Cervini's or Saleen?

[jim_howard_pdx]

There are a couple of 9 second twin turbo RX-7's, several 10-12 second Honda B engines (1.8 to 2.2 liter strokers) with NOS or Blowers, and then there are the masses of 16 valve wanna bee's out here in Portland Oregon.

My Mustang makes 420 HP or so. Big WHOP. It pushes the quarter in only 13 seconds and some clicks. (3.25 gears and a C4 Tranny).

My buddies Honda CRX does 12.41 on a stock Acura 1.8 liter engine dropped into his light ride with a racing clutch and racing slicks. That's it. He gets 33 mpg going to and from the track and can walk all over my car.

Now if I put in an AOD or an overdrive manual, slip in some taller gears with slicks I would be running 11.7 to 11.9. He knows that and he respects my engine. The point is that rice burners are alot of fun to build, to drive, and to race.

For grins, whenever I line up with one at a street light, I rev my engine to about 6,500 RPM and hold it for about 3/4 of a second. To that little Honda next to me, it must seem like he is visiting NASCAR row, because only one or two have the guts to come out on the light. When they do, I am running 0-80 mph in about 8 seconds, so I am pulling away from them just when they thought they had a chance.

Most Mustangs can be easily modified to run mid 11's, and late 10's just means the car will not be street friendly. A 10 second rice burner still turns 25-30 mpg and can be street driven with no problems or consequences.

I really wish FORD would put some serious effort into 9,000 RPM 2 liter motors. They are addictively fun. My Honda Civic with a 1.6 VTEC engine is a kick to drive. When the RPM hits 5500 RPM the racing cam is kicked into gear and the car feels like my Mustang did with the HI-PO 289. In fact, the 1.6 liter quarters in 15.6 seconds (similar to my stock mustang with 2.79 gears) and gets 38 mpg at 70 mph. You cannot beat it. It handles better, has decent brakes, and the aerodynamics are first rate. I would probably survive a 45 mph front end collision where in my 66, the engine would be on my lap, and the solid steering column and steering wheel would have crushed my chest.

My Mustang is a Raw, unadulterated, purpose built vehicle. It is intimidating. Most rice burners are flat out afraid to race.

I just get a major laugh when I see kids put 6-8 thousand dollars into a body kit, paint, stripes and a wing. I could build another Mustang like mine for about 10,000 and it would run early 11's, get 15-20 mpg, and turn heads everywhere it goes. Early Mustangs are a kick because of their extreme light weight and power potential. That is why Carroll Shelby chose to modify it for B Track racing.

I am just glad to see the rice burners involved in high performance, because as they grow up they will keep high performance part pipelines full. Racing is fun for all of us, and I enjoy the competition.

Drive safe everyone, I've had to bury a few good friends and it is always really stupid stuff that did them in. Like racing on a rough road, or going too fast through corners, or having cars pull in front of them while they were at 80-90-or 100 mph. Keep the racing at the track, and intimidate the rest at the street light.

I BLEED FORD OVAL BLUE

NOW just how light can I make a fox body Mustang? I really want to build a 2200 lb car and strap in a 550 HP engine. To me this is what the sport is really about. DOMINANCE!