(click on photos to enlarge)
My long time friend and fellow Shelby Cobra driver, Dick Smith, took the time to sign my
dash for me. "Dick Smith, 198 mph/ U.S.Champion, To An Old Racing Buddie"
After Dick saw my car run and do so well on Saturday in Las Vegas at the FFR Western
Roundup he made this comment to me. "Well 'Doc' it's not a Shelby Cobra but it sure
runs and handles well. It's one of the fastest Cobra's I've ever seen and certainly deserves
some kind of recognition."
So I had him sign my dash to commemorate the event.
We last raced together back in 1967. It was great to see him again. We enjoyed a lengthy
conversation about old times and past races "and crashes" we shared together. Ha
Here's a recent picture of Dick in his famous #198 (to commemorate his World Speed
record of 198 mph in a Cobra.)
His Cobra's livery permanently displays the #198... his own salute to the fact that he was
officially clocked at 198 mph (that's 319 kph), the fastest officially-clocked speed ever for
a Cobra roadster. This event occurred in Daytona at the American Road Race of Champions
in 1967 (where Dick became the SCCA's A/P National Champion).
Footnote courtesy of Rick Kopec: after the race a Ford executive took Dick aside and told
Dick that unofficially someone in the Ford pits clocked him at 201 mph.