SAAC Forum

Off Topic Area => The Lounge => Topic started by: FL SAAC on June 23, 2021, 11:45:00 AM

Title: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 23, 2021, 11:45:00 AM
 Here's a little story about a man,  his Shelby and a event that went from the east coast of  America to the west coast Enjoy!  Full story at     

http://www.powerperformancenews.com/features/confessions-of-a-cannonballer/
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 23, 2021, 02:56:24 PM
But wait there's more !
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: owenkelley on June 23, 2021, 03:36:39 PM
I saw this car in person at the very first SAAC Does Vegas meet put on by the Shelby American Automobile Club in 1996, so the car hasn't been tucked away quite as long as the article makes it sound. I have video of the car and all of it's electronic additions, it was pretty crazy. Linda Vaughn is in the video walking around the car asking the owner a few questions. Pretty fun to watch after 24 years!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on June 23, 2021, 04:14:47 PM
I know the guy who wrote the article  ;D.   

The "hidden away " mention referred to the time since the last magazine article.  That was in 1985 in Popular Hot Rodding.  I may know that writer too.   8)

RPM visited me last week.  He still makes the occasional fast run to "circulate the oil."  Great guy.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 68countrysedan on June 23, 2021, 06:16:57 PM
What was his finishing position?
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on June 23, 2021, 06:38:09 PM
The car wasn't completed in time to do Yates's original Cannonball.  But it competed in the similar US Express.  Can't recall the finishing position.   
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: honker on June 23, 2021, 08:01:53 PM
Isn't that '67 #1541 ?

Mike
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 23, 2021, 08:05:26 PM
More air
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 23, 2021, 08:25:36 PM
.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 23, 2021, 11:24:46 PM
Could you download the video or snippets of tge video please

Would be kool to view

I saw this car in person at the very first SAAC Does Vegas meet put on by the Shelby American Automobile Club in 1996, so the car hasn't been tucked away quite as long as the article makes it sound. I have video of the car and all of it's electronic additions, it was pretty crazy. Linda Vaughn is in the video walking around the car asking the owner a few questions. Pretty fun to watch after 24 years!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: JBinAlabama on June 24, 2021, 12:01:18 AM
Great Story!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 6s341 on June 24, 2021, 12:19:12 AM
Well written article, great car and owner!   I remember reading another story about this car and a "midnight run" about ___years ago! 
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on June 24, 2021, 12:30:55 AM
Thanks, guys. 

The first two articles I wrote about it were in Popular Hot Rodding, in 1982 and '85. 

RPM kept adding more components. 

The '85 article chronicled the midnight run to Wyoming.

Running in black-out mode, with the infra-red lights and night-vision goggles was a scary-cool experience.
Van
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 6972boss on June 24, 2021, 01:53:07 AM
Anyone have a copy of the fictitious story that came out in the mustang magazine in the mid 80's?
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 24, 2021, 08:07:59 AM
the engine
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on June 24, 2021, 02:06:13 PM
“The story that SAAC president Rick Kopec wrote about driving his ’65 GT350 in the 1979 Cannonball cross-country race ........”

Not Kopec's car. The car belonged to psychologist Bob Key. He drove it east from Laguna Hills and then he and Kopec made the return trip. We were waiting at the Portifino where a cop was asking what all the neat cars were doing when a Jag sedan roared in with the brakes smoking to punch in their time. He didn't believe our car show story. There was a BOSS 302 that made the trip and a brand new Pontiac Trans Am bought the week before in Denver. They broke it in on the way to NY and now after a week it had nearly 6000 miles on it and a rattle in the engine. They said they'd wait a month or so before taking it in for warranty work. This was the last true race run by Brock Yates. I suggested they use the boat lift to get the broken ambulance off the flatbed. They lifted it and sent it out above the water then backed the truck out and brought it back in and onto the dock. Yates and Hal Needham watch the lift.
(https://i.imgur.com/0peYW02l.jpg)
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on June 24, 2021, 03:04:25 PM
Thanks for the clarification and additional info!      Cool photo!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 24, 2021, 04:52:40 PM
tricky tricky tricky
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 24, 2021, 10:00:31 PM
That's one heluva of a story
Thanks for sharing

“The story that SAAC president Rick Kopec wrote about driving his ’65 GT350 in the 1979 Cannonball cross-country race ........”

Not Kopec's car. The car belonged to psychologist Bob Key. He drove it east from Laguna Hills and then he and Kopec made the return trip. We were waiting at the Portifino where a cop was asking what all the neat cars were doing when a Jag sedan roared in with the brakes smoking to punch in their time. He didn't believe our car show story. There was a BOSS 302 that made the trip and a brand new Pontiac Trans Am bought the week before in Denver. They broke it in on the way to NY and now after a week it had nearly 6000 miles on it and a rattle in the engine. They said they'd wait a month or so before taking it in for warranty work. This was the last true race run by Brock Yates. I suggested they use the boat lift to get the broken ambulance off the flatbed. They lifted it and sent it out above the water then backed the truck out and brought it back in and onto the dock. Yates and Hal Needham watch the lift.
(https://i.imgur.com/0peYW02l.jpg)
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 24, 2021, 10:00:54 PM
Thanks for the clarification and additional info!      Cool photo!

+ 1
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: owenkelley on June 27, 2021, 07:12:24 AM
Here's a link to the video of this car from the very first SAAC Does Vegas Meet

https://youtu.be/vc2uG7itXZw
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: owenkelley on June 27, 2021, 07:17:18 AM
Another Youtube video about this car.

https://youtu.be/3U4Bzztv3jI
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: shelbymann1970 on June 27, 2021, 11:38:47 AM
Another Youtube video about this car.

https://youtu.be/3U4Bzztv3jI
Thanks for posting. I believe I might have that mag tucked away in one of my many containers of Magazines. I definitely remember the Firefox story. Side-Oilers, you write some excellent articles/stories. Gary
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 6s341 on June 27, 2021, 10:32:49 PM
I want to commend Side-Oilers on the many stories you've written over the years that I've enjoyed reading in various publications. I found out that you wrote one or two that had my old '66 in a few before I owned it many years ago.  Also looks like we have similar taste in current cars owned.
Cheers!!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 28, 2021, 11:46:05 AM
Great video
Thank you for sharing

Here's a link to the video of this car from the very first SAAC Does Vegas Meet

https://youtu.be/vc2uG7itXZw
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 28, 2021, 11:47:25 AM
Amazing history captured
Again  very gracious of you for providing

Another Youtube video about this car.

https://youtu.be/3U4Bzztv3jI
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 28, 2021, 11:48:42 AM
+ 1 very talented

I want to commend Side-Oilers on the many stories you've written over the years that I've enjoyed reading in various publications. I found out that you wrote one or two that had my old '66 in a few before I owned it many years ago.  Also looks like we have similar taste in current cars owned.
Cheers!!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Bigfoot on June 28, 2021, 07:30:35 PM
Cool videos.
I like the Recaros!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on June 29, 2021, 04:24:31 AM
Thanks everyone, for your kind words about the articles.  I had a fun career as a car-mag writer/editor.

Nice to know folks fondly remember RPM's car too.  I'll forward this thread's link to him.  He'll get a kick out of it.  Great guy.

Van
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on June 29, 2021, 04:27:16 AM
I want to commend Side-Oilers on the many stories you've written over the years that I've enjoyed reading in various publications. I found out that you wrote one or two that had my old '66 in a few before I owned it many years ago.  Also looks like we have similar taste in current cars owned.
Cheers!!

Thanks! What magazine was that in? 
I remember a '66 that I wrote about in PHR, in '81.  Sy Badener's son had it.  Blue with stripes.  In the Los Angeles area.  That possibly the car? 
Van
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on June 29, 2021, 04:29:58 AM
Another Youtube video about this car.

https://youtu.be/3U4Bzztv3jI
Thanks for posting. I believe I might have that mag tucked away in one of my many containers of Magazines. I definitely remember the Firefox story. Side-Oilers, you write some excellent articles/stories. Gary

Thanks, Gary.  It's an honor to have written some articles that car guys still remember 40 years later.
Van
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on June 29, 2021, 01:20:45 PM
Cool videos.
I like the Recaros!

Hola Biggie como estas ? I had a friend, his name was Ricardo and he had a set of Recaros in his Camaro. Ricardo, Recaro, Camaro....ain't that strange?
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: honker on July 08, 2021, 07:19:38 PM
Kopec & Yates !
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on July 08, 2021, 09:42:47 PM
Cobra team
Michael Bannon and Professor Samuel Graves

Fellali Team
Franco "what's behind me is not important" and Smitty
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 6s341 on August 30, 2021, 01:27:25 AM
Hi Van,

Late reply...one was in Custom Rodder, April 1982.  Tom Ford owned our car at the time (6S341, blue with white stripes).  It was with Tom McIntire's cool Cobra.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 6s341 on August 30, 2021, 01:31:36 AM
Correction, white with blue stripes... 8)
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on August 30, 2021, 12:21:10 PM
tricky tricky tricky - fuel tank

The best fuel tank I saw was the whole bed of a Chevy Crew cab Dually pickup with 512" BB. They'd pull into the center of a gas station and each guy (4 made the trip) would jump out and grab a nozzle and start filling the huge tank from all 4 corners.
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on August 30, 2021, 01:30:37 PM
Hi Van,

Late reply...one was in Custom Rodder, April 1982.  Tom Ford owned our car at the time (6S341, blue with white stripes).  It was with Tom McIntire's cool Cobra.

I definitely remember that. Photographed at Sepulveda Dam Recreation area, in San Fernando Valley, CA.

Tom McIntyre has remained a good friend 40+ years later. 

Cool that you own Tommy's GT350.  Super nice guy. 
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 427heaven on August 30, 2021, 08:46:08 PM
Agree that Tom and Tommy are 2 super guys. My Father and I have known them for over 45 years. Dad worked with Tommy back in the day. My intro to the COBRA lifestyle began at One  of the early conventions at Ontario motor speedway. Back then there was no speed limit they called it hot laps I believe. Tom Mc asked me if I wanted to go for a putt I said sure and asked Dad if it was ok, and he said its ok. With that Tom said here hold this, and handed me a camera with a foot long telephoto lens and said pull the belts tight. We exited the staging area and onto the track then he laid into the throttle, we got all crossed up and it was all I good do to not loose the camera on the track, my eyes were teared up from the wind at a buck fifty plus. I recalled it was the greatest most exciting feeling I had ever experienced up till that point in my life. If I recall correctly there were only 2 cars faster then him, a Daytona coupe and a Ferrari that were in front of us. When we came off the track my Dad was green from what he saw. Thanks for the memories Tom..... Thats when it all began! ;D
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on August 30, 2021, 08:57:29 PM
427heaven:  Great story and memory to have!   

Tom Mc gave me my first-ever ride in a Cobra too.  I'd never been in anything even close to as quick as that car.

I wrote a first-person account of it in Popular Hot Rodding, in the April '81 issue.   I still remember every detail of it.


Tom let me putt it around a parking lot one time. After I promised on my mom's/dad's/grandma's life that I wouldn't punch the throttle. And I didn't. That car was impressive, even at 25 mph.

Tommy Ford used to work for an elevator company.  Do you know where he is now?  Long retired, I'd imagine.

You and I have probably met at some point. There was hardly a COCOA meeting at Galpin, or a track day at Willow, that I missed in the early/mid 1980s. 

I'd bring my slide projector to the COCOA meetings to show the most recent Willow track event, or any gathering of Shelbys and Cobras in SoCal.

What were you driving back then?   I've owned my KR since '82.
Van
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 427heaven on August 30, 2021, 09:34:22 PM
Tommy is in AZ. still plugging along living the dream, Dad talks to him once in awhile everyone is doing good. I was at the Galpin meetings from around 78 to 82 I was a young punk ass kid with a loud, lowered 66 Shelby GT 350. Funny to look back at the older guys that were in the mix back then, Alan Bolte, Jim Shields,  Lynn park, Tom Mc,  Tommy Ford, and the list goes on and on. ;D That was when we actually drove/raced the cars! AHHH Good Times
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 6s341 on August 31, 2021, 08:10:27 AM
I bought Tommy's car through Lynn Park back in 97.  Have known both since that time, and frequently exercise our cars at the Cobra Club at WSIR with Lynn and Tom Mc, etc. as well as at other events like the recent SAAC 46, SVRA, CSRG, etc...
  Tommy and his son usually come out on the first day of the Cobra Club weekends from Az, and it was he who recently told me about the magazine article.  I have others in my files that I found over the years, at least one more written by you, Van...  6S341 appeared in quite a few publications over the many years that Tommy had it, and a few since we've had it.  It's a great early '66!
Cheers!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 6s341 on August 31, 2021, 08:14:09 AM
I should note the second and third pictures I just posted are a 65 Mustang that I drive that has some similarities to 6S341.... 8) 
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 427heaven on August 31, 2021, 08:30:59 AM
I have fond memories of your car and a few other Shelbys and Cobras that came rumbling up my street to pay Dad a visit. All the neighbors came running out to catch a glimpse of what sounded like the beginning of the Daytona 500. Pure awesome-ness. Now I have to relive those days with my buddies and all the kids and grand kids to keep that memory alive. Just not the same when they come over with with their toterhomes and rolling race car shops!
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: Side-Oilers on August 31, 2021, 11:35:37 PM
I bought Tommy's car through Lynn Park back in 97.  Have known both since that time, and frequently exercise our cars at the Cobra Club at WSIR with Lynn and Tom Mc, etc. as well as at other events like the recent SAAC 46, SVRA, CSRG, etc...
  Tommy and his son usually come out on the first day of the Cobra Club weekends from Az, and it was he who recently told me about the magazine article.  I have others in my files that I found over the years, at least one more written by you, Van...  6S341 appeared in quite a few publications over the many years that Tommy had it, and a few since we've had it.  It's a great early '66!
Cheers!

Very cool!   I've seen your car at Willow, but didn't know it had been Tommy's.  I'll come and shake your hand next time.

Please say hi to Tommy for me, when you see him.  Hopefully he remembers me...it's only been 40 years!!
Van
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: 6s341 on September 04, 2021, 07:17:32 PM
Will do Van, looking forward to meeting you!
Craig
Title: Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
Post by: FL SAAC on September 09, 2021, 04:08:41 PM
this is one heck of a post if a do say so !