RideLust

Ferrari 330 P3, otherwise known as the definition of hot.

Just in time for the upcoming Le Mans race this weekend, it’s a book all about the coolest automotive rivalry of all time, fought at over 200 MPH on the Mulsanne Straight. It’s Enzo Ferrari versus Henry Ford II, and money is no object. The goal is worldwide bragging rights, and the dueling weapons are two of the most iconic racecars of all time: the Ford GT40 and the Ferrari 330 P3. The book is “Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans.” Make the jump for an excerpt of the book, from the author’s website.

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The exterior modifications might be minimal, but according to Ford, the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 is a whole different beast under the hood. Ditching the single knock engine calibration system sensor for dual job, Ford’s SVT team was able to give the 2010 GT500′s supercharged 5.4L DOHC V8 a significant performance upgrade, boosting engine output to 540 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. “Where you really feel the new power and torque is mid-range,” explained Kerry Baldori, chief functional engineer for Ford’s Special Vehicles Team. “The new Shelby GT500 produces more torque than the outgoing model at 3,000 rpm and never looks back.”

To enhance performance without sacrificing handling, Baldori and his team of SVT experts also took a torque wrench to the GT500′s 6-speed manual gearbox, replacing the twin-disk clutch with bigger, 250 mm copper and fiberglass disks. According to Baldori, this relatively minor change accounts for major improvements on the track. With clutch engagement noticeably smoother, the 2010 Shelby GT500 is now able to tear out of the starting gate with graceful ease and accelerate to 0-60mph time of 4.3s (0-100 in 9.4 seconds). Impressively enough, the improvements to its track-worthiness did not adversely affect its fuel economy, and the 2010 Shelby GT500 actually received a 2mpg in fuel efficiency for 2010. A negligible difference, yet a difference just the same, Baldori summarized the appeal of the new racehorse, explaining, “These are all the attributes that customers want in an on-the-edge performance car, but we’ve also delivered a comfortable daily driver as well.” Read More…

Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) has finally whisked the cover off their newest work of art, the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, and, as we expected, it’s a beaut’. Undeniably one of the baddest snakes yet, the Shelby GT500 received quite a performance boost for 2010 and now features under the hood a supercharged intercooled 5.4L DOHC V8 capable of churning out a thundering 540 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque.

Paying homage to the original king Cobras from the ’60′s, Ford attempted (successfully) to integrate classic muscle car styling with advanced aerodynamic modifications befitting a beast of its power. Seeking to enhance to performance of the GT500′s new supercharged V8, Ford equipped the 2010 Shelby with features like a hood extractor to remove heat from the engine and a “Gurney Flap” spoiler to tune rear downforce (additions which, unlike the vents pressed onto the side of V6 ‘Stang the 20-something bottle-blonde down the street from you drives, are fully functional).

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In stark contrast to the two major appendages and one liver Ford requires for the privilege of driving a Mustang GT500 off the lot, the high-performance 2010 Camaro SS will be available for a mere $30,995. Claiming a lap time of 8:20 ’round The Ring (not too shabby considering the Corvette ZR1′s 7:26.4 time), the Camaro SS comes with a 6.2L V8 which, mated with an automatic transmission, produces 400-horsepower and 395 lb-ft. Should you swap the automatic for a manual, performance will shoot from 400-hp to 422-hp, and from 395 lb-ft to 408 lb-ft. Regardless of the gearbox, however, the SS’s V8 is still expected to average 23 mpg on the highway, providing the ideal fuel efficiency for cruising along the New Jersey Turnpike, listening to your big-haired, orange-skinned girlfriend snap her gum seductively.

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Looking to maintain the hype over the redesigned 2010 Ford Mustang set to debut in November at the LA auto show, Ford has released a set of teaser photos of the new bodystyle . Unfortunelty, the photos are so obscure that for all we can tell, it could just as well be a 2006 Mustang GT and we’d never know the difference. Gotta love a gangsta, though.

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Intimidation: Shelby GT500KR

The wild Texan, Carroll Shelby, has announced a new race and party to coincide with the rebirth of the Terlingua Racing Team; the first annual “Shelby Bullrun Challenge” to take place in West Texas on Sept. 25th-28th. The event includes a combination of driving events and parties for celebrities and enthusiasts that will be on the level of the ones that made Terilingua legendary back in the 60′s.

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Audi R10

As a follow up to my recent article about last week’s Generac 500 race at Road America in Wisconsin; Audi and their supremely powerful turbo diesel R10′s finished with the overall first and second place finish in the LMP1 class.  It was the second consecutive time in the American LeMans Series that Audi has come in with the top two spots.

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Aston Martin GT2 coming to Wisconsin

Road racing, in general, and specifically the American LeMans Series of racing, does not get much attention in the land of NASCAR.  Nevertheless, the Generac 500 taking place at Road America in Wisconsin on Aug. 9th is one of the best initiations for those who are new to the sport.  Not only is car racing that includes more than turning left interesting to watch, but the cars on the track in the GT classes are based on real street vehicles…at least in theory.

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Two of the greatest supercars of all time face off on the same track and the Ford GT barely comes out on top. Pretty impressive for the Nissan GT-R considering the fact that it is less than half the price of the Ford GT.

Admittedly, the Ford GT kicks the Nissan GT-R’s ass when it comes to body design. But the Nissan GT-R arguably has the more impressive, trend-setting technology.

In my mind, this is more evidence of the Nissan GT-R’s greatness. With highly optimized technology, it managed to maximize its 3.8L V6 engine, 480hp and 193 max top speed and hold its own against the Ford GT’s higher specs.