Cobra Driving Takes Skill

[FFRCobraMike]

I was having this talk with howard last night and then an incident happened today to prove my point. I was telling Howard that these cars have so much power that it definately takes some skill to drive them. Especially since most of us do not drive our Cobra's as a daily car. Most just use them on sunny days and there are long intervals between drives. When you don;t use these cars that often, it is easy to forget how much power they have and how easy it is to lose control of these cars. For those of you that race, this is not an issue, but for the rest of us, it is definately something to keep in mind. Well that was the jist of my opinion in our discussion last night. Then this afternoon. I called to talk about the cruise to the lake this Saturday, and Howard relayed this. One of the guys that was planning on coming to the lake cruise took out his car today after not drving it since last summer. It got away from him and he totaled it. It just goes to prove that these cars require your full attention when driving. I know all of us have heard horror stories of people totaling their Cobra's in various ways. This is just a reminder that it does take a certain amount of skill to drive these cars and like any skill, if not practiced, you lose it.

Mike

[jagxjr5012]

Mike
I race and I agree 100%..........it is something to think about for sure. I know sometimes I take just going out in the car for granted. Later I think about it if I did something dumb and regret it. Was the guy that totaled the car OK ?? Hopefully he is !!

Mike G

[FFRCobraMike]

Yes, he came out of the accident fine, but the car is a total wreck. I think about how easy it is to get my car sideways if I was not paying attention all the time. It is easy to take these cars for granted, but it only takes a second to lose control. The guy that built my engine, built the same engine for another Cobra owner. He was telling me about the car when i first went up there. When i went back a few weeks later to pick up the engine, he said the other guy lent his car to a friends son. The kid took it by his high school and goosed it. He lost control and wound up smashing it into a semi truck. The kid was very lucky, he only broke a few bones. The car was not as lucky. It too was a total wreck. It is just another example of how having this much power at your disposal also takes a certain amout of skill and responibility. How does that saying go? "With great power, comes great responsibility". I think that is how it goes. It is so easy to give these cars just a bit too much throttle and it starts to break loose. So if you are not ready for it, boy can things go really wrong really fast.

[COBRANIP]

Reminds me of the saying to remember when you are getting on a track..."Cold engine, cold tires, cold brain." Probably applies to the street too.

[JCoop]

My collector car insurance is up for renewal. My premium has increased a considerable amount. I used to have 7 but now have 3 cars in the policy and the culprit was the Cobra. It's up to $800 for that car alone and when I called, they (American Hobbyist) explained that the only reason it's actually on my policy is as a courtesy because of the other cars I have insured with them. Agreed value is $60K. I also would have to sign a new rider that no one else could drive the car. I called 3 other collector/classic car insurers, including Hagerty, and the Cobra was also the stumbling block. Hagerty and 1 other would not insure it. Further inquiry revealed that they have had it with the same claims...policy holders lending it to a friend, son, nephew, who then totalled the car. One company's rep told me they had an insured Cobra owner who took it to a track, hit a wall and then towed the car 5 miles from the track, took pictures, and filed a claim
These guys make it hard for the rest of us to enjoy the hobby, that's for sure.

[Clois Harlan]

you guys are so right..."cold track, cold tires, cold brain"! I also race and every time I get into the Cobra I will gingerly re-aquaint myself with the power and my brakes before I do anything stupid. Even on track days I make my first 2 or 3 laps at about 1/2 to 3/4 speed just because I don't want to sit and watch everyone else on the track while I am trying replace or repair something because I got to anxious. These are great cars that require a lot of respect.

Clois Harlan

[john chesnut]

As a former AZ state police officer I saw all too often the results of stupid driving. To often innocent people are hurt or killed by someone that screwed up. The street is NO PLACE for racing of ANY KIND or even just "Goosing it". The race track with a controlled enviroment, safety crews and a PROPERLY equipped car is the only place to test your or the cars limits. Lending a Cobra to an untrained and unqualified driver is a receipe for disaster. I can't blame the insurance companies when so many people are willing to commit out right fraud to make a claim.
I am building a Cobra. I am struck at how the drivers of the 60's were willing and able to drive it so fast. The narrow track, short wheelbase, relatively high center of gravity, and BIG horsepower takes real skill to control.
I read a lot on this forum about 500hp is the minimum for TRUE Cobra. I like the power, I like the image, I like the sound, but the fact is that most of us can never really use it. If you run period correct tires and an original style suspension you can not put all of that power to the ground efficiently. I have had a 538hp carbed 427 engine in one of my Dragons and I have 405hp fuel injected 364cuin in one now. I like the smaller engine. In the quarter, it runs mid 11's on street tires, runs cool, idles good, has great throttle response, and gets oer 30mpg, and weighs 385lbs.
I'll get off of my soap box. Lets all be safe out there. John

[bdeutsch]

If you read some history of the original 427/428 powered cars, many of Shelby's drivers and constructors mentioned that these were a bit hard to control, think I remember the term "monster" and "balance" being used more than once.

[COBRA427]

John
You're going to have a "cold body" by the time you finish that hybrid- Cobra of yours.

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by FFRCobraMike

Yes, he came out of the accident fine, but the car is a total wreck. I think about how easy it is to get my car sideways if I was not paying attention all the time. It is easy to take these cars for granted, but it only takes a second to lose control. The guy that built my engine, built the same engine for another Cobra owner. He was telling me about the car when i first went up there. When i went back a few weeks later to pick up the engine, he said the other guy lent his car to a friends son. The kid took it by his high school and goosed it. He lost control and wound up smashing it into a semi truck. The kid was very lucky, he only broke a few bones. The car was not as lucky. It too was a total wreck. It is just another example of how having this much power at your disposal also takes a certain amout of skill and responibility. How does that saying go? "With great power, comes great responsibility". I think that is how it goes. It is so easy to give these cars just a bit too much throttle and it starts to break loose. So if you are not ready for it, boy can things go really wrong really fast.

I wonder how many Cobra owners lend their cars to high school age kids?

[Maurice Johnson]

Does anyone have a policy which states that a second driver is acceptable,and that person enjoys the full policy protection as the insured. Second driver is mature, has completed a performance driving course, and has every-day experience in auto and truck manual shift vehicles. This query is for a specific legit reason, so you "nobody gets to drive my car but me" guys can save it.

[dmorse]

My insurance carrier does not allow me to have anyone under 26 drive the vehicle - Suits me fine. As far as I know there are no other restrictions.

[LRcobradreamer]

My insurance company stated any other drivers had to have 10 years driving experence as a min. So, no HS kids for sure. My "kids" are over 30, but I am still concerned with letting them drive and both are women. That may happen this summer, through. However, I will NOT let my brother-in-law drive it, he has proven to be a fool on wheels.

I bought mine used and after reading and discussing HP with many, I did not what over 400 hp for sure. I bought a FFR Cobra with a 302 that makes 345 HP, but I really fell in love with the 3 duces set up. It goes plenty fast for me, and am more interested in having fun, i.e. going on trips and a few shows, than racing. I have never even been on a drag strip, but may try it someday.

Do you know what make Cobra was it, i.e. FFR, SFP etc...????

Lee

[Got the Bug]

Scary stuff! Glad to hear that the person walked away with relatively few injuries.

My rule: No one else drives my car...period. I tell people that I'm the only one that's insured to drive it. My wife could drive it, but she has no interest. The seat rails have been removed and the seat is all the way back, so she couldn't reach the pedals anyway.

BTW - The other guy lent his car to a friends son? Why didn't he just hand the keys to stranger on the street? Hindsight is 20/20...but what's the old adage..."common sense isn't all that common, is it?"

[CHANMADD]

Part of the purchase price that we all allow for, should include the cost of a decent Racing Driving Lesson on a racetrack!

[rokndad]

I'm asking my kids to get me a good driving course over a couple of days for my birthday present this year. I think I could really use it to at least begin to understand the characteristics of this beast under power.

I have the utmost respect for it and always will.

[DonC]

There's no substitute for "seat time" and it becomes all the more important once the driving season starts.
Like any other sport you've got to warm up first if you want to engage without hurting yourself.
Can't remember how many times I've advised people to attend a driver's school or course as soon as possible after acquiring a Cobra or other high performance car. Barring a formal course as least get some autocross time under their belts to help with knowing what the car will feel like just before it lets go.
DonC

[Excaliber]

I let my 18 year old son drive mine. He started driving my Austin Healey at age 10. Go karts to, along the way, dirt bikes, all things mechanical. He's driven the Cobra on the road course race track up to 130 mph, doubles clutches into first for the hair pin at the end of the straight, to save the synchros on the trans. He's been sideways a number of times, drifted a few corners. Currently enrolled in a commercial pilot license college course, four year program. He was saying how the driving/biking mechanical knowledge he's gained before college is really paying off with his flight training. He has a very healthy 'fear' of the Cobra and what it can do! He was comparing 'pre flight' inspection of a plane to the way we 'pre flight' the Cobra at the race track.

[COBRANIP]

Ed, you'r a fine one to talk! That's the pot calling the kettle gardsman blue!

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by FFRCobraMike

When i went back a few weeks later to pick up the engine, he said the other guy lent his car to a friends son.

The only way to describe the adults involved in that decission is; "idiots"!

Some times the adults should act like adults.

Steve