LONDON (OH) — Over 250 Cobras slithered their way into rural London, OH, this weekend, but instead of locking doors and jumping on countertops, residents ran outside to get a better look. Sporting four wheels and substituting horsepower for venom, the Ohio Cobra Club’s annual London Cobra Show celebrated the classic 1960’s sports car with burnouts and benevolence for the local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Marketed as the largest Cobra gathering in the country, the week-long event drew owners from Arizona to New York and all parts in between. Open-topped roadsters showed up in the greatest numbers, but Daytona coupes and a handful of GT40s also made the trip.
Other activities during the week included a trip to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a cruise-in at Quaker Steak & Lube in Columbus, driving tours through Hocking Hills State Park, and a day trip to the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton.
Saturday morning was the main event when replica and original Cobras made the drive into town, parking four abreast along the downtown streets for the enjoyment of onlookers. Local police and fire departments blocked off a section of Main Street so owners could offer ‘demonstration’ rides down a 1/8th stretch of asphalt in exchange for $10 donations. Despite the short runway, it was more than long enough for passengers to experience the legendary acceleration that made the Cobra famous. Combined with attendee entry fees and other charitable contributions, the Ohio Cobra Club anticipates at least $35,000 will go directly to the Central Ohio CFF to assist hundreds of children and adults stricken with the disease. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease of the lungs and digestive system that affects over 30,000 people in the United States and 70,000 worldwide.
“All of the money goes to fund additional medicine and research for our patients,” said Bruce Kerr, parent volunteer and lead promoter of CFF’s involvement in the event. “It’s been a great event for the community. We get support from the town, fire department, and local police. There are not many other cities that would allow us to do this kind of event.”
Last year enough money was raised to enable the Ohio Cobra Club to donate thermal imaging equipment and a motorcycle to the London fire and police departments. Similar-sized gifts are expected once again. Money was also raised through proceeds generated from ticket sales that gave attendees a chance to win a fully-built Cobra replica.
“The Ohio Cobra Club took over the event about four years ago when it was called the Double Venom Spring Fling. A few of those members left and our club decided to pick up the event, run with it and see if we could keep it going,” said Rich Bailey, OCC President. “Last year we had two families that flew in from Chile and Belgium. This year we have families from as far away as Washington and Oregon.”
Beyond the hallmark Cobra silhouette, no two cars are exactly alike. Carroll Shelby’s original creation was as much about automotive independence as it was quarter mile times and bone-jarring torque. Built primarily to tackle the Corvette on the track, Cobras combined an English chassis with Ford V8 power. While original AC Cobras are rare, including the coveted 427 SC, current demand for these street rods requires a long list of manufacturers willing to build replicas for the buying public. Customers wanting an exact replica based on original specifications or a custom Cobra with tailored options is limited only by imagination and checkbook. Roush Performance, Factory Five Racing, and Superformance are all household names in the Cobra world and representatives were on hand to showcase their engines, chassis, and fully-built cars for sale.
“We’ll sell at least two or three cars out of this show,” said Shane Miller of Dynamic Motorsports of Ross, OH, a company responsible for importing Superformance vehicles from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. “Last year we sold three new chassis’ so it’s a great show.”
