The Star of the Day

When I say American Muscle, what comes to mind? To some the first original muscle car, the 1964 Pontiac GTO while for others it might be the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. Personal opinion aside, I think the Ford Mustang would top the list to this question. With the recent return to retro roots by Ford, many are returning to rekindle fond memories of this car they fell in love with years ago.

Now my clients know my past connection to the Mustang and how much of a soft spot I have for them. One of those clients and friends is Joel Simon of Barber VW. Joel told me I really need to meet Allan over at the Ford store and was confident we would get along great. Another friend whom felt the same actually introduced me and the gearhead conversations flew! It’s hard to explain to some but meeting another gearhead is like meeting someone from the small town you grew up in. That person that knows all the same places and all the same people. It’s an instantaneous friendship that revolves around words like “apex� and un-sprung weight�.

BDX's Chief Instructor and fellow gearhead, Allan Crocket

Recently our typical weekly conversation was sparked with Allan stating he had an upcoming track day and wanted to know if I would like to join. Allan is the chief instructor of Barber Driving Experience and holds track events several times throughout the year. Once he uttered the words “Willow Springs� and “Mustangs�, I was in. Having grown up in Northern California, our local tracks were Sears Point and Laguna Seca. Even my ten years in San Luis Obispo were spent mostly at Buttonwillow Raceway. The one track I heard of but never got to run was the coveted Willow Springs. Now, partner this up with a track day revolved around the most powerful Mustang ever built and I’m in heaven.

I thought this was a perfect opportunity to introduce the star car of this event, the new Ford Shelby GT500. As of 2007, this model is the top stallion of Mustang's sub-model corral. Let’s spend a few minutes and review what makes a Shelby GT500 so special. The biggest mod is a 5.4-liter hand-built V8 under a nice, functional vented hood that makes a true 500+ horsepower, with 480 pound-feet of torque.Equipped with an aluminum block, wet-sump oil system and an Eaton "screw-type" supercharger creating 9 psi of boost. The SVT guys even stole a few items from the Ford GT parts bin including the aluminum heads.

Our star of the day, the Mustang Shelby GT500

If there's a downside to this car, it's weight. Coming in at 3,920 pounds, 350 pounds over the GT, this car needs to call Jenny Craig! Other major differences from GT to GT500 are; stiffer front struts, higher spring rates, beefier 4 piston Brembo brakes, custom trim, interior, badges and ground effects. Put all these things together and you have an excellent formula for a true American muscle car that is suited for a night on the town or a day at the track. I was lucky enough to verify this first hand.

Often times I look back at those little things my parents taught me as a teen and track day is one of those times. “Be sure to wear your helmet� or “always use your mirrors� even “stop doing donuts in the car Lance�. One thing that not only I, but Allen takes very serious is safety. I spent a morning with Allen at the shop to discuss both the new GT500 and the BDX Mustang (soon to be seen at the video gallery on VenturaCountyStar.com). The BDX Mustangs are “one offs’ built custom by Allen and his team at Barber Ford. While they might not pack the same punch as the GT500, they're a lot of bang for a bit less buck. We went through a few cars and he explained how everything from brakes to air pressure, even seat positioning are discussed prior to touching the track.

Next week... Taking it to The Track.

Learn more about Allan and the Barber Driving Experience at http://www.barberdrivingexperience.com