It didn't take much for Mike Deguire to get his FFR into his garage and on the road. After doing his research and talking to several people on FFCobra.com, Mike's arm was twisted and he was placing his order for his MkII Roadster. After 8 months, he had his car built and the only thing left was the paint, but not before some driving time was put in. Most recently, Mike had his Roadster at the London Cobra Show and had a good chat with FFR's Mark Dougherty about his Roadster.

Mike sent us a great story of his build that we had to share with you so here it is:

"After deciding to build a replica, I got on the internet to see what was available and after a couple searches, I found FFCobra.com. I had never heard of Factory Five Racing but found a site where hundreds, if not thousands, of owners were exchanging ideas and helping others build their cars. I lurked for a while and read hundreds of threads on every subject imaginable. When I was finally game enough to show my ignorance and make my first post, I was welcomed and people went out of their way to help and answer questions for me. I met Tom Keiser (lives two miles from my house) and he graciously offered me a ride one evening in his unpainted MK I and I accepted.  The sun was going down and it was really starting to get cold so we only had time for a short ride. Well, it was long enough, the following week I spent talking with Tom Keiser and Richard Oben finalizing my options and at week’s end, my MK II was on order."

"After many sleepless nights, my kit arrived just before Christmas 2002 and there wasn’t a happier kid in the area. I spent the next 8 months bending, bleeding, cursing, drilling, fabricating, riveting, splicing and trimming pieces and parts until I had the coolest go-cart one can imagine. It was so cool in fact, I almost hated to cover it up with a body. Glad I decided to cover it because it sent the coolness factor off the scale. My dream car was now sitting in MY garage. I drove it all summer in the gel-coat and disassembled it in the fall for paint. A few months later it was reassembled and I was the proud owner of a completed FFR roadster. In 2005 it was selected as “Picture of the Month” on the forum and in April 2006 appeared in the FFCobra.com calendar. In a very short time I went from a lurker on a internet forum to having my car in their calendar. It just doesn’t get any better than this."

"I mainly take (drive) it to car shows and have won many 1^st place trophies and even a Best of Show (hard to beat “real” cars but I guess it can be done). We do some local cruises and my wife and I make the annual trek to London and will as long as it goes on. In 2004 we did the Hot Rod Power Tour, well one leg of it anyway. (8 hours in the rain without a top was enough for us.) We have 13,000 very cool miles on the car and expect many, many more. Thanks Factory Five Racing for the coolest thing I’ve ever done and the many friends I’ve made along the way!  "

Factory options:

Powder coated frame

3-link bundle

Ceramic side pipes

Chrome roll bar and quick jacks

Hood hinge

Heater

Autometer gauges

Fabricated options:

Hood locking support (holds hood open on windy car show days)

Passenger mirror and brackets (mounted to windshield posts)

Heater hose supports

Radiator cover (closes off this area and gives a cleaner look)

Hide-a-way front license plate bracket

Blind roll bar attachment (Threaded rod runs through back leg of roll bar and screws into hoop)

Oval air cleaner turkey pan and hood liner (All air breathed by engine comes from the scoop)

Recessed gauge bezels (2 in pvc)

Recessed tack and speedo (bezels from track lights)

Interior wood trim and console (Mahogany with aluminum inlay to match side profile of Moto-Lita steering wheel)

Full size glove box with fiberglass door (moved heater to engine compartment and used 2x2 as duct to route defrost to driver’s side for heat. Now when my wife is with me she can have all the heat and when I’m alone, I can have it all)

Console front (houses remote eye for stereo and cruise control key pad) and rear (storage and AC outlet) compartments

Relocated emergency brake

Vented foot boxes with fans

Additional options:

Keith Craft 331 stroker (425 hp)

Mustang GT T-5 world class transmission

8.8 rear end with 3.73 gears

Flaming River steering rack

PS Engineering GT40 wheels

Dual pusher fans

Oil cooler

Audiovox Cruise control

Hidden stereo with remote

Wipers

Autometer clock

Interior and trunk lights (truck bumper license plate lights)

Starter button

80-20 loop carpet (Cobra Heat)

Heated seats (Cobra Heat)

• Other What's New items