This year, superlative weather and sublime track conditions kept the Mid-Ohio Cobra replica owners on track for the maximal amount of time throughout the two days of instruction and racing on the famous road course. The field of participants was lower than in the two previous years, which gave drivers all the more space to hone their racing skills. With no weather delays, racers made the most of their opportunity.
Some of the track sessions were nearly doubled for twice as much road course fun. On one such session, we rode with former Formula 1 racer and Mid-Ohio pro driving instructor Tommy Byrne in one of the school's Acuras. We led the advanced group around the course lap after lap. Mr. Byrne drove so fast that KC's editor became a bit queasy. After dropping off said editor, he continued the extended session without missing an apex. Tommy certainly has a knack for tearing up a racetrack, tying a passenger's stomach in knots, and teaching students how to get around a road course in likewise expeditious fashion.
Cars in line under the Mid-Ohio...
Cars in line under the Mid-Ohio bridge and sign embarked on another fun lead/follow session with Mid-Ohio's professional racing instructors.
Throughout the two days of racing, a few participants plowed the infield grass. One racer unintentionally encountered a tire wall and had to retire. With not too much damage to his replica, we're sure he'll be back next year for more fun, and he'll probably bring sticky race tires.
Because inclement weather stayed away, we had the chance to walk around a good portion of the track. Set in rural Lexington, Ohio, the course is in an idyllic natural setting, with trees, lush grass, and an abundance of nature's earthbound and flying critters all making their home in close proximity to the Mid-Ohio course. We enjoyed the extended nature walk almost as much as photographing the racing students earning their road course diplomas.
By all accounts, the two days of learning and racing at Mid-Ohio was a huge success for all participants. KC took enough photos to fill several magazines. Many that couldn't make it to print will soon be posted on www.kit carmag.com. If you'd like to be a part of all the fun next year, visit the following websites for more information: www.londoncobrashow.com, www.clubcobra.com, and wwwFFcobra.com
Cobras Carve Following Daphne...
Cobras Carve
Following Daphne Shumaker in her FFR Type 65 coupe was Marysville, MI, resident Jim DeBell in his #98 FFR roadster. Daphne and Scott Shumaker have two FFRs, her coupe and his supercharged roadster. How cool is that? Daphne let KC drive her coupe on the autocross. Thanks, Daphne and Scott.
At the backside of the course,...
At the backside of the course, Nick Smith in his FFR roadster crested the hill and nailed the throttle to devour more of the track. Nick kindly let KC drive his car on the autocross. Thank you, Mr. Smith!
We were unable to name the...
We were unable to name the driver/owner of this white over Guardsman Blue Cobra 427SC. The roadster looks to be from Unique Motorcars.
Whenever Bill Peirce is behind...
Whenever Bill Peirce is behind the wheel of his Ford GT on a road course, all the cars in front or behind him become all the more blurry in the background. From Kennesaw, GA, Bill's the man who created the ffcobra.com forum.
It's always a pleasure watching...
It's always a pleasure watching any Cobra replica on a road course, with the suspension working and the driver manipulating the controls in the cockpit to keep the beasty machine on course at the fastest possible speed. Todd Baumann's FFR now has a brand-new Gordon Levy-built 408ci stroker mill that makes more than 550 hp. Home for the Baumanns is Howell, MI.
On the backside of the track,...
On the backside of the track, the Unique Cobra began its descent.
With Scott Shumaker of Clio,...
With Scott Shumaker of Clio, MI, tearing up the tarmac in his maroon supercharged FFR roadster, trying to reel him in a bit in the corners required great skill.
The other unidentified roadster...
The other unidentified roadster was #22. It appears to be a special edition Superformance Mk III racing strong along one of the back straights.
Over on the autocross course,...
Over on the autocross course, Flint, MI, resident Tony Albin put his stock 302ci Ford-powered FFR roadster through its paces. He painted the candy apple red car himself.
The one mishap occurred when...
The one mishap occurred when Bill Donges had a stuck throttle in his BDR roadster. He hit the tire wall. Damage consisted of a couple of cracks in the left front fender and a broken lower control arm.
In his British Racing Green...
In his British Racing Green Shelby Cobra, David Demangone charged ahead. The father/son team of Gary and Ron Nielsen, in Gary's FFR roadster, took turns piloting the car throughout the two track and autocross days at Mid-Ohio.
When participants weren't...
When participants weren't running hot laps on the road circuit, drivers practiced handling oversteer and understeer situations in the Honda Civic skid car.
Numerous lead/follow sessions...
Numerous lead/follow sessions with the cadre of Mid-Ohio professional racecar drivers/instructors enabled all the students to memorize the correct racing line and to hone their racing skills.
In his silver Superformance...
In his silver Superformance roadster, New York dweller Kenneth Benson didn't dawdle on the track. He led Ben Hranac of Dearborn Heights, MI, in his white over blue FFR roadster, another white over blue unidentified racer, and Joe Byers in his black over gray FFR.
FFR Type 65 coupes look good...
FFR Type 65 coupes look good coming or going. This particular one had Ford V-6 power and ran quick the entire time.
The roadster plated SLVR SNK...
The roadster plated SLVR SNK is a fresh Superformance machine, owned by Kenneth Benson of New York.
Syracuse, NY, is home for...
Syracuse, NY, is home for David and Amy Pilacky and their green Backdraft roadster. A 342ci Ford stroker engine backed by an auto trans puts the power to the pavement. Also in a Backdraft, wearing the hue of Mini Cooper Electric Blue, Bill Donges gave hot pursuit.