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Shelby reunion at Pomona

Started by Jerry Entin , Apr 25 2012 22:06

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34 replies to this topic

#1 Jerry Entin

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Posted 25 April 2012 - 22:06

Poster for Cobra event

Last weekend was the 50th anniversary of the Cobra and it was celebrated at the NHRA Museum at Pomona, California.

I am going to show the forum members some of the great cars and former employees and fans of the Cobra.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 April 2012 - 22:59.

#2 Jerry Entin

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Posted 25 April 2012 - 23:17

Parnelli Jones in the King Cobra his passenger is an ex Shelby employee.

Posted Image

Parnelli Jones and the King Cobra leading the Cobra pace laps at Pomona

photos: Albert Wong

Edited by Jerry Entin, 30 August 2012 - 23:12.

#3 Jerry Entin

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 03:00

Some of the former Shelby employees that were able to attend the event

photo: Albert Wong

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 April 2012 - 03:14.

#4 Jerry Entin

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 03:03

Cobra discussion panel at event
Wally Peat, Sherry MacDonald, John Morton, Pete Brock, Allen Grant, J.L. Henderson, Jerry Grant

photo: Albert Wong

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 April 2012 - 03:26.

#5 Jerry Entin

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 03:19

Peter Brock in a Cobra at the recent Shelby reunion held at Pomona

photo: Albert Wong

#6 Jerry Entin

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 03:21

Bob and Pat Bondurant in their continuation GT 40
Pat Bondurant gave this car to Bob Bondurant as a Christmas present this year.
Posted Image

Bob Bondurant and his wife Pat Bondurant at the Shelby reunion at Pomona

photos: Albert Wong

#7 Jerry Entin

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 03:44

Parnelli Jones and Bob and Pat Bondurant

photo: Albert Wong

#8 Jerry Entin

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 03:56

John Chun
John Chun who is 82 moved to the States in 1957 from Seoul, Korea he played a big role in the design of the 1967 and 1968 and 1969 Shelby Cobra Mustangs. I think from the Engineering side.

Posted Image

Rossa Farrer and Helen Chun and John Chun and their son Kevin Chun
John Chun and his wife Helen own Chun Mee a great Chinese Restaurant in Delano, MN. famous for Helen's wings.

photos: Albert Wong
all research: Dave Kane

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 April 2012 - 04:17.

#9 David M. Kane

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 05:37

The Cobra Peter Brock is sitting in with the T on the side is actually the Cobra used in the Shelby Driving School. John Morton was their first student.

The passenger in the #94 King Cobra is actually the current owner Donn Vickery.

I want to thank Jerry Entin for posting these photos for me and Albert Wong for taking them. :up:

#10 arttidesco

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 09:14

Parnelli Jones in the King Cobra his passenger is Donn Vickery

Parnelli Jones and the King Cobra leading the Cobra pace laps at Pomona

photos: Albert Wong

Only found out about the King Cobra since joining TNF, the more I look at it the more it grow's on me thanks for sharing these pics Jerry :up:

#11 Jerry Entin

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 11:35

King Cobra in front of NHRA Museum
Posted Image

King Cobra rear view
This car is owned by the Bill and Evelyn Hartman

Art: The King Cobra is of course a Cooper Monaco sportscar with a Ford 289 motor with weber carburetors put into it.

The first Cooper Monaco that I had seen was sent to Troutman and Barnes in Culver City, California. They were going to install an American V-8 engine into it. The first thing they though was the gearboxes weren't meant for the higher horsepower American V-8's. When the cars came they had Cooper Knight gearboxes meant for a Coventry Climax 4 cylinder engine. The gearbox of choice in 1963 was a Colatti. These were very hard to come by.

Shelby tried the Huffaker unit in his King Cobra that was made in Northern California by Joe Huffaker. This proved to be a very wise choice. Bob McKee of Palatine, Illinois also made a gearbox at that time that would have worked fine.

Forum member Chuck Brandt has been working on a King Cobra book for many years. Here is Chuck Brandt's site on the King Cobra: http://www.chuckbran...m/kingcobra.htm

photos: Albert Wong

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 April 2012 - 12:47.

#12 Nordic

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 12:10

Some good images of the event and also period shots as well.

http://www.speedhunt...fun-in-the-sun/

http://www.speedhunt...ng-50-in-style/

http://www.speedhunt...st-track-rises/

http://www.speedhunt...cing-at-pomona/

#13 RA Historian

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 14:58

King Cobra rear view
This car is owned by the Bill and Evelyn Hartman
photos: Albert Wong

Is this the car that Charlie Cox bought from Shelby sometime in 1964 and that he raced in the balance of '64 and in 1965?
Tom

#14 David M. Kane

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 16:19

That Chuck Brandt book sounds very promising.

#15 Jerry Entin

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Posted 26 April 2012 - 20:44

Barry Meguiar of the TV show Car Crazy going for a Cobra ride

Posted Image

Barry Meguiar enjoying his Cobra ride

photos: Albert Wong

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 April 2012 - 20:47.

#16 David M. Kane

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Posted 28 April 2012 - 04:13

Parnelli Jones and Bob and Pat Bondurant

photo: Albert Wong

Today is Bob Bondurant's 79th Birthday...congratulations :up:

#17 Jerry Entin

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Posted 29 April 2012 - 12:19

Shelby Tractor trailer depicting event
Carroll Shelby is now offering a 1,000 horsepower version of the Shelby Mustang
Posted Image

Mustangs and Cobra as seen on the pace laps

photos: Albert Wong

Edited by Jerry Entin, 29 April 2012 - 12:23.

#18 Jerry Entin

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Posted 29 April 2012 - 12:33

John Morton former Shelby employee
John Morton worked for the Shelby organization in his youth. Carroll Shelby sponsored John in his Lotus 23. John also was a co-driver in the Cobra at races. John would go on to race for Peter Brock's Datsun Team known as BRE Racing in the TransAm series. Becoming a National champion in Pete's car. John told forum member Dave Kane that he and Allen Grant shared a garage apartment while they were at Shelby. After BRE John Morton went on to race a few years in F5000, Can-Am and various IMSA races.

In 1975 the movie industry found him and John found himself doing stunt work on a couple of feature films like "Gumball Rally" and several TV shows and commercials.

John’s racing career put him as a team driver with Pete Halsmer, driving 962 Porsches. In 1985 they won the Times GP at Riverside. In 1987 John won the last Times GP at Riverside and the West Palm Beach GP, driving for the Group 44 Jaguar team of Bob Tullius. In 1988 the Electramotive Nissan Team signed John. John and Geoff Brabham won several races that year, setting the stage for Nissan's domination of the IMSA series for several years. Other notable Nissan races for John during 1989-95 include an overall victory at Sebring and several class wins, including the Le Mans in 1994, one of nine times he has competed at Le Mans. Several races in various other classes and categories include Sprint cars, Indy cars, and Karts. In his most recent professional races, 1997-2001, John raced Porsches in both the Grand American series and ALMS.

photo: Albert Wong

Edited by Jerry Entin, 29 April 2012 - 12:42.

#19 Hse289

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Posted 30 April 2012 - 21:25

Thanks for posting the pictures Jerry, fantastic. Wish i was there.

#20 E1pix

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Posted 01 May 2012 - 06:38

Yes, and Thanks for the words about John Morton, an underrated driver throughout my youth. :up:

"Underrated," because it seems the BRE Datsuns were his only "dominant ride..." ever.

I don't know if John's ever been officially credited, but it seems to me that his driving — and Pete Brock — introduced Nissan Racing to America. Nissan's race programs here all trickled down and grew from BRE, IMO.

Edited by E1pix, 01 May 2012 - 07:31.

#21 David M. Kane

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Posted 01 May 2012 - 16:14

Yes, and Thanks for the words about John Morton, an underrated driver throughout my youth. "Underrated," because it seems the BRE Datsuns were his only "dominant ride..." ever.

I don't know if John's ever been officially credited, but it seems to me that his driving — and Pete Brock — introduced Nissan Racing to America. Nissan's race programs here all trickled down and grew from BRE, IMO.

Well said E1px the guy was good. I just remember seeing the BRE Team. Maybe Jerry Entin can some light. I do know from talking Jerry, for example, that in F5000 if you didn't have the right motor you could be at big HP disadvantage or something like that. I don't want to put words in Jerry's mouth.

#22 Sisyphus

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Posted 01 May 2012 - 19:40

Well said E1px the guy was good.

I completely agree-John was much better than most of the drives he had, IMHO.

I sure it's out of print now but I have a copy of "The Stainless Steel Carrot" about John in the BRE days--the stainless steel carrot was the Lotus 70 F5000 car that Brock had for him to (occasionally) drive. It's a very good read if you can find a copy (Sylvia Wilkinson was the author).

He has interesting things to say about the contrast between driving the Datsun 510 and the Lotus.

--Sorry, misspelled the authors name originally.

Edited by Sisyphus, 03 May 2012 - 18:54.

#23 RA Historian

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Posted 02 May 2012 - 16:34

I completely agree-John was much better than most of the drives he h
I sure it's out of print now but I have a copy of "The Stainless Steel Carrot" about John in the BRE days--the stainless steel carrot was the Lotus 70 F5000 car that Brock had for him to (occasionally) drive. It's a very good read if you can find a copy (Sylvia Wilkerson was the author).

Last October, Dean Case, the Mazda motorsports PR maven, told me that an update to Sylvia's book is in the works.
Tom

#24 E1pix

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Posted 02 May 2012 - 19:36

Last October, Dean Case, the Mazda motorsports PR maven, told me that an update to Sylvia's book is in the works.
Tom

Thanks Guys... and RA, that is some great news!

That's a classic book missing in my archives, and also wish Sam Posey would re-release "The Mudge Pond Express" just so I'd have a copy.

And Yes, I suspect the driving similarities between the 510 and the Lotus 70 stopped at them both having a brake pedal... (pun intended)

Edited by E1pix, 02 May 2012 - 19:41.

#25 Sisyphus

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 19:02

Not to forget that the BRE team included a number of other personalities besides John Morton and Brock.

Trevor Harris, for one, who has cameos in several books on my shelf but certainly deserves his own biography, or better yet, an autobiography. He designed a number of very interesting US racers.

#26 E1pix

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Posted 03 May 2012 - 19:13

Trevor Harris, for one, who has cameos in several books on my shelf but certainly deserves his own biography, or better yet, an autobiography. He designed a number of very interesting US racers.

Did he design the Wolf Can-Am car Gilles drove, or am I mistaken?

In general there's so many great stories needing to be told in books... but they are a dying commodity. I'm hoping to get my novel written before I have to sell it as a 99-cent download. :rolleyes:

#27 RA Historian

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Posted 04 May 2012 - 15:17

Did he design the Wolf Can-Am car Gilles drove, or am I mistaken?

I seem to recall that the Wolf WD-1 that Villeneuve drove in the 1977 Can Am II season was a Dallara build based on a Talon F-5000 tub. But that was 35 years ago and I am in no way sure of that. Hopefully, that can be clarified here.
Tom

#28 David M. Kane

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Posted 05 May 2012 - 18:57

I seem to recall that the Wolf WD-1 that Villeneuve drove in the 1977 Can Am II season was a Dallara build based on a Talon F-5000 tub. But that was 35 years ago and I am in no way sure of that. Hopefully, that can be clarified here.
Tom

Didn't know that Tom; I just know Gilles said the car was beyond evil to drive because of the aero package. The aeo package made it very unpredictable and if it hit a bump at speed it would lift off the ground; or something to that affect. He basically refused to drive after a few races; if I recall correctly. He donated the car to museum; I believe in Canada with the clear understanding it was NEVER to be raced again. Somehow supposedly after consistent badgering and seduction the Museum sold the car to Dino Cresentini from the Detroit area who drove it successfully for a season or two until one weekend at Mosport when it flipped on the back straightway and Dino was killed instantly.

It was a beautiful car and Dino loved it; but finally he got going fast enough (he was very good) that he entered the "Twilight Zone". I wasn't there that weekend and I know of known witnesses; but the rest of the race weekend was can celled.

But we are getting off topic AND I have no facts that go on further to justify further talk.

Again it looked good, sounded good but was a flawed aero package.

Walter Wolf also ran Bobby Rahal in F3 that year with Wolf Dallara chassis. Again a whole another story.

RIP Dino.

#29 E1pix

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Posted 05 May 2012 - 20:43

Thanks for the clarification RA and David, I mixed up the Wolf with other Can-Am II cars that Trevor designed (the Galles, for one).

David, I never heard about Dino's loss, or anything about that story. How tragic. :cry:

#30 RA Historian

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Posted 06 May 2012 - 12:51

We are getting off topic here, but that seems to be the norm for TNF. There is another thread on this forum which clarifies the Wolf WD-1 Can Am II car. It definitely was based on the F-5000 Talon.

A very confusing coincidence is the existence of two race drivers named Dino Crescentini. One died at Mosport, as mentioned, while the other is quite active in the SCCA World Challenge Series. Joe Smith is understandable, but the odds of there being two race drivers named Dino Crescentini?

#31 JacnGille

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Posted 06 May 2012 - 14:19

That's a classic book missing in my archives, and also wish Sam Posey would re-release "The Mudge Pond Express" just so I'd have a copy.

I can leave you my signed, first edition in my will. :cool:

#32 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 06 May 2012 - 20:36

There is another thread on this forum which clarifies the Wolf WD-1 Can Am II car. It definitely was based on the F-5000 Talon.

While we're off topic...the Brayton 001 that Michael Brayton has (had?)...was that a different car? Does Michael still have it?

Vince H.

#33 RA Historian

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Posted 07 May 2012 - 13:56

While we're off topic...the Brayton 001 that Michael Brayton has (had?)...was that a different car? Does Michael still have it?

Vince H.

I believe that the same thread identifies the Brayton car as a copy, also built on a Talon tub.

#34 piloto26

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Posted 30 August 2012 - 21:57

Parnelli Jones in the King Cobra his passenger is Donn Vickery

Parnelli Jones and the King Cobra leading the Cobra pace laps at Pomona

photos: Albert Wong

Actually that's not me in the passengers' seat. It was another ex-Shelby employee. I can't recall off hand who it was though.

FWIW, the passenger's seat has almost no leg room. So the passenger in this case had to be roughly 5'6" (or have disproportionately short legs).