This is part 2 of a 3 part series by one of our great clients who was willing to share this fantastic story with us! Stay tuned for part 3 next Monday: The Restoration Phase – The Cobra in the Garage. If you missed part 1, click here!
In the early years of our ownership, my wife Loreta and I used the Cobra as our main driving car. We thoroughly enjoyed the car during those early years. We attended various races in the region, including the SCCA sponsored events at Raceway Park, for which I was acting as a Flag and Communications Corner Captain. We also participated in their Driver’s School and National events, plus their support of USAC Stock Cars and Indy Cars on the Road Course. This eventually led me to an Indy 500 Pit Tech job with USAC first, and then with IRL for a total of 26 years.
We also used the car on several out of town excursions including our delayed honeymoon, and to major auto races like the Mid Ohio USRRC and the Formula 1 Race at Watkins Glen. In June of 1965, Loreta and I headed out west towards LA, but we didn’t make it past New Mexico. During a terrible hail storm, I pulled over to the side of the road and turned on my blinker, when we suddenly felt a hard jolt. I was shocked to turn around and see a gigantic 1950s vintage Oldsmobile shoved up against our back bumper. We took the car to a Chevrolet Dealership in Albuquerque, where all the necessary repairs were made. During the later restoration, we learned that many of the repairs made at that point were insufficient and done below original manufacturing standards.
After the restoration of the car was completed in May 2008, it was then time to finally get behind the wheel and relive some of these old times (more to come on the restoration in the next part of the series!). We have entered a few car shows, including the 2010 Indy 500 World of Wheels (Domestic Sports Outstanding in Class), the 2010 Carmel Artomobilia, the 2011 Cars for the Cure (Best in Class Domestic Sports), by invitation the 2011 and 2012 Eyes On Design Show, held at the Edsel Ford Estate, the 2011 Carmel Artomobilia (Best in Class Shelby), and by invitation, the 2011 Muscle Cars and Corvette National Shelby Snakepit Showcase Display. Loreta and I absolutely love the excitement of these shows, not only for the competition, but also for meeting like-minded Cobra lovers and for the opportunity to tell the story behind my classic collector car.
About Classic Auto
Drew Yagodnik is Vice President of Classic Automobile Insurance Agency, Inc. Classic Automobile Insurance Agency has been protecting collector, classic and exotics since 1992.
