Fastest top speed Cobra

[jimmymac]

Just courious, whats the fastest a cobra has ever been clocked. Offically!!!

[Tony Ripepi]

The famous and revered Dick Smith....198MPH.

http://wasaac.org/dsmith/dsmith.html

http://www.factoryfive.com/table/com...ksmithcar.html

TR

[Aussie Mike]

Has anyone ever built one for the salt flats? Added a solid tauno cover, plugged the grill opeing added a splitter to the front etc?

If they can make a 32 roadster do 300MPH then how fast could they get a prepared Cobra up to?

Cheers

[RICK LAKE]

Jimmymac, Ask Morris, he is on the cover of kitcar this month. With all the ground effects, I see no problem of a 200 mph. If you are talking about a stock body shape car, Dick Smith was timed at 198 offical at Daytona doing tire testing. The rest of the story was that Ken Miles was behind him at over 201 but drafting him. Dick's car was trying to lift off from the air buildup under the car. Dick said the motor was turning 8,600 rpms and that was all it had. Joe B. in Cali built this special motor for just this testing. Rick L.

[jay bentley]

I spoke to Dick Smith a few year ago at Lime Rock. He said that the track officials did clock him at 198mph. He then went on to say that the Ford guys clocked him at 201mph. He said he didn't know about the 201mph until several years later.

Jay

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by jay bentley

I spoke to Dick Smith a few year ago at Lime Rock. He said that the track officials did clock him at 198mph. He then went on to say that the Ford guys clocked him at 201mph.

Insane! Takes big brass ones that clank when you walk to drive these cars that fast.

[undy]

My daily driver will do a tad over 200 but I lack the cahonies to attempt it, much less doing it in the Cobra. The aerodynamics do not lend it to real high speed runs. Things tend get crazy at those speeds, especially for a 'brick' like the Cobra.

Dave

[Scufty]

wouldnt catch me doing anywhere near 200mph in mine..even if it could do it!
I like life thanks

[CobraEd]

I get nervous in mine at about 90!! Short wheelbase, slow manual steering, open cockpit, loud engine. Just too much of a sensory overload.

.

[427 S/O]

That's called 'acceleration exhilaration', next to a 'nut', my favorite!.

[Tony Ripepi]

Aussie Mike,

I saw an original here in Danville a few years ago that the owner had been given by his uncle. I was in original paint, upholstery etc. but there were holes in the body from previous wings that were explained to be from an experience at Bonneville.

I have no verification of the story just the reality of seeing the car with holes in the body....it was rough but stilll a great looking car. The owner said he was not going to restore it and was going to keep the patina as it was from his Uncle.

TR

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

Jimmymac, Ask Morris, he is on the cover of kitcar this month. With all the ground effects, I see no problem of a 200 mph. If you are talking about a stock body shape car, Dick Smith was timed at 198 offical at Daytona doing tire testing. The rest of the story was that Ken Miles was behind him at over 201 but drafting him. Dick's car was trying to lift off from the air buildup under the car. Dick said the motor was turning 8,600 rpms and that was all it had. Joe B. in Cali built this special motor for just this testing. Rick L.

Rick's reference to "Joe B. in Cali" is to Joe Boghosian of Fresno, who is still building beautiful motors. He also built the motor for Andretti's 69 Indy winner.

Most notably, of course, he built mine and still won't let me touch "his" motor...

[CHANMADD]

I have had my car over 150 many many times and don't find it unstable....scary fast maybe.

[jay bentley]

When you really stop and think about the safety element, these guys were daredevils. As we know Cobras have about as much protection as a motorcycle. The helmet technology, driversuits, tires, track safety etc. These guys who lived to tell about it are just amazing to me.

Some of the old photos show trees at places like Road America that could easily be run into, and these guys were flat out with the car pitched sideways!

Ken Miles, Bob Johnson, Skip Scott, Dick Smith the list goes on, are all heros in my book.

Jay

[dynoroom]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Rick's reference to "Joe B. in Cali" is to Joe Boghosian of Fresno, who is still building beautiful motors. He also built the motor for Andretti's 69 Indy winner.

Most notably, of course, he built mine and still won't let me touch "his" motor...

As it should be..............

[RedCSX1]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

Jimmymac, Ask Morris, he is on the cover of kitcar this month. With all the ground effects, I see no problem of a 200 mph. If you are talking about a stock body shape car, Dick Smith was timed at 198 offical at Daytona doing tire testing. The rest of the story was that Ken Miles was behind him at over 201 but drafting him. Dick's car was trying to lift off from the air buildup under the car. Dick said the motor was turning 8,600 rpms and that was all it had. Joe B. in Cali built this special motor for just this testing. Rick L.

Rick,

As Dick told me, he thought he was a lap down and just attempting to catch up. No testing, it was during a race. At 8600 RPM's its no wonder Dick went through so many motors over the years. Up to the day he died he was stuck on cast iron blocks. In fact he had located a standard bore block that Joe was going to use to build him a new motor for number 198 right before he passed.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by jay bentley

When you really stop and think about the safety element, these guys were daredevils. As we know Cobras have about as much protection as a motorcycle. The helmet technology, driversuits, tires, track safety etc. These guys who lived to tell about it are just amazing to me.

Jay

Agree 100%. But in some ways they didn't know any better...they just "went for it." Heck, I used to jump my Schwinn over trash cans and anything else I could prop a ramp against, not really thinking that if I landed on my tailbone I could be paralyzed or if I smacked the back of my skull against the street my head would quickly become a whacked melon. We just emulated who we saw (Knievel) and would just go for it. Looking back it was crazy fun. Stupid, but fun. I'm sure these drivers looked at the drivers of the '50's (Bill Vukovich, Manuel Fangio, etc.) and just tried to be like them (or better).

-Dean

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by RedCSX1

Rick,

As Dick told me, he thought he was a lap down and just attempting to catch up. No testing, it was during a race. At 8600 RPM's its no wonder Dick went through so many motors over the years. Up to the day he died he was stuck on cast iron blocks. In fact he had located a standard bore block that Joe was going to use to build him a new motor for number 198 right before he passed.

Even up in his years,Dick was NO SLOUCH on track...at SAAC 31 @ VIR during one of the practise sessions, Dick and I ran side by side up the front straight at 140mph (my car was hitting the rev limiter at 7,000rpms), as we were nearing the flag stand and the right hander, he had the line on me and began "edging" over on me, I swear he could have reached out and touched my passenger door with his left hand, he stayed in the gas, I DIDN'T....I backed off and pulled in behind him.........I will not go thru that turn two abreast with anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!
After that session, he found me and my car in the pits and asked what I had under the hood, natually, I told him a mild 302, we both had a good laugh..........

David

[jimmymac]

That 198/201 I take it that was a open cockpit car. Sensory overload with out a doubt! I always thougt they were through around 160.

[jay bentley]

The car pictured above is the famous 198.

Jay