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Greetings!
It's been longer since the last newsletter than we would have wished. It's that time of year when it seems we need to be three places at once. So as we return from the great Jefferson 500 in WVa two weeks ago and leave a fun Coupe-related weekend in England behind, we send this to you from the (wet) confines of Le Mans.
Several projects we've been working on for a while have finally come to fruition. From a wonderful scale model of the BRE Hino Samurai I designed and built in 1967 (I've been hoping/working on a model of this car for several years), to some fun Cobra roadster shirts for kids to get the little ones started out right, to the restoration of Superformance Brock Coupe SPC010 being completed, to much more, all mentioned below.
Enjoy, Peter & Gayle Brock BRE |
BRE Hino Samurai model
EBBRO 1:43 scale model with all the details
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 I'm obviously extremely proud of the success of the Cobra Daytona Coupe, but another of my favorite designs was the BRE Hino Samurai. It was perhaps the most advanced GT car design of its time. The Samurai, which I named in honor of Japan's famed warrior class, appeared on track in Japan at the Fuji Grand Prix in '67, and created quite a stir with famed actor Toshiro Mifune, as BRE's honorary team manager.
Several unique design features that were never utilized on the Daytona Coupes were successfully applied to the Samurai (see product on website here for a full description). We're very proud to announce that a limited number of BRE Hino Samurai GTs have been produced by EBBRO in 1/43 scale for the discriminating automotive enthusiast. We've gotten our supply first and they'll ship the moment we return from Le Mans when I can sign each of them (something that in hindsight I should have done before we left).
I don't think I've ever seen the accuracy in detail exhibited by this gem of a model. It's just incredible how closely EBBRO has been able to duplicate every nuance and subtle shape of the car's original form, right down to its elegant, super light weight, cast mag wheels and the Ring Airfoil. It even has the tiny control rod used to actuate the wing! It's finished in the brilliant red-orange I originally chose for the car's debut in Japan, with the graphically elegant, stylized number 3 specifically chosen to accent its form. The BRE Hino Samurai GT is a model that will stand out in any collector's display case. You can order your model here, complete with jewel box display case and my personal signature on the base plate.....a connoisseurs' delight!
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| The Jefferson 500 is a real treat!
As Grand Marshal I got to see it all, and there was a lot to see!
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 We recently had the opportunity to experience the Jefferson 500 at Summit Pt Raceway in WV. It has quickly risen toward the top of our favorite tracks/events list. As Grand Marshal, and with some great organizers, we were able to experience the entire weekend's activities from the vintage races, to the car shows, car corrals, the Sat evening dinner, and even karting. It was an incredible time.
 A special thanks to Charlie Stringfellow who graciously provided his stunning McCluskey-built Cobra Daytona Coupe for me to drive as the pace car (seen above) and to provide workers' rides in at the end of this wonderful event. Also thanks go to Woody Staub who allowed me to install a set of BRE mirrors onto his BRE Tribute 240Z racer (mirrors seen here on a Cobra Daytona Coupe. Images of mirrors on Woody's Datsun will be included in our Datsun newsletter). Explaining the importance of situational awareness and the value of the BRE mirrors in reducing the time spent trying to determine where cars are around you, we installed them and Woody gained an entire 2 seconds on his lap time! For the street, as one Coupe owner shared: "After my seat belts, they're the most important investment in safety I've made on my car".
More great images of the event can be seen at Bill Stoler's website here and Terry Johnsen's site here. We highly recommend you make it to this event next year.
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Dave "Big Deal" kids shirts
You've asked for these ever since you saw Dave's fun art
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 Several years ago we asked artist Dave "Big Deal" to create a fun Cobra roadster art piece for us (years later Dave was the artist that created the concept cars for the movie Cars so you may recognize his playful style). Dave delivered with this fun artwork he called "Cobras Dice". We love the movement of this piece, with bright orange cones flying into the air as two Cobra roadsters twist in the action. And you've enjoyed this piece also, asking us repeatedly to make it into a fun kids shirt... so we have!!
Let your kids (or a small neighbor you may be influencing), join here in your big boy/girl car fun! And if you'd like to also dress the part, this shirt is also available in a heather gray or heather blue for adults.
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1998 Shelby Museum poster resurrected
The museum's second annual poster is now available again
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 As we deepen our relationship with the supplier of the annual Shelby American museum posters, we've now received the remaining supply of the 1998 (the second annual) poster. As the included verbiage on the poster explains, it celebrates Bob Bondurant's 1st Place GT win in CSX2345 at the Sierra-Montana Grand Prix de la Montagne, Switzerland, August 30, 1964. There's something special about these classic black and white images from the mid-'60s. You can check them ALL out here.
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English Coupes and Le Mans
"Car Guys" around the world
|  Last weekend we were enjoying ourselves in the English countryside just outside Goodwood. It's the result of coming across another amazing Cobra Daytona Coupe story. Nick and Sam have been building their own aluminum-bodied Coupe in a typically small (very small) shop in southwest England. On our way to this week's 24 Hours of Le Mans race, Nick arranged for us to stop by England to visit them, their families and the Coupe. The car is impressive, with spot-on accuracy of many details that are often missed. And as always, the best part is once again meeting wonderful "car people" all across the world.
If you make it to Monterey this August, there is a possibility you will see this Coupe, amongst others from the US and Australia, as part of our Coupe Group!
The report from Le Mans is that it's been raining all week and is forecast to continue raining for another week. The rain starts and stops constantly. It's going to be a really difficult race for the teams to figure out when to run race tires and when not. It'll no doubt be won on strategy so no one has a clear advantage at this point.
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Superformance Brock Coupe SPC010 Impresses
Renovation is now complete as SPC010 sports most, if not all, BRE upgrades
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 We have truly enjoyed Superformance Brock Coupe SPC010. It has one of the best, and smoothest, engines and transmissions I've ever driven. We've refined it with many, if not all, of our BRE parts and accessories. It has even converted a local die-hard Corvette fan into a Cobra Coupe admirer.
We hate to part with this truly fun and impressive car but as we also have SPC073, it's best if we allow someone else to join our Coupe group by having SPC010. This car has a clear NV title in my and Gayle's name. If you're interested you can get the details here, and you too can become a part of our Coupe Group at Monterey!
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One business day to transform your SPF Coupe
A day gets you into a new rear window on your SPF Coupe
 Speaking of investments in visibility, we are now offering installation services for our BRE Rear Window for Superformance Coupes. Give us a week's notice to schedule and we will install your new, spectacular window in one business day. You can't beat that for reliable turn-around time.
What will you do for a day and/or night in the Vegas area? Well that's another advantage of having your new window installed here, isn't it? And if you want to stay longer than a day/night, we'll store your Coupe in the shop with ours during your trip. Check out the details here.
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The End of an Era
 Of course we must close by mentioning Shelby's passing. Carroll had been in very serious condition for a while, so even though it's not really a surprise he passed on May 10th, it's still a surprise. It's a reminder that we will all leave our loved ones some day. Just no getting around it.
He led a very full life, right to the end. None of us could ask for more. We wish his family the very best and are pleased with the thought that Carroll was able to see the biography come out in print that he and his family had worked on with author Rinsey Mills for years. We thought we knew a lot about Carroll but after reading his biography found we weren't even close. If you'd like to learn more about Carroll, as we have, you can order the book here.
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Stay dry
Le Mans will be covered on SpeedTV. We'll be thinking of you watching it in the dry as we slog thru the puddles!
All the best,
Gayle & Peter Brock
BRE
342 Sunpac Ct
Henderson, NV 89011
702-558-3374
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