While I was getting my n20 filled at Merkel Racing Motors yesterday, they had a copy on the counter, (Aug edition I think ?)
isn't it only June ?
Anyway, they were saying Johnny is the king, but the other coast was saying NO it's Jason Brown who holds the worlds fastest L record, but then NMRA was saying that aint no L, it may have left the Factory as a L, but it surly aint no L no more.
They went on to say, Johnny's using pretty much all orig L goodies with the exceptions of the expected and needed changes

So they agree with what I think we all do, JOHNNY IS
Oficially THE KING (yes i know, for now) ....
Johnny, I think you Need Bud sponsorship on that beast too,
it just goes with the whole King thing

Great articles in there, I saw Paul G, Tommy from Outrageous, and lots of you mentioned, CONGRATS MY BROTHERS
I see a lot of our Vendors also have ads in there too

Man I got to get out more..............

 

Yep we saw it. That was actually a follow-up to an article on Johnny in the previous month's Race Pages. The author called Johnny the fastest L & someone complained that Jason Brown had the fastest L. That blurb was in response to the complaint. I do believe that was printed before Johnny's 9.88 run also.

 

hummmm Johny has alot of stuff done to his L that are not expected.. and it darn sure didnt leave the factory like that.. his truck is more like JB than any of our Lightnings... Johny's truck will not even fit stock wheels anymore LOL

 

True but the point the author was making is that Johnny's truck still has stock body (except for the hood & rear bumper) as well as the stock chasis, Jason's chasis is at least half tube (if not all).

 

gotcha

 

Why won't Johnny's truck fit stock wheels? I though the bolt pattern was still the same?

 

I can't say add much, because I truly don't have all the facts,
however I do have many many pic's of JB's truck, and although I am a fan, love the truck, and watch that run on video over and over in amazement with that awesome launch of his, that sure aint no L no more......





Or it is, as much as John Forces Mustang is still a Mustang (LOL)

 

Most of the people who complain about any Gen 2 being the "fastest" Lightning in the World, are usually Gen 1 guys. Jasons truck does hold that legitimate title. However Gen 1 production ended 9 years ago, and the magazine claims are really geared more towards talking about the current trucks that are in the mainstream spotlight, not EVERY Lightning ever made. I don't think there was any harm or intention to discredit the older trucks. There are quite a few Gen 1s faster than any Gen 2s, but then again, they aren't exactly "stock like" either. JL has taken a certain route with his truck by starting to change chassis stuff on it, but his truck is actually close to how Jason Browns truck was when it was running 9s back in 98. Stock chassis with a bunch of alterations. It's a natural progression, as you go faster, you need to change things to support that. The easiest way to go faster to make things lighter. Jason Browns current setup (well, he doesn't own the truck anymore, but you know what I mean) weighs only 2700lbs. The rest of us are just stubborn by trying to keep 4800lb race weight and run insane ETs.

 

Actually, that's not true at all. John Forces car uses a one piece carbon fiber body, with painted on lights, that probably weighs less than 100 lbs.

Jasons truck still wears the Ford sheetmetal, save for a few glass parts like the hood and front bumper. It still has the original cab and bed structure. It's a tube chassis now, and has a chopped roofline, but come on people, you can't run 7's on a stock frame. Jasons truck is built to legally and safely run sub 7 second ETs. There are rules that have to be obeyed, and most of them don't include much OEM parts . If anything, I give Jason HUGE credit for retaining as much of the original truck as he did.

 

I read the article and I don't agree with it. I congratulate JL for his time, but the worlds fastest and quickest Lightning is still a Gen I.

 

I say it's still a lightning!

Jason is still everyone's daddy!

 

it does infact still have a valid Vin number on the cab

 

I agree and disagree (not that it really matters what I think)

But the facts are this, JB's old ride is awesome NO DOUBT,
and yes as Sal said although it may not look much like a L
anymore, it does maintain enough for most to still consider it
enough.
OR SOMETHING like that

But my opinion is based 100% on using the power plant ,
or at least upgraded components that kind of came with it,
example switch an Eaton for a KB or Works, add Juice,
stronger Rod's, Cams, etc....

But as far as I know, that Gen 1 DID NOT come with one of those monsters he has stuffed under the hood, never mind two.

Sal what you are doing is diff, you already had a S/C, and now it will be a Pro-Charger instead, as you said as you get faster you change stuff, You and Johnny still have Street Looking and even Street Drivable (if need be) Lightning's, But it seems to me "Our Daddy" aint taking that beast out for a Sunday drive, and it surly didn't come with that motor or components.

I guess it's always going to be a matter of opinion on ,
WHERE THE LINE IS, AND WHEN DO YOU CROSS IT ???

 

Lightweight upper and lower control arms and Rack and pinion steering, thats it. It is still a full frame truck with a solid rear just like any production Lightning(save the Fiberglass leafs). It does not use any exotic suspension stuff nor is the chassis tube framed anywhere.

As Sal stated, you most likely wont run deeper than 10.0's legally without the chassis being changed and certified by the sanctioning body who's track your at.

JB's old truck is awesome, but its on a much higher playing field than Johnny's and it most likely cost 100k more.

Later...

Bruce

 

congrats to both but theres a line there thats really hard to discern who gets what title. Like sal said it's just part of the game and certain times don't reallly involve oem parts.

For me all i really care about is streetable times, in which case Don just about takes the cake.