Driving while Cobraing

[Bellecobra]

Just had my first DWC ( driving while cobraing) incident. Was a beautiful afternoon, driving along the road and for once not fast or anything when I look back to finally see the flashing lights in my rearview mirror. Quickly pull over to the side of the road and I’m just confused as to why I’m getting pulled over

Very nice young police officer comes up to the car and tells me that I’ve had my directional on for the last little while, really need to get that auto turn off switch which I don’t have right now. But what he said after that really made me chuck. Lee said the reason he pulled me over is he just wanted to say he pulled over a cobra and look at the car just curious if anyone else has that incidence is like this love to hear the stories. Just thought it was quite funny that you’re getting pulled over just cause it’s a pretty car. I was just glad I wasn’t getting a ticket anyways hope everybody’s having a great summer.

[David Hodgkins]

Not exactly the same thing but…

When I was in the go kart phase, I took it around my neighborhood to calibrate the speedometer(back in the days when you had to do that for the old speed hut GPS). as I got to the end of my street, police officer turned onto my street and passed me by. I smiled and gave him a wave and he smiled back and gave me a wave! I think if I was in any other car, I would’ve been pulled over immediately

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: owning one of these cars is like being the best friends with a rockstar. They got all the attention and I get to smile and talk about all the cool stories we have together.

[egchewy79]

Just had my first DWC ( driving while cobraing) incident. Was a beautiful afternoon, driving along the road and for once not fast or anything when I look back to finally see the flashing lights in my rearview mirror. Quickly pull over to the side of the road and I’m just confused as to why I’m getting pulled over

Very nice young police officer comes up to the car and tells me that I’ve had my directional on for the last little while, really need to get that auto turn off switch which I don’t have right now. But what he said after that really made me chuck. Lee said the reason he pulled me over is he just wanted to say he pulled over a cobra and look at the car just curious if anyone else has that incidence is like this love to hear the stories. Just thought it was quite funny that you’re getting pulled over just cause it’s a pretty car. I was just glad I wasn’t getting a ticket anyways hope everybody’s having a great summer.

Signal dynamics makes a nice auto canceling unit or you could just get audible flasher units that click like a modern car so you can hear when they're on.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I got pulled over but the officer didn't want to see the car...he wanted to see my license, registration and proof of insurance. Maybe it was because I squirted up to 90 passing a slow car an a 2 lane

Jeff

[cob427sc]

Back in 1999 in my Gen 1 roadster I got pulled over, assuming at the time that I was either driving too fast or too loud (probably both!). Officer wanted to see my car as he had recently ordered his own kit. He actually ended up buying mine as he wasn't sure about his abilities and also didn't want to wait. I took his order and built roadster #2.

[Skuzzy]

In 2024 at the Texas Cobra meet we were out tooling around in the back roads when one of the Cobras had an issue so we all pulled over and got out to see what all of us experts could advise on. You know how it is. Anyway, along comes a state patrol on motorcycle. He pulls up behind us. Gets off his bike, removes his gloves and stands there staring at the line of Cobras.

He shouts out, "Alright, I want to see all your paperwork because I know you guys have had to be breaking some law!". Then he smiles. It was a hoot. He hung around with us until the troubled car was up and running and off we went.

[Lidodrip]

I had the town police stop me as I was about to back out of a parking lot space. He wanted to know all about the build as this was on his bucket list - spent 45 minutes chatting, great guy. He then asked me how fast I have gone. I just looked sheepishly at the ground fumbling for something to say. He then cracked a big smile and said, "I bet it was fun..." Good to make friends with the local law enforcement.

James

[john42]

Couple weeks ago, a group (3) of us in our Cobras cruising around some back roads. We passed by a cop and moments later he was following us. We weren't speeding (honest!). After a few miles of following the cop turned on his lights and pulled us over. He got out and went straight to the lead Cobra. Apparently (ehem) his inspection sticker was expired. After checking his license and insurance he asked if he could take pictures of the cars. We of course said sure. He then admitted he was working all those miles to find ANY reason at all to pull us over to take photos, he was thankful 1 of us had an expired sticker. And nope he didn't issue a ticket. Funny thing is he explained that his sticker expires in December and it was wicked hard to get that updated every year... in the snow..

[GoDadGo]

A few months ago I got pulled by a nice young officer who claimed I excessively accelerated.
>> I advised him that I did not spin my tires nor break traction in anyway and that my car was just a peppy compared to most grocery getters.
>> After that I asked him if his body camera was running and at that point he said, "Yes, the camera was on and filming."
>> Looking at the camera I then I asked him how many seconds was a car allotted to go from 0 to 45 MPH?
>> My next question was, How many seconds did it take for me to get from 0 to 45 MPH?
At that point he told me to slow down and have a good day.

[JeffP]

I'm from NC and NE is not exactly my comfort zone. So one February in 2021 I hooked up a flat bed trailer and put Factory Five Racing as my destination into the GPS and off I went... Up the eastern shore, through NJ... through NYC, and blissfully followed the magenta line the whole way. Got to FF and loaded up my new Cobra kit and headed over to Forte's and loaded up a coyote and got on the road to head home. Punched in my home address and sat back following the magenta line. Well, it wasn't long as I'm cruising down what NE calls a "Parkway" which looks no different than any other highway to me... when a state trooper rolls up next to me with his lights on getting me to roll my window down. Rolling 60mph down this "parkway" he politely informs me I can't have a trailer on the parkway... You northerners are wierd. I quickly apologized and promised to take the next exit - I got a thumbs up and then - Awesome car by the way!

So far thats the closest my Cobra has come to law enforcement and I'll be happy to keep it that way.

Fast forward 4 years and I took my 15yr old son over to an empty parking lot and started teaching him to drive a stick in a Cobra. It was great - and he did amazing. Didn't stall it once.

[john42]

I'm from NC and NE is not exactly my comfort zone. So one February in 2021 I hooked up a flat bed trailer and put Factory Five Racing as my destination into the GPS and off I went... Up the eastern shore, through NJ... through NYC, and blissfully followed the magenta line the whole way. Got to FF and loaded up my new Cobra kit and headed over to Forte's and loaded up a coyote and got on the road to head home. Punched in my home address and sat back following the magenta line. Well, it wasn't long as I'm cruising down what NE calls a "Parkway" which looks no different than any other highway to me... when a state trooper rolls up next to me with his lights on getting me to roll my window down. Rolling 60mph down this "parkway" he politely informs me I can't have a trailer on the parkway... You northerners are wierd. I quickly apologized and promised to take the next exit - I got a thumbs up and then - Awesome car by the way!

So far thats the closest my Cobra has come to law enforcement and I'll be happy to keep it that way.

Fast forward 4 years and I took my 15yr old son over to an empty parking lot and started teaching him to drive a stick in a Cobra. It was great - and he did amazing. Didn't stall it once.

Driving from NH to PA many times, I've gone down the parkways every time towing my covered trailer with my Cobra in it. I've had many locals "yell" at me, so I looked up the law. It is trailers over a certain height (which mine isn't) and commercial trailers (which I am not). That cop was mis-informed about the trailer on parkways law.


Quick google search:

"In New York, trailers, especially those attached to commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers, are generally prohibited on parkways. This is due to low bridge clearances and the design of parkways, which were intended for passenger vehicles. Commercial vehicles, including trucks and tractor-trailers, often strike these low bridges, causing accidents and delays.

Specifics:
Parkway Restrictions:
Many parkways in New York have restrictions against commercial vehicles, including trailers.

Low Bridges:
Some parkway bridges have clearances as low as 6'11", making them hazardous for taller vehicles.

Potential Consequences:
Violating parkway restrictions can lead to fines, points on your license, accidents, and damage to vehicles and infrastructure.

Examples of Restricted Parkways:
Some parkways with restrictions include the Taconic State Parkway, Bear Mountain Parkway, Saw Mill River Parkway, Bronx River Parkway, Cross County Parkway, Hutchinson River Parkway, Sprain Brook Parkway, Long Mountain Parkway, Palisades Interstate Parkway, and Lake Welch Parkway, according to www.speedlaw.net. "

[JeffP]

Driving from NH to PA many times, I've gone down the parkways every time towing my covered trailer with my Cobra in it. I've had many locals "yell" at me, so I looked up the law. It is trailers over a certain height (which mine isn't) and commercial trailers (which I am not). That cop was mis-informed about the trailer on parkways law.


Quick google search:

"In New York, trailers, especially those attached to commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers, are generally prohibited on parkways. This is due to low bridge clearances and the design of parkways, which were intended for passenger vehicles. Commercial vehicles, including trucks and tractor-trailers, often strike these low bridges, causing accidents and delays.

Specifics:
Parkway Restrictions:
Many parkways in New York have restrictions against commercial vehicles, including trailers.

Low Bridges:
Some parkway bridges have clearances as low as 6'11", making them hazardous for taller vehicles.

Potential Consequences:
Violating parkway restrictions can lead to fines, points on your license, accidents, and damage to vehicles and infrastructure.

Examples of Restricted Parkways:
Some parkways with restrictions include the Taconic State Parkway, Bear Mountain Parkway, Saw Mill River Parkway, Bronx River Parkway, Cross County Parkway, Hutchinson River Parkway, Sprain Brook Parkway, Long Mountain Parkway, Palisades Interstate Parkway, and Lake Welch Parkway, according to www.speedlaw.net. "

Sorry, but I think I'll take his word, this was the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut:
Screenshot 2025-06-16 at 9.08.06 AM.png

[john42]

Sorry, but I think I'll take his word, this was the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut:
Screenshot 2025-06-16 at 9.08.06 AM.png

Different state. It's wonderful they are all so consistent! /s

[J R Jones]

Associated topic on road choices.
A couple of years ago a buddy bought a Ferrari P4 replica project. He had a three day window to get from WI to San Antonio and back. We did all nighters in a diesel Ram pulling a 28ft enclosed trailer, the engine never cooled-off. The expressway map around Austin TX looks like the cross section of an onion, lots of choices. The seller directed us to the high speed choice which had no toll booths in or out. I asked the seller about that and he blew it off, "You are out of state they will not pursue toll fees". Oh yes they will, and oh yes they did, with a camera and a fine. One needs a transducer to log those toll fees.
Getting across the Ohio River near Louisville is a similar circumstance.
BTW in OK at night they use a bright flash camera to identify driver and license image. Kinda startling under red-eye circumstances.
jim

[TBull]

I had been enjoying a very spirited drive on some back roads. I was about 15 miles from home and drove up the highway to home and got pulled over by a local police officer. He had known me since I was a kid. Like your guy, he wanted to see the car and know what I had done to it. He said he wouldn't even ask me how fast I've been in it. Just said to be safe and drove off after our talk.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Quite a while ago, a well-liked and "central" man in the SoCal group died unexpectedly. I could not count how many people attended a memorial gathering at Karen Salvaggio's house but there may have been about 20 cars. I was the first one to leave and I got pulled over on the main road about 10 miles from the house.

The officer said, "The reason I pulled you over is there's a report of a stolen car in this area with this exact description. Just need to see your registration..."

I said, "Sir, there is no other car in the area with this exact description."

He said, "Well there aren't a lot of cars around here like this."

At that EXACT MOMENT - the other guys rip by - ZOOM - ZOOM - ZOOM - ZOOM, ROAR - ZOOM, repeat 15 times!!!