I get hassled about my truck alot by owners of other makes and models.

[Jstas]

Even Mustangs but especially Dodges. I don't know why everyone feels such a need to prove something to me.

During a recent spat with a Dodge owner who was pontificating upon the virtues of the yet to be release Dodge SRT-10 Ram, I was given the argument that the SRT Ram will "...pound a Lightning into the ground!" Realizing, upon thise remark that I was not going to be able to have a civilized and constructive discussion with the heathen, I simply replied: "Any sheperd can herd a Ram but it takes a GOD to handle Lightning!" :D ;) :allhail: :rolleyes:

I realize that this is quite lame but a few people within earshot found it quite funny and I thought I would share. Feel free to use it if you want.

[Greg@SVTOA]

John,
I've found that it's the person, not the vehicle they drive- I know a lot of owners of other makes that are stand-up type individuals who are kind, helpful, friendly and you can have a blast racing and hanging out with them.... On the other hand, I know some Ford owners who aren't the nicest people, know what I mean?

Just be yourself, and don't bother with "those" kind of people.
Sometimes I meet folks like you have described at the track...
I just whip their butts down the 1/4 mile and that's the end of that.. :D


:hrs: :cbra:

[Jstas]

I would do that but I can't pass tech. I have a gash in the sidewall of my passenger front tire. Its superficial. It doesn't even touch the carcass of teh tire but the tech inspector at my local track won't let me run. Its understandable. Safety first at all times but its hindering me. I can't get new tires right now due to other much more important expenses. So I don't know what the truck actually runs and I refuse to "street race".

I always just find it so funny that so many people either think they have something to prove or think that they are faster, handle better or whatever. I can't understand why people can't just accept things for what they are. I don't mind friendly competition but when someone else has to put another person down just to validate themselves, thier choices or what have you, well, thats just plain sad.

I think I blame Ford for it. They put out a truck that EVERYONE has called King of the Hill and I think that bother people. You know, some people always have to be the best at everything. They can't stand to see it in someone else's corner.

I don't know how many other people have experienced it but some people can get dowright dangerous. I have had people cut me off, try to pass me on the shoulder of the road, try to pass me in a left turn only lane and even tailgate me to the point where they have to swerve off the road to avoid running into me when I stop. When I first got the truck, I was afraid to drive it. I was challenegd to 3 races and had 2 guys in family cars perform really stupid passes on me all on the way home from the dealer!

It gets scary how much weight people put on something like that. I mean, we all enjoy our vehicles whether it is a Ford, Chevy, Dodge or any import. But do we have to endanger each others lives while driving them?

[roger]

I wouldn't worry about it. When you're at the top of the heap everyone draws a bead down on you. The yet-to-be-released Dog, er, Dodge truck does sound promising, you have to give them credit where credit is due. It only took 5? years of Gen 2 Lightning production to get their butts outta the chair with a challenger. The new Chebby SS won't be much of a threat (unless they use some sort of atmosphere enrichment device <cough>).

Rumor has it that street price on that dodge will be in the $50k range, so you won't find too many out and about. For the $18k price difference we can put in stronger rods, an aftermarket blower, carbon fiber body pieces, yada, yada, yada, and still have $10k left for race fuel and beer (to celebrate our victory .:bna :bna )...but if memory serves me correctly that's the same argument the dog, er, dodge boys used on us when the Gen 2's came out. :huh:

Personally since there won't be too many around, I think the bigger threat will be the newer 345hp Hemi's with a blower/NOS installed...besides, I'm wondering what Coletti and crew will cook up to counter it, right? RIGHT??

[Jstas]

Yeah, I see where you are coming from. I'm not really worried about how fast the other guy is. I only care about how fast I am. Everyone seems to think that I have some kind of attitude problem when they see that I just don't care about how fast thier vehicle is.

What really bothers me is how stupid people get. I've been this >< close to getting nailed a few times because of someone showing off or trying to prove something. I've actually yelled out the window a couple of times as they fly by me "I DON'T CARE" but they continue driving like maniacs anyway.

[roger]

Originally posted by Jstas
Yeah, I see where you are coming from. I'm not really worried about how fast the other guy is. I only care about how fast I am. Everyone seems to think that I have some kind of attitude problem when they see that I just don't care about how fast thier vehicle is.

What really bothers me is how stupid people get. I've been this >< close to getting nailed a few times because of someone showing off or trying to prove something. I've actually yelled out the window a couple of times as they fly by me "I DON'T CARE" but they continue driving like maniacs anyway.

Comes with the territory I guess. I can't count the times that I've driven by someone who was in the RH lane (I drive a couple above the posted limit). Once I go by, they all of a sudden feel the need to become a 4-wheeled bottle rocket, often going 15-30mph above the limit.

...but what's interesting is when you're stopped for a traffic light and the guy next to you starts pointing and talking to his passengers about the L. If I look over and I can see he's obviously talking smack to his passengers, I normally burp it forward a foot and twice now they've taken off--too bad the lights' still RED and the car in front of them is honoring that....SMACK (they're watching my truck and not the light). I just start laughing and stick the tip of my index finger in my mouth, remove it and then make an imaginary 1 in the air (like notching a gun belt). That does wonders for their attitude (and his passengers usually think it's as funny as I do).

By this time the owner of the car in front has reached the back of his car and the words "What are you a f***'n IDIOT!?!" are being shouted along with considerable arm waving. :bash: :spank: I'd like to tell you what happens next, but MY lights' green by now and, gee, it's time for me to go. :huh: ...I hate it when that happens.

[Jstas]

Drivers not paying attention while they are driving is another story altogether! Its a pet peeve of mine. I have seen people pull bone-headed stunts, hit the brakes for no good reason or just plain drive like an ass all because they were on the phone, drinking coffee, READING a newspaper:eek: , yelling at kids, applying makeup or just doing everything BUT driving. I usually get stuck behind these people or next to them. If they are the phone or applying makeup, I have been terribly mean and either gave a short, startling blast on the horn or lay on the horn, turn the stereo up and yell out the window "GET OFF THE PHONE!" repeatedly. I guess I'm a jerk but I'd rather be thought of as a jerk than to see them rub someone out due to thier self-centeredness and negligence.

[alexpirnie]

I simply replied: "Any sheperd can herd a Ram but it takes a GOD to handle Lightning!" :D ;) :allhail: :rolleyes:


Ok Ok. I've heard alot of things about Lightnings and Rams and stuff all the time. But that is the BEST line I've heard yet. I can't wait to use that one on the Mopar guys at work tomorrow. I will give you all the credit too when used!

As for the new Ram. Don't belive anything till you see it. I still don't think it will be produced. At least not at a great scale of them. Or it will be cheaper and less power. But we'll have to wait and see.

But hey I feel you on all the people trying to race and have no idea what a Lightning. Had to give a little :spank: to a ricer the other day. Normal I don't take pride in a win like that, but the guy pulled next to me, waveing his arms in the air and being a ass like he had something to prove. I think the cute blonde in the seat next to him is what he was working for. Well he grabbed seceond and I waved good bye then stomped on hit and walked off. The best part is I slowed down so he could say hi again and he didn't want to get next to me. I don't know why?:huh:

Anyways your not the only one out there!!!!

:allhail: to the Lightning!!!

Alex

[Jagged Edge]

Originally posted by Jstas
Even Mustangs but especially Dodges. I don't know why everyone feels such a need to prove something to me.

During a recent spat with a Dodge owner who was pontificating upon the virtues of the yet to be release Dodge SRT-10 Ram, I was given the argument that the SRT Ram will "...pound a Lightning into the ground!" Realizing, upon thise remark that I was not going to be able to have a civilized and constructive discussion with the heathen, I simply replied: "Any sheperd can herd a Ram but it takes a GOD to handle Lightning!" :D ;) :allhail: :rolleyes:

I realize that this is quite lame but a few people within earshot found it quite funny and I thought I would share. Feel free to use it if you want.

"Pound the Lightning into the ground". Really... I think if you parked that Dodge next to the Lightning it will probably just sit there. No pounding will take place except between the ears of the lame brain Dodge owner. Some of these people have spent way too much time playing video games.

[Jagged Edge]

Originally posted by Jstas
Even Mustangs but especially Dodges. I don't know why everyone feels such a need to prove something to me.

During a recent spat with a Dodge owner who was pontificating upon the virtues of the yet to be release Dodge SRT-10 Ram, I was given the argument that the SRT Ram will "...pound a Lightning into the ground!" Realizing, upon thise remark that I was not going to be able to have a civilized and constructive discussion with the heathen, I simply replied: "Any sheperd can herd a Ram but it takes a GOD to handle Lightning!" :D ;) :allhail: :rolleyes:

I realize that this is quite lame but a few people within earshot found it quite funny and I thought I would share. Feel free to use it if you want.

"Pound the Lightning into the ground". Really... I think if you parked that Dodge next to the Lightning it will probbly just sit there. No pounding will take place except between the ears of the lame brain Dodge owner. Some of these people have spent way too much time playing video games.

[roger]

My favorite comeback to those people is to say "Yeah, too bad you won't be owning one." It's amazing how a pricetag in the $50k range thins out the ownership ranks.:D:D

[Jagged Edge]

Originally posted by roger
My favorite comeback to those people is to say "Yeah, too bad you won't be owning one." It's amazing how a pricetag in the $50k range thins out the ownership ranks.:D:D

It will be closer to $65,000 I think. It's funny most of these Dodge owners always talk of a truck or car they don't own or ever will that's faster than a L. They have a sport truck and we have a performance truck. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.:spank:

[Jstas]

It's not just about trucks. I get emailed videos and photos and news stories about some obscure Dodge or Chevy or what have you beating up on a Ford of any kind. When the items in question are actually viewed and studied, the reality of it all is, there was no "...pounding into the ground!" that everyone thinks of.

In addition, save for the Camaro and Firebird owners, they all talk of past glory from the 60's and 70's and deny facts because they don't support thier euphoric utopia which I believe is based in substance abuse from either standing too close to the nitro cars or huffing the giggle gas.

When the 03 Cobra came out or was at least announced, the almighty LS1 owners were up in arms bashing every thing about them. I have heard about how crappy the IRS was and how they really can't handle compared to a car half its weight and size and even how Ford punked out because they had to put blowers on thier cars to make any power. Even when one brings up the '03 Mach 1 which is a live axle car with the 320 horse N/A Cobra engine and the fact the MM&FF broke 11's with one, they still deny it to no end.

I don't know what fuels the hatred. I do know that when the facts are presented, I have always been accused of being biased towards Ford. Its quite sad really and very depressing. It gets to the point where I don't even want to hang around with anyone but Ford owners because I get so tired of hearing the B.S.

It doesn't matter what people think is the truth. It all written down. To see any other company with the success that Ford has had both in racing and in selling cars, you have to look outside to the U.S. Infact, from what I have seen, Ford is the only company that has run in every venue and beat every dominant car manufacturer at thier own game. Including Ferarri. Point out such facts and you hear from the other camps about how you can't live in the past and what has Ford done lately and so on and so forth. Basically the same argument that they shot down when you posed it to them. If you talk of things such as Formula 1 or FIA WRC or SCCA GT Racing they tell you to reference something that someone gives a damn about. Then, especially the Dodge guys, will talk about the past glory of the 340 Challengers and Barracudas not even realizing that they are discussing the same series and totally ignoring that fact that everybody, including AMC, beat Chrysler's butt. Discuss drag racing and the dominance of teh Fox-chassied Mustang at the strips throughout the 80's and most of the 90's and its immediatly countered by LS1 this and LS1 that. Nevermind the fact that by the time the LS1 made it into Camaros and Firebirds, the 302 had been out of production Mustangs for almost 4 years. It's selectively remembering the facts.

But I think I will digress. It could go on and on and time and time again, all I see is Ford bashing. All I can say is, the numbers don't lie and Ford outsells GM, a company twice its size, by 2 times as many vehicles. They compete in 10 times more venues and have long forgotten about venues that GM and Chrysler never set a foot into. They have won and lost a few but time and time again, Ford posts numbers and they speak for themselves. It's just quite aggravating when you own the best, you know you own the best and everyone who doesn't own the best feels a need to tell you that its not and then makes it a point to harass you incessantly about it.

I wish they would get the hint. If they don't want to accept facts, then they should understand that I just don't care what they have to say.




I agree completely with the cost of the SRT-10 Ram. Fifty large is alot of money for not a whole hell of alot more performance. The F-body guys have been using the argument against the Mustang that the F-body is better bargain and much more bang for the buck. Yet, they do not accept that argument for the Lightning. Hypocrisy runs rampant. Then they wonder why Ford owners avoid thier websites, cliques at the track and so on and so forth. I'd rather bang my head against the wall. It's much more productive than talking to a pig-headed GM or Chrysler guy because at least the wall makes me bleed.

[roger]

Originally posted by Jagged Edge
It will be closer to $65,000 I think. It's funny most of these Dodge owners always talk of a truck or car they don't own or ever will that's faster than a L. They have a sport truck and we have a performance truck. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.:spank:

There's a local guy who owns a dakota who autocrosses with me (nice guy), who just put a procharger on. He works for procharger so they did his truck as the prototype. It dropped the 1/4 mile times almost 2 seconds, but it's still a hi 13.xx second vehicle. HP #'s somewhere in the 350 range. It helped him, but he's still over 2 seconds behind me, time wise. I'm quoting #'s from memory since we were talking in grid one morning.

I think he got frustrated when I showed him my dyno plots (408H/504T; here in the dyno section), cause he said he was seriously thinking about selling it. I asked him why, and he said "Because you get a full warranty with yours." I then asked him if he was soon to be driving a L, and he said, "No, my dad worked for GM, so we don't drive anything else." and I quickly said "But dodge's are ok?"...and he said, "well, no." I told him I had an extra 'X-plan' if he was interested in buying a L (or a Cobra).

Like I say, he's a nice guy, and a fair driver, but his truck, although it looks nice, just don't cut the mustard. :D

[BlownSVT]

Was the Dakota an R/T? I have always been curious......'cause when i had (still have....shhhh) my little '97 S-10 SS 4.3 V-6 with many minor bolt ons.......the R/T x-cab....stock was not much of a bad dude until around 35 or 40 mph when the 360 made just too many horsies for my iddy biddy V-6. Although I did see a R/T X-cab with a snug-top camper boasting 650 hp on his tag at a swap meet in charlotte........but he was in the parking lot..parked.
wonder how much was b.s. and how much was true. I would have loved to test him.

[BlownSVT]

Also to add my 2 cents.......yeah i have some nucklehead at work that is always trying to talk to me about what vehicle is out there that can spank my L. He came to me just today with tales of a video he saw from the drag strip 1/8 mile......where a NOT street legal, blown '66 Chevelle 396 SS blew the doors off of a L and was wondering if it was me..........i replied no and asked him what his, the L owners time was and he said in the 10's and I said well that tells it all.........mine runs 9's all day long.......that dude must have had a bad day or he just doesn't know how to launch his 4k lb rocket out of the blocks. anyway...............and the beat goes on.........

[BlownSVT]

Ok, ok I know it seems that i am ranting now but as i sit here knowing that i should go take a shower and go to bed .......another ridiculous story comes to mind.

Background..........I work with one of those blow hards that has seen and done everything under the sun but as his mouth opens you smell the distinct smell of cow manure because what he is about to say is bound to be B.S.

He is the "Oh So Proud" owner of a '92 Z-28 that he lovingly refers to as "THE Z" which by appearance is a BONE stock 12 yr old daily driver including the messed up front spoiler, with worn out goodyear GA's Z-28.

He was in the military...... Airforce....... ehem....... cough....... smile........and he was stationed in Germany and swears on his moms eyes that his "Z" has and will do 175mph. SO....I was forced to ask....wrong idea.......what he had done to his car to make it capable of doing those speeds.........And he proceeded to tell me that he had it chipped and and that he had a TURBO....i of course said "hmmm, really....." And he also tells me that he had his engine converted from an original push rod engine to a "dual overhead cam" setup. That made me scratch my head, because as i will admit, i am not the most knowledgable mechanics in the world, even if this is possible i am assuming that this is an expensive modification. SO i let him continue to boast and i lead him back to the subject of his "turbo", a subject i am much more learned in, and i ask him what brand his "turbo" is and he said he did not know the brand but his......get this....... TRANSMISSION was a "turbo transmission" so this idiot thinks his car is now turbo charged!!!!:bna SO I am lead to believe that this idiot was told by one of his idiot buddies that he has a turbo 350 tranny, and the sad part is even this is not the case.....I ask him how many speeds it is and he says 4......last time i checked a "turbo" 350 tranny has 3 gears and is in fact just a nickname for a TR350 tranny and not in the least a turbine driven performance enhancement part.

SO, I laughingly challenge this nerd to a race against my truck and he laughs me off like i must be stupid. That day as i am showing my buddy my new tonneau he pulls his rickety old z-28 up to my truck and rolls his window down and i laugh as it stutters and spirts because he needs a new window track. He looks at me and my L and goes is that the truck you want to race me in and laughs as in "yeah right" and i tell him yes and ask if he brought his wallet along with his mouth and he tells me " I thought you meant a REAL truck, not a piece of S**t Ford. As I tell him to hold on and bring it just let me get in my truck and lets settle this he does a NEUTRAL SLAM and smokes his tires and hauls out like he just did his proving.........and of course i laugh because...... shoot..my s-10 can make the tires smoke.

The next day i bring in some research material for him to read about a L and he refuses to waste his time. SO for a final time I waste my breath egging him on to go to the track and prove his 175mph car against my piece of **** Ford. I offer to pay his entry fees and gas in return for full re-embursment and $100 when i make him call me DADDY.

Finally i had enough and pointed him in the direction of my boss, who is a devout GM fan and owner of a 650 rwhp '82 vette. I tell my boss........."Charlie, please educate this man........his car........my truck......" And to my laughter, and this poor fools suprise he tells him......" that truck out there will bury your raggedy old Z any day, but i'll race you in my vette...." I decline the offer and pat the dude on the back and go " you can learn alot if you would just do your research, instead of talking with your sphincter muscle" Anyway Later