Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer

[98SVT - was 06GT]

"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.

[Side-Oilers]

Thanks for the clarification and additional info!      Cool photo!

[FL SAAC]

tricky tricky tricky

[FL SAAC]

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.

[FL SAAC]

Thanks for the clarification and additional info!      Cool photo!

+ 1

[owenkelley]

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

https://youtu.be/vc2uG7itXZw

[owenkelley]

Another Youtube video about this car.

https://youtu.be/3U4Bzztv3jI

[shelbymann1970]

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

[6s341]

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!!

[FL SAAC]

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

[FL SAAC]

Amazing history captured
Again  very gracious of you for providing

Another Youtube video about this car.

https://youtu.be/3U4Bzztv3jI

[FL SAAC]

+ 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!!

[Bigfoot]

Cool videos.
I like the Recaros!

[Side-Oilers]

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

[Side-Oilers]

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