Went to a cruise-in last night and was coming back home when a young fellow in a late model Mustang GT (but not current body style - don't know my 'Stangs very well) ended up driving beside me on a divided 4 lane in a neighboring town. His car looked very nice and sounded very nice. He had a drive-out tag so it was a new car to him, just not brand new.

My wife was with me and I'm almost 56...yeah, a geezer...but I've done my share of legal and illegal drag racing back in the day. He just stayed right beside me thru this small town and my wife said she thought he was spoiling for a race. I told her I wouldn't risk a ticket just because some kid wanted to show off.

As we left that town, and approached an increase in speed limit from 45 to 55, I pressed the accelerator just enough to downshift one gear as I throttled up to the new limit. Sure enough, as soon as he heard the Hemi growl a little the GT sprang to life and he quickly jumped out a good 100 yards ahead. My wife and I just chuckled and figured he would be happy he outclassed a "hot-rod" pickup truck and go on. Not so. He backed out of it, came back and shadowed my truck again. I even slowed a little to let him go on but he just slowed to match.

My lovely wife, being the sweet and innocent thing she is, said "Why don't you just go ahead and blow his doors off?" and I reminded her that we didn't do such things...anymore. Besides, there were a few other cars on the road but the were on-coming traffic all on the other side of the median. So when all the other cars had passed, and it was just me and this GT for at least the mile or so of the road that I could see, I told my wife to get ready and she said to go ahead and teach the little fellow (she used another name) a lesson.

I hit the gas, as did he, and I didn't see him come by so I asked my wife if he was there. She said he was right beside me but falling back. In just a couple of seconds he was behind me and I looked at the speedo just long enough to see I was hitting 90 so I got out of it and backed it down to 55 or so. This is the first time since I've owned the truck that I actually gave it all the gas it had available and it was pretty impressive! He seemed quite content to drive a couple hundred yards behind and at the speed limit the remaining 10 miles to our town. We ended up at a couple of lights at the same time, side by side, but there was no more eagerness to race on his part.

I was telling a buddy of mine who has a restored GT Mustang about it and he said he was surprised my truck would run with one...then he said "and I'll bet it surprised the hell out of that guy!"

I just smiled

 

Thats an awesome story and thats a nice looking truck you got there too!

 

Not trying to crap on your thread...but....I doubt very much that the GT was actually racing you. As much as I absolutely HATE mustangs I will be the first to admit that your big A@@ truck did not whomp on it if the other driver had a perfectly running car and was ACTUALLY racing you. Especially since you said you only hit 90 at your top, a racing mustang would have been well over 100 if room permitted. It hits that in the quarter mile alone....so unless you raced less than an 1/8 mile and you started and finished well before him...unlikely win.

I know this for a fact because of my experiences in my SRT-4 against GT's. The only ones I ever lost too were Cobra's and that was very rare! As I upgraded my turbo even the Cobra couldnt match my car. When my car was stock it still beat mustangs but it was a slower pull away (walked them) so they get up and go too. That being said, I would laugh at anyone who thinks this Ram (Of which I own one similar to yours according to your pic) could even keep up with an SRT-4, yet alone a GT. This truck is FARRRRR from anywhere near fast.

That being said, I am glad you and your wife had some fun that seems to have brought back the good ole days.....just keep it off the streets please. Thats for your safety as well as your passengers and those around you. It is not worth a ticket or a life.

 

Damn dude...why all the crap you just spilled? (refering to what Rampheak said) You don't actually know if he beat him or not..RIGHT? He very well could have. These trucks are pretty quick, especially for there size. Not to mention the horsepower that they are producing. I could beleive that these could run with the mustangs..I had a similar instance when I was at a stop light and my buddy was beside. We were both at the line and as soon as it turned green we both took off..I beat him off the line by atleast 2 car lenghts if not more..I didn't keep in cause I can't afford another ticket..When we stopped my buddy was amazed that I beat him off the line...My buddy drives a 2004 mustang GT with a new exhasut and some other mods to it..All that I have done to mine is just the muffler..So in my opinion before you go busting someones ***** about beating someone let them be...I bet this guy had alot fun when he did it too...Hey Mike Maples, great story..I am not a fan of the mustangs so when I hear a story like this I love it...I am not trying to start anything but this forum is supposed to be helpful and friendly to everyone (atleast that is what I thought) not to bash on each other..Just throwing my two cents in there!!!!

 

 

Great story man. I've never driven any fast car newer than 1967 so I know nothing about newer mustangs. There are multiple reasons that could explain why the Ram won or why the Mustang should have won. Whatever though. The Ram won this time and it was fun reading about it. Also, that's a bad truck. I don't like lowered trucks but your truck is sharp. Nice to see someone of an older generationaking their truck stand out in a good way.

 

Hey guys...be nice! RamPhreak makes a good point. It was more of a quick throttle punch than a true race. Like I said, it lasted a few seconds, just enough for a Hemi to go from 55 to 90. I never talked to the other driver. He may have backed out quicker than I did. Just relating what happened, not pondering why.

And I agree about keeping it off the streets. I used to be on the local Police force as a Reserve Officer and I would not have done it if there were any other cars in sight. I still shouldn't have. It did bring back old memories and I'm really loving the truck and the opportunity to hit a few shows and cruise-ins.

 

Mike, great story. Not to get off subject, but am really wondering if you could give me some info on your grill? My first and only mod to date is the vent shades. My next one is tinting the front windows, then I'm going to deal with the chrome grill. I was going to get the color matched from the dealer, but I really like the billet inserts. Thanks, Jeff.

 

The grille and insert are both Mopar. The grille is actually a TRX grille and comes with a black insert (which I still have, brand new, and available for $140 delivered to the lower 48). The horizontal bar insert is available thru the Mopar Accessory Catalog.

 

Great story Mike. It always gets my blood flowing when I get to have some fun like that. Fortunately I have a 2007 Mustang GT and a 2009 1500 Ram HEMI. The Mustang comes from the factory with a 4.6L V-8 with 290 horsepower compared to the 5.7L HEMI with 390 horses. I realize the Ram is heavier but I think it could still take the Mustang. 2 months after I owned the Mustang I put a Kenne Bell Twin Screw Supercharger on it and now it has 500 horses at the the rear wheels. From what I can remember, it would have been a close one between the Ram and the Mustang. Have fun and be safe!!