twobjshelbys Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 The annual Ford GT Rally is in Las Vegas this week. On Wednesday morning we all gathered at Shelby American for a group photo and tour. Here's my pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted October 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 These are two of the Matech Ford GTs that were built to race in the GT class, especially at Le Mans. A private party bought them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted October 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 This is the group photo. My lens wasn't wide enough to get the whole thing. There was a pro photographer there and he got a wider one, along with a group photo. The drone was cool.I've done the tour inside quite a few times so I didn't get alot. I am a sucker for Coupes though. Gary Patterson gave the tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted October 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 We went to Spring Mountain track on Thursday and Gary was there. During open track he was driving a Shelby GT/SC. At the very end of the day Gary drove my car for about 15 minutes. I got some seat time with a world class instructor and he got to drive a hot car My car started to heat up so he wasn't too hard on it but still was doing more than I could. It was a great ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-man Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 Wow!!!! What a phenomenal looking event. How many Ford GT's were there? I wouldn't be surprised if you guys set a record. Z-man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ageishecker Posted October 17, 2014 Report Share Posted October 17, 2014 I would love to have been there. A fantastic group of cars. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HARALD KELLEY Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Very cool event. Thanks for Sharing the pictures. Cool to see so many GT in one place. MM brought my # 120 GT-H take off hood and had Gary P and I believe Akos F. sign it. Wish I could have gone to se all the cars. Sounds like the track was fun sitting in the right seat.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperNC Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Ah-some! Great pics and I bet it was incredible. Those race cars look amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Fest Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Ah-some! Great pics and I bet it was incredible. Those race cars look amazing.+1 Thank you for sharing!!! Do you have the rally at the same time each year? Would like to see that group in person! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali_KR Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 It was a great event, and thrilled I had the opportunity to take part A new configuration for the track with some added elevation changes.I Thanx to Michael McGuirk and Fadi, I got sessions to drive each of their cars, (2011 GT350 and 2005 FR500S respectively) Good times., great friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali_KR Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Wow!!!! What a phenomenal looking event. How many Ford GT's were there? I wouldn't be surprised if you guys set a record. Z-man 85 FGT's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffJ Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Great Pics as always Tony! Thanks so much for posting them. I figured you would get some out. I'm pretty shocked at those Matech cars being here in the US now. I can't imagine what was paid for those cars and then getting them here. Where do they live now, CA? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeljgt500kr Posted October 18, 2014 Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Great pictures, and what a gathering! I am a bit surprised at all the heavily modified ones. If I ever get a chance to buy one, I would want one just like it left the factory and would keep it that way, but I know some people can't resist "personalizing" their rides, especially new ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 Great pictures, and what a gathering! I am a bit surprised at all the heavily modified ones. If I ever get a chance to buy one, I would want one just like it left the factory and would keep it that way, but I know some people can't resist "personalizing" their rides, especially new ones. There are some purists that do keep their cars stock. Bone stock the car has more potential on the track than most mere mortals can ever used. The "modding" of cars was discussed during the panel discussion with the design (Camilo) and engineering teams. They said they were directed from on-high at Ford that the engine would have to be capable of at least 800HP (or was it 850) to allow for power train upgrades. We all know that the engine is capable over 1000HP with the twin turbo config. They didn't expect the "straight line" type of usage (e.g., the Texas Mile). The original GT40s were road track cars and that was the expected usage model for the Ford GT. I'll be posting a video of most of the panel discussion later this or next week (I need to do some editing, it's an hour and nearly filled a 16GB SD card so I've got to cut it down by reducing resolution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted October 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2014 +1 Thank you for sharing!!! Do you have the rally at the same time each year? Would like to see that group in person! The rally schedule varies from year to year and is always in a different place from last year (there have been two in Vegas but that was 5 or 6 years ago). Next year is in Dearborn for the 10th anniversary of the GT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mavisky Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 This may be one of the few cars where the addition of the "lamborghini" door hinges actually helps instead of hinders the function of the doors due to the door/roof interaction of the stock doors. Guessing those were custom one off units produced for the black car up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 This may be one of the few cars where the addition of the "lamborghini" door hinges actually helps instead of hinders the function of the doors due to the door/roof interaction of the stock doors. Guessing those were custom one off units produced for the black car up there. Yes, they call them "butterfly doors" here (it's a more generic name) but it's about 20K to install them... It involves some major work to the door hinges and bracing. Essentially the entire front of the car has to come off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrimoShelbyUSAFvet Posted April 24, 2020 Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 This annual event still going on/still a thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted April 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2020 7 hours ago, PrimoShelbyUSAFvet said: This annual event still going on/still a thing? The event at Shelby American was a one-time event. Ford GT rallys come and go, having skipped a few years. One is supposed to happen in Phoenix but I'd bet that is iffy. You have to be a Ford GT owner to participate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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