whos tracking their R?

[DrumReaper]

Me.

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[fuhrius]

Personally, I get angry thinking about people who buy these and don't drive them much, let alone track them. The car is special, exciting and yes, relatively rare, but it's not a P1 or Pagani Huayra or LaFerrari guys. C'mon now. I'd still drive and track those if I were lucky enough to own one.

It's a Mustang, a darn special and amazing one, but a Mustang all the same. It was built to be driven....HARD.

Personally, I get angry thinking about people who order Mustangs in that Guard color. lol

Actually, very little makes me angry...I'm more of a 'to each his own' type. I also don't believe in the 'race car with a license plate' idea. Even the R is no race car. It's biggest flaw is that it lacks proper safety equipment for track use. It doesn't even have an accommodation for a tow hook for crying out loud.

 

[J_Maher_AMG]

It is really interesting to hear some of you that actually get angry thinking about people who don't track their R models.

Did you ever consider than maybe some of us have been there and done that therefore just enjoying these R models on the street might be enjoyment enough for some of us older Mustang enthusiasts?

Do I wish that I could be on the track regularly with my R models along with many of you youngsters and even older enthusiasts, absolutely but aside from putting in a few laps in here and there it just isn't going to happen.

Next time you see some of us older enthusiasts out driving our R models on the street keep in mind that maybe some of us were tracking our cars before some of you were even born and that in most cases most would like to be out there with you!

Before you judge some of us older enthusiasts ( and even younger enthusiasts) as to how why we only drive our R models on the street I suggest that you might ask a few questions before you make judgment.

Lastly, it is great to hear so many Mustang enthusiasts actually exploring the capabilities of these great cars on the track where they need to be and not on the street as many did back in my day.

Couldn't agree more with this. Personally, I do not have access to any tracks since there are none in my province. Nearest track is over 1500 kms away.... Regardless, I feel no "obligation" whatsoever to track my vehicle just because I bought an R. If I had access to a track locally, would I take it there? Almost certainly, yes. But I am really turned off by the opinions of some that either your car "must be tracked and tracked hard" or "oh its a garage queen", as if there is no middle ground. I would love the opportunity to track my car, but I don't have that option. I would love to drive it more than 3000kms per year, but unfortunately I work on a rotation that only sees me home for 8 weeks of the year during which the car will be insured for the road. And during those 8 weeks the chances of having even 4 weeks of sun where I live is highly unlikely. But if you listened to some of the people's opinions on here, you would be led to believe that R was a waste

I have driven mine every chance I had during my time off, with a little over 2700 kms on the car in only 10 days after taking delivery. I enjoy taking it for runs through curvy back roads and throughout town honestly; very little traffic here in our city compared to what 99% of you guys are accustomed too. I just feel like some people's opinions as to what others should do with their personal cars is coming off a little strongly, because after all I'm the one paying for it

 

[Spacebird]

I am tracking my R. If the GT350R experiences a value boom like the 2005 Ford GT then some pristine garage queens will carry a premium. But that's a big "if", and it's not as though a tracked R is suddenly worthless.

 

[AshelbyR]

Thanks for the feedback. Great to see folks enjoying these cars on the track and the street. I totally get pp0001. I feel blessed to be of good health/ability to track cars at this time in life. Because we all work so hard I'm sure everyone can agree it's great to have a outlet and feel that energy of the shelby. Just like dirt bikes and kitesurfing do for me. But I know it will not always be as I age. So I get it and respect his words. We all will at some time have to slow it down. But till then...

 

[BmacIL]

It is really interesting to hear some of you that actually get angry thinking about people who don't track their R models.

Did you ever consider than maybe some of us have been there and done that therefore just enjoying these R models on the street might be enjoyment enough for some of us older Mustang enthusiasts?

It was pretty much 47 years ago this month that I was already drag racing my '67 Mercury Cougar along with my cousin's '69 GTO Judge. I suggest that many of you were not even thought of back in the late 60's.

Once the 80's came I then bought an '83 Mustang GT and immediately tore out the stock suspension and replaced it with the best Rancho Suspension Kit that I could buy at the time after which time I went auto crossing for a number of years. Stock Camaro's and Corvette's did not pose much of a challenge with this Rancho setup.

Later on in the '80's I bought a brand new '86 Dodge Omni GLH and also raced an '87 Mustang LX 5.0 notchback at the same time. Yokohama tires on the GLH and was sponsored by Goodyear with shaved tires for the Mustang. I made a lot of great new friends and learned a lot from some of the senior drivers in our car club.

Unfortunately during the late 80's I developed an inner ear condition that really had a terrible effect on the way I felt after a number of hot laps after which time I told myself that even though I loved the competition and the excitement of these great cars that the side effects of feeling ill was not worth the price of admission.

Do I wish that I could be on the track regularly with my R models along with many of you youngsters and even older enthusiasts, absolutely but aside from putting in a few laps in here and there it just isn't going to happen.

Next time you see some of us older enthusiasts out driving our R models on the street keep in mind that maybe some of us were tracking our cars before some of you were even born and that in most cases most would like to be out there with you!

Before you judge some of us older enthusiasts ( and even younger enthusiasts) as to how why we only drive our R models on the street I suggest that you might ask a few questions before you make judgment.

Lastly, it is great to hear so many Mustang enthusiasts actually exploring the capabilities of these great cars on the track where they need to be and not on the street as many did back in my day.

I guess you misunderstood my intent, or I wasn't so clear. If you're out driving it and enjoying it, that's great! :cheers: That's what it's meant for! My beef is with people who buy these to be collectibles and baby them anytime they "have to" drive them. It's not art, people, it's a machine. Drive 'em please!

Glad you're enjoying yours! I wasn't making a specific judgment against older enthusiasts, just of anyone who makes these a garage queen. Nothing anyone says will make me feel differently about that.

 

[machsmith]

No tracks anywhere around here, but the miles will add up to 6,000/year+

 

[ohtobbad]

It really is each to their own. Your money, your car, do as you wish.
I hope it holds its value, but really for me, its about smiles per mile.
Right now, based on that The return my car is giving me is huge

 

[J_Maher_AMG]

It really is each to their own. Your money, your car, do as you wish.
I hope it holds its value, but really for me, its about smiles per mile.
Right now, based on that The return my car is giving me is huge

Couldn't agree more man, the smiles per mile this thing gives is unlike anything I've ever been in. I'm barely getting over 300 kms to a tank :lol: :ford:

I would hope it holds its value as well, but whether it depreciates or appreciated matters not in the end, because I plan to keep this car for as long as I live

TR if I happen to go on a road trip next year (Fiancee has family in Nova Scotia) I will be planning on hitting up Atlantic Motorsports Park. Your videos have me itching to try it on track where it can really be pushed

 

[ohtobbad]

Couldn't agree more man, the smiles per mile this thing gives is unlike anything I've ever been in. I'm barely getting over 300 kms to a tank :lol: :ford:

I would hope it holds its value as well, but whether it depreciates or appreciated matters not in the end, because I plan to keep this car for as long as I live

TR if I happen to go on a road trip next year (Fiancee has family in Nova Scotia) I will be planning on hitting up Atlantic Motorsports Park. Your videos have me itching to try it on track where it can really be pushed

you have to do a school first, they have in the spring, whats cool is normally
they are 2 day event, so learn first day with instructor, presuming you pass.
Next day you can run.
I and anyone who has done can tell you its a blast
Most fun you can have with your pants on

 

[Hermz]

I'm hoping to hit Thermal in the fall/winter. Its just too damn hot in the summer!

Donson already installed the Watson roll bar, so I am finishing that off with some Schulth harnesses and I will be good to go!

 

[geb78]

Have done 1 track event in the R so far with another planned in a few weeks. It'll see the track more once the temps cool down outside.

 

[geb78]

I'm hoping to hit Thermal in the fall/winter. Its just too damn hot in the summer!

Donson already installed the Watson roll bar, so I am finishing that off with some Schulth harnesses and I will be good to go!

[MENTION=17642]Bhermz[/MENTION] how are you getting onto Thermal's track? I'd love to get into an event there.

 

[AshelbyR]

I'm hoping to hit Thermal in the fall/winter. Its just too damn hot in the summer!

Donson already installed the Watson roll bar, so I am finishing that off with some Schulth harnesses and I will be good to go!

Would love to see finished pictures of harness and bar and any other track prep pictures.
I'm stuck on doing expel wrap or just repainting down the road. $4000 for front clip and rockers with Quartz but the rear quarter gets hit pretty good and then ur up to $5000!!

 

[Hermz]

[MENTION=17642]Bhermz[/MENTION] how are you getting onto Thermal's track? I'd love to get into an event there.

Friend's family has a membership. I told his dad that I would take him in his McLaren MP4-12C. Whether that is true or not, I am hoping for an invite to find out!

Have another friend who instructs up in the Bay area. If I can get some time off of work I'd love to tow the car up there and hit all the tracks in that area with him. Although the noise restrictions are somewhat a turn off.

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