. I have had the body on the floor next to a standard body and I just cannot see it. The 50mm is in the doors and due to the angle it is even harder to find. I think Pauls has the 50mm as well?

The 50mm makes a lot of difference. I originally purchased Mike Moores burgundy RMC - you may remember early West Wylong and Mangalore airport days!! This car was a standard body and I could not get comfortable in it.

I spun the car out big time at Magalore and went between those airport lights and George and Maggies car. I blamed the tight fit in the car. Mike immediately went out and ran a fast time flat out and then came back and said it was the driver and not the car that caused the problem..

Having been for a few runs with Mike in that Extreme7 roadster I look forward to having a go at his new Cobra car at Calder raceway.

As I said, the extra 50mm has made a big difference as has the placing of the floor under the chassis. The chassis has an internal frame similiar to the RMC and a bigger outrigger. This allows the seat to drop down in the chassis. Testing has seen the chassis lift of the ground before it flexes.

Hope this gives you a bit of a picture as to what is happening at McDonald Bros. Racing factory.

Email me and I can possible catch up one day there and show you over it. The factory has some really great cars of all types there. Its amazing.

Cheers


Bernie

Email kni-time@bigpond.com

Give Doug a call and he will pass on telephone numbers for me

[OZCOBRA]

Bernie,
Hey good to hear the cars moving along any chance of you getting some digital photos posted....it would be great to see the chassis work , don't know if i can get to m/bros to see the car i have trouble even getting to my own car at present (last 6 months)...i believe it's still at Dougs as Ac Andy tripped over the CLUNKY little small block the other night...!!

Regards Paul

[BMK]

Hi Paul,

When next up at McDonald Bros. Racing will take some photos. We are at the pull to bits stage so should get some good photos. I will call over and see you guys soon.

Doug did mention that you had not been well and yes the cars still there. I was at Dougs about two months or so to pick up roll bars and windscreen.

Will keep you up to date

Cheers


bernie

[OZCOBRA]

Cheers Bernie looking forward to the photos if i don't get over there before then... Catchya Soon .......Regards Paul

[BMK]

Paul,

Good to see someone else is surfing through all of these pages.

I do not normally have time to do this but I have had a week or so off from work.

I have been replying to a few people and asking questions about paint colours etc.

Also I have told a few people I will catch up with them in the USA in October.

I have been organising a few factory tours and Emailing a couple of people with the aim of meeting them when there.

Its amazing I had a guy in California who has a Cobra and a classic Mustang email me. His brother is in South Australia at the momment and will call in and see me at Mt. Gambier.

The brother has a Mustang but from what I can ascertain from his Email it is a Shelby Mustang 1966 or a Hertz Mustang.

He just picked up from the threads that I was in Mt. Gambier and apparently looked it up in an atlas.

So there you go. His brother will visit Mt. Gambier and I will spend a day or two with him. There you go amazing how this works. My daughter just looks at me blankly when I tell her what is happening. Its something to do with oldies understanding what she takes for granted. "...Oh yeah Dad did they have phones when you were little...???" ..

I will actually call you when I am at McDonald Bros. racing to organise catching up there.

See you soon. Must go now



Bernie Knight

[ac andy]

Paul, last time i checked, Doug was using that small block for a paper weight on his desk!

Andy.

[OZCOBRA]

I guess if you have to show it off it may as well be in a prominent front office position so everyone can see it!!!!

[BMK]

Hi Wayne,

As you can see there has been a bit of chat happening on this thread.

I spent some time looking at your photos on wtcobra.

The cobra sure looks good. As I mentionned the other day the second painted line around the gum ball does make a real difference to the look of the stripes and the No. gum ball.

If possible would like you to freight that spare big block that you have stored there in your garage over here!!


Is that Mark in the car there at the lake??

I have had a few responses back from cobra enthusiasts with ideas of what to see and do whilst there in October.

A visit has been organised to Finish Line and Shelby American. The guys from Shelby are heading to the NHRA Drags the next day and I have been invited to join them.

Talk soon. Must go and do some work


Bernie

[BMK]

Hi all,

Just thought I would have a look around. Dropped a line to Wayne wtcobra.

Its Saturday and I should be over in Melbourne working on the car. Had a few crew bail on their shifts so you guessed it I must work.

Watch Doug does not have a clearing sale!!

Cheers

Bernie

[REPTYL]

Hi Guys,

Thought I'd jump in and say G'day.

Gee Bernie, when do you find time to build Cobras and flip burgers with all this forum posting.
Thanks again for an awsome weekend at the mt.G. We all had a ball.

Cheers,
Jason.