2022 American Speed Festival/ 60th Anniversary of Shelby Cobras and Shelby Cars

Tribute to Pete Brock

Pontiac, MI 

September 29 - October 2, 2022

By: Ernie Nagamatsu (10/8/2022)

The 2022 American Speed Festival followed the great inaugural event last year featuring the Jim Hall Chaparral Race Cars. This high-level rare collectable bespoke car event was held at the expansive M1 Concourse site, which includes a short challenging race circuit of 1.5 miles in length. 

Legendary Motorsports designer, Pete Brock, was the special honoree and it was also was the 60th Anniversary for Shelby Cobras and Shelby cars. It was an opportunity to see many rare street and race-cars close up in a static display, as well as seeing the special invitation cars, ‘fast lapping’ on the circuitous circuit. Seven classes of cars included Cobra Race Cars, Shelby Race Cars, Pete Brock Race Cars, Vintage Indy Cars, Championship Endurance Cars, among others. 

Sunday was a collective “Speed and Style Expo” car show, with the added entrants of Hot Rods, Super Cars and Ferraris, including a supra rare SP1 Monza, street legal F1 model, valued at 1.8 million. Exceptionally rare Shelby Cobras were displayed including the iconic “Dragon Snake” from the Drew and Janet Serb, Cobra Experience Museum. 

Additional exceptional Cobras included the 1963 Le Mans Shelby Cobra, CSX 2154 (Winner of MI Momentum Magazine Award) with the Le Mans ‘half trunk’ feature and special race features.

Group 1 Shelby Race Cars in the fast lapping included the quick 1990 #002 Shelby Aurora Can Am Prototype Sports Racer, historic SCCA Champion Shelby GT 350 Shelby (Winner of Group 1 Shelby Race Cars, owner Kenneth Costella) and 1964 Shelby Cobra CSX 2203 Hard Top (Winner of ASF Selection Committee Award, Ernie and Elaine Nagamatsu).

The racing/fast lapping sessions for CSX 2203 1965 Shelby Cobra was assigned to Ernie Nagamatsu and legendary Le Mans Champion, Rick Knoop. A rare sighting was seeing three McCluskey built Daytona Coupes. The “Movie Cobra” #98, from the “Ford vs. Ferrari” movie, was eye catching,, exhibiting damage at the rear section from the movie shooting. Friday was the great “Private Garage Revel” Tour with an “Open House” Tour to many multi million Garage collections and presented adjacent along the circuit. 

The well-respected and liked David Hobbs, legendary driver and F1 Announcer, circulated among fans as well as the friendly Pete Brock and Al Unser Jr. Legendary designer, Pete Brock, was presented with the “ Master of Motorsports” Award at the Checkered Flag Charity Ball. Henry Payne reported ‘live’ for his well-known program, “Car Radio” Show and he also exhibited his 906 Porsche. 

Attracting attention was Al Unser Jr.’s 1986 Lola T8600, Bobby Unser’s 1972 Olsonite Eagle, the turbine-engine 1968 STP, Alberto Ascori’s 1952 Ferrari 375, 2004 Ferrari Enzo and a 2021 Ferrari Monza SP1. The V8-powered 1988 Fabcar IMSA prototype owned by David Nikolas, was a standout with an unbelievable roar that could break non shatter-proof windows, as Dave drove the IMSA racer along legendary Woodward Ave, to the ASF Event (he knew the Sheriff) followed by CSX 2203 Shelby Cobra. 

The weather was perfect with crisp chill of Fall breezes and the first tinting of Autumn tree leaves. The ‘recipe’ and American Speed Festival Event ‘menu’ was brilliant, bringing together rare collectable cars and Race Cars...well done, Tim McGrane, CEO of ASF 2022.