Another race story, modified Cobra = toast - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

HBRAMSTEDT · 12th August 2001, 06:58

The license plate read "FF COBRA." You guess the abbreviation.
By the end of this story it should read "F'D UP COBRA."

Again, I'm out on patrol for a short cruise through Arcadia and Pasadena. (It turns out that I've found a source for UNOCAL 100 octane gas, and I am running 1/2 a tank of that stuff at $5.00 per gallon.) This story is short and sweet. I come across the confident driver of a 1999 Mustang Cobra in Arcadia on Huntington Dr. and Santa Anita Dr. This car is sporting slightly oversize tires in the rear, a modified exhaust, and plenty of stickers. I am nervous that this car is some kind of drag racing special and proceed with caution. This guy is aggressive, and wants to launch about 300 yards from a police station! No way for me. There were way too many cars around, and I've read about all of these serious wrecks on this message board.

In any case, we end up going north on Rosemead Blvd. and catch a red light at Del Mar. This confident sucker then gestures to me with the commanding point of his finger to line up next to him.
OK, here we go. The light goes green and he leaves with lots of revs. I know the M5 only needs about 1500 r.p.m. at launch, so I make sure I hook it up and don't hit the limiter. Instantly, the M5 leaves much harder and pulls more revs at the end of 1st. You can tell his power band is much shorter. At the end of 1st I have over 1 car length, and increase the distance easily. By 60 it's about 3 or more, and the distance quickly increases to 5 or more
as the speeds go to 75 or so.

This was a blowout. It didn't take 100 m.p.h before I was able to pull away, like some other stories I've read previously. This was a walk-away from the start. A real ego bruiser.

We had a second rolling start run where he started the charge from 2nd gear. The result was the same. I complimented him on his nice car and went away. He'll remember an M5, and maybe Ford drivers will be a bit more eductated for a change.

A lot of words for something that really is no big deal.
By the way, the UNOCAL 100 does make a difference. I found it in Pasadena at the UNOCAL station on Arroyo Parkway and Glenarm. That gas delivers a consistently sharp performance which is noticeable.

Stallion M5 · 12th August 2001, 07:15

Well..... stock 99 Cobra comes with 320 HP (at the flywheel), exhaust doesn't really add any noticeable power unless he got the X-pipe.

The cobra weighs around 3,600 lb. plus with that IRS (Independent Rear Suspension), it has a lot of wheel hop at the launch.

I just think that it's his fault by picking a wrong car to race with.

By the way, those decals don't add any horsepower

.... I hate those cars that has bunch of them.

stever · 12th August 2001, 07:22

Any high octane gas in the Bay area? They've already gone to 91 octane even though we're months away from ethanol.

HBRAMSTEDT · 12th August 2001, 07:39

The reason I was so careful with this Cobra is because of what you tell me about yours. I know these cars can be effectively modified with extreme results. When I looked this one over before the race tonight, the stickers sort of scared me. I am pretty cautious. This Cobra did launch weird though. It had a problem getting the power down for sure. I believe what you say about the rear-end hop.

Later.

EBMCS03 · 12th August 2001, 08:08

Hehe nice kill... I have yet to see you... I'll keep an eye out for I'll be here in San Gabriel the rest of the summer... If you see someone frantically waving, jumping, and surving all over the place it can very possible be me.

Eric

Oh BTW what color is your car?

HBRAMSTEDT · 12th August 2001, 08:20

My car is jet black with only the Assael dealer license plate placard in the rear license plate holder. The car looks new, and I use this scheme to prevent someone from taking note of my license number while in the midst of some racing antic. I took delivery on March 9 of this year.

Randall H. Bramstedt (HBRAMSTEDT)

PaulMarin · 12th August 2001, 08:37

Steve -there is 100 octane at Sears Pt And I think 94 or 96 also. Its Unocal. Somewhere in Southbay too, do a board search.

HBRAMSTEDT · 12th August 2001, 10:18

What are the 0-60 times and 1/4-mile times for a '99 Cobra.
Just curious...

Stallion M5 · 13th August 2001, 06:40

Quote:

Originally posted by HBRAMSTEDT
The reason I was so careful with this Cobra is because of what you tell me about yours. I know these cars can be effectively modified with extreme results. When I looked this one over before the race tonight, the stickers sort of scared me. I am pretty cautious. This Cobra did launch weird though. It had a problem getting the power down for sure. I believe what you say about the rear-end hop.

Later.

You will see the difference immediately once you see mine. You can also notice from the roar of the engine (when they have the bottom end done).

These Cobras are around high 13s in 1/4 mile from factory. I can change that number around and that's when I come in to play.

First thing first, you can have all the power you can get but without control....... they become useless. Just like having a very expensive pen without knowing how to write.

EBMCS03 · 13th August 2001, 09:30

Hehe still have the placard. Assael... YAY... thats where my dad got his car from... No not an M5...

Tom C · 13th August 2001, 15:57

Good Kill!!!

However, I own a Cobra and I do know the difference between M5's and other BMW's. Did you ever think that maybe the driver knew what you had...that is why he pointed to you? I have challenged cars that were totally out of my league, F355, M5 and E55 to name a few. I did this to see what those cars look like and sound like when driven the way they were intended. Additionally, either your friend in the 1999 Cobra had more stickers than mod's or he didn't know how to drive. A 1999 Cobra (if it had the factory work done because the engines weren't putting out the advertised 320hp) is a high 13 sec car in the 1/4 mile. With very few mod's...X-pipe (not to be confused with a cat-back system), MAF, pullies, chip...etc, the car is easily into the high 12's. Judging by how easily you creamed him...I am not sure he had anything aside from a cat-back system. Just for your info...a stock 2001 Cobra was tested recently in Car & Driver, it ran 0-60 in 4.8, 1/4 mile in 13.5@105mph. The car is not slow by any means and most Cobra owners (myself included) take full advantage of the plethora of aftermarket parts available.

Tom

Rahim · 13th August 2001, 21:44

Good Kill!

HBRAMSTEDT · 13th August 2001, 22:33

I agree Tom. This guy didn't recognize or know the M5.
It is my impression though that there is a large, unsophistaced population of Ford Mustang types. There are also the more sophisticated, informed types like yourself. I find, however, that the former type is far more commonplace and more prevalently associated with Ford products that other brands. I know this is quite a subjective opinion.

Anyway, I always tread carefully. I believe my M5 runs quite strong. I have done some light mods. that seem to make it run at its best most all of the time. The old, semi-reliable G-TECH showed me a couple of 4.6s to 60 and 13.0 in the quarter.

This is my second encounter with a Cobra. The other was a 2000 model with no apparent mods. Both of the Cobras I've met seemed equal in acceleration. Both races were not close. That leads me to agree with you in that this last car was not significantly modified.