KOPEC MAKES DRAG RACING DEBUT

AND ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT FROM DRAG RACING

IN THE SAME DAY

(Englishtown, NJ May 3, 2001) - Link to the Drag Racing Pic

In one of the shortest drag racing careers on record, Rick Kopec of Sharon,

CT appeared at Englishtown's Raceway Park with his 1965 GT350 R-Model today,

and after putting on a set of super-sticky Hoosier drag slicks he cranked

the famous Essex Wire GT350-R through the gears, turning a 13.13 sec.

quarter mile at 105 MPH. On his second run, minutes later, he lowered that

time to 13.10 sec.

According to 1965 Shelby Registrar Howard Pardee, who was on hand to observe

the quarter mile action (and to take advantage of the free lunch afforded

the participants - he was seen going through the food line three times) this

is the first time a GT350 R-Model has ever been drag raced. That fact was

backed up by Shelby American's GT350 Project Engineer Chuck Cantwell , who

said "We never had time to test one on the strip back when we were building

them, and I don't know anybody stupid enough to try it today."

On his second run, Kopec experienced a slight clutch slippage and on the

third run it got worse, slipping halfway down the strip, so the car was

driven back to the paddock, loaded onto the trailer and taken home. The

clutch disc problem was attributed to the exceptional grip of the drag

slicks. A 12 second run was definitely within reach.

Kopec said that no attempt will be made to lower his record. "Drag racing is

the automotive equivalent of self abuse using sand paper, battery acid and a

cattle prod while sitting on a roll of razor wire. I won't be doing that

again, thank you."