One more rant on SpeedTV's Muscle Car challenge

["John W Rosa" <JohnRosa@xxxx>]

I tried to figure out a way to better balance 
and properly represent the Muscle Car challenge
that SpeedTV so magnificently botched, and came 
up with the following.

First- dump the burn-out contest...just plain 
stupid as the smoke was more a result of the 
tire construction that some imaginary 'better 
spinning capability' which only advertises 
your poor traction.

Second- Muscle Cars (as previously defined) 
were intended to be 1/4-mile cars. All else 
was moot. Thus, only 1/4-mile comparisons 
matter if you truly are gauging the 'Best 
Muscle Car'.

Here's a shoot-out I'd like to see, where GM 
doesn't stack the odds by submitting the same 
damn car under all four marques.

All true Muscle Cars (2-doors, intermediate wheel-
base, powerful V8) all between 375 and 400 cubes.
Put this group through all of SpeedTVs tests (except 
the spin travesty) and see what shakes out. If you
feel a more fitting car belongs in place of something 
I placed here, let me know...but don't offer a Pony 
or Sports car...this is a Muscle Car contest.

1970 AMC Rebel MACHINE 390 Ram Air
http://www.musclecarcalendar.com/TM13.jpg
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 Magnum w/ Air Grabber
http://www.70roadrunner.com/MVC-400S.JPG
1968 Ford Torino 390-4v
http://www.dearbornclassics.com/images/rl68torino.jpg
1970 Chevelle SS 396
http://www.musclecars-and-classics.com/images/70_Chevelle_19.jpg

Yea, I know....ours is a small block, the rest 
are big blocks. To really test 'comparable' cars, 
you need to drop down to, say, Pony Cars with Small 
Block 4v V8s in the 340-360cid range.

Now it can be a test of multiple performance 
criteria types, to include braking, handling, etc.
The winner being a true 'Muscle Car' becomes very 
unlikely.

But now it gets complicated. Are we talking
about 'money-is-no-object' cars? Or do you 
qualify entries based on original sticker 
price and handicap each? After all, your 
wallet was also an influence on what to 
choose.

Do you include 'specials' like SC/Rambler,
SS/AMX and HEMI Dart?

Do you find concourse-restorations with ZERO 
mods, running 1960s-formula fuel on proper 
size, make and vintage model tires?

Do you restrict options so that if one competitor 
doesn't have a rear sway bar, none may wear one?
Or do you simply say 'if it was in on the options 
list, it's allowed'?

Do you establish a narrow CID range so comparable
engines are hauling the cars?

Heck, this can go on and on.

How about "Best Pony Car of the Muscle Car era"!?
(Small Block 4v V8s in the 325-375cid range)

1970 Javelin-SST 360-4v Go Pak Ram Air
http://www.javelinamx.com/javhome/events/albany98/70md1-1.jpg
1970 Cuda 340-4v w/ Shaker Ram Air
http://www.cars-on-line.com/13400/70cuda13465-A.jpg
1970 Mustang Mach 1 351-4v w/ Ram Air
http://www.americandreamcars.com/1970mustang091202.jpg
1970 Camaro SS 350-4v
http://www.classiccarsetc.com/JSA%20LATEST/Dscf2490.jpg

Now I think we have a contest!!
Heck, I'd almost finance this show myself if real 
controls were in place to assure totally-stock,
un-tweaked cars were found and pounded for the 
event.

John