[Tom Vaught]

"At the end of our road loops, the response from the editors was consistent. The Mustang was simply harder to drive fast. Some preferred the challenge instead of the Camaro's reflexive, unflappable handling, but unless you're our esteemed road test editor or a professional racer, you'll be faster and more confident behind the wheel of the Camaro."

"The 662-horsepower GT500 hits 60 mph in 3.5 seconds to the 580-horsepower ZL1's 3.8 seconds. The gap only widens from there, with the GT500 finishing the quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds at a blazing 125.7 mph, trailed by the Camaro at 12.1 seconds and 117.4 mph.

"When you're putting that much torque to just two tires, these things happen. The Mustang and its extra 75 lb-ft of torque suffer more here, with more wheel spin and more sliding around. As a result, the race is actually very close through the first two gears until the Mustang finally hooks up and walks away in third."

"Despite its better times, the Mustang is more work to drive fast. But to quote everyone's favorite drag racing movie, "winning's winning." With Ford's adjustable launch control, even a novice drag racer will be able to put away ZL1s at the drag strip behind the wheel of a GT500."

Several Comments:

Most Road Editors are "trained drivers" like a lot of Ford Engineers who have gone thru Bondurant's Driving School on Ford's Dime. I went thru the driving schools. A guy on the road, though, might have a LOT of SCCA experience (Solo, etc) and drive better than I can). He or She might be able to manage the Gt500s live axle without issues without even thinking about it.

The GT500 BASIC Engine put BUS-LENGTHS on the ZL-1 (and this not even with the GOOD Motor, the 750 HP Engine (the "SUPER SNAKE" engine that is out there).

(I was asked to do a 1000 HP engine at one time by management) (;>)

The drag racing times would probably really improve with a decent set of 275 DR tires.

Tom Vaught