Author Topic: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer  (Read 6713 times)

98SVT - was 06GT

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #15 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.
Previous owner 6S843 - GT350H & 68 GT500 Convert #135.
Mine: GT1 Mustang Track Toy, 1998 SVT Cobra, Wife's: 2004 Tbird
Member since 1975 - priceless

Side-Oilers

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #16 on: June 24, 2021, 03:04:25 PM »
Thanks for the clarification and additional info!      Cool photo!
« Last Edit: June 24, 2021, 03:24:42 PM by Side-Oilers »
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

FL SAAC

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #17 on: June 24, 2021, 04:52:40 PM »
tricky tricky tricky
Living RENT FREE in your minds...

Home of the Hertz Musketeers 

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs.  It's jolted by every pebble on the road

I have all UNGOLD cars

I am certainly not a Shelby Expert

Life is short B happy

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #18 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.

Living RENT FREE in your minds...

Home of the Hertz Musketeers 

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs.  It's jolted by every pebble on the road

I have all UNGOLD cars

I am certainly not a Shelby Expert

Life is short B happy

FL SAAC

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #19 on: June 24, 2021, 10:00:54 PM »
Thanks for the clarification and additional info!      Cool photo!

+ 1
Living RENT FREE in your minds...

Home of the Hertz Musketeers 

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs.  It's jolted by every pebble on the road

I have all UNGOLD cars

I am certainly not a Shelby Expert

Life is short B happy

owenkelley

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #20 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

owenkelley

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #21 on: June 27, 2021, 07:17:18 AM »
Another Youtube video about this car.

https://youtu.be/3U4Bzztv3jI

shelbymann1970

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #22 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
Shelby owner since 1984
SAAC member since 1990
1970 GT350 4 speed(owned since 1985).
  MCA gold 2003(not anymore)
1969 Mach1 428SCJ 4 speed R-code (owned since 2013)

6s341

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #23 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!!

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #24 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
Living RENT FREE in your minds...

Home of the Hertz Musketeers 

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs.  It's jolted by every pebble on the road

I have all UNGOLD cars

I am certainly not a Shelby Expert

Life is short B happy

FL SAAC

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #25 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
Living RENT FREE in your minds...

Home of the Hertz Musketeers 

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs.  It's jolted by every pebble on the road

I have all UNGOLD cars

I am certainly not a Shelby Expert

Life is short B happy

FL SAAC

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #26 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!!
Living RENT FREE in your minds...

Home of the Hertz Musketeers 

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs.  It's jolted by every pebble on the road

I have all UNGOLD cars

I am certainly not a Shelby Expert

Life is short B happy

Bigfoot

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #27 on: June 28, 2021, 07:30:35 PM »
Cool videos.
I like the Recaros!
RIP KIWI
RIP KIWI

Side-Oilers

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #28 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
« Last Edit: June 29, 2021, 04:31:28 AM by Side-Oilers »
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

Side-Oilers

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Re: Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer
« Reply #29 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
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick