Carroll Shelby Tribute thread. Be a part of it.

[chris allen]

Originally Posted by Brent Mills

I have been thinking of doing this for quite some time and finally figured it was time to just get it started. I've always wanted to say thanks to the man but never really had the avenue to do so...Figured this would be a good way of doing it. Hope you enjoy participating and reading what others think as well. Enjoy!

Carroll Shelby tribute thread rules of engagement:

It was probably 1962, I was 16 years old and a diehard NHRA drag racing fan and occassional racer at San Fernando Drag Strip located in the San Fernando valley area of Los Angeles. I had just seen Dyno Don Nicholson win the SS title at the Winternationals in his ' 62 bubbletop BelAire 409. Life was good and life was Chevrolet...nothing else. Then it happened, I glanced in the window of Ralph Williams Ford on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks California and saw this small, round little roadster. A new shape to me, so I turned around and parked my 1956 Chevrolet two door sedan, 283ci, 4 speed "racer" and decided to have a look. My life changed that day and its never been the same. I could go on and on about the chances I had along life's highway to buy a Cobra, but everyone else has similar stories...my income never quite got up to the needed level to buy one and when it got close once or twice, I never pulled the trigger. I got sidlined into GT-350's and trying to buy one of those 'cause they were affordable. I never got one of those either but was soooo close on several occassions....you know how that goes....and ended up buying a really, really nice Tiger. The Tiger was neat but I always felt like the red-headed step child at the SAAC meetings at Galpin Ford, so I sold it and drifted back into Chevrolets and street rods. I never lost my love for the original 289 Cobra tho and recently I had the good fortune to buy an ERA FIA car. Its just the most damn fun I've ever had in a car and while I've owned a number of head-turners in my time, this car takes the cake. Young dad's with their little sons stop and point and whisper to them, other drivers stop and stare, others give the thumbs-up, its amazing.
I could go on and on, but I will sum up my love for Mr. Shelby and his wonderful creation with a short story featuring my son....it was 1984 at the SAAC convention in Anaheim, California and it was the night time panel discussion featuring Shelby and several of the key players from back in the day. They were seated up on stage in a large meeting room with hundreds of chairs. In the crowd was my wife, myself and my son....or so I thought. We took our seats and I then noticed that my son, 8 years old at the time, was not next to me in his seat ! I became very concerned and started to panic a bit when my wife said...."honey, look, up on stage, its Eric". Sure enough, he had made his way down to the stage, gone up and walked behind the speakers and was in the process of tapping CS on the shoulder. It was hysterical. Shelby kind of half turned around looking from side to side then finally looked down and saw my son. Words were exchanged between the legend and the lad, a small scrap of paper was exchanged and the young boy turned and made his way off stage and back to his seat. He has, to this day, that autograph and remembers every moment of the adventure. What a hoot.
So to Mr. Shelby, from Chris and Eric Allen, thanks for the memories and thanks for being you....you have changed the world.

[snakeless]

AS a ski season employee ,college break,in Lake PLACID NY. I was standing on main street with a snow bunnie ,hey this has to sound good , and flying by throughing snow from all 4 wheels was a 63 cobra and yes I WAS I LOVE . now for you folks who are slack in the jaw some in for the history buffs this was one of the 1st cobras sold as the owner told me he purchased it from the ny auto show as it was on tour with the FORD auto display,as it was told to me he as a restaurnt owner he carred checks on him and ask the show mgr for ford was it for sale he said the price and a check was givin ,when the show ended he got a call from the city to come and pick up the car. as a side bar I have the auto show program in good condition with i belive to be one of the early ads for a cobra with picture andI would part with it for the right offer???. on the four wheels through snow commentyou see he drove it in the winter with spiked snow tyres on all FOUR WHEELS what a site for a young man,so of course I had to have one so at 21 I purchased a 64 ac cobra off a ford used car lot ofter trading in my 61 vette .. oh those were the days . thanks carroll you chicken farmer

[meat]

Thanks for the part you played in the legend of the Cobra, Carroll.

Your pal,
Meat.

[HI Cobra]

The first Cobra I remember seeing was 427 S/C at Lime Rock in about "66
and whoever was driving it did great. Hard to forget seeing one of those in action. Many years later I am fortunate enough to have a replica, and
better yet, have met many who have similar interests. Just like to say
thanks for being the one had the the vision and guts to make it happen,
a part of special, "American" history.

[KZJim]

My first taste of Shelby American was my brothers '66 GT350 H model. My first ride in it scared the hell out of me.. I was hooked! Later I was at local tracks watching SCCA regional racing in the mid to late '70's, the first Cobra I saw in person was a racer by the name of Dick Workman, at Portland IR.. Awsome to watch the 2 935 Porsches' move over to let him roar by down the main straight. I now am in the process of building a replica... it's gonna be a fun ride..

[CSX 4039]

As a physician, I often see people who are couch potatoes who spent their days watching reruns on TV, sucking up the taxpayer's entitlement money, and not helping make this a better country, better world, or, even helping their own families in any way. Then, these folks, who as a result of not taking care of themselves, end up needing an unbelievable, (and unbelievably expensive) medically miraculously procedure to stay alive and well.
Then, to my dismay, instead of being grateful for the life extension they have been given, and begin to give back to the society that paid for their life saving procedure by helping others, return to their self-centered, greedy society draining ways.
You, on the other hand, have made the most of the additional life you have been granted, and that is why, I feel, you have had such a long life, in the face of odds greater than even beating Ferrari in the 1960's. It is folks like you, who do not take what we do for granted that make being a doctor an occasionally rewarding profession.
I built a model of your car in 1967, and thought it was the coolest looking car I had ever seen. Still do, and I'm glad and proud to say I own one.
Life long and prosper.

CSX 4039

[Got the Bug]

I’ve been thoroughly fascinated with cars all of my life. My earliest memory of the Cobra dates back to around 1966.

I was 8 years old at the time. Word on the street was that one of our neighbors had a car that was “beyond any car that you had ever seen.” Beautiful lines, big V8, loud exhaust…who could ask for more!

My brother and I jumped on our Stingray bikes to check it out. Our jaws dropped when we saw the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 that was (at the time) owned by professional golfer Ken Venturi (CSX 3119 is now owned by the Mallay Collection http://www.mallyacollection.com/mall...ails.asp?id=67 )

In addition, another neighbor named Pete Grassi had a Cobra. My memory is bit hazy, but I believe it was a candy apple red 289 Cobra.

Hearing those two cars fire up their engines and take off made time stand still!

Cars were already part of my DNA, but seeing those two Cobras inspired a lifelong appreciation for all of all of the cars that Carroll Shelby has been associated with.

My closest brush with owning a real Cobra was around 1975. I had just turned 16 and had saved up $900 to by my first car. My dad told me he would spot me a few hundred bucks if I found the right car. I thought the right car was a 1967 GT 500 that a car dealer in Sunnyvale, CA was selling for the astronomical price of $2,800. I tried to figure out every angle to buy that car, but it just wasn’t in the cards.

Nearly 40 years after seeing a Cobra for the first time, I’m close to living my dream through the recreation of a car that was inspired by the true genius of Carroll Shelby.

[Fake Snake]

I have been in love with Shelby Cobra's and Shelby Mustangs since I was a kid. The Shelby Cobra was my favorite and the king of the kong was the 427 S/C. These were great gifts to car enthusiasts. They have become some of the most coveted vehicles of all time. So much so, that between the replica market and FORD's latest creation of the GT-500 & GT500KR, that we can fall in love again, for the first time. That inspiration has spanned more than 40 years! And as he always says, who would have guessed it! He has continued to keep enthusiasm for automobiles alive, when it looked like it was going belly up. Working with Chrysler/Dodge to create some econobox products that were fiesty kept the fires burning. Viper. Say no more. And I have to say that I am very fond of the Series 1 cars. I have a picture on my cubical wall right beside the 427S/C 40th anniversary printed tin. The new GT500KR is my wallpaper on my computer screen. Has he impacted my life. Oh yes! Thanks for the automolove you brought into my life. You may have to look out for my wife though.

[Thomas Gayer]

Carroll,
I first met you in the mid sixties at a sports car racetrack called "Hilltop" in Bossier City, LA. I drove an MG1100 at the time, and people thought I was nuts to have a car with the motor in sideways and frontwheel drive. It would never catch on, they told me. I have always liked sports cars and went on to own a Sunbeam Tiger which I traded for a truck to water my horses. I wear a black western felt in the winter as a tribute to you, always have. You know how hot it gets here in east texas, so it is pretty much a straw the rest of the year. I want to thank you for all the autographs and down home kindness you have extended us over the years. When I grow tired of the cobra and the GT40, I will build one of those Banshee cars to get me back and forth to the grocery store and church. May God bless you and keep you safe.
Tommy Gayer

[mrhtwls]

What started it for me was the confidence and swagger Carroll showed in all of his undertakings. I'm to young to have been there to witness it, but the Shelby Cobra became my favorite car in just reading of the racing accomplishments. Learning the Shelby history was best use of Northern Illinois Universities research library I could think of. To say "Ferarris Ass is Mine!" and back it up with a sound pounding with limited resources and a small group of talented guys. Not only can the man talk big, but he can back it up bigtime.

He reminded me of that during a breakfast, the morning following the Shelby American Museum Charity Dinner, held in Colorado in December '06. I was introducing Phil Remmington to a friend of mine and Carroll broke in, asking what I was talking about. I replied "Just Bullsh!tting Phil about my friend." To which he replied, "There's is already too much bullsh!t in the world. If you are going to say something, make it worthwhile."

The Cobra and the Shelby Mustangs were my boyhood dreams. Carroll, taking Ferrarri down a notch with Shelby American, hell that is every entrepenuer's dream.

Thank you for the inspiration Carroll. ~Patrick Krook, ShowYourAuto.com

[blip]

Dear Mr Shelby,
we met at the Haynes Cobra Day, back in 2004. I thanked you then and I would like to thank you again!

Best regards,
Phil Riley

[glennrunner]

[quote=Brent Mills]I have been thinking of doing this for quite some time and finally figured it was time to just get it started. I've always wanted to say thanks to the man but never really had the avenue to do so...Figured this would be a good way of doing it. Hope you enjoy participating and reading what others think as well. Enjoy!

Carroll Shelby tribute thread rules of engagement:

Brent:

Maybe you would like to do it in person.

For those who maybe interested, Caroll Shelby will be the guest speaker
at the "Night at the Museum" at the Antique Auto Museum in Hershey, Pa.

Tickets are $125 each and there will be a charity auction also. You can call
Chad Burger at 717-566-7100 ext. 116 or rsvp@aacamuseum.org.

Great time to visit the museum and meet a legend.

Glennrunner

[LEWIS-AK1203]

I Was 15 (31 Years Ago) When I Saw My First Cobra Book, And Bought It. I Have Wanted One Ever Since(THE CAR THAT IS).i Finally (after Owning Some 200 Other Cars)bought One Last Week. A Genuine Ac Mk Iv . I Owe This Pasion (and Pain :cry: For The Wait) To Only One Man .shelby....thanks........ The Other Two Cars That Stir The Passion Is A Ferrari Daytona...... And Lambo Miura....

[nikbj68]

It`s gone a bit quiet `round here.

[computerworks]

Thanks for bringing this to the top, nikbj68.

I don't think the purpose of this thread has changed, though.

With a 40-some year friendship in the books, I would like to see this thread stay on the "high road."

Lotsa ups and down, but, for this thread, we should "remember the good times."
...they haven't changed.

CS turns 85 next month and I think we will print this thread and send it as a birthday card from Club*obra.

[lamaluv]

There are very few great men that do not have their detractors. Often as many hate as love them. Nothing that anyone can say about Carrol Shelby will ever lesson my joy at watching my first SCCA race where two Cobras were beating the pants off of everything else. Or seeing Jerry Titus win the B Production class in 65 driving a Shelby GT350. I always dreamed of owning one of Shelby's great cars. Carrol will always be my hero for the great things he and his team did with these wonderful cars in the 1960's. Nothing will ever change that.

Dick

[gt500bill]

During my high school years the highlight of the whole thing was skipping school on a Friday and going down to the local dealer (Joe Meyers Ford - Houston) and drool on the Shelby's and Boss cars on the showroom. I never thought in my wildest dream i would ever have one. Of course there was the rich kid who's daddy bought him the latest and greatest which at our school was a white blue stripe '65 GT350 who tore up the parking lot and was the one the establishment wanted to catch - never did. My favorite at the time was a 69 gt500. In 1978 I ran across a 68 gt500 in Auto Trader and talked my wife into looking at it. Had to have it. Of course being a newlywed and having no money ($5500 was a lot then for a used car) I talked the banker who was a car nut also into financing the car 100% by proving to him with a copy of Hemmings undermy arm that it was worth more than the asking price. We took it home and was a daily driver for over 4 years while we paid the payments on it. As soon as it was paid off we bought a beater to drive while the gt500 sat in the garage. I took a lot of grief from family and friends over that. It still sits in my garage 30 years later and i still would not part with it. Thanks to Carroll for having a hand in building such fine cars and providing a dream i thought i would never have. I also have a "Tribute" Cobra. One of the best memories I have is at Texas Motor Speedway at a meet and Carroll asked my wife to babysit his dog while he drove a Daytona Coupe on the track. The first thing the dog did was pee on Jay Bittle's ( JBA ) 67 GT500. Jay was mad untill he found out it was Carroll's dog........ Memories

[BigBlockRob]

Just wanted to say Thanks Carroll. No one else has even come close to making a car like the AC Shelby 427. only 1,000 initial originals and now its the worlds most desired and most copied car with an entire world wide industry of quality replicas !! A true compliment to you. I am just starting my own Aussie replica which will be as close to your original as I can make it, with a 429 Ford of course.

After staring at these cars for years my first drive of the Cobra came in 1983. and now i finally get to have one. Nothing else looks and sounds anything like an AC Shelby.

[GlynMeek]

Perhaps Teddy Roosevelt said it best...

"It is not the critic who counts, or how the strongman stumbled and fell, or where the doer of deeds could have done better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, and who spends himself in a worthy cause.

If he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that he may never be one of those cold and timid souls, who know neither victory nor defeat. "

As someone said earlier, there is always a surfeit of critics for any GREAT man, but Carroll Shelby WAS in the arena, KNEW great enthusiasms, spent himself in a worthy cause, knew victory and defeat and inspired THOUSANDS of us!

Well done sir!

[VE4MM]

Is this closed?