After Wednesday’s Cobra replica action at Mid-Ohio, Redline’s ace photographer, Ben Moment and yours truly made haste to Columbus, or more specifically Rome-Hilliard, where the LCS host hotels are located. No sooner than we rolled into the Super 8 Motel’s parking lot did we start seeing friends from LCS events from the previous three years. The LCS is most importantly a celebration of friends, a means of socializing with gearheads from all around the country and from Canada, who all hold the AC Cobras in such high regard that they’ve built their own replicas. Though the party atmosphere is always in high gear, participants are all intent on donating money generously throughout the three-days of festivities. Proceeds from the LCS go to research for finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.
About 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide) have this inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. As of yet, CF researchers haven’t found a cure, but patients’ lives are being extended into their 30s and 40s. The Ohio Cobra Club produces the London Cobra Show every year and is always striving to raise more and more money to discover a cure for CF.
Despite a world economy that’s in recession, replica owners from all about North America made the mid-June junket to Lexington, Rome-Hilliard, and London, Ohio for the annual celebration of life, Cobra creation and caretaking, and the great on-going camaraderie that so characterizes the London Cobra Show. Friday morning, LCS goers had four different Cobra caravans to choose from: 1) the Hocking Hills Tour, 2) the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, 3) the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum, and 4) the Poker Run to various Ohio destinations, like Jeg’s. Those coupe caretakers, Cobra owners and GT40 fanatics more inclined to wringing their replicas out for all they’re worth, could partake in the autocross instead.
Since Redline Review’s ace shooter had never covered the London Cobra Show before, we made an executive decision and let him ride along for the Hocking Hills Tour. Yours truly opted to tag along with Steve Coburn, Henry and Marcel Renaud for the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum tour. Steve is retired from the Air Force and knows more about U.S. Air Force history and aeronautic fighting and transport than most flight fans. Henry is still in the Air Force Reserve. What this boils down to ladies and gentlemen is a professionally guided, albeit swift tour of this world class facility.
All of the Cobra cruisers and autocross drivers met at Quaker Steak Lube & Tune for some Friday afternoon refreshment and socializing after the tours. Though the Redline Review team was a bit beat from photographing and videotaping our respective two tours, we managed to do a bit of bench racing with a bunch of the LCS socializers at Quaker Steak. We’re never too tired to share stories of fast and cool car worship and ownership, after all.
Once everyone was safely back in Rome-Hilliard and the host hotel area, most Cobra celebrants had a casual, kickback evening and night, as Saturday would be the big day.
Because of one very famous man, Saturday’s LCS was the best ever. That man is none other than Bob Bondurant, the iconic ‘50s and ‘60s racecar driver and 1968 to present Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving owner in Arizona. Mr. Bondurant knows how to drive and race Cobras, Daytona coupes, and Ford GT40s better than just about anyone else on the planet. He graciously posed for photos with fans at the Speedway filling station meeting area in Columbus Saturday morning before the Cobra parade into London. Bob drove the lead Superformance Daytona coupe in the parade. While in London by mid-morning, he took many passengers on the rides of their lives in the 1/8-mile drag race and probably earned more money to eliminate CF than any other Cobra pilot in LCS history. When Mr. Bondurant wasn’t behind the wheel of someone’s replica, he was signing prints of artist Jim Jordan’s beautiful rendition of the Bondurant/Gurney Shelby American Racing Daytona Coupe that captured 1st place in class and 4th place overall at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Later that evening at the LCS banquet, Mr. Bondurant regaled the enthralled audience with his race stories from the ‘50s and ‘60s, in addition to some very funny anecdotes about his school and his daily life. He even shared with us how he managed to talk his way out of getting a speeding ticket for achieving 90 mph in his three-cylinder, 2009 Mercedes Smart car earlier this year. Though the man’s 76 years old, you’d never know it by looking at him, seeing him drive/race, or listening to him recount his pedal to the metal, full speed ahead life. We’ve never met a more famous individual, who is as charismatic, talented, and down to earth as Mr. Bob Bondurant. Kudos to Bill Dyer of the Ohio Cobra Club for inviting and convincing Mr. Bondurant to attend, thus affording all the LCS participants a glimpse into the man (to date) at the 2009 London Cobra Show!
By the close of the banquet on Saturday night, the official proceedings of the ’09 LCS were all done. The only activity scheduled for Sunday morning was a pancake breakfast in the banquet tent, put on by and benefiting the local Lutheran Church just up the road. As you might guess, the Redline Review crew couldn’t spend the morning stuffing our mouths with pancakes. We had some more high-speed action to cover out at Mid-Ohio. The SVRA vintage races were in full swing. We loaded up the official Redline Review caravan and made haste to Lexington for all the fun. Remember, honorable Redline readers, “It’s All About Speed.”
London, Ohio - Home of the Largest Cobra Show in America
London, Ohio - Home of the Largest Cobra Show in America
Mother nature visits the resting snake pit
Mother nature visits the resting snake pit
The skies shall weep as the snake pit sleeps
The skies shall weep as the snake pit sleeps
Sleepless night before the three-day show
Sleepless night before the three-day show
Another good use for the courtesy collection of towels provided by the hotel
Another good use for the courtesy collection of towels provided by the hotel
Snake pit gathers in the hills
Snake pit gathers in the hills
Artistic view: Snake pit gathers in the hills
Artistic view: Snake pit gathers in the hills
To "see" the speed
To "see" the speed
Teamwork experienced by fellow snake owners
Teamwork experienced by fellow snake owners
Beautiful day drive into Hilliard's Station
Beautiful day drive into Hilliard's Station
Daytona beauty in black
Daytona beauty in black
Day Drive
Day Drive
Snake engine built with every detail in mind
Snake engine built with every detail in mind
Now seen with the rest of the details
Now seen with the rest of the details
Just coming and going makes the memories last
Just coming and going makes the memories last
Now seen in High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography
Now seen in High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography
"Old Glory' flies with pride
"Old Glory' flies with pride
Millstone BBQ - A favorite pit stop for the London Cobra Show
Millstone BBQ - A favorite pit stop for the London Cobra Show
Driving through a sea of snakes - Lov'in it!
Driving through a sea of snakes - Lov'in it!
Now See it with HDR Photography
Now See it with HDR Photography
Neon lights - No light kit needed here!
Neon lights - No light kit needed here!
Forming up before the final push into London, Ohio
Forming up before the final push into London, Ohio
Feeding Fuel
Feeding Fuel
Now see it with HDR Photography
Now see it with HDR Photography
Bob Bondurant and friends
Bob Bondurant and friends
Sea of Snakes - like a second heaven!
Sea of Snakes - like a second heaven!
So much to see!
So much to see!
Kirkham Cobra - an incredible all aluminum roadster
Kirkham Cobra - an incredible all aluminum roadster
Kirkham Cobra beauty - redefining the meaning of distraction
Kirkham Cobra beauty - redefining the meaning of distraction
Superformance Mark III
Superformance Mark III
Superformance Mark III with HDR Photography
Superformance Mark III with HDR Photography
As a snake passes by...
As a snake passes by...
As a snake passes by... Featured Digital Art
As a snake passes by... Featured Digital Art
As a snake passes by... HDR Photography
As a snake passes by... HDR Photography
Some spectators reminisce when the Cobra was first introduced over 40 years ago!
Some spectators reminisce when the Cobra was first introduced over 40 years ago!
Digital Art helps us all reminisce with no end of time.
Digital Art helps us all reminisce with no end of time.
Thirsty Cobra
Thirsty Cobra
Thirsty with HDR Photography
Thirsty with HDR Photography
Ford still has what it takes to produce a modern day classic
Ford still has what it takes to produce a modern day classic
Did someone see a Backdraft Cobra?
Did someone see a Backdraft Cobra?
Classic Muscle Cars in a vintage seting of London, OH
Classic Muscle Cars in a vintage seting of London, OH
This Cobra can "Sting"
This Cobra can "Sting"
Sting with detail thanks to HDR Photography
Sting with detail thanks to HDR Photography
Factory Five Racing ’33 hot rod
Factory Five Racing ’33 hot rod
Cystic Fibrosis benefits every year with Ohio Cobra Club raffle
Cystic Fibrosis benefits every year with Ohio Cobra Club raffle
Factory Five Racing Type 65 Coupe - HDR shows the rest of the beauty
Factory Five Racing Type 65 Coupe - HDR shows the rest of the beauty
Type 65 - Love those lines
Type 65 - Love those lines
Factory Five Racing Type 65 Coupe - replica of the 1964 Le Mans class winner
Factory Five Racing Type 65 Coupe - replica of the 1964 Le Mans class winner
Got Fuel? - This Type 65 knows what to do with it other than drink it!
Got Fuel? - This Type 65 knows what to do with it other than drink it!
Speed that helps a great cause
Speed that helps a great cause
HDR at Speed
HDR at Speed
Bob Bonderant shows us how to unleash the speed of a Cobra
Bob Bonderant shows us how to unleash the speed of a Cobra
Bob Bonderant shows his passion for SPEED has not slowed down!
Bob Bonderant shows his passion for SPEED has not slowed down!
A bird's eye view
A bird's eye view
An artistic bird's eye view
An artistic bird's eye view
How to "stack speed"
How to "stack speed"
Profesional artist - Jim Jordan was commisioned for the 2009 LCS
Profesional artist - Jim Jordan was commisioned for the 2009 LCS
Testing the boundaries of speed in 1/8th of a mile
Testing the boundaries of speed in 1/8th of a mile
And you had to ask - Just how fast can she go?
And you had to ask - Just how fast can she go?
Speed captured with HDR photography
Speed captured with HDR photography
A modern day photo made into a timely classic
A modern day photo made into a timely classic
Fireman work duty for the weekend. It's a tough job but this guy doesn't sweat it.
Fireman work duty for the weekend. It's a tough job but this guy doesn't sweat it.
Passion for details
Passion for details
What's better than driving a Cobra?... Make that TWO!
What's better than driving a Cobra?... Make that TWO!
Adrenaline - our passionate thirst for SPEED
Adrenaline - our passionate thirst for SPEED
Got to love the rush
Got to love the rush
Type 65
Type 65
This Type 65 engine screams "SPEED"
This Type 65 engine screams "SPEED"
Enjoying a nice drive through the hills
Enjoying a nice drive through the hills
Hocking Hills road tour
Hocking Hills road tour
A drive through Hocking Hills with multiple Cobras makes the event an even more meaningful drive.
A drive through Hocking Hills with multiple Cobras makes the event an even more meaningful drive.
Hampton Inn extended their hospitality to the hundreds of Cobra owner guests
Hampton Inn extended their hospitality to the hundreds of Cobra owner guests
An amazing collection of Cobras!
An amazing collection of Cobras!
Looking for that "blue" Cobra - which one?
Looking for that "blue" Cobra - which one?
A green Cobra at night
A green Cobra at night
An evening of rest for the Cobra
An evening of rest for the Cobra
Want to win a Cobra? That is what Mike Juhasz did last year!
Want to win a Cobra? That is what Mike Juhasz did last year!
Factory Five Racing Display
Factory Five Racing Display
Extra detail with the help of HDR
Extra detail with the help of HDR
Classic view with the Cobra parked in front of the Historic Court house
Classic view with the Cobra parked in front of the Historic Court house
Pit Stop during Hocking Hills
Pit Stop during Hocking Hills
Pit Stop during Hocking Hills as seen with HDR photography
Pit Stop during Hocking Hills as seen with HDR photography
A peaceful night at the Hamption Inn
A peaceful night at the Hamption Inn
Classic view in front of the historic courthouse at London, Ohio
Classic view in front of the historic courthouse at London, Ohio
Blue on a Cobra is truly classic
Blue on a Cobra is truly classic
600-horsepower under the hood of a Factory Five roadster
600-horsepower under the hood of a Factory Five roadster
Not sure where the rumors started about the need to bring a snake bite kit to London, Ohio came from.
Not sure where the rumors started about the need to bring a snake bite kit to London, Ohio came from.
Bring out the detail of experience with HDR photography
Bring out the detail of experience with HDR photography
Better than any ride at an amusement park!
Better than any ride at an amusement park!
Possibly the newest Cobra to attend
Possibly the newest Cobra to attend
Finding this Red and White Cobra shows well with Old Glory in the background
Finding this Red and White Cobra shows well with Old Glory in the background
Bad in black
Bad in black
Got to love the lines of a Cobra
Got to love the lines of a Cobra
A true legend among the Daytona coupe family
A true legend among the Daytona coupe family
Cobras, Cobras, Cobras... they are everywhere!
Cobras, Cobras, Cobras... they are everywhere!
A close up of a Cobra before the parade run to London, Ohio begins
A close up of a Cobra before the parade run to London, Ohio begins
A nicely fitted hardtop on a Cobra from Canada
A nicely fitted hardtop on a Cobra from Canada
What better way to reinforce training of your police force with the 1/8th mile speed run!
What better way to reinforce training of your police force with the 1/8th mile speed run!
Next time we will bring our own Redline Review Stickers to add to the collection!
Next time we will bring our own Redline Review Stickers to add to the collection!
------------------------- Child Rescue Network -----------------------
The London Cobra Show article is dedicated to finding Ashley Summers, a sixteen-year-old girl who went missing July 07, 2007, from Cleveland, Ohio. If you would like to help, please visit the Child Rescue Network at www.childrescuenetwork.org.
Ashley Summers
DOB 6/16/93
Missing from Cleveland, OH since 7/9/07
Hair Brown
Eyes Blue
Height 5’5”
Weight 130 lbs
Ashley has a tattoo of “Gene” and a heart on her right arm
Anyone with information should contact the Cleveland PD at 216.623.5005, your local FBI, or Child Rescue Network at 877.209.5437 ext. 82.
