
Don Walsh Jr. finished runner-up...

Don Walsh Jr. finished runner-up to Steve Hadobas in 5.0 Super Street, on an aborted run. The launch looked good, though.

Since its bad form to...

Since its bad form to race a car at your own event, let alone win the race, the Silvas just made low8-second exhibition passes with their beautiful SN-95 car.

Joe Silva (left) is the J...

Joe Silva (left) is the J in J&P, and he knows how to put on a good show.

The Silva teams car...

The Silva teams car had transmission problems, prompting a swap in the pits.

The Grecos recently switched...

The Grecos recently switched supercharger camps from Paxton to Vortech, and were in Canada to run for the gold. The car was running in the 8.20s, but lost to eventual winner Louie Kovachis.

Alternative Autos Lidio...

Alternative Autos Lidio Iacabelli brought out his familiar 9-second, yellow street/strip coupe to run in 5.0 Super Street.

The radical turbocharged screamer...

The radical turbocharged screamer of Jon Yates and Craig Radovich wowed the Canadians in Pro 5.0. It ran a best of 8.20 at 168 mph to trailer Junior Ibanez, but lost in the third round to Canadas own Louie Kovachis.

Mike Mahons Pro Stock...

Mike Mahons Pro Stock truck made a few exhibition runs, turning high-sevens, with only a 358ci small-block.

In the 4.6 Shootout final...

In the 4.6 Shootout final round, Jason Perilli (far lane) put away Barry Shepards Village Ford car. Jasons mod-motor machine runs 12.70s, while Shepards car runs in the 12.50s. The 4.6 shootout was a bracket race.
When most Americans think of Canada, they picture things like the Rocky Mountains, the Royal Mounted Police and Niagara Falls. Though Canada is as close as our own border, we know surprisingly little about our neighbors to the northperhaps because Canada is a peace-loving country thatwhile having its own currency, laws, and languageis similar to America in many ways. They enjoy baseball and hockey, just like we do. Their street corners are littered with fast-food restaurants, just like ours. And their love of 5.0 and 4.6 Mustangs is unparalleled by any country even our own.
What?! Now, before you start waving the flag and calling us all traitors, consider thisbecause of the exchange rate, it costs about twice as much to build a fast 5.0 in Canada as it does here. Even if you have the money, parts can be hard to come by and often take weeks, even months, to cross the border.
Because of these issues, it can be damn hard for a Canadian speed merchant to turn a profit selling American-made parts. Yet Joe and Paul Silva of J&P Performance in Scarborough, Ontario, [(416) 751-9766] not only own a successful business, they also put on a damn fine 5.0 show every yearthe J&P Performance Shootout at London Motorsports Park near London, Ontario.
Last August marked the seventh such shoot-out, drawing Canadian and American competitors in almost equal numbers. Theres something for everyonefrom wheels-up Pro 5.0 cars to brackets, and everything in between. In other words, if you have a 5.0, no matter what configuration, there is a class designed specifically for your car. For example, Sean Hyland Motorsport of nearby Langton, Ontario, sponsored the events 4.6 Shootout, a race within a race just for mod-motor mavins. Such notable attendees in this category included John Mihovetzs lownine-second Accufab car, the worlds quickest, and Jerry Greens 98 Cobra, believed to be the quickest stock Cobra in the country.
Of course, there was also 5.0 Street (sponsored by 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords magazine), 5.0 Super Street, and EFI. For those who simply love the spectacle of 8-second 5.0 Mustangs, there were plenty on handthe Grecos colorful Vortech-blown car; Jim LaRoccas black n bad ProCharger-powered stormer; and Craig Radovichs awesome, single-turbo terror. The star of the event was Doug Mangrums nitrous-inhaling 88, which ran in the sevens all weekend long. Doug won the event and took home a handsome $4,000 in Canadian prize money, plus $200 for high mph, $500 for low e.t. (both awarded by Watson Engineering), and $500 (Canadian) for being the first legal Pro 5.0 car to break into the sevens in Canada. In all, roughly $28,000 in cash and prizes was handed out in the various categories.
So the next time you think of Canada, its OK to picture the traditional icons. But dont forget the 5.0syour fellow racers to the north will thank you for it, eh?