Open-Road Racing Cobra John Buscema

Of all the crazy things to do with a Mustang, open-road racing has to top the chart. Run on rather straight desert roads closed off by the highway patrol, these events are marked by rocket-like speeds for up to 90 miles. There may be no wheel-to-wheel competition as the racers are flagged off in intervals, but the call of 200-mph averages means only those with steel nerves and ice water in their veins—and intercoolers—need apply.

John Buscema fits that description right down to the ice water. He has put together one of the best-engineered specialist Mustangs we’ve seen, specifically to run like the rest of us only dream about. Featured in our April 2000 issue (“Unlimited Goals,” p. 58), the Mustang is chock-full of interesting technicalities, which are what we’re zeroing in on here.

To reach and maintain three times freeway speeds, John has had to pay special attention to aerodynamics and build plenty of reliable power, as well as fabricate a safe, predictable-handling chassis. What’s intriguing about John’s Mustang is his combination of attention to those details that matter in open-road racing—some of them rather subtle—and reliance on proven, off-the-shelf Mustang power builders that give reliable if not mind-bendingly large power.

Absolutely primary to any high- speed effort are top-quality tires. John has come to trust DOT-legal Michelin Pilots, saying they are one of the few tires the tech inspectors will approve for 200-plus-mph speeds. An even more ultra-speed-rated “Pilot Cup” Michelin is on the way, and when it arrives, John says he’ll likely run it. Also with an eye on safety, John insists on Kinesis-forged aluminum wheels. Lovingly crafted to sail through rigorous industry dura-bility tests, the Kinesis are plenty stout.

Because they are forgings, they’ll bend some rather than snap as would a casting. This can mean keeping the tires inflated during “a big off,” and that can mean retaining at least some control when any at all could be critical. Not as easily obtained is the racer’s most desirable commodity—testing. Duplicating the 200-mph airflow and long stretches of wide-open throttle running are basically impossible. Efforts at obtaining wind-tunnel and high-speed track time are underway and should pay off handsomely.

In the meantime, John works his way forward one race at a time. Data acquisition systems have helped, but they are not full substitutes for track time. Still, with clockings as high as 206 mph, John is obviously doing something right. More engine development with Sean Hyland, along with the ongoing aerodynamic tuning, means 220 mph might be seen this year. That’s flying!

Horse Sense: Not many racers have their own Web sites, but John Buscema does: www.200mphracing.com.