2007 Shelby GT500 hits the track running!

[ac427cobra]

Greetings Fellow SCMCr's:

Here's a story of my first track outing with my new Shelby GT500.

The Midwest F-Body Association hosted the event at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. It's truly one of the few World class tracks in North America. I'm lucky enough to live about an hour away. (Ok, an hour and ten minutes pulling the hauler!)

Saturday was a tad on the cool side and the track never warmed up very much. It was quite cloudy, windy and cool. I don't think ANYONE had overheating issues?!!?

Shelby GT500 Driving Impressions:

The GT500 was very different to drive than what I'm used to driving my R. It took almost all day to figure out how it needs to be driven! I came up quite short of my lap time goal on Saturday. I asked my friend Damian what kind of lap times he was turning and he told me he was running 2:35's. (approximately five seconds off his normal blistering pace of 2:30) So, I felt much better about my 2:41 and change at that point. Now I'm thinking if I can crack 2:40 I'll be happy.

Sunday came and it was sunny. The track seemed to have more grip. Temps were up slightly and the wind was dying down. I finally broke 2:40 on Sunday morning. All in all it went pretty well.

For tracking, the GT500 would benefit from stiffer springs, stiffer front sway bar and it needs to be lowered a total of about five inches. Two in front and three in back! ;) I'm not sure how far I really want to go with this car?. I LOVE it on the street and it's very comfortable totally stock! IMHO it makes a very capable back-up car just like it is!

Here is an on track action shot coming out of turn 14.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9311/t14ra1006smvh7.jpg

I uploaded a "teaser" video on Streetfire:

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/f...5e00116b45.htm

Here is the video for Phil:

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/02b8bcc7-9884-4333-b76a-98650024d103.htm

More videos and updates to come.

The GT500 kicks pretty much ass on track!! It even surprised me a little!

Enjoy!

Bruce


PS Oh, forgot the mods: Wheels, Tires, Front Pads, a Tune and Corsa Axle-backs. (the Corsa's netted us two hp) Front brake cooling also!

[jjraiser]

Great video! ;)

[cobrabitn]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching that! :thumbsup:

[Firme]

wow, great video, and great driving Bruce.

[tgentry]

suhWEEEEEET :thumbsup:

Nice job Bruce!

[tgentry]

Bruce, you didn't list a roll bar or harness bar in your mods. What was the camera mounted to?

[ac427cobra]

Bruce, you didn't list a roll bar or harness bar in your mods. What was the camera mounted to?

Tom:

I bought a harness bar and camera mount from fellow SCMC'r Steve Fuller. With a tweak here and a couple of new floor brackets there, I was able to fit it into the Shelby with relative ease.

I was running with the factory 3-point belt. I had an anti-skid mat I put down on the seat which helped a lot. Then I used the power seat to tighten me up against the belt. It held me pretty well actually. Seeing I'm not planning on doing a lot of events with the car, I figured I could get away with it?

Glad you're all enjoying the video!

[Angel]

Tom:

I bought a harness bar and camera mount from fellow SCMC'r Steve Fuller. With a tweak here and a couple of new floor brackets there, I was able to fit it into the Shelby with relative ease.

I was running with the factory 3-point belt. I had an anti-skid mat I put down on the seat which helped a lot. Then I used the power seat to tighten me up against the belt. It held me pretty well actually. Seeing I'm not planning on doing a lot of events with the car, I figured I could get away with it?

Glad you're all enjoying the video!
Nice :thumbsup: She does seem to lean a bit coming out of the turn and so, stiffer springs would help. I hear from Ford they softened the tuning on the suspension to make her more streetable.

Curious - painted Head Lamp Covers???

Any suggestions as to the best way to get her out of the hole? They sure are torquey. Friend of mine in CA spoke direct with Carroll and he recommended next to no throttle in 1st, and slight pressure in 2nd.

[ac427cobra]

Nice :thumbsup: She does seem to lean a bit coming out of the turn and so, stiffer springs would help. I hear from Ford they softened the tuning on the suspension to make her more streetable.

Curious - painted Head Lamp Covers???

Any suggestions as to the best way to get her out of the hole? They sure are torquey. Friend of mine in CA spoke direct with Carroll and he recommended next to no throttle in 1st, and slight pressure in 2nd.

Oh, I'm guessing the car is traveling about 55-60 mph in that shot coming out of turn 14? For tracking this car could benefit hugely from stiffer lowering springs. But the car rides really nice on the street!

Headlights are covered with red racing tape. Also the turn signals.

I'm not a big drag racer but I would think stiffer bushings in the control arms for the rear axle would help a lot?

:D

[SVT1]

nice video

But what a goof ball in the pass seat

[dewone]

Yea thought the passenger was having more fun than the driver. Good video

[ac427cobra]

Yea thought the passenger was having more fun than the driver. Good video

It's always more fun being a passenger!! :D Drivers have to be all serious and stuff!! ;)


NOT!!! :cool:

[Angel]

It's always more fun being a passenger!! :D Drivers have to be all serious and stuff!! ;)


NOT!!! :cool:
:thumbsup: It sure was nice to roll Angel up the freeway from the Houston AutoRama last nite and pass up whatever She wanted on the road. :D

She must have been happy with her Outstanding in Class award.:bounce:

[SVTMADMAN]

Good vid but id set that guy out on the back-stretch.:rolleyes:

[ac427cobra]

I've finally had some time to get the pics and vids of the Shelby's first outing up on my website. Here's a link to my GT500 page:

http://www.trackdawgz.com/shelby.htm

Enjoy!

:)

[TheSandman]

Looking forward to the 411 mx and the cmp weekend. Had my Shelby GT500 lowered with the Eibach lowering springs. Changed the way it handled 100%.

[mojosvt]

Can't wait to see your shelby at the 411!

[tgentry]

Wait a minute. Wasn't the "street only" car that's just too nice for track use?
:thumbsup: :bounce: :thumbsup:

[cobrabitn]

Bruce,

Man that 41% weight in the rear is a killer. :blast:

[ac427cobra]

Wait a minute. Wasn't the "street only" car that's just too nice for track use?
:thumbsup: :bounce: :thumbsup:

Tom:

It's sort of a road type street!?! :baby:


Bruce,

Man that 41% weight in the rear is a killer. :blast:

Tony:

57/43 Same as the last Cobra. (Terminator) :D

There are a few things you could do to make this a MUCH better track car!! :thumbsup: I already have ONE car that I work on all the time! I don't need two! :p

[nckissfan]

awesome videos, Road America is the coolest road course, in my opinion.