Hi Guys,
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I attended the 2017 Ford GT launch program Wednesday night and yesterday. There will be several waves over the next week but I was on the first wave. I had to manage two video teams to shoot stories for two publications (Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book), plus I plan to write my own story for Forbes (maybe two stories). To say it was a busy day would be an understatement, and after working for 12 hours I drove home in my 2005 Ford GT, which took another 10 hours (got home just before 4 a.m., but I'll do anything to avoid traversing the LA roadways during the day, especially in my GT).
The experience was as epic as you'd imagine. I knew I'd be the only one bringing a 2005-2006 GT to the event, which made the drive up and back worth it (plus a little preview of what I'll be doing in August with many of you...). Our coverage and my perspective will obviously be different from every other journalist (and major kudos to Ford for letting me bring the car and working with me to shoot both vehicles at Utah Motorsports Campus).
The May 12 embargo means I can't get into details about the cars driving characteristics, but I can post some photos and share some fun stories.
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Story Number 1: Billie Johnson, driver of the number 66 WEC car, was onsite and told me he'd never driven the 2005-2006 GT. He was a major contributor to the 2017 GT's (street car's) dynamics, and he was very curious about how it compared to my 2005. I told him that was easy to address and insisted he drive it. We both suited up (including HANS) and went out on the track, where he put several laps on my car. My car was going sideways much of the time as Billie explored its dynamics and behavior at (and past) the edge of traction. He really liked it -- I mean REALLY liked it. I told him he needed one and he didn't argue the point. Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up with a 2005-2006.
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He already has a first-gen NSX with a turbo and 500 horsepower at the wheel. I laughed when he told me because after my first drive of a 2005 GT press car, 13 years ago, I told people it felt like a "Viper-powered-NSX" -- meaning it had the brutal power of the Dodge combined with the chassis precision and finesse of the NSX. To learn Billie has his own "Viper-powered-NSX" and then have him love the 2005 GT makes perfect sense. Also might give you all a clue on the new car given his prominent role in its chassis and suspension tuning...
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Story Number 2: During the street portion of the 2017 Ford GT drive I was partnered with Angus MacKenzie, who you may know as the man behind Motor Trend for the past 12 years. I drove the car over a combination of straight, rural roads and twisting mountain road, then switched with Angus and he drove us back. We were in the Liquid Red with silver stripes car that's been at many shows and events. All I can say now is that the ride was very memorable and Angus is the die-hard car guy you would expect someone in that role to be (I've known him for years).
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Story Number 3: As Dave mentioned, I drove my GT almost 700 miles up to the event and 700 miles back. The weather was dicey both ways north of St. George. The car experienced its first hail storm on the way up, though the hailstones were small and didn't leave any marks on the car. Watching the highway instantly turn white was the scariest part (plus the noise...), but I didn't do anything stupid and neither did the car. In fact, the car was (as usual) flawless, despite the cold weather, repeated rainstorms and snow flurries, plus that hailstorm and several track laps at the hands of a professional racer. I swear it's getting better mileage, too. It was consistently getting over 20 mpg despite its 618 rear-wheel-horsepower tune, and that was doing 75-85 most of the time. It turned over 30,000 miles on this trip, so maybe it's still breaking in.
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And it was a nice reminder of how special the "old" GT is. It's so easy for me to eat up highway miles between it's comfort, power, reliability, sure-footedness (even in inclement weather) and, yes, MPG (also proving another falsehood from Clarkson's treatment of the car on Top Gear...). The logistics of getting it to this event came together too late to use Reliable. Thankfully it didn't matter, because, well, reliable. :lol
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Now it's time to get busy writing my story. And helping the video guys edit the videos. And saving more of my money for next April-June. I can't tell you driving impressions, but I can tell you this -- driving the car didn't change my mind on buying one... :thumbsup
