I enjoyed your article. Thanks for sharing and putting your views out there for debate. Let me be the devil's advocate for a moment. My view: The Ford GT failed miserably in recreating the GT40, for exactly the reasons you pick it...refinement. Its like a 'refined' version of the Cobra..who wants it? (Not me.) I would MUCH rather have an exact reproduction of the GT40 or Cobra, although I know it cannot be built and sold as street legal in today's world. I know the Ford engineers had to do something with the suspension to make it a non-lethal car, so I guess its the best they could do, or is it? I also think the interior on the GT is gimicky looking, and doesn't do the car justice. It doesn't look like a race car inside except to someone maybe who's never actually been inside a racecar. Its a mock up, and not the best one at that.
Let me rail on the ACR for a moment, to be fair. I think the design is gimicky with the big wings and winglets, esp when its just being driven to Hooters to show off. Why not rely more on ground effects and less on wing? After all, the Cobra never had one and neither did the GT40. (I know, it adds downforce and its easier and cheaper than redesigning the car and wind tunnel time was limited..., and the goal was to keep it under $100k.) I think wings look at home on the track, and should be left off for street cars, or they look too much like a "Fast & Furious wannabe." (Same for the GT3.)
IMO, I think the most valid comparisons would be a full blown track version of the GT with an ACR, or the standard 08 Viper with the GT. Everyone knows the ACR is more suited to the track, and most people could care less (its a fact, track rats are the distinct minority). How does the 08 Cpe measure up to the GT? How does the modded GT stack up to the ACR?
Final thoughts? The ACR is about what, five to seven years more advanced (modern) in technology than the GT? The fact that a GT is even being compared to a state-of-the-art track weapon is testament to the car. I also think the comparison of a full blown Z06 to an ACR is a valid one, and frankly, I don't see anyone with an ACR setting any track records in NASA or SCCA. I hope that will come, but if it won't beat a modded Z06, then it better have some mods of its own to bring to the track. I don't think the Z06 guys that I know are shaking in their shoes. They are still running P1 in their classes at NASA (where I race in TT Unlimited), and bringing a bit more than 600 HP. Nationals in one month. Will the 08 Viper show and take the crown? Lets not just talk trash, lets see some results in the real world before we put the Vette down.
