First Drivng Impression

While setting around waiting for my car to get out of the paint shop (hopefully by next week when I'll post some pictures), I thought you guys might be interested in an article I wrote for our club newsletter

"Since I’ve got some extra time and a lot of extra space in the newsletter, I thought I’d share with you my first impression of driving my GT-40 which, in a nut shell, was “Oh my God, I'm gonna die!”.
After trailering the GT back from New Mexico Wednesday evening, I had called a buddy to come over on Thursday morning and follow me down to the paint shop and bring me home. That morning I decided to have John, my buddy and old Corvette driver extraordinaire, follow me in my Cobra as my painter had been wanting to see it for some time. For whatever reason (perhaps a death wish on my part) I told John that I as going to make a run from Lindsey Street in Norman down to the Washington, OK turnoff and back en-route to the paint shop; a distance of some 45 miles. The trip from the house to the I-35 turn-on was uneventful, what with me being very cautious while familiarizing myself with the pedals, the limited rear view through the two door mounted mirrors, and that dammed left-hand console-mounted gated-shifter. Once on the Interstate, I figured that I was Mario Andretti and got on it pretty good, with the Cobra close behind. Lord, that exhaust sound is beautiful when you stomp on it. After exiting at the Washington exit and crossing the Interstate; entering the on ramp North bound is where I thought I had bought the farm as I decided to really get on it while in third gear at about 60 MPH. Standing on it I suddenly discovered that the car was a lot quicker than I was and found myself entering North bound Interstate traffic (luckily not a lot of it) at a 90 degree angle. Remembering all of the things I used to teach in driver’s school, I rather smoothly brought her back to straight and level. Not wanting to have John think I didn’t have full control of the car (if not my full mental facilities) I again put the pedal down, but with a little more consideration of what the car was capable of doing. Before you could say “Whoa” I noticed, once I remembered the location of the damned speedometer, I was doing 115 mph in 4th gear with a lot of pedal left. Checking the rear view mirror, the Cobra was a mere speck. When we arrived at the paint shop, John said that the car accelerated like it had been attracted by some kind of alien force field. He said that he had tried to keep pace but knew in a second it was a lost cause. Me? After crawling from the car all I could mutter was “Damn, what a ride! Damn, what a ride!” over and over. Reckon, I had better get her down to Thunder Valley Raceway after I get her good and broke in and see what she cam do in the quarter as well as get her opened up on the “open” road. Oh, the anticipation."

A GT40 is like a good woman. You gotta love 'em ~ but they can damn well do you in if you don't respect them.

Ben

[ November 20, 2002: Message edited by: Ben Miller ]

[MK -IV J6]

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

My first behind the wheel experiance was in P1116 and was a combination of "orgasmic Oh wow, I can't believe anything goes this fast" and "Oh Sh!t I'm gonna die!!!!"

A healthy respect and a clean pair of unerwear is a good start.

Rick

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[norman falkiner]

A guy said to me some time ago that Cobra owners were really " gt40 owners in waiting " and reading your post and some previous posts by Gordon Levy I now understand what he was on about Regards

[John Lind]

Congratulation on getting it going. I can't wait to here what happens once you start to get confident in it

Regards

John

[Bill Bayard]

Ben,

There's nothing quite like that first ride!
Or the second, third, fourth, etc.
The experience is kind of like having your first "cargasm" or would that be "Forgasm"? Enjoy!

Bill

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ November 21, 2002: Message edited by: Bill Bayard ]

[FRPGUY]

I had a ride in a real MK lV in 1973 out in Chicago area. I've nerver been the same since! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[MK -IV J6]

Bill
Which one was that?
Best

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

J-6,

To my dismay, my older son is no longer in law school in Queens so the offer you made to me before for a ride will have to wait until I can come up with a passable excuse to the "one who must be obeyed" to facilitate a trip to NYC for a ride.

Please extend a "rain check" to me and when I can get down that way I will give you plenty of notice. Also I am looking for the additional pictures I took in 1985 at Autokraft of J-11/J-12 under completion. When I find them I will post them.

Also hope you enjoyed the video.

Rick

[MK -IV J6]

Rick
The video was great, thanks a lot! Just let me know when you're heading this way.
Best

[FRPGUY]

MK lV J6, I was working as a mechanic/fabricator/pit crew in the F5000 series in 1973 for G. McRae. Harly Cluxton's shop was a base of operations & a dealer for McRae Cars. Harly had a bunch of cars he was restoring & selling. He threw a repair plate on the MKlV & gave rides. I think we could have a ride in the Sonoco 512 Ferrari that Mark Donahue drove too, but we didn't for some reason.. forget why. Tough choise! The MKlV was driven by Andretti & McLaren. Harly either bought it for $40,000.00 or had it for sale at $40,000.00. I think the car is owned by George Stauffer now. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[MK -IV J6]

Bill
That would be J4 the car that won Sebring. Those were the days my friend....
Best
Jim