SVT Lightning vs da Panda

[-The Stig-]

Ok, first true kill since the new flywheel/clutch was put in.

I maybe have 90 miles on the new setup. I know, bad bad me for getting after it. But... I mean. It's a SVT Lightning... who's piloted by a cocky SOB.


Would you pass it up???


I didn't think so.


Ok, on with the story!


Ah Friday, perks of being apart of a family business is that you can opt to drive a 300hp car to the job site while your co-worker meets you there in the Van. I know, cruel. But... I wanted to put some miles on the car since I haven't driven it all week due to the faulty Idle control valve that keeps the car idling smooth.

So, after doing our work. I walk out to my car and notice this man in his I'd say mid 20s. He was standing there talking to all his cronnies about how his SVT Lightning is 'godly'.

I walked up in the middle of this conversation, went something like this:

"So yeah, I spanked so-and-so's Corvette. He wasn't too happy my Ford got him. Upping the boost sure makes this thing fast." His lackies are brown nosing and taking in all his BS. You know the types. The ones that you just know Daddy/Mommy bought him the car and he's just there to trash it.

"Yeah, I just swap pullies and I've got more boost and I'm ready to go!" He said to one of his pals.

"I just turn a knob and I've got more boost. Nice Truck by the way." I spoke out.

The guy smiles, "Yeah, Thanks kid." (kid? He couldn't of been much older than me.) He looks at my car and see's that it's filthy with caked on dirt and greasy finger prints (Still haven't washed it since the work was done).

Curious as to what he runs in the 1/4 I ask, "So, have you ran your Truck at the track yet?"

At this point I think he was getting annoyed that I kept refering to his Truck, as just that. A Truck. It just happens to be one of the faster trucks on the market. And I also think he was getting annoyed that somebody outside his 'circle' of brown nosers was talking/questioning him.

"No, I don't need to know how fast I am. I already know. I'm faster than Corvettes." He said with a smile to his friends implying his previous run in with his buddies Corvette he was talking about earlier.

"That's cool, I haven't raced a Corvette straightup yet. But I have this hunch I'd do pretty well." Baiting the Hook...

"That's a nice goal, I don't know what the hell kinda car that is. Don't really care. I just know you can't beat a Corvette. I know I can, and I have." Holyshit I thought, You never meet these types of people in real life. Honestly. He was being the biggest pompous asshole and trying to show off to his rich buddies that some "working" class guy just can't compare to their Bank of Daddy built cars.

At this point my partner calls me over to help him load somethings into the Van before he took off. Once that was done I head back over to my car and the DingleBerry* is getting into his truck. He started it, he had some sorta ehaust. Didn't care at this point, just knew the Z was about to chew him up and spit him out.

I hop in my car while he was talking to his friends one last bit. I start the car, and because of the stupid idle control valve it was hard to start and keep running. It died twice, the guy started laughing.

"Yeah, good luck with your quest to beat a Vette in your shitbox. It doesn't even run." His buddies all laughed. One even chimmed in with his own version of what his buddy said. Whatever.

The guy pulls out and I start making my way out the parking lot. I follow him down the road a bit and make a few turns at stop signs. Each time he took off he would gun it. It would haze the tires. Not because he had godly amounts of power, but cause it's a Truck. And Trucks suck ass for drag racing. They have no weight over the rear axel so they tend to break lose easier. Simple physics. This was going to be easy.

I keep following him till I can jockey into position next to him... Finally, a left turn lane (2 lanes turning left, him inside lane me outside lane) onto a major street. Broad daylight. 1pm. Low traffic. Mid 70s air temp with 2-3mph wind from west. Another beautiful afternoon in Souther California.

He's revving his truck, power breaking it. Blahhh!...Blahhh!! just being a dick. I'm having to rev the car to keep it running, not trying to be a dick. Light goes green, I pull out normally (outside lane). He guns it and lets off and continues his turn.

I pace next to him in 2nd gear as we straighten out. I wait for the the sound of his motor to hesitate which to me signals him stepping on it and his transmission is kicking down a gear or two. I wait...

I hear the Lightning start to rev and the hesitation comes a split second later... Bam I hit the gas and from 25mph in 2nd gear I shoot ahead, shift to 3rd at about 6800rpm. Take 3rd gear to 5500rpm and let off. Look back he's 4-5 car lengths back. I look to my right, boost controller is set at 40% turbo efficiency, or about 10psi.

He comes screaming up, I reach over and turn the knob on click over to 70%. Or about 12psi, I wait for him to get a car length behind to see if he's going to slow down or keep charging past to attempt a ricer flyby.

He's still coming at me, I'm still in 3rd gear at about 55mph now (slowed down a tad). I hit the gas to match his pace, then burry the pedal and spool away. I let off at the top of 3rd which is 90mph. He was again, another 4-5 car lengths back.


Now I start hard on the brakes to slow myself down. Cause now I'm doing nearly 100mph on surface streets which is stupid, and one hell of a ticket...........and the light ahead was very red... with traffic. That was my biggest concern. Stopping now.

We end up next to each other at the light in traffic. I'm just looking over at him with a ear to ear grin. He's looking the other way and looking pretty cheesed.



Ahhh, I love the smell of burnt ego's.



After that, I took the car back to work to where it's currently being stored while I await that damn valve to arrive. The way my shop is, the office is open to the rest of the warehouse. So I back into the shop, and then pull forward and basically park my car in the office.

It's cool sitting here at a desk, and by just turning my head there's my car 7ft away.


Ok, 4pm time to go home. Just not in the Z... it's sleeping here till the Valve gets here.

[fearsomefairmont]

Good Kill,
I also tend to dislike cocky guys in large domestic trucks. The whole big bad mindset is just a little irritating. Also, I just don't really like cocky people in general....

With that said, he must have been shocked. Those trucks are real heavy though and certainly tend to have traction problems. I have heard some outstanding times from them, though.

PS, when racing a truck always make sure they don't have gun rack with a loaded 12-gauge. When inflated egos pop things can get messy!

Good Luck.

[chevydrummer76]

nice job killing a ford

but i wouldnt say trucks suck for drag racing
i know someone who runs 13.1 on street tires in an s-10. Traction bars and wide tires help out quite a bit.

[RedLightning]

you have upset the LIGHTNING GODS you must pay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





j/k nice kill.






















[quote=RedNeck383]Each time he took off he would gun it. It would haze the tires. Not because he had godly amounts of power, but cause it's a Truck. And Trucks suck ass for drag racing. They have no weight over the rear axel so they tend to break lose easier. Simple physics. This was going to be easy.[quote]





Yea, they have no hp only 380hp and 450tq!!!(sarcasm) A nice bit more then that if he swapped pullies.

[Boosted1]

What a great story. I can't believe those types of people actually exist outside of a movie set in Hollywood either. I am so glad you destroyed him and completely ruined his week and wrecked his ego. Maybe he can digest his loss for a while and adjust his attitude...or maybe he can continue to be a moron, and more guys like you can wipe the smile off his face over and over again.

[HighOctaneNOSUser]

Great story, great kill.

Don't you hate the guys who absolutely BABY their car....which ends up not even being earned?

[-The Stig-]

Well, I know they're quick trucks.

But I doubt he had swapped pullies. His exhaust sounded like just a muffler set up. It just didn't have that 'cat-back sound'.

I think he was just blowing smoke up everybodies tail pipe.

But whatever, he had it coming. hehe.

[nissanfanatic]

hahahaha. Make a point of talking to him again.

Nice kill. Ask him if he has the 4 cylinder version of the lightning. (sarcasm)

[TatII]

hahah serves him right. damn redneck your story telling skills are the shit. it literally had me at the edge of my seat reading this man. great kill. thats what we gets from messing with a vintage/modern Z.

[CivRacer95]

There needs to be a damn smiley face with "applause". That deserves a standing Ovation. Best story I've heard in weeks. Good kill. I would have loved to see the look on his face. This should have been one of those Mastercard commercials:

Ford Lighting-too much $$$$, Panda not too much $, smoking the guy without any knowledge of cars, physics, and underestimating someone else's car that doesn't look as good as theirs.....priceless!! late...

[-The Stig-]

here's something i find funny...

Check out the related links to this thread.



Links to buy SVT lightning stuff.

After today, I don't think so.

[DeViL]

Can I get the doors to the Lightning as well?

[2000LS1Z28]

Good kill. Lightnings do alot better with slicks. In my Z28 I beat 2 different Lightnings, and soundly at that. I rarely see any of them beating Corvettes, so who knows, maybe he raced a driver that sucks. Hope you get your idle fixed, nothings as embarrassing as stalling your car in front of people (Especially automotive enthusiasts).

[Scoped_GST]

niiiiiiiiice kill redneck...PWNAGE.
Maybe you can beat a corvette sometime too, hehe.

[nissanfanatic]

He probably got his off Ebay too!