1989 GR40 Mustang GRP House Car #40
"Old Blue"
History:
Constructed from a 1989 4-cylinder Mustang by Griggs Racing in 1992 for SCCA A-Sedan competition for Tom Mitchell of Tyler Texas, this car was the first Mustang to win an SCCA National A-Sedan race under the new for the 90's A-Sedan rules resurrected from the old AS series run in the '60s. That original series developed into what is now the TransAm Series.
Repurchased by Bruce Griggs in 1997, Old Blue continued as an A-Sedan in '97 and '98 and then used for product development and testing GR40 open track/autocross products prior to being converted to SCCA Speedvision World Challenge GT Series rules. This was for development of products for that series. Since then it has gone through a variety of changes to evolve into the NASA American Iron Extreme (AIX) Championship car it is today. Arguably the most victorious single road race Mustang in history, Old Blue set 11 track records won 27 regional races and 14 national races while driven by Tom Mitchell, Kim Campbell, Don Rositch and its owner Bruce Griggs. Since January of 2001 it won 31 races in NASA AIX and SCCA Competition, enjoying an undefeated Season in 2002, and two Championships in AIX, 2002 and 2003 driven by Ross Murray and Bruce Griggs respectively. In 2003 it also ventured back east to Lowe's Motor Speedway, winning an AIX race there as well in heads up competition against the nations best.
Its last professional race was the Speedvision World Challenge event at Laguna Seca in October 1999 where it limped home in 16th place with a broken oil pan. Though still competitive, its body is too old to comply with the rules for Speed World Challenge competiton. However, Old Blue is still being used for development and demonstration purposes. In early 2004, its fenders were modified to take advantage of the 11" wheel width rule in AIX, and fitted with 315-17 Hoosiers S04s all around, it was then used as the test bed for the GR40 SLA front suspension system, winning again first time out at Infineon Raceway in SCCA competition driven by Bruce Griggs, and NASA AIX, driven by Kevin Chambers, setting track records at both events.
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2004 Specifications: | |
| Engine | 500 HP+ 345CID 800 CFM Holley, Edelbrock Vic-Jr. TFS-Street Heat Heads (heavily ported), Fontana Aluminum Block, Ross Pistons, Carrillo Rods, Sonny Bryant Internally Balanced Crank, Hard Roller Cam (Proprietary), Jessel Rockers, Fontana Gear Drive. Weaver Dry Sump, Custom Oil Pan, Jones Accessory Drives, Howard Stewart Water Pump, Innovators West Balancer. Engine mounted on GR40 Motor Plates front and rear. |
| Drive Train |
Jerico 4 Speed Transmission w/ Long Shifter |
| Rear Axle | GR40 Cambered Ford 9" w/ Locker and Billet Axles |
| Brakes | Griggs/Sierra World Challenge System
Front 13.5" Four Piston Caliper |
| Cooling System |
C&R Two Pass Radiator With Heat Exchanger |
| Chassis | Griggs Racing GR-40 World Challenge SystemRear: Watts Link w/ Adjustable Length TorqueArm, Griggs/Koni Coil-Over Double-Adjustable Shocks all around |
