Blue Thunder, the 1980 Ford Mustang of the Sopwith Motorsports racing team, has set the first official Fox body Mustang speed record at the Nelson Ledges Road Course.
Stephen Cox Blog
Articles and commentary by Stephen Cox, race car driver and commentator for the Mecum Auctions, among other things.
Rebuilding My Totally-Not-Collectible Mustang, Part 9
It seems that I titled this series prematurely. Blue Thunder – my two-owner 1980 Ford Mustang – was once among the least desireable Mustangs in existence but is now soaring in value. Not only are Fox body Mustangs increasing in price across the board, but it turns out that the coupes (sometimes called “notchbacks”) are among the mostly prized ponies in the corral.
Rebuilding My Totally-Not-Collectible Mustang, Part 8
Blue Thunder, my 1980 Ford Mustang, was born as a 2.3 liter four cylinder but has gone through a progression of four small block engine installations. As a result, I’ve learned a few hard lessons about cooling a V8.
2 YEAR REVIEW: Chassis Stiffener for Fox Body Mustang
Fox body Mustangs (1979-93) have torque boxes for a reason. Ford’s sloppy Fox platform literally twists under acceleration and with every turn the driver makes. This “chassis flex” (technically the Fox Mustang is a unit body platform but you get the idea) robs the classic Fox Mustang of cornering power and good handling characteristics. (more…)
This Is How We Save Short Track Racing
Ask any race promoter or track owner and you’ll hear the same term again and again… “car count.” Auto racing lives and dies by car count. Show me a track or series that gets 100 cars every night and I’ll show you a successful enterprise. If a series or track cannot attract cars, it cannot survive.
AC Cobra Goes Electric?
Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any weirder, along comes one of the world’s finest classic cars. With an electric motor. No kidding. Not even a hybrid. (more…)
STEVE MCQUEEN’S “BULLITT” MUSTANG HIGHLIGHTS CARS FEATURED ON MECUM MAIN ATTRACTIONS WEEK MAY 11-17 ON NBCSN
50+ Hours of Classic Mecum Auctions from Kissimmee, Monterey and Indianapolis; Plus Eddie Vannoy and John Atzbach Collections Specials
Classic Cars Include Mecum Auctions’ Record-Breaking Steve McQueen 1968 Ford Mustang GT in “Bullitt”; Alexander Rossi’s 2016 INDY 500-Winning Car; and the One and Only 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
Content to Stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports App
STAMFORD, Conn. – May 7, 2020 – Beginning Monday, May 11, NBC Sports will present Mecum Main Attractions Week on NBCSN, featuring more than 50 hours of classic Mecum Auctions action across seven events from Kissimmee (2018, 2019, 2020), Monterey (2018, 2019) and Indianapolis (2018, 2019), as well as thirty-minute specials on the Eddie Vannoy and John Atzbach Collections that will cross the block in 2020. (more…)
NASCAR Outlaws Coffee
Auto racing is the most over-regulated sport in the world. Germain Racing crew chief Matt Borland was suspended by NASCAR following a random drug test, reportedly for the mortal sin of drinking a particular type of coffee for the last six months. (more…)
GREAT DRIVES: Lincoln Park Speedway 1985
It was the late summer of 1985. Huey Lewis and the News topped the charts with “The Power of Love.” The epic sci-fi classic, “Back to the Future” was number one at the box office. Central Indiana weather was blazing hot. (more…)