Angus Fogg has revealed plans to contest both the Super V8s and NAPA Central Muscle Cars at the ITM Taupo Super 440 Supercars event, and will modify his Ford Mustang between races.
Fogg and his J. A. Russell Ltd-backed 1970 Ford Mustang have established a bit of a cult following in Australia after taking the fire-breathing V8 to Mount Panorama and Surfers Paradise where it captured swathes of attention.
The car competed in the National Sports Sedans Series at Bathurst sporting an enormous rear wing and front splitter before being modified to race in the Touring Car Masters to the series regulations a week later in a unique double-header.
Now the team is prepared to make those same modifications but on one weekend to suit the rules for the Super V8s and Central Muscle Cars.
Fogg has entered both categories and will modify his car accordingly. In Central Muscle Cars, the Mustang will run in its traditional wingless configuration with a slightly smaller wheel and tyre package and a basic front air dam, before reversing those modifications for the Super V8s.
The rear wing will be reattached, a front splitter with an undertray will be fitted, as well as bigger wheels and tyres, and a quick splash of fuel.
So what motivated Fogg to do the double?
“I’m not 100 percent sure, but it seemed like a good idea at the time,” he laughed.
“I enjoy driving the car in its hot-rodded form. We’re there anyway, the opportunity had arisen to run the two categories, and I think we can do it given the space in between the races.
“There’s only one that’s back-to-back, which we’ll have to choose which one we’re going to do, but the rest we can put the other bits on or off and go and do some more laps at a cool meeting.
“It’s more exposure for my sponsors. It’s the last meeting of the season really for me, so I want to go out in a blaze of glory, or maybe a blaze of madness.”
The mixing and matching of parts does mean there is a small compromise. He’ll have to find a happy middle ground for the suspension set-up to cope with the added downforce when the go-fast parts are reattached.
Fogg reckons he’s a chance for a top 10 finish in the Super V8s field, which will feature a bunch of other hot-rodded V8 powered cars like his. The all-comers series will be home to V8 SuperTourers, TLX- and TL-spec NZV8s, Trans Am machinery and more.
“It’s been quite a versatile car, racing all sorts of classes and all sorts of tracks. It’s been a really good car. So yep, we’ll give it a good hiding again at Taupo and then maybe it’s time for a birthday for the old girl.
“She’s done seven or eight seasons now. It still presents well, but it’s getting a bit raggedy underneath, so it would be nice to.”
Australian fans of the car will be able to watch the famous Black and Gold Mustang on Fox Sports and Kayo, with New Zealanders able to watch on Sky Sport. He said he’s still stunned at the following he and the car have amassed.
At Mount Panorama, the car famously reached 312km/h down Conrod Straight and cut a 2:14.8s lap, in CMC/TCM spec, while in Sports Sedan spec a 2:09 lap was achieved, fast enough to be on pole for the 2001 Great Race.
“I was amazed at the fans and the quick acceptance of it. It was different to the ‘plastic fantastics’ that are racing over there, you know? It’s a real 1970 Ford Mustang.
“It’s still 90 percent steel and has a four-speed gearbox and is quite basic in a lot of ways, but it certainly punched above its weight in Australia. It has got a bit of a cult following, which is pretty cool. I’m pretty proud of it.”
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