Raced against a '05 Gt at IRP ... Details inside
Thread Starter
Bullitt Member
Joined: February 6, 2004
Posts: 332
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This past weekend I attended the IRP Invasion in Indianapolis for the SVTOA road course series.
There were 2 distinct surprises for drivers when they arrived at the track 7 am Saturday morning for tech inspection. A windveil Blue GT and a white Ford GT (yes ..supercar GT) were sitting waiting to be raced.
They were doing charity rides at speed during our driving sessions. I was able to race the GT and the '05 Mustang many times in my '99 Cobra.
Results .... the 2 cars were allowed to proceed out onto the track first. I was usally the first car right behind them. I wanted to see what they could do. We won't talk about the GT becasue you already know the results. I did hang with them a little bit though.
The '05 Mustang perfromed very well on IRP's VERY FAST road course. I was able to catch up to the '05 on my second lap, so I was albe to view it fairly well and see it's manners from behind. It took the turns VERY well, at a high rate of speed I might add. Ultimately, I was able to pass the '05 on the IRP 1/4 mile straight away. Once I was past, the '05 hung pretty well with my IRS equipped Cobra.
I consider myself to be a pretty decent road course driver. I drive in the advanced groups with SVTOA. The '05 was being driven by one of the SVTOA instructors so it was a pretty good horse race.
Anyone that buys one of these '05 GTs will be VERY PLEASED with it's handling characterisitics and power.
A big thumbs up from this driver!!
I have pictures that I will post later.
There were 2 distinct surprises for drivers when they arrived at the track 7 am Saturday morning for tech inspection. A windveil Blue GT and a white Ford GT (yes ..supercar GT) were sitting waiting to be raced.
They were doing charity rides at speed during our driving sessions. I was able to race the GT and the '05 Mustang many times in my '99 Cobra.
Results .... the 2 cars were allowed to proceed out onto the track first. I was usally the first car right behind them. I wanted to see what they could do. We won't talk about the GT becasue you already know the results. I did hang with them a little bit though.
The '05 Mustang perfromed very well on IRP's VERY FAST road course. I was able to catch up to the '05 on my second lap, so I was albe to view it fairly well and see it's manners from behind. It took the turns VERY well, at a high rate of speed I might add. Ultimately, I was able to pass the '05 on the IRP 1/4 mile straight away. Once I was past, the '05 hung pretty well with my IRS equipped Cobra.
I consider myself to be a pretty decent road course driver. I drive in the advanced groups with SVTOA. The '05 was being driven by one of the SVTOA instructors so it was a pretty good horse race.
Anyone that buys one of these '05 GTs will be VERY PLEASED with it's handling characterisitics and power.
A big thumbs up from this driver!!
I have pictures that I will post later.
Thread Starter
Bullitt Member
Joined: February 6, 2004
Posts: 332
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It made a great experience even that much better waiting patiently on the '05 !!
My setup:
1999 SVT Cobra
WMS cold air intake
K&N filter
Kenny Brown STB
Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates
H&R Race Springs
Bilstein dampers
18x9 Saleen wheels with Bridgestone pole position S03s 275/35/18 (street tires)
Magnaflow catted Xpipe
Bassani cat back exhaust
Car dynos at 287.6 hp to the wheels. Same on the torque .. 287
With driver knowledge fairly similar ... these babies will run, and run well on the road course. My car is not highly modified, but it certainly is more than stock.
My setup:
1999 SVT Cobra
WMS cold air intake
K&N filter
Kenny Brown STB
Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates
H&R Race Springs
Bilstein dampers
18x9 Saleen wheels with Bridgestone pole position S03s 275/35/18 (street tires)
Magnaflow catted Xpipe
Bassani cat back exhaust
Car dynos at 287.6 hp to the wheels. Same on the torque .. 287
With driver knowledge fairly similar ... these babies will run, and run well on the road course. My car is not highly modified, but it certainly is more than stock.
Cobra Member
Joined: May 11, 2004
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
Originally posted by snkbtn99@October 11, 2004, 8:25 AM
It made a great experience even that much better waiting patiently on the '05 !!
My setup:
1999 SVT Cobra
WMS cold air intake
K&N filter
Kenny Brown STB
Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates
H&R Race Springs
Bilstein dampers
18x9 Saleen wheels with Bridgestone pole position S03s 275/35/18 (street tires)
Magnaflow catted Xpipe
Bassani cat back exhaust
Car dynos at 287.6 hp to the wheels. Same on the torque .. 287
With driver knowledge fairly similar ... these babies will run, and run well on the road course. My car is not highly modified, but it certainly is more than stock.
It made a great experience even that much better waiting patiently on the '05 !!
My setup:
1999 SVT Cobra
WMS cold air intake
K&N filter
Kenny Brown STB
Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates
H&R Race Springs
Bilstein dampers
18x9 Saleen wheels with Bridgestone pole position S03s 275/35/18 (street tires)
Magnaflow catted Xpipe
Bassani cat back exhaust
Car dynos at 287.6 hp to the wheels. Same on the torque .. 287
With driver knowledge fairly similar ... these babies will run, and run well on the road course. My car is not highly modified, but it certainly is more than stock.
Thread Starter
Bullitt Member
Joined: February 6, 2004
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Here are the pictures as promised.
Thanks to John AKA "ShelbyGuy" over at SVTPerformance.com for taking the pictures this weekend. Please do not use these pictures unless you get the permssion of John. Thanks.
And of course I had to get a shot of me in there ..that is me in the first car
Thanks to John AKA "ShelbyGuy" over at SVTPerformance.com for taking the pictures this weekend. Please do not use these pictures unless you get the permssion of John. Thanks.
And of course I had to get a shot of me in there ..that is me in the first car
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: September 2, 2004
Posts: 2,594
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Everytime I hear these types of reviews I get excited. The 05 GT is severly handicapped by the tires that Ford chose. They are all season's with tall sidewalls. A quick switch to wider max performance tires, suchs a S03's will real wake this car up. The steering response will improve as well as the overall handling. Any word how the brakes were on the 05 while on the track? I read that they fade real bad, but who tracks their car on stock pads?
Thread Starter
Bullitt Member
Joined: February 6, 2004
Posts: 332
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All comments were very positive .... This was a stock right off the factory GT and it was running very well. As with any stock vehicle, they will have their limitations.
You are correct, different wheels and tires and this "old architecture" live axle will perfrom even better.
This car was driven fairly hard ... they weren't pulling any punches.
You are correct, different wheels and tires and this "old architecture" live axle will perfrom even better.
This car was driven fairly hard ... they weren't pulling any punches.
Thread Starter
Bullitt Member
Joined: February 6, 2004
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Originally posted by Swede@October 12, 2004, 6:34 AM
Great pics, nice looking Cobra you got there!
Great pics, nice looking Cobra you got there!