When Al Gore invented the internet he opened up society to a new way of establishing records. An “official” record is when a company or sanctioning body recognizes said record, and documents it accordingly. With the advent of the internet, though, we now have every Tom, Dick, and Harry establishing or touting his own records without official documentation to back it up. Don’t get it twisted, I’m not spouting off here without respect to the effort and expense people go through to build a fast car. I have huge respect for people who take a car and are able to get it to point B from point A quicker than anyone else. However, in the big picture, my question is this: If the record isn’t documented or nationally recognized, does anyone really care?

We hear it all the time…one guy says he has the record for the fastest Cobra with an IRS and the stock Eaton blower. Yet another will tell us he has the fastest Cobra with a stock Eaton and a solid axle. We’re talking ¼-mile times here, but with just these two examples one can see how hugely confusing this is. Just think 20 years down the road when you tell someone your 1995 Mustang GT was the fastest SN95 with a stock clutch, is anyone really going to care if you don’t have official documentation? I am going to go out on a limb and say “Probably not.”

Now, if the record is documented by say…the NMRA, NHRA, or equivalent timing association, that documentation will be there, and lend credibility to your claim. Without any documentation you’re just another Tom, Dick, or Harry claiming a record about which no one cares. What; are the 10 guys from the track the day you “broke” or “set” the record going to follow you around for the next 20 years to help back-up your claim?! Once again I’ll answer with a “Probably not!”     

I think Mike Smalley has it right. I like to call him Chicago Mike, but he recently sent us photos of his 2003 Cobra convertible’s recent drag strip visit. “It is unofficially the fastest Terminator ‘vert in the country with a stock computer,” Mike says. You can read more about Mike’s Cobra at www.badasscobra.com. Mike just may have the fastest Cobra convertible utilizing a stock computer, but without any official documentation, it remains glorified internet speculation, and I think he realizes it as such. I also think his Cobra is in serious need of an anti-roll bar, but that would apparently hamper the car’s “streetability.” Hey Mike, your Cobra doesn’t even have overdrive, pal.     

Again, don’t get mad at me, for this blog is just my opinion, and all in good fun…kinda. I have huge respect for every Mustang owner capable of making his/her car faster than anyone else. Mike has himself one fast Cobra, and I tip my filthy dirty SPEC Clutches hat to him, but whatever happened to simply having a fast Mustang! Remember, there’s always someone faster.