Can a Marauder hold its own on the track with a Lamborgini?

[pacammer]

To make a short story long I own an 04 DTR Marauder. It has had all the Dennis, Zack/Mac majic done to it. In the past 2 years it has won 3rd then 2nd place in the All Ford Nationals at Carlisle, PA.
I am a member of the Eastern Pantera Club. We co sponsor a track event at Pocono International Raceway yearly with various other Italian Car Clubs such as Lamborgini, Maserati, and Ferrari. Since my Pantera is in pieces I asked and was permitted to bring the Marauder to the track to run. As I stated in a post a while back I am not a drag racer. I use my car every day and in the snow so I opted for a centrifigul vs. roots type supercharger. I have not changed my rear end ratio. I do however like to run in track events.
Well I lined up to run with 19 other cars, all newer model Italian high performance exotic cars. We run NASCAR wise, counter clockwise. We used turn 1, turn 2, then an infield course that has a 270, three 90's, two 75 degree turns and a chicane, then we enter back onto the main staight with 2/3 of that straight available before turn 1.
Well boys and girls I have to tell you after 5 laps everyone in attendance was looking at this Canadian maufactured, Dearborn Sedan. It ate cars like it was at an Italian buffet. Not only did the Marauder hold it's own on the banked turns it passed most and stayed with the best of them in the infield. Comming out of the infield onto the main straight I devoured them. The available touque was awsome. I ran with the antilock brakes and overdrive off. Down the straight going into turn one, 135 mph+ easy. 130 mph+ into turn 2 and an average speed through the infield of 60+ mph.
The transmission mods worked great, that baby knew when to down shift upon hard braking. The supercharger spun up smoothly so the ass end never kicked out. Dennis's total package and the Zack/Mac control arms worked flawlessly.
After I came off the track nearly everone came over to see the car. Most of these folks told me they thought it was a joke putting the DTR on the track against these 6 figure cars. On day two I repeated the same results. No fluke.
A lot of exotic car owners have a new found respect for our "Family Sedans / Cop Cars". Needless to say I had a blast.
Sorry for the long story but I just had to brag a little. Enjoy your Marauders they are all special.

[Rick-n-Miami]

Nice post! I hope that one day, I will have a likewise story!

[FordNut]

To make a short story long I own an 04 DTR Marauder. It has had all the Dennis, Zack/Mac majic done to it. In the past 2 years it has won 3rd then 2nd place in the All Ford Nationals at Carlisle, PA.
I am a member of the Eastern Pantera Club. We co sponsor a track event at Pocono International Raceway yearly with various other Italian Car Clubs such as Lamborgini, Maserati, and Ferrari. Since my Pantera is in pieces I asked and was permitted to bring the Marauder to the track to run. As I stated in a post a while back I am not a drag racer. I use my car every day and in the snow so I opted for a centrifigul vs. roots type supercharger. I have not changed my rear end ratio. I do however like to run in track events.
Well I lined up to run with 19 other cars, all newer model Italian high performance exotic cars. We run NASCAR wise, counter clockwise. We used turn 1, turn 2, then an infield course that has a 270, three 90's, two 75 degree turns and a chicane, then we enter back onto the main staight with 2/3 of that straight available before turn 1.
Well boys and girls I have to tell you after 5 laps everyone in attendance was looking at this Canadian maufactured, Dearborn Sedan. It ate cars like it was at an Italian buffet. Not only did the Marauder hold it's own on the banked turns it passed most and stayed with the best of them in the infield. Comming out of the infield onto the main straight I devoured them. The available touque was awsome. I ran with the antilock brakes and overdrive off. Down the straight going into turn one, 135 mph+ easy. 130 mph+ into turn 2 and an average speed through the infield of 60+ mph.
The transmission mods worked great, that baby knew when to down shift upon hard braking. The supercharger spun up smoothly so the ass end never kicked out. Dennis's total package and the Zack/Mac control arms worked flawlessly.
After I came off the track nearly everone came over to see the car. Most of these folks told me they thought it was a joke putting the DTR on the track against these 6 figure cars. On day two I repeated the same results. No fluke.
A lot of exotic car owners have a new found respect for our "Family Sedans / Cop Cars". Needless to say I had a blast.
Sorry for the long story but I just had to brag a little. Enjoy your Marauders they are all special.
Great story! someday I'd like to get on a road course and try it out. Hard to believe the MM is such a great all-around performance sedan. Beats 'stangs on the strip and Lambourghinis on the road race course. Gotta love it!

[blackf0rk]

Wow - awesome! :)

[RF Overlord]

pacammer:

When I read the title of your post, my initial thought was: "Of course not. He's high." But assuming you haven't embellished that story at all, then my hat goes off to you and I say "Bravo!" for showing all those Euro-trash drivers that we've still got it...makes me even prouder to own The Blackbird and to know the Z&M control arms are as good on the track as they seem to be on the street. :beer: :up:

[Bluerauder]

Well boys and girls I have to tell you after 5 laps everyone in attendance was looking at this Canadian maufactured, Dearborn Sedan. It ate cars like it was at an Italian buffet. Not only did the Marauder hold it's own on the banked turns it passed most and stayed with the best of them in the infield. Comming out of the infield onto the main straight I devoured them. ....... After I came off the track nearly everone came over to see the car.
Excellent post, great story .... Thanks for representing. :D Oh yeah, Congrats on your finishes !!! :2thumbs:

[ckadiddle]

Uhhh..can we come and watch next time? :) Lambo, Schmambo. I've got a Marauder. heeheeheeheeheeheehee My wife says she will buy the drinks after the race.

[Donny Carlson]

I enjoyed the post, and I do love my Marauder. But consider that a tune up on a Lambo costs about what a low mileage Marauder goes for....



Top speed on this beauty is 330 kph, or 205 mph. Don't matter what kind of blower or control arms you may have on your MM, it isn't going to reach this kind of speed.

That said, the MM is still a "super car" especially considering the bang for the buck.

[AzMarauder]

I wanted to think of something really catchy to say... but... well...


:bows: :bows: :bows: :bows: :bows:

[AzMarauder]

I enjoyed the post, and I do love my Marauder. But consider that a tune up on a Lambo costs about what a low mileage Marauder goes for....

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/Lambo.JPG

Top speed on this beauty is 330 kph, or 205 mph. Don't matter what kind of blower or control arms you may have on your MM, it isn't going to reach this kind of speed.

That said, the MM is still a "super car" especially considering the bang for the buck.
Beauty of it is... you don't have to match the top speed if the track is tight enough. What really matters then is the ability to transition between slow and fast ... fast and slow....

Track tight enough to keep any car from much more than 130 and open enough that superior handling can't come into play... voila ! :D

[LordVader]

:banana2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2: You get the checkered flag for a great post and for the win. It inspires us all to mod to new heights!!!

[Loco1234]

I was there in person....
This is a completely accurate post.
I saw a lambo almost hit a hay bail, in the turns, because it didn't want to let the MM get to close and pass it on the following straight. The Lambo went it the pit instead...LOL I think the driver may have needed to use the restroom. LOL

The Ferrari club was really pissed when this glorified taxi cab showed up the second day. It was funny....

[Cobra25]

Now that's a story worth reading.

[bryanthomas]

Hahaha :D Great story! It is funny that those chodes can afford such incredible machines, but have no idea how to harness their cars potential in a track environment. I do love to hear about track meets and auto-x events where for more expensive and capable cars are moving to the left for "less capable" cars driven by a MORE THAN capable driver! Classic... :banana2:

[rocknrod]

That is an awesome story. Post some pics if you have em.
Also what kind of Mods do you have.
I guess it's time to "do mine".

[Smokie]

I enjoyed your account of your adventure very much, thank you for sharing with us and congratulations on representing our car so well....pictures would be the icing on the cake:banana2: .

[SergntMac]

Bravo, my friend. Way to go representing us all.

[Vortech347]

I fully agree. I got some "woe's" at the mustang auto-x yesterday. I'll tell ya what thou. A driver can make the car but a car can't make the driver. So good driving!!!

[wesman]

Good show pacammer. I spend most track days either telling or showing people I don't have a supercharger.

[Hotrauder]

Great story, way to represent. track stuff is fun, is it not? Our great big cars do surprisingly well when set up with a little help. AND it is fun watching the guys who have bought the big dollar prestige rides run for cover when the going gets a little heated. Ha ha. A video cam mount would be the nuts. Dennis:beer:

[Zack]

Good post Gary.
Sorry I just realized i forgot to call you back last weekend.

[shakes_26]

Imagine if you did have one :eek:


Good show pacammer. I spend most track days either telling or showing people I don't have a supercharger.

[sailsmen]

Congrats! :banana2:

[JVJ]

Now that was a great story. I am glad that the "MARAUDER" can show some muscle againts those europeans specials.:banana2:

[snowbird]

Grrrreeeaaaat story ! Thanks

I was reviewing my 2006 annual market car review and they were stating that the oldest platform, brand new car for 2006 available in Canada was the Grand Marquis - Crown Vic Panther platform dating from 1979 !

I wish those Italian exotics guys would have a copy, just for a little fun !:)

"Costly Italian exotics blue flagged by a 27 year old New York taxi cab on the race track last week-end !!"

[BK_GrandMarquis]

That sounds like the North Course at Pocono.

Did it look like this?
http://www.emraracing.org/pocnorth.gif

I was at the East Course last Tuesday with EMRA/NEI. That's a fun one. More like a high speed autocross.
http://www.emraracing.org/poceast.gif

I'm going back this Friday for a Grand Slam event. The PDA is going to hit all three courses. :)

http://www.emraracing.org/pocsouth.gif

[Loco1234]

The Italian car clubs rent out track twice a year... (Spring/Fall)

In the Spring we run the Blue Course I laid out....

In the Fall we run the Yellow course.....

The Time this htread refers to is the "blue" spring course....

The green spot is the spot where many Ferrari etc... got reall pissed as a Glorified "Taxi Cab" passed them on the front straight in front of everyone there...

The red spot is where the Lambo almost hit the hay bail trying not to let the MM catch him and pass him....


P.S. how do I attach the file so its big and not a thumb nail....?

[magindat]

P.S. how do I attach the file so its big and not a thumb nail....?

You did, we just have to click on it.

So, you ran down a Lambo in the straights?! Funny.
Congrats. and Thanx.

[BK_GrandMarquis]

The Italian car clubs rent out track twice a year... (Spring/Fall)

In the Spring we run the Blue Course I laid out....

In the Fall we run the Yellow course.....

The Time this htread refers to is the "blue" spring course....

The green spot is the spot where many Ferrari etc... got reall pissed as a Glorified "Taxi Cab" passed them on the front straight in front of everyone there...

The red spot is where the Lambo almost hit the hay bail trying not to let the MM catch him and pass him....


P.S. how do I attach the file so its big and not a thumb nail....?

WOW!!! That's a long run there. I can definitely see you guys hitting some high numbers that way. Never seen anyone run that before. I've seen layouts where they run a double infield though.

To get the picture to show full size, you would have to upload it to a site and then link it.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/419699/original/pocono-runs.gif

[Loco1234]

awh... thats how you get it full size....

What site do you guys generally use to link it to....?

Ya, it is a really fun course to run... We have The Pantera Club, Ferrari, Lambo, maserati, and corvette club all chip in to rent the entire course for an entire weekend...

Im a Pantera owner and in that club and we enjoy when we have someone go out there with a supped up Pantera and kick some ass...but when a Marauders comes to the track and embarasses the Ferrari etc owners oh man...

Thats worth a few beers and a great story.... espically when the Marauder lined up to run on the second day.... The Ferrari Club cryed foul to the track offical....

The first and back straights can easily get you over 100mph. I know in my pantera when we go down the straights the easy way to tell your over 100mph without looking at your speedo is watch for when the wiper blades stand straight up.... did that once or twice then I realize I should take those off before I run... I wouldn't be out there if it was raining anyway....

One time it rain for 20 minutes and the track official wouldn't let us run our track vechicles when the curse was wet... so I got my navigator and and some lady got a suburban and many other went out on the track and drove random vehicles on it. (at safe speeds of course).... That helped to dry the course quickier.... Hey we were paying to run our cars....

I honestly don't have the foggiest how much it costs to rent the entire track for a weekend but it sure would be fun to get a MM track day there...

One thing that helped PaCammer was he left the stock gear ratio...
4.10s would not have liked the straight away speeds....
man what a track car.....

Props to the "Glorified Taxi Cab"....
as the Ferrari club will always refer to it as anymore....

[sweetair]

Fantastic write-up. Good for you. My experience w/ a Lambo was a little different. I was on the NJ TPK last month. It went straight and FAST. I gave up @ 110 as it was just getting smaller and smaller. The turns would have helped.

[marauder307]

Wonder what they're saying over on their web forum...iff'n they got one?

We should go looking...this would be toooooo funny...

"BAH! Miserable American family sedan beat me in the corners...clearly he was not stock...I am not embarrassed then..."

"I vill beat heem at ze next track meeting! I SWEAR IT!"

Y'all come back now, y'hear?:lol: :lol:

[BK_GrandMarquis]

awh... thats how you get it full size....

What site do you guys generally use to link it to....?


There are quite a few places online that allow you to upload pictures and are free.

http://www.photobucket.com/
http://www.fotki.com/

I just use SuperMotors.com. They used to be SuperFords.com when I joined.

[Donny Carlson]

Wonder what they're saying over on their web forum...iff'n they got one?

We should go looking...this would be toooooo funny...

"BAH! Miserable American family sedan beat me in the corners...clearly he was not stock...I am not embarrassed then..."

"I vill beat heem at ze next track meeting! I SWEAR IT!"

Y'all come back now, y'hear?:lol: :lol:



Probably nothing, since the original post was over a YEAR ago.

(June 30, 2005)

[NasteyG1]

Yeh Guys Where Can I Get Spoiler For My Marauder

[BK_GrandMarquis]

Here's an odd mix of cars running in the same session. :)

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/419666/original/img_29341.jpg

[BK_GrandMarquis]

Yeh Guys Where Can I Get Spoiler For My Marauder

You can get one from your local dealership. They come primed, not painted.

[Loco1234]

The (Eastern Pantera Assoc.) event web site has not been updated.... so you can clearly see the date and event which this occured...

Le belle macchine d'Italia & Pocono Raceway Event

http://www.easternpantera.com/events.html

Oh ya the track event has its own site too... for all the cars.....
http://www.italiancarsatpocono.com/

LOL

They added this to the site now:
NOTE: Only Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, DeTomaso, Iso, Bizzarrini, pre-approved limited production sports cars and vintage Italian automobiles are eligible for open track groups. After passing tech inspection, each eligible driver is evaluated on skill level as determined by representatives of SRE. The drivers are then placed in the respective "Groups" and matched with instructors for further evaluation.

add even:
A "Lunch Time Touring" session is available for those that wish to experience the track in a more relaxed atmosphere. This group is limited to Sports Cars Only.
(Wonder if a Marauder can still sneak into this run group)
although we obviously consider them to be a sports car.... They don't...

[burt ragio]

Ok you made you point. I guess I need driving lessons.

[MarauderSM]

Great story.

Great to know these can keep up wit cars that have their noses in the air. Or is that the owners

[OneBADLsE]

Great choice of thread revival!!!

[fastcar]

Does anyone have video of this. I could watch it over and over and over...

I'd love to put it on youtube :rofl:

fastcar:burnout:

BTW, GREAT DRIVING and thanks for representing.

[sailsmen]

My favorite Marauder Story.:)

[guspech750]

Thats an awesome story!!! It was not to long and if anything not long enough!!! I wish I could see it on video. Please post a video if at all possible. Love it!!! Love it!!!! Love it!!!

[-Matt-]

Old post is old.... still very awesome none-the-less

[DOOM]

Awesome story! :banana2:

Have we met? :confused:

[Big Black Beast]

Yeah, even if this was an old thread, I hadn't seen it before.
Awesome!

[Vortex]

I have always believed the strong suit in our cars is the great handling, not necessarily the straight line speed. As we used to say in the fleet, "Bravo Zulu!"

[johnnyrauder]

i think would give my mm away for 10 runs on a road corse like that.
any takers