They're prolific about the landscape and easy to spot. Backdraft Racing roadsters, manufactured in South Africa and distributed worldwide, now number greater than 800 vehicles. With a 92-inch wheelbase offering a bit more legroom and cockpit comfort, the roadsters are two inches longer than the original AC Bristol and Shelby Cobras. BDRs sport a low and menacing stance, having rear fender haunches that appear disproportionately large, giving the car a pouncing, serpent-like (small wonder) posture.
When we invited Backdraft Racing to the second annual KIT CAR Performance Day, we knew that BDR would bring a real road burner for testing. We weren't wrong. Cobras wearing black always strike a stealthy, muscular silhouette. So when Backdraft unveiled an copper-over-black roadster, replete with a blacked out engine and stainless steel black powdercoated sidepipes and wheels, the only thing we could think of doing was to jump in the car, fire her up, and make an uncontested escape to Mexico. Save for those Le Mans center stripes, the BDR flies under the radar. But all hope of escaping speed traps undetected is lost, when the Roush 427R mill is started. Not that this outlaw, rebel-without-a- cause-looking car is obnoxiously loud. There's a sweet rumble from the sidepipes, which compels the pilot to mash the throttle all the more. Of course, that's when the BDR is in its glory, gobbling up the road with ease, the all- independent suspension offering a racy yet smooth ride, the engine making 125 more horsepower than the 427 cubic inch mills that were in the 427SC Cobras of the 60s.
Backdraft's Bill Putman, our Nick Licata, and Jason Scudelari all had the glorious chore of racing around in the BDR roadster at the '08 KIT CAR Performance Day. From the smiles on their faces we can tell what they thought about the roadster's abilities. Add those grins to the performance data gathered and you can formulate an initial opinion of this not-so-invisible BDR roadster. But to really appreciate how great a Backdraft roadster is you'll need to get some seat time of your own from a Backdraft Racing dealer near you. Simply let your fingers do the walking on the World Wide Web, www.backdraftracing.com. Until then, feast your eyes on some of the fun we had wringing out a Backdraft Racing roadster.
Bored and stroked from a DART...
Bored and stroked from a DART four-bolt main block, the Roush 427R engine makes a most healthy 550 horsepower, which is ever so much power for such a lightweight sports car.
On the dusty El Toro airfield's...
On the dusty El Toro airfield's tarmac, Nick Licata still managed to keep the BDR roadster going in a continuous, counter-clockwise circle for the skidpad test.
With the two-inch longer-than-stock...
With the two-inch longer-than-stock wheelbase of 92 inches, the Backdraft Racing roadsters all appear low, lean, and mean from the side view.
Given the copper-over-black...
Given the copper-over-black paint treatment, with black sidepipes and wheel centers, this is one sinister-looking Cobra. Thankfully, it's even faster than it looks.
VDO Instruments fill the BDR...
VDO Instruments fill the BDR roadster's dash, while black leather trims the bucket seats. The manual transmission is a Tremec TKO 600 five-speed, which is stout enough to handle 600 lb-ft of torque.
Backdraft Racing's ace employee,...
Backdraft Racing's ace employee, Bill Putman nailed the throttle and burned a bit of rubber on one of the 0-60 mph acceleration runs.