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News Archive 1

This is an archive of the SlowGT News page and was generated October 9, 2000.

Where've we been??  As you may have noticed, new race coverage here at SlowGT has been quite slow lately.  The reason is that SlowGT is "up on blocks" at the moment.  Mike decided to make a few mid-season changes to the engine combination in hopes of picking up a few tenths on those really quick guys (you know who you are) running out there.  We're actually experimenting with some "unconventional wisdom" concerning certain engine components and we're hoping it'll pay off with some improved ET's.  [ Thursday, September 7, 2000 ]

That's Nice...  We've all seen at least one running around (I hope) and we finally got a chance to experience one.  Check out our coverage of a 2000 Lightning.  Hope you like it.

So, just what IS the point?!?!  Well, you know us creative types.  Give us time, and not much to do, and we start making up things to do.  Case in point:  We had to opportunity to test drive a new Ford Focus R (well, OK, the R stands for Rental car) and we decide to do what any self-respecting gear-head would do.... acceleration runs.  As it turns out, a new Ford Focus R (see above), loaded with 3 (physically) grown men, just after lunch, at 5,300 ft altitude (ambient temp at about 95 degrees) will run 0-40 MPH in 10 seconds (Wow, a 10-second Focus R), and will continue the "Rampage" to reach 60 MPH in a staggering 19 seconds (2 way average).  Just thought you'd like to know.

2000 Saleen S281.  We ran across this beautiful Zinc Yellow Saleen while profiling the Cobra R a little while back.  We got some pictures and video that you might like on the 2000 Saleen S281 page.  Hope you enjoy.

"Damage" in Norwalk!  John "Damage" Urist qualified number 1 at the Fun Ford Norwalk race and went on to a final round loss when he overpowered the tires.  His qualifying time was 8.18 @ 171 mph with a "face-lift-producing" 1.32 second 60 foot time.  Number 2 qualifier was in the 8.40's.  What's more, the car produced these numbers with a very modest 22 psi boost at 3,250 lbs weight and with a full length 3" exhaust system in place (Fun Ford legal trim).  John earned the "Damage" name-sake for the event with a broken Jesel rocker arm, a punctured slick tube and an impressive wheel bearing fire on his tow trailer in the middle of the night!

Cobra R Update:  We were fortunate enough to catch a real, live Cobra R at a local Ford dealer.  We put together a 2000 Cobra R page where we've got some pretty nice pictures and video.  VERY nice car.

Zee Oh What??  It's Z06, it's as fast as a Cobra R and costs $5,000 less than the Cobra R.  The new Corvette Z06 is tested against the new Cobra R and a standard (?!?) Viper in the August 2000 issue of Motor Trend magazine.  The new LS6 Corvette engine is rated the same as the Cobra R (385 horsepower and 385 ft-lbs of torque) but the Corvette has a 400 lb lighter weight rating.  The numbers were: Viper -  12.33 @ 118, Corvette - 12.86 @ 113 and Cobra - 12.88 @ 113.  Is this a cool time for cars or what?  Well, maybe if they dropped the prices by about 75% it would be a bit better.

Ways to spend the sleepless nights!!  We've now added the ability to plot the numbers you calculate on the Racers Math 1 page and added an entirely new Racers Math 2 page.  Let me know if you have any problems with the plot function... took quite a bit of programming but I think it works pretty well.

And it's fuel injected?!?!  SlowGT ran a 134.85 mph pass at the Michigan 2000 NMRA event.  According to the Racers Math page, that's good for some 10.0 et's when the new combination is worked out.  And that's before the fuel and timing have been worked out!  Stay tuned!!

Better late than never!!  Forgot to mention it, but SlowGT has been nabbed...  in print at least.  There's a great article on about SlowGT in the 2000 issue of 5.0 Tech Guide magazine on page 44.  It's produced by the same people that make Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine.  Check it out.

Force ties Glidden!!  Ford Mustang Funny Car driver John Force has officially won his 85th career victory at the Castrol Nationals in Dallas, Texas (May 28).  This ties the former all-time win leader (and former Ford racer) Bob Glidden.  Glidden had much success racing for Ford in Pro Stock competition and racked up many of his 85 wins during the 1980's.  With this win, Force takes over the points lead from Jerry Tolliver who has led the points in Funny Car all season long.  Unfortunately, it appears that although there were two Fords in attendance for Pro Stock, neither of them could qualify.  More information at the NHRA site.

Thunderbird Flies!!  Ford has confirmed that it will continue production of the Thunderbird for the 2002 model year.  This is quite rare because when a car manufacturer says that they are going to "continue production at a later date", it's usually a sign that the car in question is finished - permanently.  Can't wait to see what they look like.

Oops, we weren't that upset!!  Looks like Ford has decided to cancel production of the 2000 model regular Cobra Mustang.  Seems that they still haven't worked out the well publicized bugs that plagued the 1999 Cobras and caused low power numbers.  It appears that they will, however, produce the 300 Cobra R models that were promised.  All in all, guess it's not such a bad trade.  More info at the Ford SVT site.

Damage Runs Well..  According to early reports through family friends, the Damage, Inc.,  race team had a good outing at the World Ford Challenge - 2000 event.  It appears that John Urist ran low time of the meet in Super Street Outlaw with an 8.19.  He continued to run in the 8.20's until he went out in the semi-finals - ending up in 3rd place.  The final round was Chris Derrick against Tim Lynch with Lynch breaking and giving Derrick the bye victory.  In theory, full event coverage is available at the World Ford Challenge site.

It's Alive!!  The engine in SlowGT was fired up today (Tuesday, May 2) in preparation for the NMRA Columbus OH race.  It would have been fired sooner but an untimely water leak postponed it until today.  Notice the MSD 10 ignition, electric water pump and external oil pump.  This is the new 2000 engine combination (BIG cam, 14:1 compression, etc.) and it sounds mean.  Here is a video from the rear of the car as it is being run in.

"Damage" + 8.4 seconds = damage.  John "Damage" Urist put together a couple of impressive (and easy) 8.4 second runs during Street Outlaw qualifying at the Fun Ford Weekend Atlanta 2000 race during the weekend of April 15 and 16.  The runs were 8.45 @ 145 (pulling the chute at 1,000 feet) and 8.48 @ 157 (on and off the throttle all the way).  Along the way, he managed a 5.39 @ 133 in the eighth and even cut a 0.470 light to boot!!  The number 2 qualifier came in with an 8.62.  John made all this horsepower at only 19 lbs of boost and has demonstrated more than 1,600 horsepower on the dyno at 30 lbs of boost!!  Needless to say, there's a lot more where this came from.  Unfortunately, a self-destructive number 4 main bearing kept John out of eliminations, but when he gets this thing set up, watch out!!  With these two runs, John now holds the record in Street Outlaw.  During the same weekend, fellow Ford racer Robert Patrick running in NHRA Pro Stock managed to qualify number 9 indicating that his recent good performances may not be just a passing fad.

Ford Qualifies number 10!!  Robert Patrick, in the Purvis Ford entry qualified number 10 in in the inaugural SummitRacing.com Nationals held in Las Vegas, NV.  He did it with a 7.095 @ 195.08 MPH in a 2000 Mustang.... not a Probe as he has recently run.  What makes it all the better is that this was the first outing for the new Mustang so we hope more good news is in the making.  Unfortunately, Patrick went out in the first round against Darrell Alderman (Dodge Avenger) with a 8.105 @ 130.44 versus Alderman's 7.471@ 170.04.  No reason was given for the shut down.  Get full event coverage at nhra.com.

1,333 Horsepower!!!  That's how much horsepower a 5.0 liter Mustang engine would make if it equalled the horsepower per liter of a Formula 1 racing engine.  These engineering marvels are naturally aspirated, displace 3.0 liters (181.5 cubic inches), put out more than 800 horsepower and spin to about 18,000 RPM (can you say die-grinder).  That is a phenomenal 266 horsepower per liter (by comparison, Pro Stock engines put out about 160 horsepower per liter)!!!!  The engine propels a car that weighs only 600 kg (1,325 lbs) race-ready including driver.  Do the math and the car should be capable of 6.80 @ 199 MPH runs if properly set up!!!  This is Pro Stock ET territory!!!  Hey, it's not really news, but it IS pretty cool.  Pictures courtesy of the Moving Graphics web site.

Fords made it in!!  Robert Patrick qualified his Ford Probe in the number 12 spot with a 6.933 @ 198.90 run at the 2000 Mac Tools GatorNationals (nhra.com).  Hurley Blakeney just missed the field in the number 19 spot (out of 16 qualifiers) with a 6.950 @ 197.62 run.  Unfortunately, Patrick went out in the first round losing to Ron Krisher (Firebird) with a 6.944 to 6.923 et.  Since Bob Glidden left Pro Stock, there really hasn't been anyone to carry the Ford banner (and Ford doesn't really seem to mind).  It's good to see Patrick and Blakeney out there making a go of it.

Congratulations.  Congrats to the winners at the Fun Ford Weekend Spring Break Shoot Out.  They were Da Silva (Pro 5.0), Sorby (Street Outlaw), Annunziata (Street Renegade) and Barton (Street Bandit).  We hope to have SlowGT back in action soon (Atlanta possibly).  The 2000 engine combination is almost completed.  Stay tuned!!  Compete race coverage begins on Race Update page.

Not so fast there....  After the Daytona 500, with Ford winning the top 5 positions, it looked as though the new "disadvantaged" Taurus body (disadvantaged only in Ford racers eyes) was going to kick tail and clean house.  But with Pontiac winning 3 of the top 5 positions and Ford only 1 at "The Rock" (a short track) maybe the Taurus has the upper hand on the super speedways.  If Nascar keeps their "fairness" hands off for a while, maybe we can see.  Read up on it at Nascar.com.

John Force continues the streak.....  John Force in his Castrol Mustang beat Ron Capps in a Camaro in the finals of the Checker Schucks and Kragen Nationals in Phoenix.  Force did it with a 4.93 at 313.88 mph.  This was Forces' 82nd win.  He's only 3 away from taking the most wins record from fellow (retired) Ford racer Bob Glidden.  If the funny car weighs in around 2,350 lbs, that is approximately 5,600 horsepower... almost enough.  Information and photo are from nhra.com.

How can I miss you if you won't go away??!!  From Blueovalnews.com, it appears that GM may be playing coy about the fate of the Camaro/Firebird twins.  Blueovalnews claims to have been shown a drive-train test mule for the upcoming Camaro/Firebird.... a 350 cubic inch OVERHEAD CAM V8 stuffed in a 1998 Firebird.  It is supposed to put out around 340 hp in the Camaro/Firebird and still be more affordable than the (lower power) Mustang GT.  The implication is that the cars may go away for a year (a'la Thunderbird) but then come back ready to challenge the Mustang for sales.  This could get exciting... wonder what Ford might counter with??

John Force start '00 on top.  NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car racer (and 1999 champion) John Force runs 4.89 at 317.79 mph in his Castrol GTX Mustang during testing in Tuscon.  This is still "preseason" testing, but I think the GM guys had better start stocking up on the Excedrin, could be another long year.

FR500.  Ford has produced a highly modified Mustang to showcase a plethora (cool word, huh?) of new performance parts for the 4-valve mod-motor cars.  It's called the FR500 (Ford Racing 5.0 liter).  The engine displacement is 5.0 liters due to a larger bore and incorporates new block (larger bore), intake (magnesium), heads, cams, pistons (optional) and exhaust.... yep, pretty much all new from the ground up.  It adds up to 415 horsepower at 6800 rpm according to Ford Racing.  They went on to modify almost every other part of the car including front suspension location, body panels, brakes, yada-yada-yada.  The end result is estimated to be a $ 54,000 car; NOT INCLUDING the cost of labor!  Ford Racing is contemplating selling the parts over the counter for owner installation.  Car and Driver was able to get 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and a quarter-mile of 13.0 @ 110.  This isn't bad, it's just not impressive for $ 54,000; about the cost of a new Corvette with the Linenfelter 383 package (450 hp, 11 second quarter, warranty and labor included).  BlueOvalNews is stating that the new 5.0 liter engine will be available in the 2003 Mustang with 350+ hp; something Car and Driver alluded to.  How 'bout give us the engine (5.4 liters would be fine also) in a car with GT level trim, nice wheels and tires, chrome yellow paint and 6-speed; for $25,000 or less.  Picture is from ProMustangs.com.

You mean they get PAID to do that?????  Well, this isn't really news, just jealousy I guess.  Car and Driver got a chance to test two factory race cars, Mustang and Camaro.  The cars were built by factory engineers and outside subcontractors using factory money.  They each have a big block and somewhere around 800 horsepower.  Gee, where do I sign up??  Check it out.  The article is on the Car and Driver web site right now (Jan. 11, 2000).  Picture is from Car and Driver.

Check it out.... We just added a couple of performance calculators to a new section of the site called Racers Math.  These will be a series of estimating calculators for general car performance as well as other factors.  We'll be expanding on it in the near future so check back regularly.  Let us know how you like it.

It could be better.... Although GPontiChevyM is talking about canceling (or at least radically changing/taming) the F-body, they are making very interesting sounds about the Corvette.  Depending on the web sites/magazines you believe, it appears that Chevy is getting ready to release a new high performance model.  Here's what it seems like:

• Horsepower between 400 and 450

• Basically a hopped up LS1 now called LS6 - similar to the moniker used on the highest (rated) horsepower engine ever produced by Chevy, the 1970 454 LS-6 big-block

• Titanium components - some say suspension, others say connecting rods, etc

• To be called the Z06

• Option package will cost about $ 8,000

An interesting side note is that recent issues of a GM high performance magazine (yes, they do exist) states that while touring the pits at a car show (prior to any knowledge of an LS6) the authors saw a white Corvette with a small chrome LS6 emblem on the rear bumper.  Upon hearing the owner say that it was a special limited production high performance version, the authors chalked it up to "yeah, sure buddy" and left.  Seems as though maybe he was right and that a few may have already sneaked into public hands.  With current stock (345 HP) models running mid to low 12's in some road tests (during exceptionally good weather conditions) the LS6 could be quite a handful.

It could be worse.... Some are a bit upset with Ford over the Cobra Mustang power deficit, the demise of the 5.0 liter engine and other "offenses".  However, it could be worse.  You could be a GM fan.  Let's see.  Ford has added independent rear suspension (IRS) to the Cobra, is building a Cobra R and is interested enough in the performance market to recall more than 5,000 Mustangs to make substantial (read: expensive) mods to increase Cobra horsepower by less than 20.  On the other hand, GM looks like they may be canceling the F-body (Camaro/Firebird) after 2001 and (according to Car & Driver magazine) moving to purchase Daewoo, the Asian car manufacturer.  Things that make ya go hmmm.

'00 Cobra R Horsepower.  Ford's SVT web site gives the following information recently released about the 2000 Cobra R: " Built with the racetrack in mind, the Cobra R will feature a 5.4L 32-valve V-8 engine, solidifying the modular family of engines as the high-performance benchmark in Ford’s lineup. The Cobra R V-8 will produce an estimated 385 horsepower and 385 foot pounds of torque."  Ford says production will be limited to 300 cars.  Wonder if the "trickle down" effect will apply.  I have no vision problems with a 375 horsepower LX Mustang...  make mine Chrome Yellow with a 6-speed.

ProjectLX is under way.  As if things weren't hectic enough preparing for the 2000 race season, we've decided to take on a new project car.  It's called ProjectLX and it's a white 1989 LX Mustang that is almost 100% factory stock.  This car is currently a daily driver with close to 200,000 miles on it.  The engine and drive train are actually in excellent working order, but since there are so many parts left over from the race car effort, we decided to build a healthy 347 street engine and see how it performs.  Next time we'll setup a new main page for ProjectLX where we'll post the baseline numbers and a build up outline.  Stay tuned.

Ford's not out of drag racing..... They're just out of our kind of drag racing.  The following was excerpted from an article in the weekly news section of nhra.com.  'The Focus model is Ford's platform vehicle entering the Import drag racing market. Mike Gearhart, Ford Race Program Manager, explained why. "The Focus has been very well accepted in Europe by the youth market, and we're hoping to repeat that success here [in the United States]. This is an exciting time for drag racing."

"I really believe this is the way drag racing will look in five-to-ten years time," added Terry Crossett, Ford Chief Program Engineer. "What is happening with the youth segment of the market, and how they are adapting their cars to drag racing, mirrors what was happening in the sport 30 years ago.

"I don't think these types of cars will ever replace the Top Fuel dragsters and the Funny Cars, but at other levels in the sport you will see more of these types of cars."'

'99 Cobra Power.  According to BlueOvalNews.com, there are at least two problems with 99 Cobra power production, possibly three as contained in this exerpt from their site: "BlueOvalNews ... obtained a memo issued by a senior Ford employee in the Large Luxury Vehicle Center with Advanced Vehicle Technologies which states "production engines down on power 5-7 Hp due to intake (5-6 Hp) and compression (1-2 Hp) -Production muffler restriction is resulting in 7 Hp loss vs development. Containment actions: (1) Qualify Manifolds and recover loss to development levels. Timing and feasibility is TBD. (2) Hand cut muffler tubes similar to development to reduce restriction to development levels. Timing is TBD. (3) REP looking at changes to recover CR without screwing up 5.4L 4Vs."  According to Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords (MM&FF), Ford has recalled all 5,300 sold 1999 Cobras because of low power output although BlueOvalNews claims that approximately 60% of the Cobras may be affected.  In addition, MM&FF says that Ford will update all Cobras still on dealer lots before they are sold.  As part of the recall, the intake manifold, computer and cat-back exhaust will be replaced free of charge.  The intake will be modified by Extrude Hone.  We believe MM&FF is planning a "before and after" test.  Stay tuned for results.  Any questions for Ford, call (800) FORD-SVT.

  Ford takes 1-2 in NHRA Funny Car.  John Force and Tony Pedregon finished first and second in Funny Car competition for 1999.  Yeah, big surprise.  Force finished with 2,071 points, Pedregon with 1,604 points and Whit Bazemore finished with 1,413.  Unfortunately, Robert Patrick finished at 23rd in Pro Stock.  This is actually pretty good considering he only competed in 13 of 23 events and qualified at only 6 events.  Maybe Ford will take notice and send some cash.

SlowGT finishes 4th in Steet Stock for '99.  SlowGT finished in 4th place in Fun Ford Street Stock competition with best times (at sea level) in the low 10.60.  Recent runs late in the season in class-legal trim have been altitude corrected 10.20's - before the new engine combination.  Next year looks to be a fun one.  Stay tuned.

'00 Cobra R.  As excerpted from Promustangs.com, Ford has officially unveiled the '00 Mustang Cobra R.  "... differences unique to the Cobra R include the "power dome" hood with a rear air extractor for improved engine cooling, 18-inch wheels shod with BFGoodrich g-Force KD tires, and a lowered suspension for enhanced handling.  Cobra R's interior changes include the addition of Recaro sport seats, and the removal of the radio, air-conditioner and back seat to save weight. A number of other well-respected performance parts suppliers are working with SVT in the development of the Cobra R, including Brembo for brake rotors and calipers, Tremec for the transmission, Eibach and Bilstein for suspension, and Borla for the exhaust."  The hyperlinks are BFGoodrich, Recaro, SVT, Brembo, Eibach, Bilstein, and Borla.

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Last Updated: May 25, 2001

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