Trip report: Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca

[SunDude]

To commemorate the car's 50th anniversary, the AC/Shelby Cobra was the featured marque for the 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, more commonly known as the Monterey Historics.  There were hundreds of original and replica Cobras there, including 42 original 289 and 427 cars that raced twice on the legendary Laguna Seca race track. Wow!!
   
   I’m only posting the photos that I personally took at the races (there are thousands more for you to see on the Interwebs).  After taking close to 250 pics at the Shelby Heritage Display and in the paddocks, the battery in my digital camera suddenly died.  AUGH!!  And none of the vendors sold replacements.  AUGH!!
   
   Run Group 3A, 1962-1967 Shelby Cobra
   
   CSX2010 (#97), full-competition 260 Cobra
   
   
   
   CSX2015 (#68), full-competition 260 Cobra
   
   
   CSX2203 (#5)
   
   
   Official Cobra race team transporter with CSX2259 and CSX2263.
   
   
   CSX2259 (#16), one of five factory team FIA roadsters
   
   
   CSX2263 (#25)
   
   
   CSX2330 (#98)
   
   
   CSX2349 (#81)
   
   
   CSX2468 (#95)
   
   
   CSX2484 (#59)
   
   
   CSX2513 (#96), one of six factory team USRRC roadsters
   
   
   
   CSX2514 (#52), one of five independently campaigned USRRC roadsters
   
   
   CSX2528 (#999)
   
   
   CSX2534 (#7)
   
   
   CSX2571 (#8)
   
   
   COB5999 (#15), replica built from an original factory demonstrator chassis
   
   
   Run Group 3A, 1962-1967 Shelby Cobra
   
   CSX3010 (#19), full-competition 427 Cobra
   
   
   CSX3183 (#24)
   
   
   CSX3195 (#22)
   
   
   CSX3243 (#3), the Gumball Rally movie car
   
   
   
   CSX3312 (#47)
   

[SunDude]

Original Cobras in the paddock
   
   CSX2022, full-competition 260 Cobra
   
   
   
   
   CSX2063
   
   
   CSX2134, a 289 Cobra modified with 427 cues
   
   
   
   CSX2163
   
   
   CSX2174, the Steve McQueen loaner
   
   
   
   
   CSX2178
   
   
   CSX2237
   
   
   CSX2298
   
   
   CSX2313
   
   
   CSX2319, a 289 Cobra modified with 427 cues
   
   
   CSX2323, one of five factory team FIA roadsters
   
   
   CSX2331
   
   
   CSX2416, a "barn find" Stage III Dragon Snake
   
   
   CSX2419
   
   
   CSX2483, a one-owner 289 street Cobra
   
   
   CSX2497
   
   
   CSX2544
   
   
   CSX3016, full-competition 427 Cobra
   
   
   CSX3215
   
   
   CSX3339, a 427 with tunnel-port heads
   
   
   ###
   
   
   CSX2603, a Daytona Coupe replica produced by John Ohlsen, former employee of Shelby American Inc.
   
   
   Shelby Cooper-Ford "King Cobra" (CM/5/64)
   
   
   ###
   
   Some local Factory Five coupe owners organized a group photo with Pete Brock, designer of the original FIA Championship-winning Daytona Coupe.
   
   
   
   Waiting for my turn to speak with Pete Brock.
   
   

[philriley427]

Wow – Some really great shots of really great cars there – Cobra Heaven!

[REV]

Appreciated. Thank you I enjoyed that.
   
   :-)

[aaron]

Love the T Shirt Brian !

[Spantik]

Which one won the beauty contest? Just a dream day with dream cars. Nice shots and thanks for sharing.

[SunDude]

Glad you guys enjoyed the photos.  It was an incredible gathering of original Cobras -- more than 125 by my count -- unlikely to ever be repeated.
   
   Aaron, that T-shirt has a perfect "fit" for this event.  It got noticed all day long by other people.

[MkIV Lux]

Hi Brian,
   Thanks for the nice report and pics. Great stuff.
   
   I'm a bit puzzled by the wheels on CSX2416 (barn find Dragonsnake): spinners in conjuction with nuts/bolts [?] Also seen on period photos.
   
   What's the clue?
   Constant

[A-Snake]

quote:Originally posted by MkIV Lux
   
Hi Brian,
   Thanks for the nice report and pics. Great stuff.
   
   I'm a bit puzzled by the wheels on CSX2416 (barn find Dragonsnake): spinners in conjuction with nuts/bolts [?] Also seen on period photos.
   
   What's the clue?
   Constant
   

   
   American Mags were first produced with pins to attach the spline adapters. These began to fail at the starting line of the drags. I wonder why? ;-) Bolts were then used to attach the adapters. (Bolts do not hold the wheels on) The factory Dragonsnakes used these first, no sense having the competition use the new stuff.
    So now you will see both a bolted and 'unbolted' variety.

[rr64]

quote]Originally posted by A-Snake
   American Mags were first produced with pins to attach the spline adapters. These began to fail at the starting line of the drags. I wonder why? ;-) Bolts were then used to attach the adapters. (Bolts do not hold the wheels on) The factory Dragonsnakes used these first, no sense having the competition use the new stuff.
    So now you will see both a bolted and 'unbolted' variety.
   [/quote]
   
   
   Here's some images.
   
   As far as I can tell this is design #1.  The splined adapter BOLTED INTO the magnesium wheel center. Used hard the holes in the magnesium enlarged. Enlarged holes means constantly working loose wheels.
   
   Used wheel.
   
   
   
   
   The second SA works drag Cobra used  design #2 with longer bolts passing THROUGH the magnesium and captured by lug nuts and load bearing thick hardened washers on the facing side.
   
   NOS front wheel.
   
   
   
   
   I have found very little in print about these wheels when new. I have seen 15X6.0 to 15X8.5 sizes of both designs. I am about 90% sure that the 15X6.0 widths and the offsets of those wheels had were just made for street Cobras with stock fender arches....yes they fit.
   
   The common situation now is 6.0 or 6.5 inches wide up front and 7.0 inches wide in the rear with stock fenders. Unless rear tires are low profile and narrow in section and tread widths that usually leads to blistered paint on the rear arches. The SA solution for drag racers and 7.0 or 7.5 wide wheels was cut away portions of the rear arches.
   
   
   I have seen some made in low quantities aluminum modern reproductions of these wheels outfitted for Cobras.

[rr64]

Legend has it Ken Miles had at least two sets of six pin drive made for CSX2431. Pictures are shown of the car using Halibrand Engineering made six pin racing wheels like other SA works cars sometimes and his custom American Racing wheels at other times. They were interchangable.

[MkIV Lux]

Many thanks for the clarification. Snakes are a forever interesting subject.

[rr64]

quote:Originally posted by MkIV Lux
   
Many thanks for the clarification. Snakes are a forever interesting subject.
   

   
   Your welcome.

[A-Snake]

Thanks Dan, I had forgotten that they actually threaded into the magnesium.

[rr64]

quote:Originally posted by A-Snake
   
Thanks Dan, I had forgotten that they actually threaded into the magnesium.
   

   
   Your welcome. Easier to show than describe.