Please welcome my dear friend and serial Shelby Mustang owner, Chris B., to Riverside Green. I introduced you to Chris almost two years ago on the pages of TTAC, and I’m thrilled to have him contributing here whenever the heck he feels like it. Chris was one of the lucky Shelby owners to receive an invite to test out the new GT350R at Lime Rock Park. I’m on the way to Orlando as we speak, but while you’re waiting for my knowledge to drop, here’s Chris’ take on the latest and baddest ‘Stang. —Bark
As a previous owner of 8 Mustangs, 4 of which were Shelby GT500s, I was curious if this normally aspirated “track car” was for me. My 2013 GT500, with 662hp, was a big brute of a machine, faster than most supercars and even some street bikes. I like the big crazy raw power, but I also want the ability to handle well for a day on the track, or just some twisty New England roads. So, initially, this “underpowered” model just didn’t excite me that much. But, I keep buying the latest Cobra Mustang (I’ve had 96, 99, 03, 08, 11, 13, and another 13), so I think everyone just assumed I was ordering one of these, too.