2018 Cobra 1000 -- 20 Original Cobras in the High Desert


lc2006

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Nov 10, 2011
140
Centreville, Delaware
I don’t mean to dwell on Cobras on a Forum that is devoted to Ford’s superb GTs, however, after having been asked to post a thread about the 2018 Last Frontier Alaska Cobra Tour, I am guessing that there might be a few Forum members who will find this interesting….

For the past 29 years – yes, nearly three decades – Drew Serb, his wife, Janet, and, in more recent years, their daughter, Emily Serb Lambert, have painstakingly organized an absolutely splendid, nonprofit, annual 1000-mile driving tour for original Cobra owners. It is an invitation-only event, but the only strict rule for inclusion is that you must bring a real-deal original Cobra on the tour; i.e., a CSX2000 or a CSX3000 series Cobra.

Drew is the quintessential Ford-guy. He acquired his first Cobra many decades ago when they were “cheap.” Although, Drew laughingly recalls that it wasn’t long before his first Cobra became worth more than the home in which the Serbs resided!

A few years back, Drew and the Serb family founded the Cobra Experience Museum in Martinez, CA. The museum will take your breath away… and, despite its name, it is a destination that should be on every true-blue Ford guy and gal’s destination lists. Not surprisingly, the museum is devoted to Carroll Shelby’s Cobra, but there is lots of other very cool Ford “hardware” within the walls of the museum! When you visit, make certain not to miss the museum’s over-the-top movie theater! (Note: Drew’s day job is designing and installing audio and video systems for major stadiums around the country, so you can probably imagine what the Cobra Experience theater is like!)

Anyway, back to the Cobra 1000. The Cobra 1000 takes place in a different location each year; generally, in the western part of the US. This year’s 29th annual event took place in Washington state during the second week of September. The tour began in Cle Elum, WA and serpentined through some amazing roads in Washington’s high desert, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the Mount Rainier National Park.

There were 20 original Cobras and 39 people on this year’s Cobra 1000. The participants come from all over North America… California, of course, but also from places such as Canada, Alaska, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, North Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, etc. I have attached a few photos that were taken during the 29th Cobra 1000.

Enjoy,
Lee Cross
20180909_154333.jpg20180909_202630.jpg20180910_145708.jpg20180911_072736.jpg20180911_074314.jpg20180911_074453.jpg20180911_075633.jpg20180911_080149.jpg20180911_093438.jpg20180911_095333.jpg20180911_095358.jpg20180911_095358.jpg20180911_111303.jpg20180911_113156.jpg20180911_122050.jpg20180911_122345.jpg20180911_124752.jpg20180911_134426.jpg20180911_150214.jpg20180911_153114.jpg20180911_153214.jpg20180912_074658.jpg20180912_074714.jpg20180912_074805.jpg20180912_075840.jpg20180912_080353.jpg20180912_082419.jpg20180912_091929.jpg20180912_094449.jpg20180912_100822.jpg20180912_101550.jpg20180912_112504.jpg20180912_112519.jpg20180912_112756.jpg20180912_131856.jpg20180912_160526.jpg20180912_172146.jpg20180912_172713.jpg20180913_075725.jpg20180913_092742.jpg20180913_103759.jpg20180913_103800.jpg20180913_123317.jpg20180913_132142.jpg20180913_153642.jpg20180913_175946.jpg20180913_183141.jpg20180914_065530.jpg20180914_065643.jpg20180914_065740.jpg20180914_065849.jpg20180914_070053.jpg20180914_070119.jpg20180914_070146.jpg20180914_070303.jpg20180914_080201.jpg20180914_082136.jpg20180914_083254.jpg20180914_094655.jpg20180914_100723.jpg20180914_110010.jpg20180914_131702.jpg20180914_134522.jpg20180914_150030.jpg20180914_150118.jpgJim II.jpgKaty A.jpgKaty B.jpgKaty D.jpgKaty E.jpgKaty F.jpgKaty III.jpgKaty IV.jpgKaty J.jpgKaty M.jpgKaty N.jpgKaty V.jpgKaty VI.jpgKaty VIII.jpgKaty X.jpgKaty Y.jpgKaty Z.jpgNed I.jpgNed II.jpgNed IV.jpg
 

GKW05GT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 28, 2011
2,755
Fayetteville, Ga.
That is a roiling spectacle and to see that many Cobras actually being driven at once is an unforgettable sight.
 
Last edited:

Sinovac

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 18, 2006
5,832
Largo, Florida
Lee, thanks for sharing the story and pictures. That’s a great gathering of Cobras.
 

fjpikul

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jan 4, 2006
11,475
Belleville, IL
If you ever cruise the Midwest please post here. I would like to see you all.
 

Apollo

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Aug 5, 2006
2,499
Pahrump, NV
That is a roiling spectacle and to see that many Cobras actually being driven at once is an unforgettable sight.

+1. Thanks for posting.
 

spartan

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Feb 11, 2017
1,216
Bloomfield Hills MI
Amazing to see so many of them in the wild. Thanks for sharing. So much Ford history with the Cobras.
 

mmlcobra

GT Owner
May 25, 2013
1,215
Beautiful!
 

68Rcodeman

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 5, 2008
800
Spring Hill, FL.
Thanks for sharing. That's sure living and enjoying some old for muscle. Friendships made for a lifetime!
 

twobjshelbys

GT Owner
Jul 26, 2010
6,053
Las Vegas, NV
Awesome once again. But no bears trying to eat a Cobra for a snack ?
 

roketman

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Oct 24, 2005
7,994
ma.
Thats was really enjoyable! Thanks for sharing.Really interesting the differences in the originals
 

lc2006

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Nov 10, 2011
140
Centreville, Delaware
I couldn't help but purchase some fig newtons during one of our fuel stops... as a kind of homage to the bear that terrorized my buddies and me in Alaska!

20180912_091853.jpg
 

GTJack

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Oct 1, 2006
1,728
Saddlebrooke, MO
Thank you for posting. To see that many 2000s and 3000s together is incredible. Wish I could have seen it live. I had a 4000 for almost 20 years. Lot of fun, but at times it was a labor of love.
 

BtwoG

GT Owner
Dec 8, 2013
1,039
Atlanta, GA
Thanks for sharing. Amazing journey with some great historic Ford powered machines!
 

DakotaGT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Dec 9, 2012
1,694
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Thank you for sharing those awesome photos with us. I can’t imagine how incredible it would be just to be out and about and run across your group. I bet some folks can hardly believe what they are seeing, if they even comprehend the significance.
 

2112

Blue/white 06'
Mark II Lifetime
Hope the tradition continues.
 

Spaceman

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Sep 1, 2012
287
Central Texas
Thank you for sharing these,I really enjoyed the previous set from your Alaska trip and these are just as amazing. I love the tradition and history you and your cohort's are carrying forward.
 

CJ428

Farm GT
Mark II Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
May 21, 2008
1,473
NJ
Nice pics, cool as it gets.
 

w.a.nelson

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Feb 29, 2008
1,096
Asbury, NJ and Bourne, MA
" Was it noisy in the tunnel?"

"What did you say?"

(Where did that Chevy come from? Must have felt like Custer. )
 

lc2006

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Nov 10, 2011
140
Centreville, Delaware
" Was it noisy in the tunnel?"

"What did you say?"

(Where did that Chevy come from? Must have felt like Custer. )

To be honest, the 427's with side pipes, as well as the comp. 289's, were slightly obnoxious in the tunnel!

I am not much of a Chevy guy, nonetheless, I was impressed that somebody was actually driving a '58 Impala that is as nice as that one, so I snapped a photo of it. I am a firm believer that classic cars are meant to be driven, so it warms my heart to see something like that '58 out on the road -- custom stone/bug deflector and all!
20180913_092730.jpg
 
Last edited: