Continuing the tradition of bringing together the former employees of Shelby American from the 1960s, this 17th edition of the reunion was held November 6 and 7, 2015, at the Cobra Experience Museum (www.cobraexperience.org) in Northern California. With more than 65 former mechanics, drivers, shop workers, craftsmen, managers and staff in attendance, this year’s get-together produced the reunion’s largest turnout yet. Several notable attendees were on hand, including John Morton, Peter Brock, Bob Bondurant, Allen Grant, Lynn Park, Rick Kopeck, Bob Shaw, Bernie Kretzschmar and Chuck Cantwell.
The reunion was held over two days with an invitation-only dinner Friday evening for the former employees and their guests, followed by a Saturday morning Shop Tour of Drew Serb’s Cobra restoration business. Serb was also the reunion host and museum founder. Saturday evening’s dinner was open to the public to honor the former Shelby employees and was attended by some 200 Shelby enthusiasts. Coordinating this event was Emily Lambert from the museum staff, who did an outstanding job planning and executing all the logistics.
During the course of the Friday evening dinner, there were two presentations of special interest. First, William Deary, founder of The Carroll Collection in Michigan, announced he was working with the Henry Ford Greenfield Village to construct an exact replica of the original Shelby Venice, California, shop on the Village site. Second, movie producer Patrick Kriwanek gave an update on his proposed new feature length movie about the Shelby Racing Team. Kriwanek said he has finished four years of research resulting in a completed script, with the project now about halfway to completion.
This edition of the reunion will be remembered for many years to come with the large turnout, distinguished guests and the Cobra Experience Museum serving as the perfect venue for the occasion.
