Kit Car

Cobras Roll Into London - London Cobra Show

Benefits Cystic Fibrosis Research

By D. Brian Smith

Photography by Rick Dorman, D. Brian Smith

Snakes on four wheels with sinister powerplants captured the attention of the Midwest in mid-June. For the 6th Annual London Cobra Show, the glorious rolling, running works of automotive art and engineering invaded London, Ohio, and neighboring towns throughout the week. Cobra replicars from every manufacturer, both roadsters and coupes, commanded center stage.

The Ohio Cobra Club (OCC) holds the London Cobra Show to raise more money than the previous year's event to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. By making each show bigger and better, they achieve their aim. The club is filled with some sharp and creative members who know how to produce a successful show.

For the first time ever, the event commenced with two track days of race driving instruction and open laps at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Open to Cobra roadster, coupe, and GT40 replica owners, over 40 entrants improved their performance driving skills on the famous course. Mid-Ohio professional race instructors conducted classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced racers in cornering, braking, autocross, slalom, lead/follow on the track, and open lapping. The first day at Mid-Ohio, participants enjoyed perfect Midwest weather. The sun sank in the sky as Cobra commanders tamed their willing snakes around the track for last laps. Alas, KIT CAR's new editor, Smith, flew from SoCal to Ohio while all the racing fun was taking place. After a few warm-up laps on day two, cloudy skies gave way to steady rain. Next year, the not-so-new editor will fly out for both track days.

Several Columbus, Ohio, hotels hosted the London Cobra Show goers, who started arriving Thursday for activities that would commence Friday and last through the weekend. OCC learned a long time ago that Cobra owners like to drive their beasts. Calling the event a show is almost a misnomer. It's more a series of action-packed activities that revolve around getting in your roadster, coupe, or mid-engine GT and planting your right foot on the accelerator.

Friday's festivities included several different driving tours. Participants could choose between the Hocking Hills Scenic Tour, the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, or the Central Ohio Speed Shop Tour of Ryan Racing, Arc Hotrods, and JEG'S. Editor Smith heard the Hocking Hills Tour involved the most spirited driving and best scenery. His only regret for selecting this cruise was that he sat in the co-pilot's chair. Of course, it's hard to take photographs and steer a Cobra at the same time!

From a Speedway filling station in Columbus to the big show's location in London, Saturday morning almost 250 drivers and cars paraded. As the rumbling snakes drew closer to the quaint town's center, more and more spectators lined the streets. Once in London, owners could park their sports cars and display them, or line up for the burnout and 1/4-mile drag down the town's main thoroughfare. Everyone smelled tire rubber, heard engines roaring, and saw the snakes smoking up the road and slithering swiftly throughout the day. In the process, the burnout rides raised more than $2,200 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. At $10 per passenger, you can imagine how much rubber makes up that particular London road now.

We departed London for the enclave of hotels in Columbus, where the Old Bag of Nails-catered barbecue picnic was held Saturday evening. An interesting talk by famed engine builder Keith Craft and an auction of Cobra and automobilia ensued. The climax of the night's celebration was the announcement of the winner of the Cobra 427 SC replica raffle car. Surprisingly, the winner, Ken Furguson, from the London township, wasn't present. Upon his arrival some 20 minutes later, we learned Ken was in the middle of a multi-day golf tourney in which his team was in first place! We should all be so lucky.