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I Have Been to the Mountaintop

An Inside Look at One 'Stangbanger's Personal Paradise
Posted September 16 2008 04:00 AM by KJ Jones 
Filed under: Miscellaneous, S197 Mustangs, KJ Jones

A tech project (which you'll read about in an upcoming issue of the magazine, of course) has me currently sitting in the incredibly beautiful "Rocky Mountain" region of our country, in Bristol, Virginia. The Tennessee border is just a few miles south on Interstate 81, as is "Thunder Valley," the dragstrip element of the Bristol Motor Speedway (NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car) complex. This is my first time ever seeing this area. It really is something else.

Also nestled in this region lies one Mustang enthusiast's personal playground. I've had the pleasure of spending the last couple of days with Allen Hurley and Johnny Morris of "Team Hurley"/Image One Motorsports, and I'm still totally blown away by Alan's ginormous shop-and-dyno facility, that he basically built for himself, his brother and his family to use.

That's right, it's personally owned and non-commercial. These guys aren't a "Mustang shop" at all, but if you're a Mustang guy, the stuff they've got going on up on their private hill will have you thinking they do this stuff for a living--or should do it for a living. Check it out after the jump...


I can only wish that one day I'll have a spread like this. The main shop is on the right. Check out the motorhome sitting along the side of the building. Crazy!
The dyno cell is bigger than some small houses are!
No "dream garage" is complete without a chassis dyno.
When you don't feel like taking the stacker, take the enclosed. The building is a place for staying overnight when the guys work late...it's NOT "home," that's a mile down the road.
A fleet of high-powered Mustangs is at Alan's disposal at all times.
Twin 67mm turbos for this "street car." Johnson, are you ready to wheel this thing in KOTS?
There's that intake manifold again. What's that all about? Get the mag and find out!
This coupe belongs to Alan's brother. Street/'strip is the goal with this one.
Another race-'Stang project car awaits construction.
Look closely at the white GT. Notice anything different in the intake area? More on that in an upcoming issue of 5.0!
We went for a Rhino ride through the woods. The property is deep and beautiful throughout.

According to an old saying, "the guy with the most toys wins." Well, I have to give Allen Hurley his prize now, because his palatial shop, chassis dyno and 65-acre hilltop spread is hands-down the best personal Mustang toy box I've ever seen. Sure, I bet there are others out there who may have better, but I've now experienced the Team Hurley compound, and it's absolutely incredible.

Beautiful grounds, super-clean work areas in the shop, enough space to park a fleet of 'Stangs (I saw at least 6 Ponies in the stable, including the twin-turbocharged S197 that was prepared for our 2008 King of the Street competition at Bowling Green), as well as a mega-coach motorhome, stacker and enclosed trailers, tractors and farm machines, quads and endless trails for riding, a gun range and whatever else you can think of.

The photos only do the place "some" justice. It all really has to be taken in in person, and I'm really glad I had the opportunity to do so.

Yes, I am SUPER jealous!

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