LA SAAC 1996

Cobra Country’s first show feature!
Coverage of the 1996 Los Angeles
Shelby American Automobile Club Concours 

Sunday, 29 September 1996

The Fifth Annual L.A. SAAC Show was the primary event of the year for owners and aficionados of the Shelby legend. As the dew began to evaporate into the Southern California sunshine, the familiar sounds of 289, 351 and 427 powerplants began to resonate onto the field at Woodley Park (Van Nuys, California). The array of cars included original and reproduction Shelby Cobras (both 289-style and 427SCs in abundance), GT40s and GT350s and numerous other Mustangs, along with a dazzling array of Sunbeam Tigers, 2-seater T-birds and assorted other Fomoco-powered machines.

The distinguished-guest list was no slouch either. At left is the legendary Peter Brock, designer of the original Shelby Daytona Coupe; other guests included ’60s Cobra driver John Morton (who continues to race today), racing driver Rick Titus, son of the late & great driver Jerry Titus, Dave Friedman, official Shelby American photographer during the WMC-heyday years of the mid ’60s, and Road and Track magazine with its own booth.

Undoubtedly ranking as the most cheerful of the show exhibitors (exhibitionists?) was Tomy Drissi of Los Angeles, posing here beside his fine… make that dazzling… original 289 slabside Cobra. Great guy, even better car!

at left: Bob Shaw presents awards and trophys to participants. Over 300 guests and participants were on hand to view (and display) these marvelous Fomoco asphalt-kickers, and over 35 regional and national sponsors stepped up to offer trophies and door prizes for the gathered Ford faithful. First-Place winners in the Cobra classes were: “289”-Billy Kinchelowe; “427”-Tim Viole, and Shelby/Cobra Competition Cars-Ed & Carla Mazula with their rare 1964 289 USRRC machine.

Of special interest (not shown) were Phil Schmidt’s 1979 Shadow DN9-B Formula I racer, Bryan Mimaki’s LeMans-winning GT40, and Ed Dunn’s baby-blue 1957 T-Bird. From a replicar array numbering over a dozen, Ted Lewis won First Place with his GT40, and Larry Baer and Doug Feiger with their 427SC replicas.

Show data and statistics were provided by Bob Shaw, photography by Curt & Judy Scott.
For further information regarding the Los Angeles Shelby American Automobile Club, contact:

L.A. SAAC
3345 Wilshire Blvd. #807
Los Angeles, California 9001