So I'm heading to a buddy's house tonight to help install one of the most fun mods of any on his "not-so-stock" '86 Mustang GT - a Hurst Roll Control kit! We both live rural, so not too much traffic anywhere with generally wide open roads between us. Nearing his house, I come to the only instersection en route that has a stoplight. Waiting to turn left at the red light was a mid '90s FWD Eclipse, pretty stock looking(only wheels and lowered suspension visible, but who knows, anything - especially with turbo - can be built) but with a young race hungry kid at the wheel. I know because as I rolled beside him to turn right, I stopped on red, then just for fun when I pulled out I got heavy right foot and loose rear end. I never really broke the speed limit, but this guy decided to leave his left turn and chase me down. My destination is right around the corner, so I hit that road and the Eclipse follows. It is country two-lane blacktop among pastures. I know dude is outside is house waiting on me to get there so I figured he'd enjoy the show as I stopped in my lane and the eager kid rolls up beside me. He asks "Is it a Firebird?" I say "yes." I said "you running the turbo car?" He says "Yes, but it is all stock. You wanna run 'em?" I said "you count it off." He said "we go on third beep." Now I'm thinking for this guy to run up on me and challenge, he must not be so stock. I'm in gear ready to go, he starts building boost. 2-3 seconds pass, he's got revs, but he ain't beeped the first horn yet... and I see lights come onto this road behind us and it spooks me. I let off the brakes and start to roll away, and now he beeps. I said screw it, got back on brakes and stopped with my door near his front bumper just about the time of his third beep. He goes, I feel bad for rolling on him, so I let him get out a car on me before I went. Smoked him... at least 2 cars by 60ish. I knew car was behind us so we got around a curve and I pulled over and said let's go the other way easy. We were OK, stopped up road a bit, and talked. He said "you sure that's a Firebird?" I say "yes, a Firebird Trans Am." He said "so it's a V8?" I say "yes." This guy thought he was racing a V6... don't know why, guess just dumb. Anyway, it was fun and my friend said he did enjoy the show! The guy said he beats V6 F-Bodies regular, but knows not to mess with a vette or an Evo. Now he knows to make sure that Firebird ain't a sub-series Trans Am too

Alot of todays young drivers have never been in a V8 car. They get used to 4 & 6 bangers and when they get in one that runs good they think no one can touch them. There are some 4 & 6 cylinder cars that flat haul to. They just dont have that torque that a V8 has. Heck,put an LS1 into that Eclipse with AWD and see what that does!

Jon, only you could be making a short trip to a friends house and end up getting a run in the process. You lucky thing you!!

But at least you put him in his place and maybe from now on he'll think twice about running another Firebird before making sure that what he's up against is actually a V6 Firebird and not one of it's big sisters (Formula/Trans Am).

Just wait...he'll start to figure out how to identify a trans am and then come across a formula...that'll really throw him for a loop.

I can just see it when that happens, he'll go crazy trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

"Woah woah hang on a sec...first there are firebirds, then there are trans ams...NOW you are telling me there is a firebird formula??? WHATS THAT!?"

haha! Nice run, even if it wasn't in your class I will pretty much run anything that wants to go, and i still can't believe it but i haven't lost yet...mainly because most of the cars that i've raced are just like this haha. Mainly kids (usually teens an into their early 20's) who think their car is fast just because it can beat a honda accord or a toyota corolla haha!!

another thing...i am a bit surprised he didn't know it was a V8 after hearing you break the rear loose around that corner, especially strapped with a loudmouth!! *sigh* import kids haha!