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Fun Ford Weekend In Texas - Havin' A Blast In BaytownFFW Invades The Houston Area For Some Fun Ford Action In The Big State Of Texas. From the September, 2007 issue of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords By Paul Rosner
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The White family entry came... The White family entry came to see how they'd measure up to the big boys with their 533 big-block-powered convertible. Dad Donald set up the Pro-shot fogger system on the big 1050 dominator, while brother Dustin studied each pass to assist with the chassis settings. Jason's wife and daughters had plenty to cheer about as he ousted Brad Brand in Round 1, but he was trailered by the Lynch freight train in later rounds. Seventeen years ago, the Fun Ford Weekend opened the door for all the "true blue" competitors to gather at one venue-void of the overwhelming Brand-X population-for some sick bracket and heads-up, street-legal racing. The Texas Thunder Nationals, at Houston Raceway Park, has been one of the racers' favorites with its at sea-level location and NHRA national event-quality facility. The big story at this year's trip to Texas was the $10,000 prize up for grabs in the Precision Turbo Street Outlaw class. Most racers would consider making the haul for the $3,000 check the runner-up will take home, not to mention the chance to make it in the pages of MM&FF. All the biggest hitters were in the shuffle, including reigning Outlaw champ Conrad Scarry and the record-demolishing Tim Lynch. Bad Brad Brand's monster 700-plus-cube twin bandit was also in the hunt, as was Cale Aronson's bottle-fed 700ci big-block '05 Mustang looking to prove power-adder supremacy. The quiet Keen Brothers also attempted to make the field with a single turbo and only half the motor of the rest of the competition. A $2,500 purse for the winner and $1,000 for the runner-up in ProCharger Renegade, along with a $2,000 top prize in the Mod Comp field, enticed many more racers to come and play at Houston's favorite playground.  Winner Jimmy and Vic Keen...  Winner
Jimmy and Vic Keen were feared by all Brand-Xers in the NMCA when they captured the '98 championship in the Super Street class. The team has resurfaced, and as expected, crew chief Tom Moore has put together another powerful combination. A mixture of Sonny Bryant, Bill Miller, and Venolia goodies equals 375 ci. The huge Turbonetics 106mm turbocharger forces over 30 psi through a Wilson Manifolds 106mm throttle body and a set of Champion racing heads ported C-3 Yates heads. They qualified in the top spot with a 6.92 and then marched through the field with consecutive 6.97, 6.96, and 6.93 drag passes. Consistency won them the Precision Turbo Street Outlaw $10,000 check, and the title of quickest and fastest single-turbo Outlaw 10.5W Mustang in the country.  The talk of the weekend was...  The talk of the weekend was the NHRA mandate of the SFI 38.1 head and neck restraint system. As of May 1, drag racers are required to use one of the devices if they exceed 200 mph regardless of class or vehicle.  This turned out to be one...  This turned out to be one of the most anticipated match-ups of the weekend-Tim Lynch (near) against Conrad Scarry. The reigning champ, Scarry, arrived early and made passes during all four qualifying rounds, eventually landing in the number-two spot on the ladder. In contrast, Lynch didn't arrive until late Friday, although he did run a 6.84 right off the trailer. From there it was all downhill as he blew the tranny in the the first qualifying try. Lynch had another tranny delivered Sunday morning, just in time to line up green against the number-two qualifier in Round 1. The holeshot went to Scarry, 0.021 to 0.099, then it was all Petty power on the big end as Lynch advanced 7.00 to 7.20.  The next time you see a set...  The next time you see a set of tires for sale in the Outlaw pits, don't pass up a good deal because you're worried they're worn out. Conrad Scarry (left) and most of the other Outlaw drivers get an average of five or six passes out of their tires.  Enter one chassis dyno specialist...  Enter one chassis dyno specialist with too much time on his hands, 700-plus cubes of Charlie Peppers power, and two 88mm turbochargers pumping out over 25 pounds of boost, and what do you get? How about 2,500-3,000 hp and one frustrated 10.5W tire chassis tuner who wishes he had a set of Funny Car slicks, just once? Brad Brand fought traction issues most of the weekend trying to tame his Pony's excess power, then red-eyed away a solid 7.18 pass.  Winner Travis Franklin gave...  Winner
Travis Franklin gave the turbo boys a run for their money in his ProCharger-powered, Granatelli-backed Pony last year with the big 10.5W tires in Super Street. His 7.11 best was one of the quickest passes by a supercharged car, but he couldn't hang with the big mph of the turbo guys. Franklin topped the quick ladder with a 7.80 best, then masterfully mowed down the competition with a 7.89, a 7.84, and a pair of 7.87s coupled with lightning-quick reaction times from 0.012 to a slowest 0.057. He attributed his successful winning weekend to his relentless crew that has successfully weathered the class jump.  The marketing guys from Tiremax...  The marketing guys from Tiremax decided that if they were ever to take their Texas-based tire business nationwide, they would need a good-sized billboard. Gerald Vess and the guys uncovered their 365-cube Proline Engines-powered, Precision-turbocharged '99 Stang with an unlimited crew of Tiremax mechanics from their eight locations.  Kenjo Kelley returned to heads-up...  Kenjo Kelley returned to heads-up Mustang racing after a five-year layoff. His fresh, turbocharged terror ousted Eric Stubs in a close 7.98 to 8.11 battle followed by an 8.01 to 8.22 semifinal bout with David Sheppard to earn a bye to the finals. Kelley took the early advantage at the Tree with a killer 0.019 bulb, then followed with an 8.01 at nearly 181 mph, the class highest of the weekend. Unfortunately, Travis Franklin drilled an equally impressive 0.041 bulb but with a quicker 7.87 e.t. for the ProCharger Renegade class title.  The new ProCharger Renegade...  The new ProCharger Renegade class rules have turned out a parade of sharp, new race cars, led by Angel Padilla's bright-red coupe looking like it just rolled out of the winner's circle in the UPR Car Show Spectacular. Padilla's new Pony showed lots of potential with an 8.10 in qualifying, though his weekend was cut short when he ended up on the losing end of a close 8.28 to 8.32 in the first round of competition.  Engineer David Sheppard built...  Engineer David Sheppard built his car to showcase his well-rounded talents. He has no intention on chasing a championship; he just likes to build stuff and go fast. Between rounds, Sheppard sat back in his easy chair, evaluated each run, made changes, and picked up a couple of tenths throughout qualifying. His solo efforts carried him into the second round where he lost 8.22 to 8.01 to eventual runner-up Kenjo Kelley.  Winner Retired police officer...  Winner
Retired police officer Mac Sibley has won the Mod Comp class for the past two years. This year he ran in the 10.60-index Borla Street Bandit class. His 514-powered Fairmont ran a dead-on 10.60 to top the starting grid. He then utilized 0.015 and 0.018 starting bulbs enroute to the final where he outpowered Mike Harris, 10.71 to 10.85.  Mike Harris and his amazing,...  Mike Harris and his amazing, stock-block, NOS-powered coupe ousted a quicker Dan Brodahl who broke out with a 10.55 at only 97 mph in the 10.60-index Street Bandit. This nitrous-enhanced combo is simple; it includes a set of ported stock E7 heads, a Trick Flow intake, a 73mm Pro Flow mass air, an Art Carr C4 transmission, and a set of 3.73s. Since the car has run only a 10.75 best in a 10.60-index class, it would take great lights if Harris was to be competitive. He answered the calling with a 0.039, a 0.029, a 0.032, and a nearly perfect 0.007 Tree in the final. Unfortunately, his 10.85 wasn't enough for the consistent, big-tire Fairmont of Mac Sibley.  Winner Multiclass champ Joe...  Winner
Multiclass champ Joe Parisi took an 0.022 to 0.069 starting line advantage over Paul Rankin's 306-powered '40 Mercury and never looked back. He took home the $2,000 American Racing Headers Mod Comp top prize.  Knoxville's golden boy Shane...  Knoxville's golden boy Shane Williams was on the mark in Houston. He never ran more than 0.02 second off his e.t. all weekend. If that wasn't enough, he posted a 0.003, a 0.006, and lastly a 0.005 reaction time in his semi loss.  Ford Racing Performance Parts/RPM...  Ford Racing Performance Parts/RPM Outlet Ultra Stang champ SD Wheeler forced Chris Matters' hot 11-second Saleen to break out after laying down an 0.006 to 0.106 bulb. Wheeler continued his winning ways in his new '07 GT, gathering another tenth advantage at the Tree over Joe Cram's '06 GT enroute to the class finale, where he breezed to the win with an 0.017 with a 14.17 on his 14.09 package.  Christopher Gunderson has...  Christopher Gunderson has the performance bug. He wanted his Boss beauty to run as good as it looks, so he added the CDC Shaker hood and a JLT cold-air package to make it functional. Next, he added a Stainless Works exhaust, 3.73s, and an upgraded BMR suspension. Gunderson's new performance goodies helped him reach the FRPP/RPM Outlet Ultra Stang finals, where he lost in a close contest with last year's champ.  Although the weather was gloomy...  Although the weather was gloomy at times, more than 60 competitors in the Tremec True Street class had no problems during the 30-mile cruise, as the clouds saved the precipitation for the p.m. hours after a full day of racing.  James Meredith's '03 Mach...  James Meredith's '03 Mach I stomped through a handful of other 12.50-index cars in the Saleen Speedlab Street Stang class to capture yet another class win.  Don Justus and his wife, P.J.,...  Don Justus and his wife, P.J., don't save up their money from the family trucking business for fancy vacations in exotic places. They get more enjoyment from traveling the FFW racing series and tearing up the tarmac in their latest racing machines. Don races his 9-second-capable, JDM-powered Lightning, while P.J. races her 11-second '06 Mustang. What a life! Don ran a pair of 10.540 passes on his 10.53 qualified time, never more than 0.02 off his index all weekend. Of course he won the JDM engineering Tough Truck class.  The street-tire bandits of...  The street-tire bandits of the Tremec True Street class entered the water box two-by-two, anxiously awaiting their shot at being crowned king for a day. Out of the 60-plus steeds in competition, Herman Espinosa (near) and Adam Kruttlin chose to run against each other-a match that turned out to be a top-three shootout. Espinosa took top honors with a 10.04 best and a 10.32 three-run average, while Kruttlin ended up with a 10.71 average which included two identical 10.73 passes for the third spot.  Jason Robert built every inch...  Jason Robert built every inch of his Compucar-injected, 347-powered coupe-under his wife, Robin's direction of course. He has competed in the Tremec True Street for the last 12 years and says his Stang is a real street car that can knock down nearly 20 mpg-not bad for a mid-10-second Pony.  The UPR Car Show Spectacular...  The UPR Car Show Spectacular was a widespread treat for the eyes and ears with lots of gleaming, growling Mustangs.  Samuel Joyner's slick Saleen...  Samuel Joyner's slick Saleen was the 256th unit built in 1991. His 331 D&D Motorsports-powered Pony has been his labor of love for nearly 15 years, and it showed. It was hands-down one of the cleanest, tastefully modified Stangs in the show.  Leora Kennedy's '91 Mustang...  Leora Kennedy's '91 Mustang is far from all show and no go. The Vortech-supercharged 331 under the hood pumps out a sick 600-plus horsepower. Coilovers and Tokicos, Baer brakes at all four corners, and a Tremec TKO 500 slapstick-looks like Kennedy could be fun to hang out with.  The Manufacturers' midway...  The Manufacturers' midway is a great place to meet with the pros and check out the latest mods for your Stang. Don't forget about those killer "show only" specials.  This Saleen portrays the look...  This Saleen portrays the look of the future: kinda different, kinda cool.
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