My First Look at the CJ's

Ken Miele · 03-12-2009, 08:04 PM

Well folks, this is one nice race car. I just got back from the Ford Racing's town hall style meeting. I can tell you that Ford is serious about there Sportsman race program. I talk to Jesse Kershaw one of the lead developers of the Cobra Jet program. Along with Jesse and his boss Brian Wolf, I think they put a great program together for anyone who wants to race a Ford. This project would have never taken off without these two individuals.

The contingency program is great, A 1000 to win, 500 for the runner-up and 250 for class. You do not have to have a current model Ford, any year Ford will do.

Back to the CJ, the one I looked at was Bob Tasca's and is one of the original 50 2008's. Ford did everything right, these cars will be tough to beat, I can see myself in the future with one of these cars. It looks like an affordably package if you want to build a clone. Ford will be offering many different packages with the CJ, including rollers with everything expect the engine. There will be a 2010 model coming out. Jesse told me some interesting names on who will be driving these cars very soon. It looks like they are here to stay. I will be looking very seriously into building one in the future. I took a pic of the engine, I'm sure most have seen these cars by now in detail. The shot with John Force and Jim Conte sr., I think is the interesting one. For John to be at this meeting shows Ford is in this for the long haul.

Enough with my commercial, but remember folks, whether you like the new CJ's or not, its good for racing and good for stock.

GUMP · 03-12-2009, 08:31 PM

Ken,

I am so glad that you posted this.

Thanks,

Daren

JHeath · 03-12-2009, 08:34 PM

C'mon, Kenny what are the names of the new Cobra Jet pilots?

Alan Roehrich · 03-12-2009, 09:54 PM

Yes. Direct factory involvement will do wonders for sportsman drag racing. After all, look what it has done for NASCAR.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

bill dedman · 03-13-2009, 01:11 AM

Ken,

I'm looking forward to your having a chance to race one of these new cars heads-up, real soon, to see how much enthusiasm you still have for them after maybe getting a good look at the back end of one... from a distance.

If ANYBODY can beat them, it's your car, but with the factor being what it is, I'm not sure that's gonna happen. "If you can't beat 'em, join em" might, indeed, be the best plan.... Happy hunting!

Bill

Chad Rhodes · 03-13-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Yes. Direct factory involvement will do wonders for sportsman drag racing. After all, look what it has done for NASCAR.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

Amen, Alan

Ken Miele · 03-13-2009, 11:42 AM

Alan, to compare NASCAR to NHRA as far a stock is concerned is wrong in my opinion. And as far as be careful of what you wish for, I have been wishing for this a long time. Chad, I new you would agree with Alan on this one. You think my car is bogus and as well as the new CJ's. My car maybe bogus but I have never said it wasn't, unlike many racers who claim there car is just the way it came from the factory. To my knowledge, I do not remember late 60's and up Corvette's coming with a non independent rear, but hey, that's ok right, its only a rear not really bogus.

Bill, I can tell you right here and right now, in front of everyone. My enthusiasm will not change when I get my *** handed to me in class. I have been beat many times in the past, just ask Larry Hill.

I want these car out there, I wish GM could do the same. I want this class to survive and it needs the new cars to do so.

Bill, I can't run with them, no matter how much I step it up. They have me by a solid 2 tenths, but that's okay.

I race for enjoyment, yes I spend allot of money. But when it comes to life, you can not put a price on being happy and racing makes me happy. I am fortunate enough to do this and will be dammed if I let anything bring me down when I am racing. If the CJ's kick my butt, well I will just have to work harder, and I will have fun doing it.

John Lang · 03-13-2009, 11:55 AM

Ken, I really like your attitude! In regard to what you said, ME TOO, even if i'm a MOPAR fan! Racing is Racing!...........Later John

X-TECH MAN · 03-13-2009, 12:36 PM

GREAT ATTITUDE Ken. Thats what racing in this crazy thing called drag racing is all about.

Larry Hill · 03-13-2009, 12:56 PM

Ken when you had a REAL CAR you won some and lost some. With the car you have now I think you have only lost one time in NHRA class eliminations or heads up in the eliminator.
What changed beside lines on apiece of paper with a signature of a dottering old man?
I always thought you were a good competitor - win, lose, or draw. Please be easy on us less fortunate racers that "Santa" passed over and are still using heads cast in 1968.

Above all HAVE FUN

03-12-2009, 08:04 PM	#1
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,861 Likes: 456 Liked 16,554 Times in 1,522 Posts	My First Look at the CJ's Well folks, this is one nice race car. I just got back from the Ford Racing's town hall style meeting. I can tell you that Ford is serious about there Sportsman race program. I talk to Jesse Kershaw one of the lead developers of the Cobra Jet program. Along with Jesse and his boss Brian Wolf, I think they put a great program together for anyone who wants to race a Ford. This project would have never taken off without these two individuals. The contingency program is great, A 1000 to win, 500 for the runner-up and 250 for class. You do not have to have a current model Ford, any year Ford will do. Back to the CJ, the one I looked at was Bob Tasca's and is one of the original 50 2008's. Ford did everything right, these cars will be tough to beat, I can see myself in the future with one of these cars. It looks like an affordably package if you want to build a clone. Ford will be offering many different packages with the CJ, including rollers with everything expect the engine. There will be a 2010 model coming out. Jesse told me some interesting names on who will be driving these cars very soon. It looks like they are here to stay. I will be looking very seriously into building one in the future. I took a pic of the engine, I'm sure most have seen these cars by now in detail. The shot with John Force and Jim Conte sr., I think is the interesting one. For John to be at this meeting shows Ford is in this for the long haul. Enough with my commercial, but remember folks, whether you like the new CJ's or not, its good for racing and good for stock. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Ken Miele; 03-24-2009 at 07:21 PM.

03-12-2009, 08:31 PM	#2
GUMP VIP Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Shelby, NC Posts: 1,822 Likes: 2,166 Liked 2,348 Times in 553 Posts	Re: My First Look at the CJ's Ken, I am so glad that you posted this. Thanks, Daren

03-12-2009, 08:34 PM	#3
JHeath Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 786 Likes: 2,876 Liked 370 Times in 101 Posts	Re: My First Look at the CJ's C'mon, Kenny what are the names of the new Cobra Jet pilots? __________________ Jerry Heath I/S '93 Cobra FS/J 2010 Mustang "Ebay CJ"

03-12-2009, 09:54 PM	#4
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,107 Likes: 1,564 Liked 1,796 Times in 409 Posts	Re: My First Look at the CJ's Yes. Direct factory involvement will do wonders for sportsman drag racing. After all, look what it has done for NASCAR. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

03-13-2009, 01:11 AM	#5
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: My First Look at the CJ's Ken, I'm looking forward to your having a chance to race one of these new cars heads-up, real soon, to see how much enthusiasm you still have for them after maybe getting a good look at the back end of one... from a distance. If ANYBODY can beat them, it's your car, but with the factor being what it is, I'm not sure that's gonna happen. "If you can't beat 'em, join em" might, indeed, be the best plan.... Happy hunting! Bill __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 03-13-2009 at 01:25 AM.

03-13-2009, 11:42 AM	#7
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,861 Likes: 456 Liked 16,554 Times in 1,522 Posts	Re: My First Look at the CJ's Alan, to compare NASCAR to NHRA as far a stock is concerned is wrong in my opinion. And as far as be careful of what you wish for, I have been wishing for this a long time. Chad, I new you would agree with Alan on this one. You think my car is bogus and as well as the new CJ's. My car maybe bogus but I have never said it wasn't, unlike many racers who claim there car is just the way it came from the factory. To my knowledge, I do not remember late 60's and up Corvette's coming with a non independent rear, but hey, that's ok right, its only a rear not really bogus. Bill, I can tell you right here and right now, in front of everyone. My enthusiasm will not change when I get my *** handed to me in class. I have been beat many times in the past, just ask Larry Hill. I want these car out there, I wish GM could do the same. I want this class to survive and it needs the new cars to do so. Bill, I can't run with them, no matter how much I step it up. They have me by a solid 2 tenths, but that's okay. I race for enjoyment, yes I spend allot of money. But when it comes to life, you can not put a price on being happy and racing makes me happy. I am fortunate enough to do this and will be dammed if I let anything bring me down when I am racing. If the CJ's kick my butt, well I will just have to work harder, and I will have fun doing it.

03-13-2009, 11:55 AM	#8
John Lang Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sheboygan Wi Posts: 391 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Re: My First Look at the CJ's Ken, I really like your attitude! In regard to what you said, ME TOO, even if i'm a MOPAR fan! Racing is Racing!...........Later John __________________ John Lang 365 STK, SS

03-13-2009, 12:36 PM	#9
X-TECH MAN Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 3,203 Likes: 1,047 Liked 235 Times in 110 Posts	Re: My First Look at the CJ's GREAT ATTITUDE Ken. Thats what racing in this crazy thing called drag racing is all about.

03-13-2009, 12:56 PM	#10
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,633 Likes: 1,928 Liked 10,687 Times in 2,225 Posts	Re: My First Look at the CJ's Ken when you had a REAL CAR you won some and lost some. With the car you have now I think you have only lost one time in NHRA class eliminations or heads up in the eliminator. What changed beside lines on apiece of paper with a signature of a dottering old man? I always thought you were a good competitor - win, lose, or draw. Please be easy on us less fortunate racers that "Santa" passed over and are still using heads cast in 1968. Above all HAVE FUN __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817 Last edited by Larry Hill; 03-13-2009 at 01:00 PM.