Just joined up the end of last week! Wow, lot's of history for me here. I've been a member of SAAC since 1989, attending every convention just about since Watkins Glen. I currently work Race Tech at the national conventions, and run the Popular Ballot car shows there as well. I used to open track that blood-red 1969 SCJ Mach 1, but it now resides accross the copuntry with the Ex. I revived the old Eastern PA Region of SAAC in 1995, it's now called the "Lehigh Valley Region", and we cover most of Eastern PA. Club site is http://clubs.hemmings.com/lvsaac though I am in the middle of a big upgrade, the basics are there. Currently, I am building a Factory Five Replica with an eye on open track, small block car with good brakes and upgraded suspension. Paint? Nah! anyone out in my neck of the woods?
Great to have you on board! Show us some photos as you build your Cobra. Would definitely like to see the progress. Welcome! RS
Hi there & welcome aboard! I've only been in this community since the Thanksgiving and have learned much. By the way, I think we know each other. Were you also involved w/ a West Jersey club? I had the modified black '85 GT at SAAC '96 @ LRP, after getting rid of my 'Plain Jane' '67 years earlier. Good luck w/ the FF build-up. Looking forward to pics.
Hey Rusty! Long time!! Maryland? When did you move? Still teaching? As noted above, the Ex is now in Las Vegas, she took her car, and left me & kids behind. I just sold the 69 Convertible, and am now building the FFR. What a blast! The West Jersey club is still active, though I don't know how strong, as I dropped out after 1996 or around then, to concentrate on the SAAC group. I think Bob Hilpot is still running the club. What's your latest Car? Still have & flogging the black one? Great to hear from you! Dan
Hi Dan, I thought that was you! Yeh, it has been a long time. Bob Hilpot & George Snow are holding things together w/ the WJMF/PC the last I heard. I no longer have the black '85. It would no longer pass emissions & I had no time/money to rebuild it, so I took it to my son in FL. He & his buddy have rebuilt & repainted it. I'll try to figure out how to post some pics. I retired from teaching in NJ in June '03 & moved here, three miles from the Cecil County Dragway where I've been a tech inspector. I go this Sat. to Hershey,PA to take the Certification Test. I also got a great position at the local HS. It's pretty cool double dipping; collecting a pension from NJ & working here. I'm now saving for either a Shelby or Roush Mustang in the new chassis. I was seriously thinking about doing an FFR coupe but Rosemary was sure I don't have the patience for it. So how old are the kids now? That must have been a huge adjustment when your ex went West (sorry, can't remember her name). Are you at the same job? Something electronic wasn't it? Does your job bring you down this way at all? Looking forward to your postings on the FFR build-up. What motor are you using? Show car or NASA racer? Keep me informed. Rusty
Glad to see you're still an enthusiast! I'm using the Donor 88 5.0 converted to carb for now, cost constraints, and wanting to dial in the chassis & brakes with a reasonable motor. Once either it blows up, or I need more speed, I'll step up to a 350 HP aluminum headed small block. No strokers, I love to hear that little motor wind up to 7500! Just put on the wheels/tires, will roll it out tomorrow and get some pics. Kids are doing great! Deanna turns 15 in April, quite the tomboy now, but turning into a lady! She rules the roost! Scott will be 12 the end of March, and progressing quite well in his Autistic classes. You'd really like him, as he is a musical savant, has perfect pitch, and plays piano from memory, can play anything from Pink Floyd to christmas carols! It's been unique raising him, but very fufilling to see him get so far, and know there's more to go. I'm still in the cinema buisiness with the company I helped start, manufacturing projection systems. I do the design & customer support. We just bought a speaker company, so I am also doing speaker design as well! I wear many hats! thank goodness the building has a machine shop, so I can make parts as needed! As for you, I agree with Rosemary! You'd be better with something already done, or a solid base, and you can add/modify to taste! Besides my love for road racing, I'm also recently enjoying the nostalgia Drag Racing revival. I attend the annual Funny Car Bash at Englishtown, and want to go to the York event soon. Cecil Dragway did alot back in those days if I remember correctly! I'll keep you posted on the build! Dan
It sounds like your approach to the Cobra build is very realistic. Looking forward to pics, but this recent cold weather would make delays understandable. Cecil County Dragway was very active back in the '60s. Last summer we hosted the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgic drag racers. They were a very nice group and their machines brought back lots of memories. I had a chance to see a few cars I'd only read about; it was awesome. I believe we host that group annually. I'll let you know the date when I get the new calendar; we open the end of Feb. Your description of Scott's progress is inspiring. I bet I would like him. The last I saw your kids, they were so young; I certainly wouldn't recognize them now. It's good to hear your business venture is doing well. Thanks for the refresher. Rusty
I've been having a ball with the car! Already set up two race dates in 2006, maybe a 3rd, I put almost 2000 miles on the car in three months, still take it out for an occasional run when the roads are dry! Got all my mechanical gremlins squared, fixed the chronic overheating - bad intake manifold gasket, got the carb tuned right, as the side-pipes are a perfect shade of grey, and the throttle hit is instant, and already working on winter projects! You'll just have to see it to see my suprises! (don't worry, no paint yet!) Here's a link to the build - http://www.midatlanticcobras.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
Thanks for the link to the build history & pics. They were very interesting to see & read. The model of the paint scheme looks very cool. Hope you continue to do the track events after the paint is on. When & where are the events you've scheduled for '06? I might be able to fit some into my schedule; it would be great to see you again. I can email you directly if you'd rather not post that here. Happy New Year!
No prob in setting up 2006 So far, I have already set up track time at SAAC 31 at VIR, will do the Pheonix PMR school at the Glen, and possible time at either Summit Point or a run at Pocono. I need to work on my braking, as I am still hitting the binders to early, giving up corners. also may go on a Cobra run in Lake George in Mid-July, and take it to LBI for Summer vacation! Having fun running this beast!
