(Posted June 14, 2023)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Recognized as the largest gathering of Cobra replicas in the world, the London Cobra Show returns once again to the London Strawberry Festival.
Put on by the Ohio Cobra Club, the June 24 show exclusively features 1960s-era Shelby Cobra Roadsters, Daytona Coupes, and the Ford GT40, both replicas and originals.
The day starts with a parade into London. Escorted by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, hundreds of Cobras will leave the Madison County Engineer’s Office, 825 U.S. Rte. 42, at 9 a.m. and make their way to downtown London. The 10-mile route is as follows: left onto U.S. Rte. 42, right onto the ramp to Columbus/Springfield, right onto U.S. Route 40 West, left onto State Route 56, and left onto East High Street.
Once the cars are parked and the opening ceremony is complete, visitors will be able to view the cars, speak to the owners, and visit vendors in Gasoline Alley located on Main Street in front of the Madison County Courthouse. The show runs until 3 p.m.
Visitors also will be able to go for a charity ride in a Cobra for a $10 donation, purchase sweepstakes tickets ($20 each) for a chance to win a Factory Five Cobra Roadster built by FormaCars in Columbus, and purchase London Car Show souvenir t-shirts. Charity rides start at 10 a.m.; ride tickets will be sold until 2 p.m.
All proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Since the show’s beginnings in the early 2000s, the Ohio Cobra Club has donated over $2 million to the foundation.
Last year, the show donated $225,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The show also makes donations to London and Madison County first responders as a way thank the city and county for their services and support during the show. Last year, those donations were as follows: London Fire and EMS Department, $6,000; London Police Department, $6,000; Madison County DARE program, $3,000; and Madison County Deputy Sheriffs Association, $3,000.
The show in London is part of the Ohio Cobra Club’s annual three-day celebration. Other activities take place in and around Dublin. To learn more about the club, the celebration, and the London show or to purchase sweepstakes tickets for the roadster, visit www.londoncobrashow.com.
