Confessions of a Shelby Cannonballer

[Side-Oilers]

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

[FL SAAC]

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?

[honker]

Kopec & Yates !

[FL SAAC]

Cobra team
Michael Bannon and Professor Samuel Graves

Fellali Team
Franco "what's behind me is not important" and Smitty

[6s341]

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.

[6s341]

Correction, white with blue stripes...

[98SVT - was 06GT]

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.

[Side-Oilers]

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. 

[427heaven]

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!

[Side-Oilers]

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

[427heaven]

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. That was when we actually drove/raced the cars! AHHH Good Times

[6s341]

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!

[6s341]

I should note the second and third pictures I just posted are a 65 Mustang that I drive that has some similarities to 6S341....  

[427heaven]

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!

[Side-Oilers]

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