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Shelby celebrates Terlingua Racing Team with Texas "Bullrun"

A little known story among Mustang fans is that of Carroll Shelby and his Terlingua Racing Team. Shelby automotives plans to celebrate Shelby's racing lineage next month with it's first annual Shelby "Bullrun" Challenge deep in the heart of Texas.

The tale first unfolds in the 1960's in the town of Terlingua, Texas. A group of gearheads were approached by Ford to build Mustang racers. The group consisted of Carroll Shelby, Bill Neale, Dave Witts, Tom Tierney and David E. Davis, Jr, who willingly accepted the offer and ended up building the now famous GT350 and GT500 Mustangs. The group was famous for it's wild parties and fast paced lifestyles in between races.

The distinguishing mark of this crazy bunch was a yellow and black logo penned by co-founder Bill Neale. At the center of the badge was a rabbit with one paw raised into the air. With the bunny leading the charge on each team member's hood, the Terlingua's wreaked havoc on the Trans Am Series and quickly became notorious both in paddocks and on the streets.

After multiple wins and a lot of cars being built, the race team was all but forgotten until last year when Shelby rolled out its Terlingua Racing Team V-6 Mustang. According to Shelby officials, the main focus in building the car was to create an affordable, genuine Shelby Mustang capable of competing in all sorts of racing situations with ample power and handling prowess. From drifting and drag racing, to circuit and autocross racing, the Terlingua Racing Team Shelby Mustang aims to have everything covered.

In celebration of the team's past successes and future growth, Shelby Automobiles is hosting the Texas-style Shelby "Bullrun" Challenge at Terlingua this September 25 to 28. For three days, anyone that comes to the festivities in a Shelby vehicle (Mustang, Cobra, etc.), factory Mustang, or Ford GT will be able to participate in the variety of planned drives and events.

"We created the Shelby Terlingua Racing Team so our small group of rebels could have some real fun," stated Carroll Shelby in a press release. "Now, I'm inviting a new generation to return with me for a weekend they'll always remember."

Organizers have mapped out a 350 mile rally run, a 12 mile time trial course, airstrip track and half mile dragstrip for enthusiast wanting to burn a little rubber over the weekend. Other fun to be had at the "Bullrun" includes the mandatory car show, hole-in-one golf tournament, Texas "shootout", chili cook-off contest and autograph session with Carroll Shelby.

Come take a peak at AmericanMuscle's line of Carroll Shelby Mustang Wheels.

Ford to delay the release of Fusion GT and F-100

In some more discouraging news to enthusiasts, Ford has recently decided to focus (no pun intended) all of it's efforts towards it's line of Ecoboost engines. This means a delay in two of the expected recipients of said turbocharged engines, the Fusion GT and F-100.

The F-100 is a downsized version of the company's F-150 pickup, which has been rumored to replace the Ranger. It was scheduled to debut in three years. As part of its restructuring efforts, Ford is looking to double its hybrid and four-cylinder engine production by as late as 2011 and is planning the introduction of a number of EcoBoost powered models beginning next spring.

Through the use of direct-injection and turbocharging, engineers claim the EcoBoost units produce fewer pollutants, achieve greater fuel efficiency figures and make enough power to rival bigger displacement (and gas guzzling) engines.

First to get an all-new EcoBoost powerplant will be the 2009 Lincoln MKS sedan when it hits U.S. showrooms next spring.

Ford's ultimate goal is to increase the efficiency of the F-150 to the point where it doesn't need to build the F-100. So for now the project remains on the back burner.

"We have no intention of giving up our leadership in trucks," Ford's global product development chief Derrick Kuzak told reporters. "Fuel economy (will be) a reason to buy -- no longer a reason to reject -- Ford vehicles."

Ford powertrain head barb Samardzich told company officials the shift from V-8s and V-6s to four-cylinder engines will be a top priority despite initial capacity restraints. "You are going to see more four-cylinder capacity," Fields said. "The key is having the flexibility to respond to the marketplace, whichever way it goes."

In other, related news, the planned Fusion GT is off until the vehicle's next interation in 2012. The biggest obstacle in producing the GT isn't the fact that Ford is afraid to introduce a new performance vehicle, but rather the fact that the company is trying to roll out the EcoBoost for the Lincoln MKS first. The original plan was to produce the GT as an end of production, limited volume performance car. It will be more of an image car for Ford.

Ford is also discussing the possible use of ethanol technology to double the efficiency of it's EcoBoost engines. Produced by Massachusetts company Ethanol Boosting Systems LLC., the system utilizes an additional ethanol tank that automatically injects a small amount of the alternative fuel into the car's gas tank. According to the manufacturer, the ethanol only has to be refilled every 5,000 miles and will add $300 to $400 to each EcoBoost engine -- two compromises Ford is excitedly willing to deal with if the system does what it claims to achieve.