Surely a sign of the looming apocalypse, AmericanMuscle.com recently went under the bright lights, and behind the scenes of a nationally broadcast TV show, SPEED TV’s hit game show Pass Time. Filmed on location at many of America’s favorite grass roots drag strips, Pass Time offers a chance for any would-be drag racer, whether first timer or experienced pro, Mustang or minivan, to make a run pass as two contestants attempt to predict 1/4-mile drag times to win cash. Simply put, “Guess the time, win the cash – it’s that easy,” according to show host Brett Wagner.

As the current owner of three Ponies, AmericanMuscle.com on-the-phone Mustang expert Karen Baum is no stranger to the track. In fact, she’s been drag racing Mustangs for years, but never before in front of the cameras of a popular TV show. Karen, and fellow AmericanMuscle staffer Dave Kaeck, took their Mustangs to Maryland International Raceway where Pass Time producers selected the AmericanMuscle customer service rep out of 500 candidates to “make a pass” on camera. Driving an AmericanMuscle-prepped ‘03 GT Coupe, the Mustang enthusiast put the pedal to the metal and left all expectations in the dust in her first primetime appearance.

While Karen was getting ready for her SPEED TV debut, AmericanMuscle went behind the scenes to get a first-hand look at how Pass Time producers can turn a day at the drag strip into an engaging game show. From the host Brett Wagner, to Ken “The House” Herring, to Paige the ultra-hot car wrangler, these on-air personalities form the heart of the show. Add in two long days of passionate behind-the-scenes work and somehow the dedicated Pass Time team manages to turn out nine speed-filled episodes every time they pull into a drag strip.

To get a better look at AmericanMuscle’s time at Pass Time, visit: http://blog.AmericanMuscle.com/, or go for the YouTube video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF-6SZ6J61Q.

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Forget the Fusion and Avenger, the 2010 Ford and Dodge NASCAR racers will be mean street machines and real pony cars. That’s right, the Mustang and Challenger.

Both cars are expected to be closer to stock than any car in recent history, but that’s not saying much.

The move was made by the NASCAR governing body in an effort to help the series. In the past both GM and Ford warned that the current Cup cars would turn NASCAR into a spec-racing series with every car not only being similar but looking the same. This, they argued, would in turn lead to a lack of brand identification and, therefore, a loss of interest in the series.

It seems they were right.

NASCAR has suffered a significant drop in not only attendance figures and souvenir sales, but also in TV ratings – indicating that the problem is in fact a lack of interest and not a lack of funds.

The new cars actually won’t be all that different, but they will look different, something that NASCAR is most likely hoping will be of interest to manufacturers looking to capitalize on some marketing.

Despite the move by Ford and Doge, GM will continue to run the Impala rather than the 2010 Camaro. Also, Toyota is continuing on with its Camry, mostly because it doesn’t have anything else. The sole Japanese automaker in NASCAR recently dropped the two-door Solara from its lineup.

More: Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger Headed to NASCAR in 2010 on AutoGuide.com

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The New York Auto Show was the pedestal from which Saleen announced yet another project it has been working on. Racing legend Dan Gurney was the focus of the new signature edition Mustang - which will be released in late April - bearing a resemblance to his 1969 Trans Am series Mustang.

Saleen CEO Paul Wilbur described it as “amazing” that just 2 years after standing on stage with Parnelli Jones, they have joined up with long time rival, and friend, Dan Gurney to produce 300 limited edition Mustangs for the public. This particular Saleen will be equipped with a supercharged 4.6L V8 producing 465 horsepower, along with Saleen’s racecraft suspension. Exterior accessories and the vintage coloration added to the S197 platform put a modernized twist to the classic that won so many hearts.

On the exterior, the Mustang sports a Gurney Edition body kit, complete with “duck bill” rear spoiler, chin spoiler and stinger type hood. All perfectly harmonized with the paint scheme and carefully placed decals -including the Gurney Eagle insignia reminiscent of the classic.

Although Saleen was not prepared to make a statement, Saleen General Manager Marques McCammon did say that this latest edition was “likely the best all around 281 supercharged car that Saleen has ever built.” Combine that with the specially tuned racecraft suspension, Generation-II Watts-Link rear end, and the Pirelli Corsa tires – a suspension combination never before featured on a Saleen vehicle – and you have yourself a lightning fast, corner-hugging monster.

The exterior of the car is not the only area to get a face-lift. The interior has also been revamped to include the Gurney Eagle emblem on the steering wheel and head rests of the two-tone seats featuring either red or blue AlcantaraTM inserts.

To honor Dan Gurney’s All American racing persona, Saleen will produce 100 vehicles in each of 3 colors. Torch Red, Performance White and Vista Blue, with contrasting color graphics and interiors, and a set of “#2″ roundels to complete the Dan Gurney experience. With only 300 being made, this will definitely be a must-have amongst collectors.

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Every person that has ever been to a drag strip all started off with one problem - they don’t know what to expect or do. Are you one of those people? If so, consider this  the first lesson from Modded Mustangs’ Drag Racing School.

We’ll start by getting into the basics of drag racing. Drag racing is a competitive race with two cars side by side to see which is the fastest. You can race 1/8th of a mile or 1/4 of a mile depending on which drag strip you’re at. The race starts from a dead stop and is started by a tree (which we’ll get to that later). Each track has basically setup the same and consist of a main entrance, staging lanes, a pit area, bathrooms, a concession stand, the track itself, return road, and a shutdown area. Make sure before you waste your and your buddie’s gas that you find out what days and the times you can run your car - you don’t want to drive 40 miles to find out they’re not open that day (and believe me they do that).

The first thing you do once you arrive is pay (it’s usually around $20 to run and $10 to spectate but it varies). Once you pay, you’ll likely be handed a tech card. Don’t lose this because this is going to be your ticket to race. Find yourself a suitable pit area for the night and make sure it’s a good spot because this is where you’ll be spending most of your time.

Time to start prepping. Go ahead and pop your hood and begin to let your engine cool (some people like to ice their intakes during this time). Go ahead and remove anything you don’t need (spare tire, jack, jack-stands, etc) for weight reduction purposes. After you get everything taken care of, go ahead and fill out your tech card which includes some basic information about yourself and your car. Take it to the tech booth where someone will inspect your car to make sure you it’s safe to run. Different tracks require different things but a few basics to remember: you have to wear a shirt with sleeves, long pants, and closed toe shoes. Also, make sure you have a coolant overflow tank and a helmet. After your car passes tech you are ready to run!

Proceed with ease over to the staging lanes. You have to pay attention to people and little children crossing the road. Also remember to be respectful and keep it on the track. That means no burnouts, no racing, and no speeding until you get to the track surface itself. Once you get to the lanes you are free to get out of your car but it is a good idea to stay pretty close because the lanes tend to move pretty fast. When your lane starts moving go ahead and put your helmet on and buckle up. When you get to the front make sure all of your attention is devoted to the track official and he will signal you to move forward. Once you get the signal, go ahead and proceed to the burnout box.

If you want to go through the water then drive slowly through, if you do not want water then simply drive around the water box. I recommend using water with only slicks or drag radials. If you are running regular street tires then you probably want to try your best to avoid the water box. This is because water will get in the tread and be difficult to remove, resulting in a slower 60 foot time. So if you are running street tires just a nice spin to clean them off will work just fine. After you are done with your burnout slowly pull up to the starting line.

While you are pulling up pay attention to the top two lights on the tree. The first set are the pre-stage beams. When you see them light up it indicates that you are almost ready. Continue pulling forward until the second set lights up. The second set is known as stage bulbs. Once the second set lights up, you are ready to rock and roll – so pay attention. Once you are staged, the starter will start the tree. There are different types of tree settings but the one that we will focus on (and most commonly used) is a 0.500 second full tree. When the starter activates the tree, three amber bulbs will light separately with 0.500 second intervals. After the third light goes off, the green will illuminate. And as most of us know, green means go!

While you are roaring down the track keep an eye out for the bright blocks on the side of the track (usually red, yellow, or orange). As these indicate different spots on the track where time and speed is calculated. The very last block indicates the finish line. After you cross the finish line, be looking for the return road on your left. Do not slam on the brakes to hit that first turn road, because there is usually more than one and you have ample space to slow down. Also remember, before you turn left to go into the return road, check your mirrors to make sure the car next to you is not exiting also.

After you leave the track, stop at the time-slip booth and pickup that little receipt-looking slip that lets you know how fast you blistered down the track. Once you have managed all of this, then you will never forget it. So, what are you waiting on? Get off of the computer and go tear up a drag strip near you!

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The winner will take the World Title, the trophy, free entry in to the next event to defend their crown, and a 600 horsepower Saleen Mustang. With a top speed of over 200 mph and a 0-60 in under 4 seconds, these special edition Mustangs are hot - to say the least. There will be 25 copies made (11 already sold at press time), available only to those participating in the race.

Have an itch for (legal) speed? The Great American Run will scratch it for $10k. Registration and other information is available on their site. Cannonball!

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For 2007, Houston, TX based BRISK USA has stepped up to become a major sponsor of Horsepower & Heels racing, allowing the team to bring about some exciting improvements to the racing program.   Starting with a drastic body change, the team will debut a new 2007 Pro Mod fiberglass Mustang body by VFN Fiberglass out of Addison, IL.   Parker Chassis of Salem, AL will be handling the fabrication behind the transformation and new turbo configuration consisting of a pair of Exile 88mm turbos.

The engine program will still remain at the hands of master Ford engine guru, Al Moody Sr. of Mableton, GA.   The stock block and cast crank 2006 engine combination, which shattered performance barriers as the fastest OEM 460 block configuration, will be set aside for a stronger & lighter aluminum block powerplant.

“The whole premise behind 2006 was to get my feet wet in the PRO ranks, and we did surprisingly well as a team with the parts and budget that we had available at the time. This year, thanks to the great relationship we were able to build with BRISK USA, we will be able to debut a new look, and a stronger engine program which we feel will make us a formidable competitor.”   Erica said of her 2007 plans.

Erica plans to campaign the car in the 5 race Fun Ford Weekend Pro 5.0 schedule, the ADRL Pro Nitrous category, as well as the NOPI Pro Outlaw class, where domestics have newly entered the mix of sport compacts traditionally associated with this venue.  Her goal is to work up towards the NHRA Pro Modified events, where turbocharged combinations have recently been accepted into the fold. For more information, you can visit the Horsepower & Heels team online at www.horsepowerandheels.com.

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When they named this shelby a Professional Road Racer, they did it for a reason, as it is no casual observer. This is a vehicle that lives to race. In fact, it was purpose-built for that very reason. A study in performance, it honors the innovation of Carroll Shelby in the best way it knows how: By stepping onto the track and win.

Features Include:

• 5.0-liter “Cammer” engine, producing more than 500 horsepower
• 6-speed sequential shift, race transmission
• 6-piston front calipers with 2-piece rotors
• 4-piston rear calipers with 2-piece rotors
• 8.8–inch full-floating rear axle
• 3-way adjustable dampers, front and rear
• GT-spec rear wing
• Carbon fiber nose splitter
• 22-gallon fule cell
• 3-piece BBS racing wheels
• Curb weight: 3,100 pounds

Back to the original GT500’s at SEMA article, and to read more about the other two GT500 Mustangs at this year’s event. The information used in this article was taken from the display sheet at SEMA.

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The ROUSH Drag Pack Mustang is the first drag racing purpose-built Ford since the 1969-70 Super Jet Cobra. That car had 335 horsepower, oil cooler, enhanced connecting rods, modified crankshaft and a choice of 3.91 or 4.30 Traction-Lok gears. In 1970, the Mustang Boss 302 was also available with a drag pack option but that only included different gears and external oil cooler. Since then, for the past 36 years, no manufacturer has offered a drag specific car, though there have been several parts packages made available for customers to install post-title.

This 2007 Ford Mustang is based off the flagship ROUSH Stage 3 and designed for safety, durability and adjustability. A prototype has been racing in the Modular Muscle class of the NMRA and tested almost weekly at Milan (Mich.) Raceway.

“When we returned to having a drag racing program last season I challenged the team at ROUSH Performance to build a car that can be driven to the track, have the tires changed to slicks, and perform on the drag strip,” said Jack Roush. “This Drag Pack Mustang is the culmination of those efforts.” Roush has a fondness for drag racing that goes back to when he began his motorsports career in the late ’60s with the “Fastbacks,” a group of Ford engineers that pooled their money to go drag racing. He personally oversaw the development of the ROUSH Drag Pack Mustang.

Some of the parts that are unique to the ROUSH Drag Pack Mustang include an upgraded flywheel and clutch, a one-piece driveshaft with safety loop, a polished 4:10 ring and pinion gear set, upgraded posi rear differential, bracing on the rear axle housing, new lower control arm brackets with two attachment positions, and high-strength axle shafts with extended wheel studs.

The suspension components are highly adjustable and include tubular steel upper and lower control arms with rod ends, tubular steel panhard rod and relocation bracket, rear stabilizer bar relocation kit, and single adjustable front struts and double adjustable rear shocks.

Other unique elements of the ROUSH Drag Pack Mustang include having the battery relocated to the trunk for better weight distribution and the inclusion of an external on/off switch, a tachometer with shift light mounted to the dash, smaller ROUSHcharger pulley and engine calibration with a maximum of 7000 RPM. The car will ship with both street tires and a set of Mickey Thompson rear drag racing tires.

There are also a variety of options available, including carbon fiber hood and fenders, line lock system, four-point bolt-in safety bar, open system chiller box which provides maximum intercooler performance, SFI-approved bell housing and upgraded transmission shift fork pads, and straight pipes for the exhaust system. A ROUSH short throw shifter is available with reverse and fifth-gear lockout.

More than 200 runs were made in the testing of the vehicle, each challenging the functionality and durability of the parts. If a component didn’t perform as anticipated, failed, or the ROUSH engineers saw some type of premature wear the design was modified and then re-tested on the track. The 430 horsepower car has achieved several runs in the 11.9-second and 113 mph range.

There are just 50 ROUSH Drag Pack Mustangs slated to be built, and they will be exclusively offered through Brandon Ford in Tampa, Fla. For pricing and more details you can reach them at (813) 246-3673 (unfortunately we don’t have the pricing plans).

Many of the parts that are included on the ROUSH Drag Pack Mustang are available separately for existing Mustang owners. A complete listing and pricing can be found at the Roush Performance website or by calling (800) 59-ROUSH.

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New innovative features such as Maximum Team Control Racing separate this game from the pack, allowing a user to switch-on-the-fly between a team of three vehicles to dominate a race! New features, hot cars, and a price of $19.99 make Ford Bold Moves Street Racing redefine what it means to be a great value.

The Ford Bold Moves Street Racing game will be made available on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PC. In the UK, Empire Interactive is also working on an upgraded PSP version of the game called Ford Street Racing – L.A. Duel, but Eidos hasn’t announced whether it will bring that game over yet. The full list of cars slated for Ford Bold Moves Street Racing is as follows:

1968 Mustang GT
1969 Mustang Boss 302
1970 Capri Mk I RS2600
1970 Mustang Boss 429
1973 Escort RS2000
1975 Torino Sport
1985 RS200
1987 Sierra RS500
1992 Escort RS Cosworth
1995 GT90 Concept
2000 Ford SVT Cobra R
2002 Focus RS
2004 Fiesta ST
2004 Mustang GT-R Concept
2004 SVT F-150 Lightning
2006 Ford GT
2006 Mustang GT
2007 Shelby GT500

“Eidos is excited about being part of Ford’s multinational marketing campaign,” said David Bamberger, US Marketing Manager, Eidos. “New innovative features like Maximum Team Control™ coupled with the best high performance vehicles Ford has to offer ensures appeal to hardcore and casual gamers alike.”

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“Everything we’ve done on this car is a notch, or several notches, above anything we’ve done before,” Coletti says. “This 2000 Cobra R pushes the performance envelope far beyond the capabilities of any previous Mustang.” Engine and Drivetrain Producing 385 bhp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque, the Cobra R’s engine shows the performance capabilities of Ford’s overhead-cam modular family.” said John Coletti, who runs Ford’s Special Vehicle Engineering Team.

“This is the fastest, the best-handling Mustang ever. It will set a performance benchmark for the competition,” Coletti said. ”the Cobra R combines high-performance hardware and engineering that go a long way toward making it the best of the breed.”

With it’s agressive styling and race inspired suspension, the Cobra R is basically a street legal race car. The interior is bare bones – no radio, heat, air conditioning, or even a back seat. Recardo racing seats hold the driver in place while using aB&M Ripper shifter to take the car through all six of the T-56 Tremec’s gears. Power makes it’s way to the 18 x 9.5 in. cast aluminum 5 spoke wheels via 3.55 gears.

Assisting the BF Goodrich g-ForceKD, 265/40ZR-18 tires achieve a 1.0+ G skidpad are Eiback springs and Billstein shocks / struts. A Brembo big brake kit helps to slow this machine from it’s 170mph top speed all the while withstanding abuse on the track.

2000 Cobra R Specifications

Only 300 Cobra R models were built - all on the same line of the Dearborn Assembly Plant producing the V6, GT, and Cobra Mustangs. The 2000 model is the third generation of the Cobra R, following the successful and still sought-after 1993 and 1995 Cobra R models.

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