Factory experimental

[Bruce Noland]

Gump,
I just saw your post about my Camaro. You really are a mess. I also have a 71 Corvette with a 454. What type of car do you race? And where?

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

Gump,
I just saw your post about my Camaro. You really are a mess. I also have a 71 Corvette with a 454. What type of car do you race? And where?

Easy there! I did a quick Google search and the '72 is what came up. I didn't find the Corvette, but, that's why I asked. I have one of the other cars that you love. A 1998 LT1 Firebird. IHRA.

[Bruce Noland]

Gump,
I have no problems with the Firebirds.

Rock,
Thanks for the clarification.

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by Bruce Noland

71 Corvette to run AA/SA and A/SA with 454 truck motor. We'll see!

Now I understand!! And you said that I'm a mess.....

[DK FRAZIER]

Gump ease up a little where's your dog in this hunt? I know several of these guys in AA lots of time and money to get thier cars competitive . supercharged cars have no place in stock .

[Evan Smith]

Todd,

I witnessed the cars being built first hand last week in Detroit. The rear suspension is completely bolt in using the factory mounting points. The three control arms (two lower and one upper) are replaced with solid, non-adjustable bars using rubber bushings on both ends of the bottom. There is an adjustable single bar at the top, as per the current NHRA rulebook for Stock rear suspension. There is also a bolt-in rear anti-roll bar.

I can also tell you this has nothing to do with Ford "paying" NHRA to play. I know the people at Ford who worked on this deal and there is no budget for greasing NHRA's pockets. You can believe otherwise, but I know the facts. Also, as for shipping weight, give me a break. How can an LT-1 or LS-1 F-body weight 2,900-3,100 lbs and fit in AA or A when these cars weigh closer to 4,000 lbs. stock? I've drag tested many of these cars in stock trim and most of them are 3,700 or more with a driver. A loaded Trans Am easily will weigh 3,800-plus. Not to mention that a '98 F-body was NEVER available to the public with an LT-1.


Evan

[Bruce Noland]

Evan,

Thanks for posting.

No one disputes the horsepower numbers for the Roush After Market and Ford Mustangs. No one disputes the very favoable horsepower factor given to Ford by nhra and no one disputes the performance of these cars. These cars are light years ahead of the cars they have to race and yet they have been placed in the same classes. What is so bad about putting them in a Factory Experimental Class or AAA class? I'm not sure there has ever been a AAA class but it would give these Mustangs a fair class in Stock. A non Mustang racer would enter that class at his or her own peril. A Factory Experimental or AAA class at 9.70 would be fair to all racers. It would give the Mustangs access to the top of the sheet, it would allow them to compete fairly in Stock and none of the racers with old cars would feel like they just got hammered by Ford or nhra. I'm going to write a few folks at Ford and Roush tomorrow and ask them to consider this class for nhra racing. Finally, I know you don't work for Ford and were not involved with the Mustangs entering these classes, however, it's hard for any one to believe that these Mustangs were the first Supercharged cars to get in Stock with out some consideration from Ford. Maybe I'm being a little too cynical about nhra, but, given their track record with us it seems more than plausible.

Lets discuss the pros and cons of running these cars in another high performance class.

[GUMP]

Originally Posted by DK FRAZIER

Gump ease up a little

I would have been more sympathetic to Bruce's point of view if he had included his AA status in the first post.

where's your dog in this hunt?

I know for a fact that some of the factory people read these threads. If you were watching Barrett Jackson last night you would have noted how excited they were about these cars. I'm sure that it took a lot to get the permission to build them. It would be nice if we respected what they are trying to do and let them have their day in the sun. I am also a big fan of the idea of running the new cars in stock. I would hate it if the factories stopped building high performance cars. I purchased my current LT1 car new in 1995. It has always been raced in Stock (186 original miles). I am due for something new, but my choice would be GM first.

I know several of these guys in AA lots of time and money to get thier cars competitive .

I feel their pain, but as I stated in an earlier post, I really doubt that the Mustangs will be able to dominate AA for too long.

supercharged cars have no place in stock .

I don't agree. If the factory builds them in the required quantities they should be allowed to run.

[Bruce Noland]

Billy,

Thanks for the info. I guess these Mustangs will have more of an impact than an occaisional pickup racing.

Gump,
Thanks for your posts. It's always good to hear from folks with a different point of view. But Doug made excellent points. This thread is not about me. It is about racing.