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I have probably done more racing than I'd like to admitt from stop light to stop light over the years but as I grew older I was not in a car that made that possible....until I bought my 2007 Shelby GT500 in Dec. 2006. I started by upgrading the tune, and putting on some axel backs to make it sound better and then quickly started looking into power mods as I found out how easy this car was to make faster. The first time I took it to the track (which was also my first time ever on a drag strip) was about April 2007. I went with a local Mustang club and discovered that the power I had on the dyno didn't mean that much as i spun the tires all the way through 3rd gear and could muster no better than a 12.1 with 560+ rear wheel HP. I soon invested in some ET streets and headed off to another local track but it was 90+ degrees out and I didn't fair much better. A high 11 second run when i really wanted the 11.5 number. As it cooled down and I got more practice I think a few things happened. One the car got a lot more power in the cold air. Two - I invested in some adjustable shocks that helped me get a bit better bite off the line with the ET streets. Three - I stopped getting so nervy when i rolled up there. It was slowing down. I wasn't fumbling for the line lick button, making sure T/C was off etc. I had a routine and I was a lot more at ease. I had adjusted my hand on the shifter and drove around on the street with my new hand position and stopped missing my shift to 2nd too. I was able to put down a low/mid 11 second run.
Next I was pulling off the stock eaton S/C and dropping the KB 2.8 on there with another custome tune. All of a sudden I could do something stupid off the line and still pull out a 11.3 I ran an 11.25 in warm weather. Then i got a nice cool day and learned how to launch a little better with the new power and managed a 10.991 (still in my first season at a drag strip ever....and at a track with far less than perfect conditions). The ugly is that's my best time yet and the printer was off line as it was a track rental by the local Ford dealer techs and it was way under staffed. I didn't get anything to prove I ran it and don't have too many details other than the time. I did get a slip for my next best run which was an 11.046 at 133.01 mph and a 1.63 60' time. I had another run with a 134.56 trap speed but spun off the line a bit and short shifted 1st and 2nd causing my ET to suffer and be 11.2 or 11.3 but I am now consistently running low 11's and have the ability to run in the 10's I know it....although it's only happened one time that's going to improve this next season if the weather ever clears up.
I've learned alot about the launch and how much more to it there is than driving fast in a straight line. It's a lot harder than you would expect and it's amazing what some cars will do out there. I like that a tire swap is all I need to do and I can drop the top and drive home with the stereo playing though!
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[size="1"]2007 Shelby GT500 Convertible
Evolution Custom installed Kenne Bell 2.8 & Tune
Steeda Heat Exchanger
FRRP 3.73 Gears
American Racing Stainless Long Tube Headers
3" Magnaflow exhaust
Eibach "Pro-Kit" springs & sway bars (front & rear)
D-Spec adjustable shocks/struts
STEEDA Tri-axe shifter, LCA & Relo Brackets, Adj. UCA, Adj. Panhard Rod & Brace, Heavy Duty Upper Strut Mounts, hood strutsl
CCW 19" SP500 Rims & BFG KDW Tires
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