It has been said that living in New England is one of the greatest experiences one could have, thanks to the four seasons that come with the territory (until you have to live through those long winter months!). For most East Coast Cobra owners, that down time is spent with extra logs on the fire while you're in the workshop making revisions to your ride, adding just the right finishing touches.
That's why, when Factory Five Racing in Wareham, Massachusetts, holds their annual open house for Cobra owners and their families, it's a day that's about celebrating one's devotion to the Cobra as well as the friendships they have made along the way.
Early morning found the thunder coming down the access road into FFR's parking lot deafening at times, but the morning also brought smiles to those in attendance. Some began the day by checking out the showroom, which was filled with everything from FFR Spec Racers and roadsters, a stunning Spyder GT, complete rolling chassis, plus new updates scheduled for FFR's "supercar": the GTM Mulsanne.
Plenty of FFR staff members were on hand to answer questions for those on the factory tour, while others examined a scratch-and-dent sale of endless parts benefiting Team Jenny (all purchases being donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation). The gang from Pro Tune Performance, who had their Dynapack dyno set up in the parking lot, allowed car owners to assess just how much their snake was really packing under the hood. There were quite a few new rides making their maiden voyage to the open house, including Gary Cheney's dramatic blue Daytona Coupe and Greg Withers' glistening roadster (covered in gallons of PPG Copperhead metallic paint).
Once lunchtime hit, the lines formed around the building where FFR's barbecue buffet was in full gear, serving up the day's finest fare for all to feast on. Later on, when award time came, some of the winners were Sonny Young for Best Roadster, Gary Cheney for Best Coupe, Dan Genest for Best in Show Overall, and Brian and Lisa Alvarez for People's Choice. By the end of the afternoon, over 125 cars had attended (with more than 850 visitors), and 1,700 hot dogs were cooked up for everyone to consume.
All we know is that it was a real blast attending the biggest East Coast Cobra block party around, and special thanks must go to FFR for opening their doors again for what has become a great yearly tradition. You can see more of Factory Five Racing's shop at www.factoryfive.com.