NERC 2000 Autocross

Also see NERC 2000, Part 1, my article about the autocross (posted in the Cobra Forum).

Nate lines up the Hine Cobra, ready to take a run in the NERC 2000 autocross.

Here's a shot of the line of cars waiting to run. Right behind Nate in the Cobra is one of three Porsche 550 replicas that were present at the event.

Nate's helmeted, ready to rock and roll as soon as the car currently on course finishes its run.

Staged, ready to go!

Pounding around the course, the Cobra struts its stuff. Because we shared the car, we were assigned two numbers. I was assigned number 48, which we had already applied to the car. Nate was given number 8 by the NERC officials. Whenever one of us ran, we used a strip of black tape to cross out the number of the other driver.

Nate roars through the lights en route to a third place trohpy!

Now I'm waiting in line for my turn, and another 550 (or is it the same one?) waits behind.

Yet another bad hair day at the track. Has anyone ever had a good hair day after wearing a helmet? I don't think so.

In this shot you can see part of the crowd of cars that showed up to run the autocross, despite the rain. Here the sun has finally come out, but the track is still somewhat damp. Earlier in the day, the water was flowing across the parking lot in torrents. The water was so deep and moving so fast that when I looked across at my Probe, I thought the Probe was moving! Nate's shoes took two days to dry out.

Here I'm bending around one of the tight corners on this tricky course.

Yet another "high speed" shot.

Exiting the "banking", I've got the power on and the tail out - though you may not be able to see it here. I did. I really did!

Here's the Cobra Forum's very own Wayne Presley, aboard Gary Cheney's monster 500 hp FFR, Sweet 16. Wayne flew out from California just for this event.

Here Wayne launches the mighty Cheney Cobra on his way to what will be a third place run, in the 54's, I believe. By the way, you can see Wayne in action in the movie on my Wayne's Spin page.

Mark Smith lines up the FFR factory prototype Daytona Coupe for a run.

Mark takes the Coupe through a clutter of pylons.

Isn't this an awesome shape?

Nate hangs out at the Tilt'N Diner, leaning on the champion Hine Cobra.

The Hine Cobra, holding pride of place among the replicas, street rods, and vintage cars around the Tilt'N Diner. Originally they set our car up pointing the same way as the other Cobras, right on the front row - but Nate then drove off to take someone to a parts store! When he came back, he just pulled right in. Sheesh! Some people have no sense of ceremony and order!

Here I am at the Tilt'N Diner, clutching my first place trophy and grinning foolishly. I don't remember who was holding the yellow tape up out of the way, but whoever it was, thank you! And many thanks to: Nate Hine, who put in many long, hard hours to complete this car in only six weeks. Kerry, Mark Webber, Tom Smith, Jim Schenk, and the entire crew at Factory Five, who got us the kit on time and all the parts, information, and documentation we needed to get the car ready in time for the event, and to Mark and Dave Smith, who created the kit car and the company which made this all possible. Mark Reynolds, of Breeze Automotive, who did a great job of finding an excellent donor car and preparing the parts for us to use in our Cobra. Paula, of Finish Line, who made sure we got the wheels in time to roll. Joe Traut and the many other people who organized and ran the Replica Challenge. The folks at SuperTrapp, Circle Finishing, Summit Racing, Vintage Motorsport, American Pasttime, R&D Speed, and the local NAPA and AutoZone stores, who got us the parts we needed to make this happen. Nate's family, Nellie and Cale Pennington and Amos Hine, who all lent a hand at various times in the project, and who put up with the long hours and occasional grumpiness that the project entailed.