The Original Cobra Owners Club of America - COCOA

[98SVT - was 06GT]

In the stars with cars section I posted a shot of Paul Petersen - from the Donna Reed Show. He was the first president of COCOA. I had never seen a membership list. There was mention of the other club officers.

I couldn't find anything on VP Buzz Matson - maybe with his real first name something will turn up.

Dr Al Ettinger the treasurer was a Corvette racer - 57 RPO 684 Corvette - In 1957, Jerry Austin drove the car for C.S. Mead Chevrolet, Pasadena CA. Burt Ruttman drove the car to victory at Pomona in 1958. Bob Bondurant bought the car in late 1958 and went on to win 18 of 20 races and was West Coast BP Champion in 1959. Bob sold the car to Gary Pickens who sold the car to Dr. Albert Ettinger. Bart Martin bought the car from Doc Ettinger in 1961.  I purchased the car from Bart in 1962 and raced it in the SF Region/SCCA from 1962 thru 1966.
The car was wrecked during a 4-hour endurance race at Cotati Raceway at the end of 1966.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNLe5xULR4wiKWnFZo9f29yJuD94gWFBNwplt9_KlWl_9MxiUyI13NlbfW72D91CA?pli=1&key=ZG1WYl8xam9ZZ1k3Z1ZfVW5BZHhzRGRtRHFuVDJR

The secretary Jay Smith is probably Dr George "Jay" Smith who did drive racecars. This picture was sold on Wellpoint from his collection. It says Laguna Seca but the background isn't right. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1960s-photograph-california-4873479400

COCOA still exists. Lynn Park is the caretaker and it holds two meetings per year at Willow Springs. One chapter still exists in Orange County CA, It was chartered by COCOA about a year before SAAC started and also still exists. It was started by Jim & Cheryl Wallace. It met at the Pacific Stereo warehouse in Anaheim. Jim managed their Pasadena store and Cheryl was the bookkeeper at the Covina store.

[silverton_ford]

I purchased the Cobra photo (and a couple more) you posted on ebay a couple of weeks ago.  I will post some better photos without the Rockabilly stamp when I get some time.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I purchased the Cobra photo (and a couple more) you posted on ebay a couple of weeks ago.  I will post some better photos without the Rockabilly stamp when I get some time.

I started going to the races late 64. I can remember that Jag. It was running against the GT350 by that time. I couldn't believe that little 6 hanging on and passing bigger V8s. It also ran Monterey later.

[csxsfm]

In all probability, the XKE was driven by Merle Brennan and prepared by Joe Huffaker for Kjell Qvale, the west coast British car distributor.  Brennan was an outstanding driver and Huffaker's shop prepared successful cars in SCCA, Trans Am and Indy Car.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

In all probability, the XKE was driven by Merle Brennan and prepared by Joe Huffaker for Kjell Qvale, the west coast British car distributor.  Brennan was an outstanding driver and Huffaker's shop prepared successful cars in SCCA, Trans Am and Indy Car.

I thought they ran a early roadster not the coupe. I'm pretty sure the white coupe that ran in SoCal was a privateer. The engine in my GT1 is a Huffaker 311" TransAm one. Motorsport 351 NASCAR pillow block, Motorsport A3 aluminum heads, dry sump, crank fire ignition, triple clutch, 650 hp.

[csxsfm]

The Brennan/Huffaker XKE was a coupe.

[TA Coupe]

I'm pretty sure that Jag is the one that Jack Schroll who owned Mostly Mustangs In Oakland used to race against with his 66 GT350 at Sears Point when I was crewing for him. We were always amazed at how fast it was. It was always a dog fight between them.

    Roy

[Bob Gaines]

I'm pretty sure that Jag is the one that Jack Schroll who owned Mostly Mustangs In Oakland used to race against with his 66 GT350 at Sears Point when I was crewing for him. We were always amazed at how fast it was. It was always a dog fight between them.

    Roy

You most likely knew this but for others reading Jack's 66 GT350 that he raced was SFM6S001.

[silverton_ford]

I purchased the Cobra photo (and a couple more) you posted on ebay a couple of weeks ago.  I will post some better photos without the Rockabilly stamp when I get some time.

[JohnSlack]

I purchased the Cobra photo (and a couple more) you posted on ebay a couple of weeks ago.  I will post some better photos without the Rockabilly stamp when I get some time.

Great picture of the Cobra with the 904. Hov wants the Jag, little drool there Mark?

[csxsfm]

Ernie Kessling Cobra, Merle Brennan Jag, Jim Adams Tiger, 904 probably Don Wester.

[TA Coupe]

I'm pretty sure that Jag is the one that Jack Schroll who owned Mostly Mustangs In Oakland used to race against with his 66 GT350 at Sears Point when I was crewing for him. We were always amazed at how fast it was. It was always a dog fight between them.

    Roy

You most likely knew this but for others reading Jack's 66 GT350 that he raced was SFM6S001.

Sorry Bob, but this time you are wrong. 6S001 was still a shell when he started racing and when I talked to Jack at Bill Maier's funeral about a year and a half ago he said he still has the race car.

     Roy

[Vernon Estes]

Most don't understand how long COCOA has been around. Their initial clubhouse was one of the upper rooms at Hi-Performance Motors and the club was very much a factory adjacent entity. I believe the earliest date I've seen on a COCOA document was 1964. My memory is a little fuzzy on that though admittedly. Point being, the connection between COCOA and SAI is much closer than most people generally think today as I think we perceive COCOA's "early days" being in the mid 70s... which is not the case.

Some might remember a time or two.. team jackets and shirts have come out of the wood work from COCOA members. Collectors for a while sort of distinguished those as a later reproduction of the original shirts and jackets (which some were)... but not all were. Members of COCOA could purchase team jackets and shirts from the factory in the mid 60s. Ive bought multiple examples which originated from early members.

Vern

[csxsfm]

I know I went to a meeting late '70 early '71.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Most don't understand how long COCOA has been around. Their initial clubhouse was one of the upper rooms at Hi-Performance Motors and the club was very much a factory adjacent entity.

They were the Team Shelby of the day. The CA Corp non-profit records show it as suspended. The incorporation date was 11-3-1965. They did not file their annually required statement by 11-30-1967 and were suspended by the state 5 years later.
I had thought it started earlier. But Paul Peterson was 19 and born in 1945 so your 1964 date is probably correct. With Shelby no longer building Cobras and Mustangs after mid 67 I can see them just letting the corporation die.
A Brian Wilson, Paul Peterson Cobra song? https://www.courierpress.com/story/life/columnists/2017/03/16/mr-music-peterson-clears-up-questions-she-rides-me/99207106/

I've still got a couple of the original water slide decals.