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05-03-2003, 08:08 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Northport,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham, KMP178 / '66 GT350H, 4-speed
Posts: 10,362
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Not Ranked
This Month in Cobra History - MAY
This Month in Cobra History - May
(Cal and I wanted to start this type of thread, once a month, to provide some interesting tidbits and pictures from the days at Shelby American during the Sixties. Bob (Snakeeyes) and some of the other historians will hopefully add some insight to the monthly topics)
May 1962-
Coming off a successful unveiling at the New York Auto Show, CSX2000 was let loose for the magazines to review. The first one was done by Sports Car Graphic, May 1962... a magazine that had a very close relationship with Carroll. Before the Cobra was reality, Shelby advertised his Driving School in SCG, with a small ad requesting one dollar for an info packet. It has been said that he used to pick up the mail once a week and take the editor, John Christy, from SCG out to lunch with the dollar bills from the emptied envelopes.
At that time (tested before the Auto Show, where it was painted bright "Dean Moon Yellow"), CSX2000 was bare aluminum, with no badges... the name "Shelby" was painted on the nose. They say it took the boys in the shop one day to polish the bare aluminum, with steel wool. (....hmmmm?)
Christy wrote, "...Not even Shelby knew what he had by the tail at that moment; about all anyone could tell at that point was that whatever it was... it was mean."
May 1965-
The racing debut of the first "REAL" 427 Cobra (CSX3002) was at Riverside, a USRRC Race, on May 2, 1965. Ken Miles drove number 98. Because the model was new and not yet homologated for GT class, the car ran in class with Chaparrals and Lola T70; it ran well but was not competitive in that class.
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05-03-2003, 10:14 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA,
Posts: 1,389
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Not Ranked
Thanks Ron, great fhoto's, great Idea!
__________________
Foolish consistancy is the hobgoblin of tiny minds
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05-04-2003, 12:39 AM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Honolulu,
HI
Cobra Make, Engine: CSX4141
Posts: 586
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Not Ranked
Ron,
Excellent history, and the pics are classic! You and Cal have a great idea there. Thanks.....
- Bill -
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05-04-2003, 01:17 AM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 15,712
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Not Ranked
Oh I think this is a great formula for a topic of interest!!!!!
Ernie
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05-04-2003, 07:47 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Northport,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham, KMP178 / '66 GT350H, 4-speed
Posts: 10,362
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Not Ranked
This Month in Cobra History - May
This Month in Cobra History - May
May 1964-
The 1964 racing season saw literally dozens of race-prepared 289 Cobras competing on both the International level, as well as across the USA.
There were Factory Team Cars - full-spec competition cars prepared by Shelby American- either raced as "works" cars or as independant but factory-sponsored cars ( driven by Bob Johnson, Tom Payne and Dan Gerber, to name a few).
One such car, CSX 2189 under the drivership of Bob Johnson in the magic month of May, 1964, finished "in the money" at four appearances:
Laguna Seca (CA), USRRC, driving with the Factory as a Team Car, 3rd. Place Mfg.
Kent (WA), USRRC, driving with the Factory Team, 3rd. Place Mfg.
Cumberland (MD), SCCA, driving as an independent, 1st. Place, A/Production
Bridgehampton (NY), SCCA, driving as an independent, 1st. Place, A/Production
(USRRC = United States Road Racing Championship ... SCCA = Sports Car Club of America)
Today, CSX2189 is watched over by Cal Metal.
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05-04-2003, 11:31 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12
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Not Ranked
GREAT OLD PHOTOS!! The SCCA official holding the victory lap checker at road america is George "Bud" Seaverns long time Chicago Region steward and starter.
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05-05-2003, 12:33 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Alberta, Canada,
Posts: 142
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Not Ranked
Great idea and great pictures!
Here's some "coupe" history for May 
May 23, 1965
Bob Bondurant and Jochen Neerpasch take 1st in Gt at Nurburgring in the #54 Daytona
also same race:
Andre Simon and Jo Schlesser in one of the coupes painted in "Ford of France White" (only time any of the cars were in this color)
Looking forward to June!
Francis |
05-06-2003, 01:14 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: United Kingdom,
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Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 855
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Not Ranked
Cobra Dave
May is also the month that (Cobra Dave) Macdonald sadly died. This happened at the Indy 500 in 1964 whilst driving the Mickey Thompson spl. Dave Macdonald was very successful in the cobras and king cobras,and was leading the Daytona sportscar race in the cobra daytona,s debut until a fire put them out of the race. He also raced the first Lang Cooper when it was still bare aluminium.
Life is full of ifs and maybes, i wonder what was next on Macdonalds racing agenda had he lived, indy cars or sportscars with Shelby or both.
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05-06-2003, 02:18 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Northport,
NY
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham, KMP178 / '66 GT350H, 4-speed
Posts: 10,362
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Not Ranked
Dave MacDonald scored the first Cobra win in a SCCA race on February 2-3, 1963. MacDonald took the win on both days with Ken Miles in another Cobra finishing second. These were the only factory wins for the 260 c.i. Cobras.
Dave did a lot of Corvette time before his year+ with Shelby
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05-06-2003, 03:23 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: North Metro Atlanta,
GA
Cobra Make, Engine: 2 dr roadster, V-8, 4 spd.
Posts: 2,780
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Not Ranked
The Mcdonald INDY crash is discussed first hand by Johnny Rutherford in the latest issue of Automobile in DED Jrs "American Driver" section. Interesting coincidence.
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05-06-2003, 05:15 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Las Vegas,
NV
Cobra Make, Engine: 427 SC
Posts: 1,076
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Not Ranked
Very nice Ron!
Question for Cal Metal:
At what point did 2189 receive the cutback doors? I assume it was done to keep up with tire technology?
__________________
kris kincaid
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05-06-2003, 05:29 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Atlanta,
GA
Cobra Make, Engine: CAV GT40 with 331 KC
Posts: 2,187
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Not Ranked
Who is the driver in the 33 car at RA?
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05-06-2003, 06:22 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Menomonie, Wisconsin,
Posts: 3,505
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Not Ranked
Kris:
The cut back doors were done by Jim Bartel who owned the car in the 80s. The car was purchased from Ray Angus who was Dan Gerber's mechanic. Bartel removed the wide flares which he found very unattractive. His response in the Registry was: "I could have kept them ugly and original, or made them unoriginal and pretty.......I chose the later".
Pat:
The driver at RA is the man 'hisself', the legendary Bob Johnson of Columbus, Ohio.
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05-06-2003, 06:36 PM
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Senior Dragontamer
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Alvin,
TX
Cobra Make, Engine: Kirkham, 427 S/O
Posts: 271
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Not Ranked
Outstanding thread Ron! I can hardly wait for the June edition.
Jeff
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05-06-2003, 09:56 PM
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Fresno,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: KMP 184/482ci Shelby
Posts: 14,445
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Not Ranked
Bravo to both of you. applause
__________________
Jamo
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05-06-2003, 11:35 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: California,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: NAF 289 Slabside Early Comp Car with 289 Webers and all the goodies. Cancelling the efforts of several Priuses
Posts: 6,592
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Not Ranked
Great idea guys. Please include if you can from the race results the dates, location, starting & finishing positions, and drivers. Great stuff! Can hear them coming out of old turn 3 at Laguna now.....904's chasing them........WOW!!!
Rick
__________________
Rick
As you slide down the Banister of Life, may the splinters never be pointing the wrong way
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05-07-2003, 12:04 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Canton,
GA
Cobra Make, Engine: Please do not race. It is way too much fun, and highly addicting.
Posts: 43
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Not Ranked
Bridgehampton 1964
Here's Charlie Hayes driving in Bridgehampton 1964 May race.
EDIT...EDIT...EDIT...
Oops, Bridgehampton was in September 1964. Here's May results...
Spa 500 Km. - May 1964
6 GT B.Bondurant 3 Cobra Roadster CSX2345 CS
8 GT J.Schlesser 4 Cobra Roadster CSX2301 CS
11 GT I.Ireland 2 Cobra Roadster CSX2323 CS
12 GT P.Hill 1 Cobra Daytona CSX2287 CS
DNF P.Hawkins/B.Olthoff ? Cobra Roadster CSX2130 FofF
Nurburgring 1000 Km. - May 1964
6 GT J.Schlesser/D.Attwood 99 Cobra Roadster CSX2301 CS
DNF B.Bondurant/J.Neerpasch 101 Cobra Roadster CSX2345 CS
DNF P.Hawkins/B.Olthoff 96 Cobra Roadster CSX2130 FofE
DNF T.Hitchcock/G.Thiel 95 Cobra Roadster CSX2155 Cust.
DNS V.Arena/? 100 Cobra Roadster CSX2323 CS
DNS J.Sears/F.Gardner ? Cobra Roadster CS-2131 FofE
Last edited by Cobra University; 05-07-2003 at 04:42 PM..
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05-07-2003, 09:32 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Las Vegas,
NV
Cobra Make, Engine: Levy Racing built FFR w/351W
Posts: 190
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Not Ranked
What a great thread!
I love the classic pictures. And the history.
Please don't forget about the 427 Cobras.
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06-09-2003, 06:19 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Plantersville,
TX
Cobra Make, Engine: Self Built, 427 USRRC, 427FE, Toploader
Posts: 583
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Not Ranked
MAY 65
MAY 1965 427's
Bridgehampton 65 USRRC
CSX3009 ESSEX WIRE CAR Scott 5th OA
Laguna Seca 65 USRRC
CSX3002 SAI Car K. Miles DNF
grumpy
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