There will be something else electrifying the Las Vegas strip this week besides
the dazzling lights and glittering resorts.
Ford will be showcasing a new line of racing products in an exciting way at the
annual SEMA show.
"At every auto show we always talk about the power of our vehicles," said Bob
Adams, manager, Global Auto Shows and Event Strategy. "At SEMA, we're going to
give people an opportunity to experience the power for themselves."
Adams is referring to an exhibit – the first of its kind in the world at an
indoor auto show -- called the "Dyno Display," which was designed to simulate a
quarter mile race on a drag strip. Dyno is short for dynamometer – a machine
used to measure the power of an engine. A car is parked on rollers which turn
with the car's wheels and measure the power of the vehicle as it accelerates.
But sitting atop the Dyno is not just any car.
It is a 450-horsepower supercharged Ford Racing Mustang GT customized with
special features from Ford Racing Performance Part's new line of Mustang
"Performance Packs," which were introduced for the first time at SEMA.
"Mustang is the king when it comes to driving performance parts business," said
Jamie Allison, manager, Ford Racing Performance Parts. Three packages -- a Power
Pack, Drag Pack and Handling Pack -- will now be available for purchase from any
authorized Ford Racing distributor or Ford dealer.
"The FRPP Performance Packs for Mustang are grounded in championship-winning
engineering and race-proven experience," he said. "They are the perfect platform
for enthusiasts to customize, personalize and enhance their Mustangs for the
street or track."
According to Adams, there's no better way to showcase a new racing performance
package than to let people get behind the wheel and start the engine.
"They will be able to squeal the tires, shift the gears and try to finish in the
best time," he said. "More importantly, they will be able to experience
firsthand the power, smoothness and versatility of the Ford Racing Mustang."
The driver is signaled to start through a headset and a series of lights on a
"Christmas tree." When the race is over, the horsepower and speed of the car are
measured along with the driver's reaction time and elapsed race time.
According to Adams, building the Dyno Display in a way that alleviated concerns
about noise levels, exhaust fumes and safety, among other things, was quite a
challenge. But he and his team came up with innovative ways to solve all
potential problems.
"We engineered everything from a safety perspective," he explained. "We've got
safety straps to hold the car down, ballistic shields around the transmission
under the hood and we've taken fire safety precautions."
Exhaust fumes from the car will be vented through the ceiling of the convention
hall to the outdoors, and Adams does not expect noise to be a problem because
they've incorporated sound-deadening elements into the display.
"We're bringing the excitement and adventure of drag racing inside our booth,"
said Adams. "It's a huge thrill."