DubbsFaris Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I wouldnt imagine that there would be much love between the two, but I was VERY surprised to read in the Dec. 2012 Road and Track article on page 50, "A Cobra is a stupid car," he says. "It's overpowered. It's unpleasant to drive. It's got a big engine and that's all. I never built a car for dragstrip speed. That's dumb. Who the hell wants to race an old lady at a stoplight?" What a jackoff. Clearly people mirror wine- some grow in value and taste, other just turn to vinegar and should be flushed down the toilet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffJ Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I'm sure those were just words of jealousy and deep rooted pain from when the Cobra cleaned the clock on his beloved Corvette team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali_KR Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 (edited) "old lady at a stoplight"....ah dude, history shows how great of a road course car it was, and thats where you had your azz whopped. What a jack-ass Edited November 1, 2012 by Cali_KR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Hamilton Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Didn't he just pass away also? We will see how kindly history treats and remembers his Fitch 6-cylinder Firebird and Corvairs ...... not quite in the same class with the AC Cobras and GT-350's. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY500SS Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I wouldnt imagine that there would be much love between the two, but I was VERY surprised to read in the Dec. 2012 Road and Track article on page 50, "A Cobra is a stupid car," he says. "It's overpowered. It's unpleasant to drive. It's got a big engine and that's all. I never built a car for dragstrip speed. That's dumb. Who the hell wants to race an old lady at a stoplight?" What a jackoff. Clearly people mirror wine- some grow in value and taste, other just turn to vinegar and should be flushed down the toilet. I gotta remember that line....................thanks Warren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnf Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 ^^^^ +1 Well said. And clearly Fitch has turned to vinegar. Personally I prefer a well rounded, finely aged wine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasShelby Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 (edited) First and personally, that's why I don't read Road and Track, it's crap, second, how extremely low class of R&T to print something like that. I won't speak of the passed (John Fitch) out of respect, but the douch bags at Road and Track are useless hacks from days gone by and nothing better than to print crap like that. Hey Road and Track this is for you DB.... I think I'll go on Facebook and find their page and post the same. EDIT: I found it Edited November 1, 2012 by TexasShelby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hawkins Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Hey Road and Track this is for you DB.... That is one messed up dude............... I don't even want to know how he got his Hands to do that.................................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilmor Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Yep, sounds like envy and jealousy to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertlane Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 who is John Fitch? ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amigo GT500 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 who is John Fitch? ? The only person who didnt like Cobra..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbj Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I didn't know who John Fitch even was. We have to remember though, it's a quote in a magazine. I mean, they wouldn't jazz it up or otherwise change the wording for journalistic sensationalism, would they? On the other hand, the quote might be true. In any case, what gets me is that there is a real possiblitlity that there is or was a person in this world that didn't like the Cobra. I'm not sure that's even possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belltr Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 We should all write to road & track in response to the article, most magazines have a column where people can write in about the stories and tell them what you thought. So if a few thousand of us wrote to them maybe they would post the comments in the magazine. We know it will not make a difference as the article already hit the newsstands and everyone has their opinions about cars!! but they would know the LOVE we have for Carroll Shelby and his cars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shel-b001 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 (edited) We should all write to road & track in response to the article, most magazines have a column where people can write in about the stories and tell them what you thought. So if a few thousand of us wrote to them maybe they would post the comments in the magazine. We know it will not make a difference as the article already hit the newsstands and everyone has their opinions about cars!! but they would know the LOVE we have for Carroll Shelby and his cars! Great idea lets DO IT. Edited November 1, 2012 by shelby001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewheelman Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 John who? Exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARALD KELLEY Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I'm sure those were just words of jealousy and deep rooted pain from when the Cobra cleaned the clock on his beloved Corvette team. Yuupppp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Ruighaver Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fitch_(racing_driver) Anton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank S Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 The article did not say John Fitch slammed Carroll Shelby; it quoted John Fitch's opinion of a car. I saw John Fitch and Carroll Shelby talking very amicably around Christmas, 2002. They had a lot in common, what with a flying history in WWII, racing with internationally prominent manufacturers' teams, developing eponymous automobiles based on other peoples' chassis, saving thousands of lives with their safety inventions. No. Wait. That last was just John Fitch. The Nostalgia Forum's reaction to John Fitch's passing. AUTOWEEK article. "Hey, how come when my ox got gored it bled Kool-Ade?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Mojavi Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 The only person who didnt like Cobra..... Like it or dislike it....They damn well better RESPECT it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasShelby Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 I posted on Road and Track's Facebook. Like was stated earlier, it wasn't Fitch so much as it was the lack of R&T's talent and class. I told them that, and of everything those two men had given to the motorsports world, that's how R&T handles it. Very poor form indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Hamilton Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 While we may not agree with the R/T quote attributed to John Fitch, he was one of Shelby's contemporaries in the automotive world. He took a slightly different track than Carroll Shelby and used the 6-cylinder versions of the Pontiac Firebird and Chevy Corvair instead of fire breathing V-8's in AC Cobra's or Mustang's. He seemed to be more concerned with handling and finesse than power. It's easy to criticize an old man you've never heard of who is quoted saying something about one of your favorites, but take the time to find out more about him. If the measure of your fame and success can be judged by the value of what you left behind for Barrett Jackson and e-Bay auctions, then rest assured, Carroll Shelby is still the MAN. However you feel about him I love this part of his bio and feel it could have been attributed just as easily to Carroll Shelby himself ..... " Fitch did, however, return to official automotive competition at 87 years of age in 2003 and again in 2005 when he was once again teamed up with a now 50 year old Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR owned by Bob Sirna, this time at Bonneville Salt Flats in an attempt to break the land speed record for the class, a novel venue for both car and driver. The attempts failed due to the fuel injection pump which limited the top speed to only 150 mph, but the team vowed to return the next year. With characteristic self-deprecating humor, Fitch noted that he had driven those cars faster than that in the rain, at night, on a road with 60 other cars." I can see Carroll Shelby saying that last sentence with a few explicit deletes sprinkled in. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hawkins Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 (edited) I wouldnt imagine that there would be much love between the two, but I was VERY surprised to read in the Dec. 2012 Road and Track article on page 50, "A Cobra is a stupid car," he says. "It's overpowered. It's unpleasant to drive. It's got a big engine and that's all. I never built a car for dragstrip speed. That's dumb. Who the hell wants to race an old lady at a stoplight?" What a jackoff. Clearly people mirror wine- some grow in value and taste, other just turn to vinegar and should be flushed down the toilet. Believe me, there are people on another Shelby Forum that is always saying worse, taking jabs at CS and get off on it. What Fitch said is no different then what a hard core Ford Guy says about a hard core Chevy Guy. If R&T would have deleted that part of the Interview, it would have been worse then leaving it in. You don't have to like the Writer, but you know He was right to leave it in. Edited November 2, 2012 by tesgt350 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtkeith Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 (edited) I wouldnt imagine that there would be much love between the two, but I was VERY surprised to read in the Dec. 2012 Road and Track article on page 50, "A Cobra is a stupid car," he says. "It's overpowered. It's unpleasant to drive. It's got a big engine and that's all. I never built a car for dragstrip speed. That's dumb. Who the hell wants to race an old lady at a stoplight?" What a jackoff. Clearly people mirror wine- some grow in value and taste, other just turn to vinegar and should be flushed down the toilet. What a sad statement calling John Fitch a jackoff....do some history on the guy..you're insulting a guy who served your Country in WWll as a fighter pilot as a matter of fact he was one of a very few to shoot down a German ME-262 with his P-51 not to mention being a POW the last year of the war...even if he said something about the Cobra big freaking deal...you're able to drive a Stang because of people like him if you don't have anything good to say about Vet that just passed away don't say anything at all...and this is R&T that wrote this hope you don't believe everthing they wright...thought you had more respect than that Dube. Edited November 5, 2012 by svtkeith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtkeith Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 (edited) Believe me, there are people on another Shelby Forum that is always saying worse, taking jabs at CS and get off on it. What Fitch said is no different then what a hard core Ford Guy says about a hard core Chevy Guy. If R&T would have deleted that part of the Interview, it would have been worse then leaving it in. You don't have to like the Writer, but you know He was right to leave it in. exactly and it's childish both ways...what makes them such awsome cars is the fact both are being made I think it would be pretty damn boring if it were all the same brand running around the streets...the reason the GT500 has 662hp is because the camaro was pushing at Ford's heals so thank Chev don't bash them. Edited November 5, 2012 by svtkeith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerS Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Safe to say he probably does not own a Cobra. Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glroy Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Safe to say he probably does not own a Cobra. Roger That would be true He passed October 13th 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DubbsFaris Posted November 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 (edited) Keith, I dont disrespect his military service, or Fitch as an automotive innovator. I do not respect the fact that the man makes a comment shortly after CS passing about the Cobra, and when I read the article, I dont even see where it is that relevant to the discussion. He served in WWII, and I agree he earned the right to say what he wants, but it doesnt mean I have to like it, or not be able to defend someone who cannot speak for themselves because they have passed away. Maybe you know Fitch and want to defend him, or maybe you dont feel the Cobra is worth defending, but I do and to me it came off as a slam on CS. The first time I ever met AJ Foyt, I thought he was a total asshole. Then, after more encounters with him, I didnt change my initial opinion. He is a racing legend as well, but he wasnt very nice to a kid that idolized him on multiple occasions. Im pretty sure having an opinion and voicing it is within MY rights, and just like me not agreeing with Fitch, you dont have to agree with me, but its not any more valid for him to have an opinion than it is for me to have one because I wasnt around to help fight WWII. That said, My grandfather is a WWII vet, a B-24 pilot, and a Pearl Harbor Survivor. I am the VP of San Antonio Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association, and am honored to do it, but I give my time to help them and remember them everyday, so dont call into question my respect for war service or military service of any kind. You dont know me at all if you do. What a sad statement calling John Fitch a jackoff....do some history on the guy..you're insulting a guy who served your Country in WWll as a fighter pilot as a matter of fact he was one of a very few to shoot down a German ME-262 with his P-51 not to mention being a POW the last year of the war...even if he said something about the Cobra big freaking deal...you're able to drive a Stang because of people like him if you don't have anything good to say about Vet that just passed away don't say anything at all...and this is R&T that wrote this hope you don't believe everthing they wright...thought you had more respect than that Dube. Edited November 12, 2012 by DubbsFaris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helix Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 (edited) You can earn all of the respect in the world and still be a jack off; it's only relevant in that he jabbed someone who no longer is able to come back (let's face it, who had the guts to jab Carroll while he could fight back ? ) It would probably be more appropriate to rephrase the whole thing as, "that's a dick move from such a respect-worthy guy". Either way, earning your own respect isn't a free ticket to disrespect to others. Agreed? Love for the cobra could be clouding my view, and perhaps the opposing opinion is correct; I'd fight tooth and nail that the opinion is wrong and the cobra is great; nothing would move me from that. In the end, it's just not respectful to jab someone's creation after they pass. Edited November 12, 2012 by Helix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denstang65 Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 I agree that everyone has the right to have an opinion. A lot of car companies make great cars, I just think that Shelbys and Cobras are better!. It is also true that anyone can be an a@# no matter what race, profession, religion, hero, or family name they carry. I do think it is wrong to talk trash about someone that cannot defend themselves. Just remember a couple things. We knew of, about, or even knew Mr.Shelby personally and we all know the Cobra is what it is, a Kick A@# American Car. This guy obviously did not have the balls to speak to Mr.Shelby in his face about the Cobra. This guy said that stuff and in the end, I am sure a lot of people realize that this guy is low class for his comments after the passing of Mr. Shelby. I believe this guy has lost a lot of repect from the public. Besides, you can tell he lost mine because I just call him " this man " and I call CS " Mr. Shelby ". Just my $0.02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJinLV Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 (edited) Fitch is gone, but who remembers him as compared to many who remember Mr. Shelby. P.S. I like racing old ladies at red lights. Edited November 12, 2012 by WJinLV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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