Midyear Bastard vs. Mustang Racecar

[banjomike]

There is a guy, Cliff, that lives one town over who has a really cool race mustang. I'm not sure what series he
runs in but I know the highlight of his year is when they go down
to California Speedway and race on the high speed oval. He loves
to talk about his car (generally won't talk about much else). It is an early mustang, with some monster motor. I've examined it up close and it looks a lot like a race GT350 without all the shelby labels everywhere. I think he told me it gets about 460hp at the rear wheels, and weighs around 2700lbs. It is completely stripped to the metal with nothing on it that isn't for going faster or surviving
an crash.

Well so late friday night I got sent on an errand, and relishing my moment of freedom (rare with a 10 month old boy), I took the looooong way home. I was waiting to turn left at the end of a freeway exit when I saw him come from behind and blast off to the right. I though, I'll never get another chance to run with him, so I decided to follow him. I caught up with him as the next light was turning green and he went right onto a long straight and at night empty road with lights at 1/4 to 1/2 mile intervals. I managed to stay with him as he got on the throttle each time, then we stopped at a light. When it changed green he took off leaving me breathing his very rich fumes. I really stood on it through 1st, 2nd, and a fair bit of 3rd, staying with him all the way, before I decided to get on the brakes and put some distance between us. We repeated this at a few lights, until I decided I'd had my fun and I whipped a hard right turn and headed home.

Yesterday I saw Cliff and told him I'd seen him out driving around on Friday. He laughed and siad he'd been out 'being bad'. I described where I had followed him and he said, "in this car?" "No, in my Porsche." His eyes got wide and he said, "Oh! I remeber. Damn you got a fast car! I couldn't shake you." He said that he'd been thinking, "damn there's some sewing machine following me I'm gonna show him something." The sewing machine thing was new to me but I knew what he meant even though my valves are pretty quiet.

Anyway his excuse was that he shifts at 5400 on the street.

Definately an ego boosting experience.

[david914]

Awsome! Way to go! Must've been an eye opener for him. I wonder what it would've been like if the two of you had been on the track?

[bell]

remember we do not condone street racing, it is a dangerous thing.......

on that note i was running errands on saturday morning heading up a local freeway.........and a gta firebird is creeping up behind me, sounded built etc etc......these things are quick.
now i've been driving my 911 since spring as my daily driver so i'm kinda "used" to it you could say........from about 50mph (we slowed down) i pulled away fairly hard shifting at 6100ish up through 4th.......it suprised me......i kinda "forgot" how quick these cars are, usually when i'm playing there are no other cars around so i have nothing to compare to, but man.......i love these things, mine's almost 20 years old and it still holds its own

be safe

[vash]

street hooligans! all of you! (heehee, good work)

[JNadal]

damn kids!

[Lukesportsman]

My Mustangs are sadly much faster than mine or most air cooled Porsches.....BUT still not as FUN to drive on the street or around a curve. RS clone motor vs. 5.8l full of current aftermarket technology.....but both have chrome bumpers and lots of character. Mustang is crude but fast: Porsche is quick and refined.

[Mike Feinstein]

Drag racing a 911 isn't even fair...to you. You were playing his game. Throw a few twisties into the mix and watch him disappear in your rear view mirror next time.

[banjomike]

It may not have been fair, but I did well enough. I wouldn't want to try to keep up with him in the twisties, or outbrake him, or anything else. The only advantage I would have is a fully independent rear suspension. So I suppose if we got into very bumpy twisties, and you could bestow upon my the benefit of years of racing experience (and some hoosiers), then maybe it'd be a challenge. Cliff is a great guy and a fast driver with a barely streetable race car. I'd stand about as much chance of keeping up with him as I would with Chris Streit! Now Chris might be able to show him what a li'l ol' "sewing machine" will do!

[Rot 911]

Everyone is going to die

[MotoSook]

Speaking of Chris and Mustangs...Luke, have you been to one of the Vintage races around here in one of your Stangs? Have I seen you at the track before? One of the best races I every watch Chris drive was between him and a navy blue Mustang at Blackhawk...it was like watching a freight train going around the track..with all the slower cars parting to let them through...you could hear those two cars tearing it up around the track from just about any point on the track...you knew when they were coming around...you could hear them and everyone was looking to see who was going to brake first into turn 1....

Nice showing Mike..next time take it through a school zone or two, will ya

[JonT]

I guess I just dont see how a 2700lb car with 460 hp at the wheels can't take you in drag race. Were his wheels spinning the whole time?

[banjomike]

No no, he sets his shift light for 5400 rpm on the street, so he is short shifting. He was probably babying his street tires. His car currently geared for high speed ovals. Simply put he wasn't really trying and I definately was.

I guess you could say that this was only a race for one of us Still I opened his eyes to the possibilities of a totally street "sewing machine".

[JonT]

Thanks for the clarification--sounds like a fun time anyway--I'm a big Mustang fan myself and love those old sixties Mustangs set up for racing--thunderous sound and very cool styling.

[KobaltBlau]

well, where is his 460hp? at 8000rpm? I mean, even a hot V8 should be making something decent at 5400.

Good story, Mike!