When was the Cobra's first race

[6R07mi]

The first race to actually have a Cobra on the track for a "road racing event" was at Connellsville (August 25/26, 1962).  The entry was by Ed Hugus and the Cobra is 2001....it broke in practice due to teething issues (overheating?) and did not race on the weekend.

"Hill Climb racing" Cobras seem to appear around mid-1963.

"Drag racing" Cobras seem to appear around early-mid 1963.

"Autocross, Slalom, Gymkhana, etc." Cobras seem to appear around the mid-later part of 1963.

There could possibly be earlier events, but newspaper articles, etc., only reported the top finishers for events.

From the "kranky Cobra Race History" ??

Riverside, Ca.-3/4/1962
csx2000-demo laps-Shelby American

Waterford Hills, Mich-SCCA Regional-8/25-26/1962
csx2002-demo laps by Ford Engineers/Test Drivers

Connellsville, Pa.-SCCA Regional-8/25-26/1962
#?-csx2001-DNR-practice laps only-Ed Hugus

Riverside, Ca.-3-Hour Invitational-10/12-14/1962
#98XP-csx2002-DNF-Bill Krause-broken rear hub

jim p

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Ed Hugus assembled some Cobras on the east coast. Is there a breakdown on which ones? Did ALL Cobras go through SA in CA locations or did some go direct from Hugus to east coast dealers?

[honker]

Ed Hugus assembled some Cobras on the east coast. Is there a breakdown on which ones? Did ALL Cobras go through SA in CA locations or did some go direct from Hugus to east coast dealers?

I'll leave it to those with a lot more knowledge to explain, there is conflicting information between the Hugus "Cobra Pilote" book

and the some of the SAAC registries, mine the 4th edition, maybe more info in the later ones ? as to who built up some of the cars

on the East coast, Hugus or Tasca Ford.

[CSX2259]

98SVT - was 06GT

The first batch of Cobras from AC were shipped directly to Hugus and completed by his dealership Continental Motors. Hugus also completed the first competition specification Cobra CSX2001. Hugus entered it in races to work the bugs out and then sold CSX2001 to his goof friend and fellow racer Dr Milo. At the time Shelby did not have the facility to readily produce the Cobras, Hugus became the East Coast distributor for the Cobra.