My American Muscle car passion came from my late father, Alexander Ogilvie Fearn. Following his RAF National Service, dad worked in the motor trade, becoming a Ford sales executive at George McLean, Dundee, Scotland.

The Ford UK 1964 launch of the Corsair saw my brother Charles and me in dad's Ford showroom watching a Super 8 movie, Ford of Britain. This included Ford USA's all-new cars, including the Mustang. This was the spark for me, made brighter by the Jack Sears Cobra Coupe test run on the new M1 motorway in Britain which hit 185mph.

The So Cal Shelby Club began the way many great car stories do - a few owners, a new model, and a social media feed full of exhaust notes and late-night cruises. When the fifth generation (2015-2020) Shelby GT350 first hit the streets, there were few of them around. In 2017, a small group of Southern California owners started meeting up, and by 2018, they made things official when they launched their Instagram page. That decision changed everything.

"It really began as a group of guys who owned the new Shelby GT350s," club President Steve explains. "We were posting pictures and videos, and other owners would reach out to ask what we were doing and how they could get involved. Social media brought everyone together. People saw our cars, saw the club, and wanted to be a part of it."

In a world where cars practically drive themselves and automatic transmissions dominate the roads, the art of driving a manual transmission is quietly fading away. One might ask, why does it matter?

For many of us who grew up learning to shift gears by hand, driving a manual car wasn't just a skill, it was a rite of passage. It was a connection to the machine and a lesson in patience, coordination, and awareness. Yet passing that knowledge on to the next generation is becoming increasingly difficult. Not because young people lack interest, but because the opportunities to learn simply aren't available anymore.

This year, 2025, marks the 75th year of The Pebble Beach Concourse, arguably the most prestigious and noteworthy automotive gathering in the world. In all those years, it is only the second time that Shelby Cobras have been included as a judged class.

How can that be, but then again, when you think of past Pebble Beach Best in Show winners, what comes to mind? More dignified classic touring cars that are closer to mobile pieces of artwork than spitting snarling venom fueled race cars. Truth be told, I thought it was the first time Cobras would be judged, which is one of the main reasons I wanted to attend the event this year, but some post concours research shows that the first judging of the Cobras (specifically limited to the 427 Cobras) was in 2016, apparently due to their undeniable iconic status and to recognize their top place standing in Carroll Shelby's legacy of performance automobiles. They were judged again this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first 427 powered Cobra and maybe coincidently, the 65th anniversary of the 427 Cobra helping Shelby American win the FIA Sport Car World Championship.

My wife and I just returned home after attending our first Goodwood event with a group from Team Shelby and Shelby American. We were there to celebrate Carroll Shelby' Centennial, and to participate in Goodwood's remembrance of the man, his legacy, and his cars.

We have attended numerous vintage racing events over the years: Monterey Historics, Watkins Glen, Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, the defunct Philadelphia Vintage Grand Prix, and even smaller events like the Coatesville Vintage Grand Prix. Having some experience with these events, and after years of watching Goodwood videos on line, I thought I had a good idea of what I would experience when I arrived at The Goodwood Revival…..I was entirely wrong, and in the best possible ways!

My adventure began in June of 1984 when I purchased my first car, a 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe. I drove that car for 2 years and then it sat in my father's garage until 2006 when my wife, Val, and I decided to restore the car. The owner of the restoration shop, a Mustang enthusiast himself, turned into a lifelong friend. We have traveled to many cities across the US with him for Mustang Club of America shows. This car has MCA medallion and is a Pinnacle Award recipient.

Our travels introduced us to the dream of someday owning a Shelby. In 2010, the dream came true when we purchased a 2008 GT500KR that had never been titled. This original Black on Black KR has now been throughout the country and is close to earning its medallion.