What happens when 283 Cobra lovers get together for a cruise down the Ohio countryside and a three-day party...all for charity? It is a funfest that raises $105,257 for Cystic Fibrosis Research.
All told, 283 Cobras attended, along with two GT40s, an S1, a Noble M12, a Mustang GT350, and a BMW. Members of the Great Lakes Cobras Club, Capital Area Cobra Club, Northeast Ohio Kit Car Club, and Ohio Valley Kit Car Club made themselves known with their support of the event, and at least seven clubs had members in attendance. All on hand, it seemed, were there to help, as the event brings out the best in people
The event began with a cruise to the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, for a day of autocrossing and camaraderie. The Buckeyes NEVER saw that many Snakes on campus before, and when the day ended, Bill Peirce had blazed to the quickest time in the autocross, with KIT CAR Editor Mike Blake along for the ride, in 28.4 seconds. Peirce said the extra weight was a help for his FFR, as "the line is the thing, and the added weight actually helped the handling." Good thing he didn't call it "dead weight." David McIlvanie came in Second with his light-primer-blue FFR in 28.6 and Wayne Presley managed a Third and fourth in two non-Cobras, flying around the course in 28.8 seconds in the 1G Racing Noble M12 and running 29-flat in his own CAV GT40.
The next day saw a regional country cruise down I-70, I-270, and I-71, where the 25-dozen cars descended on London, Ohio, home of the Strawberry Festival. With help from the City of London Police and Fire Departments, the enthusiasts were treated to wall-to-wall Cobras on display, drag burn-outs, food, fun, and charity.
The final day was filled with more cruising, a silent auction of memorabilia, and even more fun. A stop at the Madison County Airport provided food, merriment, dragstrip runs, more autocrossing, and a rare Cobra treat-a concert by the Rip Chords, the group who sang "Hey Little Cobra" in 1964. (Editor's note: In 1964, Cashbox reported that "Hey Little Cobra" was Number 2 with a bullet, as Number 1 was "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and Number 3 was "She Loves You," both by The Beatles.)
When it was over, the event, a brainchild of Classics By Elite founder Ed Combs, had raised $105,257, aided by attendance fees, 309 Cobra ride-alongs at $10 per ride, $2,955 from the live auction, and $1,122 from the silent auction. The big fund-raiser, in addition to participation fees, came from the Cobra giveaway. Kirkham Motorsports of Provo, Utah, manufacturers of classy and classic brushed aluminum-bodied Cobra 427s and 289s, donated a shiny, new 289FIA, and the event organizers sold 108 tickets at $50 apiece to raise $44,000 for the charity.
Bob Sutton, who drove his Millennium Yellow B&B Cobra from Wheaton, Illinois, purchased a ticket and about an hour later was driving home in his new Kirkham. It was that easy, all for a charitable $50 donation.
The attendees came from 45 states, Canada, the UK, and Australia to raise funds for Team Jenny, a group that honors Jenny Smith, daughter of FFR leader Dave Smith. Jenny is afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis, and she is so endearing that a group of Cobra guys, led by Combs, decided to just do something nice for someone. Actually, it is for everyone affected by the crippling lung disease, and the Combs-created event is now in its third year. Combs named it Double Venom Spring Fling after the Double Venom Cobra he builds, combining the bite of the Cobra with the venom of a Viper V-12 engine.