My First Ultima Drive

[crafty]

Jeff and I left Chicago at midday Thursday. Jeff drove until it about 8pm and I took over. We were planning on stopping 1/2 way for Thursday night, and continuing Friday, but as I was on Hong Kong time (and having a blast), we decided to go hard core and drove straight thru.....24 hours straight Chicago to Florida!

So my first Ultima drive was 17 hours straight!! I was very honoured to find out that this was the first time Jeff had sat in the passenger seat - and the first time anyone other than him has driven his car. Being a short-ass I couldnt reach the pedals properly.... so I have been using my laptop behind my back.... so it was also 17 hours on the computer - in the GTR.


Sat on about 80-90mph most of the way down...It was all pretty uneventful.... . that was until just before the sun came up, there was a BANG - and we lost all power.

We pulled over and we had very low fuel pressure, so we checked the pump..... it was not working. So we hardwired the pump.... and it worked, but still low pressure. We thought we were out of fuel, but we had some pressure and it should have started. Then we checked the spark - no spark. We checked all the fuses.... everything seemed fine.

Then a thought came to me.....Jeff had been asleep and moving around a bit, so I asked Jeff if there was a kill switch anywhere he may have bumped while he was sleeping.....

AHAH he says.... there's a kill switch tucked up under the rear of the car..... we checked it and it was off..... seems like we had hit a bit of truck tire that had bounced up and turned the kill switch off.

What are the odds of that?... talk about relief...It was starting to sound like we were gonna have one of those 4-5 hour diagnostic nightmares. You know - walking 10 miles to the nearest gas station, carrying fuel back, tow trucks... etc etc...

First day of power tour was today....there is some AWESOME stuff here. All the cover cars etc.... these are USD500K plus cars. Even so... NOBODY goes past the Ultima without taking a photo and/or asking the big 4:

What is it?
What's in it?
How fast is it?
What's it run? (1/4 mile)

As we were leaving for dinner tonight a guy pulled up behind the GTR at the hotel and got out of a very unusual mid engined car...... this is a one off the guy built himself that all you guys will appreciate.... photos soon - this thing is amazing - 12 years and built from scratch!! andygtt - watch this space!


I am DEFINITELY going to be in a building frenzy when I get back.

[GTWayne]

Sounds like this is going to be an event that will go down in history,can't wait to see photos.Good luck on the rest of your trip and enjoy!(as if you needed telling).

[k wright]

Will try to catch up with you guys between Columbia, SC and Salem, VA.

Ken

[gtrclive]

So Andy might be interested.... is it a Twin Turbo V12 I wonder ?????

[mkoch1]

If the weather is nice I'll try and catch up with you in the canam in PA.

mark

[Hugger Z]

Crafty, I heard on another board that you guys got nailed for twice the speed limit? Can you confirm or deny this???? Sounds like you have having a good time. Have you been running the car at the events? I have been trying to look for updated and pics but have not found much yet.

[k wright]

Let me guess, it was in the communist state of virginia. Must be rough on you Grant racking up all those points on your international license.

Don't loose it, you'll need it next year.

ken

[Hugger Z]

I found 1 Picture so far at Year One's Website.

www.yearone.com/Events/HRPT/HRPT_2006/HRPT_06_Day3/678.aspx

Looks like Mark's Can Am made the cut too.

www.yearone.com/Events/HRPT/HRPT_2006/HRPT_06_Day6/1020.aspx
www.yearone.com/Events/HRPT/HRPT_2006/HRPT_06_Day6/1019.aspx
www.yearone.com/Events/HRPT/HRPT_2006/HRPT_06_Day6/934.aspx

Edited by Hugger Z on Friday 9th June 21:27

Edited by Hugger Z on Friday 9th June 21:28

[jschwartz]

We never went over 160mph or so on the entire Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour. I was playing hooligan in Columbia SC, doing donuts while Grant filmed, the police held me for 2 hrs, threatened to seize the car and arrest for public endangerment. After I discussed my previous business involvement in the local Fabrique Nationale Firearms Factory who suppies their SWAT team with weapons, they finally let me go. Said if I wasn't out of the County by 6am they'd issue a warrant for my arrest.
Lots of stories, Grant tried everything to get a ticket for a photo opportunity, didn't happen. 2 other cars who decided to lead us got tickets, both for near double the speed limit. We caused a miles long traffic jam after Power Tour concluded on the New Jersey Turnpike Saturday when I broke a axle shaft clean off (being a hooligan again). Mark trailered his car from Maryland to New Jersey so we could borrow an axle to get home.
Thanks Mark!
Just got home after a 900 mile straight drive from New Jersey.
Look for the event coverage in the November issue of the Magazine.
Forgot to mention this is the 3rd year Factory Five had a tractor trailer rig display of their product the entire tour along with the new GTM. They are building and shipping 3-5 GTM kits per day, with a backlog of over 100 cars.

Edited by jschwartz on Monday 12th June 05:52

[boomerkk]

jschwartz said:

Forgot to mention this is the 3rd year Factory Five had a tractor trailer rig display of their product the entire tour along with the new GTM. They are building and shipping 3-5 GTM kits per day, with a backlog of over 100 cars.

Edited by jschwartz on Monday 12th June 05:52

That's a lot of GTMs!

[mkoch1]

here are some gtm pictures from the pa show. Not a bad looking car. Not crazy about the hood vents.






mark

[identti]

mkoch1 said:

here are some gtm pictures from the pa show. Not a bad looking car. Not crazy about the hood vents.






mark

Nice. Looks like a Ford GT crossed with a molser.

[Hugger Z]

I know a guy in Michigan building a GTM. The body comes pretty rough and requires lots of finishing to get it all smooth and clean for paint. I prefer the fact that the Ultima does not require body work (in the sanding/filling/painting sense).

Yeah, I am not a fan of that hood vent in those pics either.

So how did your car run overall Jeff? What were your times at the different track events (if you ran them)? I was looking for stats and updates, but didn't find much. Glad you guys had a good time. I think I will try to catch part of the PowerTour next year. I hear it will be near the midwest here.

[boomerkk]

mkoch1 said:

here are some gtm pictures from the pa show. Not a bad looking car. Not crazy about the hood vents.

mark

Looks good. Is it me or does that car lack cats?

I'm surprised how big the engine bay is, looks like a lot of room to fit extras on an LS-engine in there eg. turbo + plumbing or SC.

Cheap kit for $20k, fully built for around $50k.

[k wright]

The body work was not up to Ultima standard and yes it looked like a lot of work.

Jeff, are you or Grant going to post any other photos?

Ken

[mkoch1]

Here are some pictures I took at the PA stop.

www.markkoch.net/hptour.htm

mark

[davefiddes]

Don't know what it was but the thing with the twin turbo and the unbelievably polished exhaust/intake system is a work of art. Mad but nice.

[builder]

Grant and Jeff, you lucky devils. Can't wait to see the photo journal. Glad to hear you use mobile computing.

mkoch1 said:

Here are some pictures I took at the PA stop.

Mark, you got a photo of my '96 Impala!

[crafty]

Will post more shots when I get back home.... got some of Jeff being busted. Apparently the cops in the USA dont really like dounuts after all...

[craig-ultima]

Well done Crafty!

I just can't imagine Jeff sleeping in the passenger seat. Hilarious!