Anyone going over 200 mph???

[dqhemi]

I used to run in the Unlimited Division of Open Road Races like the Silver State Classic and Pony Express in a 97 Mustang Cobra that would run 205 MPH. We campaigned the car for a number of years and doing 200 MPH is no small task, increasing the top speeds incrementally. Races were 90 to 120 miles in length on closed sections of public highways.

If you're seriously considering this and plan on being around to talk about it, you need to do it in steps. Driving my car at 150 vs 185 vs 200 were all very different. Better learn some about aerodynamics, safety equipment, tires, suspension, driveline and more. We would basically rebuild the car eveery year almsot completely to make it faster the following. Every race you learn something and there are very few who can tell you what does and doesn't work.

Biggest risk is tires going this fast. Almost every bad accident at those speeds has been tire related and since the explorer debacle, none of the tire companies will give out info anymore.

Biggest issue doing this type of stuff is most people under-estimate what it really takes, what's required to do it (reasonably) safely and many get themselves in way over their heads without realizing it.

There used to be quite alot of press on what I was doing, there's still a couple things floating around the internet:

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/fea...ehicles/18758/

http://www.vortechsuperchargers.com/...ory/cobra.html

Magazines would never cover any of the aero information. We'd get our hands on some aero data and model components based on it including calculating air foil downforce at target speed vs. lift and develop components fromt that.

I have in car video and drive by video at over 200 MPH in my Cobra if someone can host it.

Very likely we'll build another car for this kind of fun. I'd want to do it in a platform that's never gone that fast as that's half the fun! Project may start in a wind tunnel this time and I already know tires will be the biggest challenge.

John Buscema
XV Motorsports
www.xvmotorsports.com