Shelby Cobra CSX 2203
Photo by Chauncy Moran
Story by Ernie Nagamatsu
Photos courtesy of Rick Knoop and Ernie Nagamatsu
The 2022 American Speed Festival at Pontiac, Michigan, September 29- October 2, 2022 followed the great inaugural event last year featuring the Jim Hall Chaparral Race Cars. This high-level rare collectable bespoke car event was held at the expansive M1 Concourse site, which includes a short challenging race circuit of 1.5 miles in length. Legendary Motorsports designer, Pete Brock, was the special honoree and it was also was the 60th Anniversary for Shelby Cobras and Shelby cars.
Pete Brock with Ernie Nagamatsu’s Cobra CSX 2203.
It was an opportunity to see many rare street and race-cars close up in a static display, as well as seeing the special invitation cars, ‘fast lapping’ on the twisty circuit. Seven classes of cars included Cobra Race Cars, Shelby Race Cars, Pete Brock Race Cars, Vintage Indy Cars, Championship Endurance Cars, among others. Sunday was a collective “Speed and Style Expo” car show, with the added entrants of Hot Rods, Super Cars and Ferraris, including a supra rare SP1 Monza, street legal F1 model, valued at 1.8 million. Exceptionally rare Shelby Cobras were displayed including the iconic “Dragon Snake” from the Drew and Janet Serb Cobra Experience Museum. Additional exceptional Cobras included the 1963 Le Mans Shelby Cobra, CSX 2154 (Winner of MI Momentum Magazine Award) with the Le Mans ‘half trunk’ feature and special race features.
Rick Knoop, left, and Pete Brock.
Group 1 Shelby Race Cars in the fast lapping included the quick 1990 #002 Shelby Aurora Can Am Prototype Sports Racer, historic SCCA Champion Shelby GT 350 Shelby (Winner of Group 1 Shelby Race Cars, owner Kenneth Costella) and 1964 Shelby Cobra CSX 2203 Hard Top (Winner of ASF Selection Committee Award, Ernie and Elaine Nagamatsu). The racing/fast lapping sessions for CSX 2203 1965 Shelby Cobra was assigned to Ernie Nagamatsu and legendary Le Mans Champion, Rick Knoop. A rare sighting was three McCluskey built Daytona Coupes. The “Movie Cobra” #98, from the “Ford vs. Ferrari” movie, was eye catching,, exhibiting damage at the rear section from the movie shooting.
Friday was the great “Private Garage Revel” Tour with an “Open House” Tour to many multi million dollar garage collections and presented adjacent to the circuit. The well-respected and liked David Hobbs, legendary driver and F1 announcer, circulated among fans as well as the friendly Pete Brock and Al Unser Jr. Legendary designer, Pete Brock, was presented with the “ Master of Motorsports” Award at the Checkered Flag Charity Ball. Henry Payne reported ‘live’ for his well-known program, “Car Radio” and he also exhibited his 906 Porsche.
The Pratt Whitney Turbine STP Indy car.
On left is Michael Lashmett, head of Vintage Indy Racing, in middle is Cory Hoonhout, owner of the 1986 Dominos Pizza Shierson Racing Lola Indy car that Al Unser, Jr. (at right) drove.
Attracting attention was Al Unser Jr.’s 1986 Lola T8600, Bobby Unser’s 1972 Olsonite Eagle, the turbine-engine 1968 STP, Alberto Ascari’s 1952 Ferrari 375, 2004 Ferrari Enzo and a 2021 Ferrari Monza SP1. The V8-powered 1988 Fabcar IMSA prototype owned by David Nikolas was a standout with an unbelievable roar that could break non shatter-proof windows, as Dave drove the IMSA racer along legendary Woodward Ave to the ASF Event (he knew the Sheriff) followed by CSX 2203 Shelby Cobra. The weather was perfect with crisp chill of fall breezes and the first tinting of tree leaves. The ‘recipe’ and American Speed Festival Event ‘menu’ was brilliant, bringing together rare collectable cars and Race Cars…well done, Tim McGrane, CEO of ASF 2022.
Grand Ball L-R Rick Knoop/Julie Crane, Al Unser Jr, Elaine Nagamatsu, Ernie Nagamatsu
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While researching various bits of Shelby American history going back to my first book (Shelby’s Wildlife) I was away glad to see Pete Brock eager to set the record straight. I was impressed that, no matter what business he moved on to or what city he moved to, he aways kept a ready supply of picture of himself at various projects, even going back to his first days at Shelby. Even this week I saw pictures of him with a booth a few eeks ago at a show of Japanese cars–he saw their potential way before Detroit did.
I remember being shocked when he told me, after being at Shelby for the birth of the Cobra, he and the Venice crew thought of the engineers from Detroit “as the enemy” (which is why he wasn’t involved in GT40 development). It’ been great to see this observer of 50 years of American and European racing events keep us scribes on our toes, thanks, Pete!