Like Water Through A Hose - CSL's GT350

[50 Deep]

“You want to move on track like water through a hose. Fluid movements will make you faster and have more control”


These are some of the most influential words I have ever heard on track. Spoken to me by my customer turned friend, Chris Luscher. Living up in the PNW you can find him terrorizing tracks at The Ridge and Pacific Raceways. He also has been teaching others how to terrorize as an instructor with PCA since 2013.


Chris personally tracked a couple of his modded GT500’s and started endurance racing a 347ci Foxbody in the chump and lucky dog series since 2014. Soon he will be campaigning an SN95 in the Lucky Dog Series as well. The GT350 became his new toy in 2016, and it was love at first sight. Chris is now running about 3 seconds faster on his home tracks than he was with his modified GT500.


I first met Chris through my good buddy Kevin (Honeybadger). Eventually Chris purchased a set of our SV104 for his GT350 used from another enthusiast that sold his car. We finally got to meet in person and go for a ride in his car at our recent Signature Wheel track event at Thunderhill Raceway. I quickly realized why he earned his instructor stripes. Enough talking, here are some pics of his Track Package GT350. Be sure to seek him out for instruction or just to say hi if you catch him in the PNW.

Vehicle Info

2016 Shelby GT350

Track Package

Deep Impact Blue


Engine/Transmission

-Pedalmax

-MGW Shifter

-Bobs Ultimate Catch Cans


Suspension/Brakes

-Ford Performance lowering springs

-Ford Performance sway bars

-FTBR spherical subframe bushings

-FTBR spherical rear control arm bushings

-Caliperfexion caliper studs

-ARP studs

-Raybestos ST43 front pads


Interior/Exterior

-Carbon Composites by MAD GT350R front splitter

-Carbon Composites by MAD GT350R wing

-ZL1 Addons front tow hook

-Competition Orange calipers


Wheels/Tires

Signature Wheel SV104

Gloss Black

19x11 - 305/30/19 Michelin SC2

19x11.5 - 315/30/19 Michelin SC2


Track photography by Robert Gluckman

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[ClayDee]

Nice write up and 350!

 

[CSL]

Wow, thanks for the shout out Terrance. Love my wheels.....and aero too!

 

[torque124]

From the photos it looks like the GT500 is eating GT350's on the track... Nice to see that.

 

[CSL]

From the photos it looks like the GT500 is eating GT350's on the track... Nice to see that.

Definitely not eating. James has a super well-sorted Griggs GT500 that puts down 650-700whp and he runs slicks. We tend to have a habit of connecting in the last session for a balls out run. He’s a great shoe and we’re pretty much equally fast.

 

[torque124]

Definitely not eating. James has a super well-sorted Griggs GT500 that puts down 650-700whp and he runs slicks. We tend to have a habit of connecting in the last session for a balls out run. He’s a great shoe and we’re pretty much equally fast.

Just saying ... As it is obvious the white GT350 was passed by the GT500, unless the photo is taken on a completely different session. Not implying he's quicker than you or anything like that, nothing wrong with admitting you are slower. I would be probably the slowest

 

[CSL]

We ran lead follow that entire session. The FP350S passed us both...he was a bit faster

 

[Tomster]

Water through a hose? Hmm. Nice build, but well, water through a hose?

 

[TDC]

Laminar or turbulent flow?

 

[honeybadger]

So weird to see Chris' speed/skill behind the wheel being questioned. If you ever met Chris, you'd never know he is a really bad dude behind the wheel. He'll never tell you, but he's almost always the fastest man on track...even has a few track records in his car's Lucky Dog class.

 

[Tomster]

Nobody is questioning Chris or Terrance. It is the phrase of "like water through a hose" that is somewhat (very much) amusing. Maybe I should have put an emoji on it. No one else thinks that's (even remotely) funny? If I cant joke around with these two guys, then I'd just assume hang up my hat here at this forum.

Like water through a hose

 

[honeybadger]

Ahh. I think it’s alluding to how water moves through a hose very smoothly and fluidly, keeping up its momentum. Where as if you think about how a lot of folks drive this car - pedal to the metal as long as long as possible, then slam on the brakes as hard as possible to make turns, etc. - which can be very jerky and upsetting to the car.

Fast is smooth and smooth is fast, right?

 

[CSL]

Terrance got it in the moment and in the proper context...as intended.

 

[Tomster]

You guys are my peeps. No offense. I just had a moment where I got a good laugh. Carry on and I'll mind my biz.

 

[CSL]

Laminar or turbulent flow?

Definitely laminar.

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