Behind the Scenes

Rolling felony bait, nine speed machines drove in caravan from our Los Angeles headquarters to the Ford Proving Grounds in Arizona in one multi-hued streak. Indulging in the all-you-eat horsepower buffet, getting there was half the story. Highway duels, street-light showdowns, and conversations with passionate enthusiasts at rest breaks gave us a memorable taste for what owning one of the world's highest-performance cars would be like. And it was good.

Once to Ford's own Mount Olympia, the lean automotive athletes were prepped for competition. There were numerous events to compete in, with medals abounding. Each year, our elite competitors push the boundaries further, setting new records and benchmarks. Conditions were brutal, with excruciating 120-degree air temperature and measured 143-degree surface temp. Survival wasn't easy for humans or machines, but the intoxicating thrill and duty pushed us on.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at 2000 High-Speed Shootout featured in the November 2000 issue of Motor Trend.