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Imagine being handed the keys to a Superformance Shelby Cobra — a 427 no less — while on the grounds of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway. That’s what happened recently while we were at Monterey Car Week 2018.
Okay, they didn’t just throw keys and say, “have fun.” We received a friendly run down regarding how to get in and out of of the car without burning our legs on the exhaust pipes that run along the doorsill, as well as a primer on the car’s assorted switchgear. While I’m probably average height, at 5-foot-4, for a woman, I still needed a pillow placed behind me to be able to fully compress the clutch to shift.
With the clutch in, I feathered the throttle and took off toward the track, somehow overcoming the temptation to turn onto the racing surface for a couple of laps before being stopped. Instead, we rolled out on the public roads of the Monterey Peninsula.
However, sometime, somehow, I promised myself, I’d be back to drive the famed track, even if today I settled with just crossing it.
I was surprised at how responsive the Superformance Cobra was. Steering had very little play and the throttle response was borderline instant from the supercharged 427cid Ford V8. The suspension and handling really impressed me as we traveled through curves and up and down hills. There was minimal body roll, yet a comfortable and smooth ride. This Superformance Cobra seemed the perfect combination of cruiser and track car.
After my drive, ClassicCars.com marketing director Kate Weed got her turn behind the steering wheel. She’s only driven with a manual transmission a couple of times previously, so she stayed in a parking lot environment with the car. She was nervous, but after some encouraging words, she was able to take off.
Not only did this Superformance Cobra impress someone used to high-performance vehicles, but it also catered to someone who was much less familiar with such vehicles.
For both of us, our time in the Superformance Shelby Cobra was an enlightening experience.
For more information on Superformance and its products, see the company’s website: www.superformance.com
