2007 Shelby GT500 hits the track running!

ac427cobra · 10-25-2006, 11:35 PM

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.

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/0...650024d103.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 · 10-26-2006, 08:08 PM

Great video!

**cobrabitn** · 10-26-2006, 11:48 PM

I thoroughly enjoyed watching that!

**Firme** · 10-27-2006, 12:25 AM

wow, great video, and great driving Bruce.

tgentry · 10-27-2006, 09:54 AM

suhWEEEEEET

Nice job Bruce!

tgentry · 10-27-2006, 01:34 PM

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

ac427cobra · 10-27-2006, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgentry

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 · 11-16-2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac427cobra

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

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 · 11-16-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

Nice

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?

SVT1 · 11-26-2006, 01:47 PM

nice video

But what a goof ball in the pass seat

dewone · 11-27-2006, 09:13 AM

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

ac427cobra · 11-27-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dewone

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

It's always more fun being a passenger!!

Drivers have to be all serious and stuff!!

NOT!!!

Angel · 11-27-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac427cobra

It's always more fun being a passenger!!

Drivers have to be all serious and stuff!!

NOT!!!

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.

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

SVTMADMAN · 02-04-2007, 02:33 AM

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

ac427cobra · 02-25-2007, 06:52 PM

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!

10-25-2006, 11:35 PM	#1
ac427cobra Fast in; slide out Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 207	2007 Shelby GT500 hits the track running! 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. 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/0...650024d103.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!

10-26-2006, 08:08 PM	#2
jjraiser Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 82	Great video! __________________ Mods: Red Brembo 355mm Gran Tourismo front brakes, High-temp brake cooling ducts, Red Ford Motorsport rear calipers with matching Brembo rear slotted rotors and hawk pads, K&N Filtercharger, Borla cat-back (w/ heat wrap at the diff), Bosch Platinum Plus-2 plugs, Eibach Pro Kit, Red Sparco alcantara seats (w/ custom lowered seat racks), rear seat-delete, KB strut tower brace, Kirban shifter, Black Saleen-style rims (18x9 / 18x10), Goodyear F1 GS-D3s (255/285), Steeda battery relocation kit, Steeda Oil Separator, Steeda race wing (black w/ aluminum side plates), Shinoda front chin spoiler, Steeda clutch quadrant and firewall cable adjuster, Silverstar headlamps/foglamps.

10-26-2006, 11:48 PM	#3
cobrabitn Dr Jekyll on the street, Mr Hyde on the track Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rock Hill SC Posts: 14,649	I thoroughly enjoyed watching that! __________________ Cobrabitn 2016 Ruby Red Metallic with Caribou accent F-350 Crew Cab Stump Puller! 6.7 Diesel Automatic with Chrome Package, Off Road Package, 3.55 Locking axles, and Ultimate Lariat Interior Trim Package! 2017 Shelby GT350 Coupe - track car! Mods: JLT True Cold Air oil catch can 2009 Vista Blue Shelby GT 500 Coupe - Garage Queen Tinted Windows JLT True Cold Air Kit Pro-Dyno Tune 526 rwhp - 511 rwtq 1994 Rio Red Indy Pace Car #22 "Runabout" Snake in the grill MGW shift knob 1996 SVT Cobra Wheels 1969 New Lime Mustang Mach 1 Sportsroof - Second owner - bone stock with shaker. One SVT Cobra, one Shelby GT500, one 69 mach 1, and a Shelby GT350 is better than nothing! Custom Data Plates for your Mustang or Ford! Buy "Cool Merchandise" at Data Plates Plus www.dataplatesplus.com See my MSR Video here!

10-27-2006, 09:54 AM	#5
tgentry Got Boost? Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 608	suhWEEEEEET Nice job Bruce! __________________ Tom Gentry Life is too short for boring rides! '06 Schwinn StingRay Spoiler (3 speed conversion) '03 Giant Team ONCE (Campy goodness) '00 Bike E E2 Tandem (too many mods to list) '98 ProFlex Beast (no more elastomers) '06 Kustom Kruiser Roadster (8 speed conversion) '74 PPV (Resto-mod project) '98 E-150 Starcraft Heritage "Black Bart" '89 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL "Gunther"

10-27-2006, 01:34 PM	#6
tgentry Got Boost? Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 608	Bruce, you didn't list a roll bar or harness bar in your mods. What was the camera mounted to? __________________ Tom Gentry Life is too short for boring rides! '06 Schwinn StingRay Spoiler (3 speed conversion) '03 Giant Team ONCE (Campy goodness) '00 Bike E E2 Tandem (too many mods to list) '98 ProFlex Beast (no more elastomers) '06 Kustom Kruiser Roadster (8 speed conversion) '74 PPV (Resto-mod project) '98 E-150 Starcraft Heritage "Black Bart" '89 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL "Gunther"

11-26-2006, 01:47 PM	#10
SVT1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2	nice video But what a goof ball in the pass seat

11-27-2006, 09:13 AM	#11
dewone Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Chester OH Posts: 380	Yea thought the passenger was having more fun than the driver. Good video __________________ Mods: BBK Long Pipe Headers (Ceramic), Under Pulley Kit, Twin 65mm Throttle Body. Roush Side Pipes. Magna Flow Muffs, & Car Sound Hy Flow Cats Stainless, Husker Stainless X Pipe. KN FIPK. Pro 5.0 Shifter . Stainless Cobra inserts, Cobra emblem in grill 291.2 RWHP #5708 of 6961 1930 Buick 30-57 1991 F-150

02-04-2007, 02:33 AM	#14
SVTMADMAN Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 92	Good vid but id set that guy out on the back-stretch.

02-25-2007, 06:52 PM	#15
ac427cobra Fast in; slide out Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 207	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! __________________ Bruce Born to race; forced to work. If you're interested in the best Cobra IRS bushing kit available on the market today, you need to visit my site: www.fulltiltboogieracing.com

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