Classic and Fox Body notchbacks battle each other in this multi-generational family affair at the drag strip.
Fathers and sons can bond in a variety of ways. Many boys grow up holding and handing tools to their dads while they work on home improvement projects. Some fathers have their sons read the books that had a positive influence on their upbringing. And there are always camping and fishing trips. But as automotive enthusiasts, we have to say one of the best father and son bonding experiences is enjoying cars together. That’s exactly what Jason (father) and Justin (son) do behind the wheels of their Ford Mustang notchbacks in this video from the YouTube channel Wheels.
There’s a twist to this father and son outing, though. Forget ice cream cones and piggyback rides. These guys went down to the drag strip to race each other.
Jason brought his ’66 Mustang, which sits low on its skinny fronts and fat rears. Under the black-flame-engulfed hood, there’s a nitrous-huffing 363 small block.
Jason’s son Justin showed up in his Fox Body Mustang LX. Just like his dad’s car, it features a black and blue color scheme and a cowl induction hood. That conceals a huge difference between the two drag machines: a 427-cubic-inch monster running on 94-octane pump gas and a 150 shot of nitrous.
Justin launches so hard during the first run that he gets the front end of his notchback into the air. Once he plants all four tires on the strip, his dad begins to pull ahead of him and doesn’t let up. Jason crosses the line in 9.01 seconds at 147.78 mph; Justin comes in with a time of 9.10 and a final speed of 146.22 mph.
The second run has the same overall outcome. Jason beats his son with an 8.98-second quarter mile time and a speed of 151.33 mph. When Justin trips the sensors, they put a time of 9.13 seconds and a 145.89-mph speed up on the light board.
We’re sure there were no hard feelings between Jason and Justin after their day at the strip. If anything, it probably brought them closer to each other. Cars have a way of doing that with fathers and sons.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
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