The weather was sunny and hot, with the temperature never diving below 94 degrees. We ponied up for our race ticket and signed the waiver. After driving around the water box, we coaxed a slight chirp out of the stock Pirelli rubber and pulled to the line. For the first pass, we powerbraked the car to about 1,500 rpm and hammered the throttle when the last yellow appeared.
After covering the first 60 feet in 2.01 seconds, we enjoyed the S197's 5R55s five-speed automatic as it banged away at the gears on its own. Once the close-ratio gear cluster got us past the finish line, we had covered the quarter-mile in 13.82 seconds at 99 mph. With the same driving procedure, we backed up this run with a 13.82 at 97 mph with a 2.04 60-foot time.
The day after the autocross,...
The day after the autocross, we headed to our local quarter-mile combat zone. Yes, we got smoked by the LS1 T/A, but we did hold our own thanks to some good lights and skillful driving.
For the next hit, we opted to flat-foot the throttle and try to flash the torque converter. This, we thought, should help get the heavy S197 Mustang moving a tad quicker-and it did. Our best pass of the day started with a 2.00-second 60-foot time and ended with a 13.76 elapsed time. A 13.93 and a 13.89 followed, but by then we were experiencing mid-to-late-day sun, and in Florida that's the hottest time of the day, so we called time and headed home.
On the hour-and-a-half drive home, we enjoyed the cruising comfort the advanced S197 chassis has to offer. The FRPP suspension gave us an assuring feel as we clipped down the interstate. It really is a very capable yet compliant setup.
The Shelby GT-H's styling is similar to its heritage brethren. It garnered interest nearly everywhere it went, and although the original Rent-A-Racers were available in a couple of different color configurations, black with gold stripes is the only option for the GT-H. Still, we dug the styling, especially the hood and front grille, which really gives this Mustang a look all its own. A different rear spoiler would have been a nice touch, but we're nitpicking, and since all 500 of these GT-Hs will be going up for auction at the end of their service life, it's more likely we will have to build our own version, which may or may not include a new wing.
For more information on renting the Hertz/Shelby GT-H, visit www.hertz.com. The Hertz Fun Collection may also be reserved through travel agents or by calling Hertz toll-free at 800/654-3131. Let the fun begin.
 In addition to the FRPP Handling...  In addition to the FRPP Handling Pac, the GT-H also received FRPP's Performance Pac for an extra 25 ponies and 10 lb-ft of torque. The package includes a 90mm cold-air kit, a muffler kit, a new X-mid-pipe and a performance computer calibration. |  Our track day yielded a 95-degree...  Our track day yielded a 95-degree ambient air temperature, so we didn't expect much from the automatic-equipped mule. The Shelby was consistent, and we found no need to bypass the traction control as there was plenty of hook to heave the car forward. Our best time was achieved by dead-punching the throttle and letting the torque converter flash as much as it could. |  Our best elapsed time-13.76...  Our best elapsed time-13.76 at 97 mph-came from flat-footing the throttle. It's harder to hit lights that way, but we achieved the maximum that the Shelby had to offer. |