‘FoMoCo Blue Demo’ Cobra to star at Race Retro

Visitors to this year’s Race Retro will be welcomed by a legendary Cobra. Known in Cobra circles as ‘The FoMoCo Blue Demo’, it promises to be one of the stars of the show in February.

Chassis number CSX 2360 was delivered to Lew Spencer’s Hi-Performance Motors in Los Angeles on 29 January 1965.

Intended as a demonstrator, potential customers would be treated to some very exciting test drives courtesy of Peter Brock, designer of the Daytona Cobra and split-screen Chevrolet Corvette. Having spent around ten years in America, the car came to the UK where it has remained ever since. 

It is currently owned by Kevin ‘KeKi’ Kivlochan’s and has been hugely successful in the 2019 HSCC Historic Road Sports Championship. Its current owner began racing in 1992 with a 1966 Shelby GT350 Mustang and has since owned and campaigned a number of well-known Cobras, including COB 6008 driven by Jack Sears.

Kevin acquired CSX 2360 in June 2018, describing it as a beautiful road car but one that was in no way ready for racing. In fact, the previous owner covered just 300 miles in 18 years with the car.

Kevin’s plan was for competition, though, and the Cobra was despatched to RW Racing Services in Northamptonshire for preparation. The Cobra was ready for the second round of this year’s Historic Road Sports Championship at Snetterton, it was the beginning of a dominant season with the double-header race resulting in pole position, two wins and two fastest laps. 

It set the tone for a strong season. Of the 14 races contested - there were rounds at a number of UK circuits as well as Spa - Kevin would win all of them, along the way claiming twelve pole positions and 14 fastest laps. He would set a new lap record at the Silverstone Finals held in October.

‘The car was supremely reliable throughout the season, which is a real testament to the careful preparation’ says Kevin. ’There was certainly extra pressure towards the end of the season as people expected me to win, but I never imagined the Cobra would be this successful straight out of the box.’

Thanks to Carroll Shelby, the Cobra is already steeped in automotive folklore, but this particular example is special. And having proved such a successful winner on track, it is guaranteed plenty of interest at this year’s Race Retro. 

Tickets are now on sale for the show, held from February 21-23, 2020, at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, with free parking for all visitors. For the latest updates and ticket information, visit www.raceretro.com.