Author Topic: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area  (Read 1831 times)

Side-Oilers

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Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« on: May 04, 2022, 12:34:53 AM »
Found this 40 year old photo in a box today.     Laguna, 1982.   

That's my KR in foreground. Shortly after I bought it.  Drove it up there from L.A. and discovered it would give me 90 miles per tankful, maximum range.  (More like 70 miles tank range if having fun, like when speeding along with a Lamborghini Miura for a couple dozen miles.)

Fun, until I almost ran dry in a desolate area between nowhere and King City, and had to drop to 55 mph to hopefully make it in on fumes.  Lambo guy didn't seem to notice/care, and keep on truckin'.

Anyone know the owners of the others cars in this pix...'66 GT350, Cougar, etc.   Would love to see any other photos from this date & location.   I'm still digging and will post if I find any.

Thanks,
Van
« Last Edit: May 04, 2022, 02:57:39 PM by Side-Oilers »
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

427heaven

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2022, 08:41:15 AM »
I was there as well with my white 66... Mine might be the 66 in the middle of the photo, I remember them parking me with unrelated cars like that photo, because someone thought it was a clone with an automatic and some patina. From that weekend on... the car was transformed into a BOSS 302 4 SPEED ripper. :)

ctann

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2022, 11:36:19 AM »
Love it!

I know the previous owner of my KR used to Autocross it out at Candlestick park in the late 70's or early 80's - how I would love to find an old photo of it!

@Van, is your Shelby still in the area? We actually cruised through Laguna Seca in the KR on the "Coast to Copper Rally" back in March...

Cheers,
            Chris.

Side-Oilers

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2022, 03:02:16 PM »
Chris,

My KR was originally sold at Chet Monez Ford (in Fairfield CA) but has been in SoCal since the guy before me bought it (circa 1977.)

I'm in San Diego area if you're ever cruising by.
Van
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

68krrrr

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2022, 12:11:43 AM »
pretty cool
Current
1967 GT500 #1724
Nightmist Blue /Parchment
2005 Ford Gt Midnight blue
Porsche 911 Turbo 2007 Highly modified
1934 Ford Chopped & channeled

Previously owned
1968 GT500KR #03528 Lime green
1968 GT/CS

"Fly low & avoid the radar"
Thanks Adam

Side-Oilers

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2022, 12:19:43 AM »
Found another pix from the same event...
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

mark p

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2022, 10:59:18 AM »
I see a Tiger in the background, always enjoy spotting those.

how was that chin spoiler? I had a JC Whitney one on my (not worthy to mention  ???) car, it really clamped the front end down at higher speeds.
"I don't know what the world may need, but a V8 engine's a good start for me" (from Teen Angst by the band "Cracker")

66 Tiger / 65 Thunderbird

Side-Oilers

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2022, 04:21:21 PM »
The chin spoiler was on the car when I bought it in '82. I drove it at Willow Springs a couple of times.

Seemed to keep the front end from lifting "too much" at high speeds.  But I'd never driven the car without it, to compare.

When I restified the car in 2013-2015, I chose to leave it off. (Looks better without it, IMO.)

I took it to Willow only one other time: In late '15.  With no spoiler (but a bunch of other mods)  the car was pulling 8-9 mph faster down the front straight. That is attributable to new more powerful 427 and the new Hotchkis suspension that allowed higher corner exit speeds. 

The Hotchkis suspension also leveled out the F/R ride height. That must have helped counter some of the lift too. The car felt great, planted, at 133 mph (caught on radar) on the front straight.  Photos I have of the car on the track that day show a fairly level stance at those speeds.

So, I can't make an apples-to-apples comparison if the chin spoiler helped or not.
« Last Edit: May 15, 2022, 10:33:57 PM by Side-Oilers »
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

mark p

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2022, 09:27:06 PM »
Fun stories Van.
and, at least we all know it looks 1000% better without 👍
"I don't know what the world may need, but a V8 engine's a good start for me" (from Teen Angst by the band "Cracker")

66 Tiger / 65 Thunderbird

TA Coupe

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #9 on: May 16, 2022, 12:12:34 AM »
Does anyone know who's truck this is and the story behind it?  If no one knows, I will say in a few days.

         Roy
« Last Edit: May 16, 2022, 12:15:13 AM by TA Coupe »
If it starts it's streetable.
Overkill is just enough.

crossboss

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #10 on: May 16, 2022, 01:38:45 AM »
Does anyone know who's truck this is and the story behind it?  If no one knows, I will say in a few days.

         Roy



Roy,
As the joke says on the license plate frame, its Rick Kopeck's truck, correct?
Past owned Shelby's:
1968 GT-350--Gold
1970 GT-500--#3129--Grabber Orange.
Current lifelong projects:
1969 Mustang Fastback/FOX chassis, 5 speed, 4 wheel discs, with a modern Can-Am 494 (Boss 429), Kaase heads, intake with a 1425 cfm 'B' Autolite Inline carb, ala Trans-Am style
1968/70 Olds 442 W-30

TA Coupe

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Re: Laguna Seca 1982 -- My KR in Shelby parking area
« Reply #11 on: May 16, 2022, 05:42:00 AM »
Correct.  He didn't discover it until he was half way home 🙃

         Roy
If it starts it's streetable.
Overkill is just enough.