Shelby Cobra Story by Michael Rockich Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2012
Shelby Cobra Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2012
The 2012 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Review
Story and Images by Michael Rockich
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion convened August 16-19 at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. This reunion of historic race cars has a long history, convening since 1974. This year the Shelby Cobra was the automotive marque selected for special recognition. The Cobras came from far and wide.
A field of 550 historic race cars divided into 17 groups took to the track in competition. Saturday's feature race listed 45 authentic Cobras entered. Competitors hailed from 10 nations with US entrants numbering 547, and from 28 states with the largest contingent of 348 from California.
The interesting Shelby Cobra Heritage Display featured 12 historically significant Cobras housed in a very large tent. This uncommon grouping was actually rivaled by the magnitude and quality of the Cobra car corral. The corral featured an incredible display of Cobras and other Ford powered exotic cars including a row of Ford GTs with their rear bodywork raised to display the supercharged engines, some DeTomaso Panteras, and a track-menacing Saleen S7.
The cars, especially the Cobras, were show prepared in great detail looking just perfect. The array of ingenious paint and finish colors and types on the cars was a revelation. Uncommon paint combinations were present in all their polished glory including chrome. A number of the seldom seen Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe were also in the corral.
Some of the cars, whether in the corral or on track had very serious competitive histories, where at least three marques had won in the past at the Le Mans 24 hours race. The Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe had won the GT III Class at Le Mans, the Saleen S7 had won the GT1 class, and the Ford GT40, the precursor to the Ford GT, won the overall class at Le Mans.
This event is always a great competitive forum of historic racers. But it offers so much more too.
A Supercharger on a Cobera?
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