2008 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GRAND TOURING
BIG MAN WITH BIG PLANS
Like most racing projects, this one began over a pint of brew. It all started at Krider Racing’s favorite bar, Nine Fine Irishman at the New York-New York Hotel Casino on the Las Vegas strip. After Rob Krider and Steve Kuhtz each downed their third Irish Car Bomb (for the record, this was at 11:30 a.m.) the alcohol really started to take effect on their brains.
Rob wiped the Guinness foam from his lips, “You know what they have in Vegas?”
“Strippers?” Steve replied.
“No. They have fucking Carroll Shelby in Las Vegas.”
Rob pulled out his cell phone and slurred to an unsuspecting operator, “Las Vegas, Nevada. Give me the number for Shelby American.”
Steve didn’t look convinced and ordered another round of car bombs from their usual bartender, Dave.
Somehow Rob was able to dial the required numbers and was connected to the front desk receptionist at Shelby. “Yeah, uh, this is Rob Krider, President of Krider Racing. I need to speak with your Director of Motorsports, please.”
Steve laughed, “What the hell are you doing? Director of Motorsports?”
“Shut up, I’m on hold. I think they are putting me through. I just tried to sound authoritative like Roger Penske. It seems like they would have someone there that has the title of Director of Motorsports. It’s worth a shot.”
“May I help you?”
“Uh, yes. My name is Rob Krider. I run Krider Racing out of California. My business associate and I are in Las Vegas for a couple of days and we would like to take a look at your facilities and discuss the prospect of our team racing a Shelby Mustang in an SCCA series next season.”
“If you can be here tomorrow at 9:00, I would be more than happy to give you a tour and see if we can put something together for your race team.”
“No shit? Uh, I mean, okay!”
Rob hung up the phone. “Looks like were heading to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Brotha. If we can each find something to wear other than cargo shorts and flip flops, we might even be able to pass ourselves off as a legitimate race team.”
The meeting at Shelby went better than expected, especially because they never expected to actually get in the door. It turned out Shelby was more than happy to work with Krider Racing in a big way, as long as Steve was willing to write some big checks. Once they had a VIN number, the car would be prepared with exceptional care by the crew at Shelby American. The man himself, Carroll Shelby, would personally put his signature on the passenger side sun visor.
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS
Steve picked up the car in Los Angeles, California. He let the motor warm up and then he broke it in by driving it at redline like a total madman. “Break ‘em in slow to go slow, break ‘em in fast to go fast.”
Before the car could be run competitively in the SCCA it had to be sorted. That was where Krider Racing’s unbelievable support crew came through.
The car went to Performance In-Frame Tuning where a baseline dyno run was completed and A.J. Gracy worked some magic and found some horsepower by trying a number of different air filter elements.
Then the car went over to Napa Valley Muffler where a lighter aftermarket cat back exhaust and x-pipe was installed by Steve Caldwell.
Napa Valley Transmissions made sure the five speed was up to spec. Third Street Auto Repair and T.E.M. Machine Shop oversaw the custom performance brake pad upgrade.
Figstone Graphics designed and cut the stickers for the car. B&G Tires mounted and balanced the Hoosier race rubber on the lightweight forged aluminum wheels. All air was evacuated from the tires and nitrogen was installed. HP 234 racing formula metal enhancer fluid went into the oil pan.
KW Automotive helped Krider Racing sort out the vehicle’s suspension through Belltech Mucle Car Suspensions. Information sourced from SCCAforums and Sam Strano at Strano Performance Parts guided the process and gave championship advice in turning the Shelby from a stock street car into a track ripping racecar.
To make all their cars safe on and off the racetrack, Krider Racing always refers to Ken at I/O Port Racing Supplies. The Shelby was outfitted with a five point harness and harness bar.
After the modifications were completed, the car went back to Performance In-Frame Tuning to get some good news on the dyno. And good news was found as some Mustang horsepower was unleashed. Remember kids, drugs are bad, but horsepower is good.
COME OUT AND PLAY
The Kuhtz Diehl Insurance and Financial Systems sponsored Shelby Mustang was tested at a local autocross school where, during the afternoon session, the Shelby set the fastest time.
Steve powered the car through some hot laps at Buttonwillow Raceway, passing Corvettes and Porsches in the process.
Rob and Steve took the car to the SCCA National Tour in San Diego battling in the rain to earn third place.
More important than a podium finish in San Diego, Krider Racing got to go to their second favorite bar, Lahaina Bar and Grill in Pacific Beach for some post race celebration and bench racing.
Steve and Rob took the car to the SCCA Pro Solo in Irvine, California, for some heads up drag racing with corners.
Rob put the car in the top qualifying spot right off the trailer.
Since they were in first place, in true Krider Racing fashion, they headed out to the bars in Newport Beach to celebrate Saturday night. The party was on, unfortunately, yet unsurprisingly, on Sunday, Rob’s lead slipped to third place.
Whoops, maybe they should have waited until Sunday night to go to the Newport bars.
WHATS NEXT?
Besides a few more Irish Car Bombs and some more chorded race tires? More races are in the car’s future, of course. The Shelby GT Mustang has just begun its life as a racing thoroughbred and has many adventures awaiting it.
The real question is: Can it become the next National Champion? Maybe. Odds are it could it be the 2009 Canadian National Autocross Champion, if Krider Racing can stay away from the bars and get the car to Canada without running into any moose.
Currently, Shelby and the boys are vying for a spot on the show Bullrun, Season 3.
It turns out Bullrun won't have the boys, but they will still be on Speed TV during an episode of "The Forum Wars" presented by Royal Purple going up against a Nissan 350Z. The car was outfitted with Hoosier Tires, Carbotech brake pads and I/O Port Racing Supplies safety equipment to represent Stangnet.com in the challange against my350z.com. Look for it on Speed TV in early 2010 to see who won.
Click here to read about it at Jalopnik.
Click here to read about it on Car Domain.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS BAD PRESS
The Shelby got some good press coverage in the Register:
Click here to read the prep story for the National Tour
Click here to read the post race story after San Diego
The Shelby was featured in Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine
Click here to read the "Bragging Rights" story
The Shelby was also mentioned on page 31 of the May 2009 issue of SCCA's magazine The Wheel.
The Shelby was featured in a Racer Boy blog about Pro Solo on Speed Sport Life.
VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR
Steve and Rob put together a youtube video about drifting a 2001 Bullitt Mustang and won a video contest at Jalopnik.com. They earned a quart of synthetic oil signed by Jack Roush.
All Krider Racing uniforms are embroidered by Jackey.
KRIDER RACING LINKS
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Money Shot. What does Krider Racing do with a broken washing machine?
Fill it with beer, of course.
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