2008 SCCA Racing Update on the Cinnamon #80, Burkett & Barham CPAs, P.C., Factory Five Racing Cobra (replica):
> Thursday August 28th found Lion Charles and good friend Larry Hall on the road to Barber Motorsports Park at Birmingham, Alabama. An early morning start would have the racing team and B&B Cobra there in time for registration and paddock set up for a Friday test day.
> On Friday the test day provided very warm temperatures both on-track and in the paved paddock area. The Cobra ran cool and Lion Charles proceeded to learn the racing line of a new to him race track. Having studied many on-track videos of Barber, our driver started the day with great confidence. This resulted in an "off" and a wrinkled chin spoiler occurring on the first lap of testing. By the end of the day the B&B Cobra was smoothly lapping the track with times close to the competition. Time for showers and Alabama bar-b-que. (Not too bad!)
> On Saturday morning, Larry and Lion Charles bled brakes and the Cobra was readied for qualifying. The qualifying session took place just before lunchtime. It started with the unmistakable roar of big V-8's all about the hilly Alabama countryside. Unfortunately, on the first lap, a stock car going too quickly on cold tires had a pretty big crash bringing out the black flag and a trip back to pit road. The safety crews soon had the track cleared and the session was restarted. Lion Charles was thankful for the test day as he qualified the Cobra in a fast 25-car field. After qualifying, the team learned that the Cobra was qualified 2'nd in ITO class and mid-pack in the field. The first in ITO class Corvette was a tad faster.
> After a required racetrack lunch of the very finest cheeseburgers and fries, Larry and Lion Charles bled brakes and safety-checked the Cobra. Car and Driver were ready for afternoon racing.
> On Saturday afternoon, the "Big Bore Group" was gridded up for Alabama August racing. The B&B Cobra was in very top form and running great. After a lap behind the pace car, the green flag fell and V-8's again shook the ground at Barber. No first lap incidents occurred. The nimble B&B Cobra had a great race on a track that seemed to be built for a Cobra. Several positions were gained as the Cobra was driven very hard in pursuit of the first-place qualifying Corvette. Unbeknownst to Lion Charles, the Cobra was leading the Corvette from the 1'st lap. At the end of a clean race, our team was surprised to be rewarded a first place trophy.
> On Sunday morning the B&B team readied the Cobra and had a good qualifying session.
> On Sunday afternoon, the Cobra was again gridded mid-pack in more like a 20-car field. Several competitors from Saturday were unable to start on Sunday. At least one competitor in ITO class was unable to continue on Sunday due to cooling system problems. The Sunday race for the Cobra was run without incident and with another first in class finish.
> Sunday evening found our team loaded up and on the way back to North Carolina. The B&B Cobra had all it's wheels still on it and was in it's trailer ready to race again. This was a good weekend of racing and a great way to end the 2008 season of SCCA racing. The B&B Cobra completed the season winning an SCCA Southeastern Division Class Championship.
> As always, thanks to partner Scott Barham and staff of Burkett & Barham CPAs P.C. Thanks to buddy Larry Hall for wrenching during the Birmingham weekend. Special thanks to Jason McGhee, Sam Coates and Tri City Ford Lincoln Mercury for technical expertise and assistance in fielding a winning all-American Ford-powered race car.
