WILKERSON: STILL COLLECTING DATA ON FORD BODY
Sat, 2009-01-31 15:28
One Test Headed Into Pomona; Wilkerson Still Gathering Data
For the record, Tim Wilkerson is not just running a Mustang body. He’s running a Shelby Cobra Mustang.
For the record, underneath that Shelby Mustang shell isn’t your average run-of-the-mill chassis. The new Murf McKinney chassis features front suspension, with struts and springs attached to the beefy A-arms. It is the first McKinney Funny Car with a suspension system, and represents a radical departure from the norm. One Test Headed Into Pomona; Wilkerson Still Gathering Data
For the record, Tim Wilkerson is not just running a Mustang body. He’s running a Shelby Cobra Mustang.
For the record, underneath that Shelby Mustang shell isn’t your average run-of-the-mill chassis. The new Murf McKinney chassis features front suspension, with struts and springs attached to the beefy A-arms. It is the first McKinney Funny Car with a suspension system, and represents a radical departure from the norm.
For the record, Wilkerson hasn’t determined the true differences between the Shelby Mustang and his former Impala body, which he used to finish second in the point standings last year in the NHRA Funny Car division behind Cruz Pedregon.
"It's a little too early for me to make a definite call on that yet, since we've only tested this new body for one weekend down in West Palm Beach," Wilkerson said. "To add to all the variables, we were running our new chassis there too, so it's kind of hard to tell you which piece of the puzzle had what impact, but if I look at the runs we made and put it all together, I think we're on to something we'll like a lot. The car drove great and it went straight, with the exception of the one run where the tire was rubbing on one of the struts. Once we fixed that, it was a pleasure to drive.
Wilkerson made the switch from GM to Ford when he announced an alignment for 2009 with Bob Tasca III late last season. Though Tasca tested last season in Las Vegas and then both east (West Palm) and west (Phoenix) coast nitro tests, his data is limited.
"For a real comparison, it will take some time for us to drive on some stout tracks and some not-so-good tracks, and some hot tracks and cold tracks, just to get all the data from all over the board,” Wilkerson continued. “Once we start to fill the log book up with data, we'll be able to see the advantages we're getting out of the new Shelby Mustang and the new chassis.
“After one solid test session, though, there was nothing about the car I didn't like. You know, I'm coming from a car I liked a lot, and had a lot of success with, so I don't take any of this lightly and I wouldn't say good things just to say them. It's all really promising, and we're looking forward to the season as partners with Bob Tasca III and his group, running this Shelby Mustang Funny Car for Levi, Ray & Shoup."
For the record, Tim Wilkerson is not just running a Mustang body. He’s running a Shelby Cobra Mustang.For the record, underneath that Shelby Mustang shell isn’t your average run-of-the-mill chassis. The new Murf McKinney chassis features front suspension, with struts and springs attached to the beefy A-arms. It is the first McKinney Funny Car with a suspension system, and represents a radical departure from the norm. One Test Headed Into Pomona; Wilkerson Still Gathering Data
For the record, Tim Wilkerson is not just running a Mustang body. He’s running a Shelby Cobra Mustang.For the record, underneath that Shelby Mustang shell isn’t your average run-of-the-mill chassis. The new Murf McKinney chassis features front suspension, with struts and springs attached to the beefy A-arms. It is the first McKinney Funny Car with a suspension system, and represents a radical departure from the norm.
For the record, Wilkerson hasn’t determined the true differences between the Shelby Mustang and his former Impala body, which he used to finish second in the point standings last year in the NHRA Funny Car division behind Cruz Pedregon.
"It's a little too early for me to make a definite call on that yet, since we've only tested this new body for one weekend down in West Palm Beach," Wilkerson said. "To add to all the variables, we were running our new chassis there too, so it's kind of hard to tell you which piece of the puzzle had what impact, but if I look at the runs we made and put it all together, I think we're on to something we'll like a lot. The car drove great and it went straight, with the exception of the one run where the tire was rubbing on one of the struts. Once we fixed that, it was a pleasure to drive.
Wilkerson made the switch from GM to Ford when he announced an alignment for 2009 with Bob Tasca III late last season. Though Tasca tested last season in Las Vegas and then both east (West Palm) and west (Phoenix) coast nitro tests, his data is limited.
"For a real comparison, it will take some time for us to drive on some stout tracks and some not-so-good tracks, and some hot tracks and cold tracks, just to get all the data from all over the board,” Wilkerson continued. “Once we start to fill the log book up with data, we'll be able to see the advantages we're getting out of the new Shelby Mustang and the new chassis.
“After one solid test session, though, there was nothing about the car I didn't like. You know, I'm coming from a car I liked a lot, and had a lot of success with, so I don't take any of this lightly and I wouldn't say good things just to say them. It's all really promising, and we're looking forward to the season as partners with Bob Tasca III and his group, running this Shelby Mustang Funny Car for Levi, Ray & Shoup."
Categories:
