Ah, yes, the Babe of the Month-affectionately nicknamed "BOTM." If memory serves, we believe it was former editor Rob Kinnan's bright idea to add a little skin to the mag back when he was guiding the 5.0 Mustang (our name at the time) mother ship. Can you believe when current editor Steve Turner took the reins he almost killed BOTM, as he believed the magazine had plenty to offer without needing to sell skin at the same time? But he heard your cries to keep it.
Under Editor Turner, the BOTM section has thrived, and we hear all the time that it's the first stop for many readers, even though it's on the last page. Once done checking out the BOTM, it's on to the less-important (it seems) horsepower part of the magazine. Building on BOTM's success, Editor Turner came up with the idea of having the Babe of the Year (BOTY), where readers have the opportunity to vote for their favorite BOTM, and the winner gets a feature with her Mustang in the magazine. The first BOTY was the stunning Cristye Butler and her red '98 Mustang GT. We're sure you remember Cristye. Now it's the equally traffic-stopping '02 BOTY Pamela Gurule's turn to shine with her '98 Cobra.
Is it a mere coincidence that Pamela's Mustang is also red? Probably, but guys, you should be taking notes. Owning a red Mustang might be your in with the ladies. In Pamela's case, she already owned a '98 Cobra, even though it was white. Her husband, Matthew, really liked the car as well, so being the nice wife she is, Pamela let him take over that Cobra and she set out to find a replacement. Her new Cobra also had to be a '98 because she figured Ford had gotten all the Four-Valve modular bugs worked out by then, and many people told her the '98s were the best of the bunch.
A gentleman who didn't have much opportunity to drive this particular Cobra decided it was time to sell. Luckily, Pamela was there to snatch it up. She has owned the car for more than four years and has no plans to sell it anytime soon. Her son, Romeo, has already made it known he has first dibs on the Cobra once he reaches driving age. If Romeo's anything like his parents, the car will be in good hands.
One thing's for sure-Romeo will be the Big Man on Campus in the Gurules' hometown of Bloomfield, New Mexico, because Pamela likes her Mustangs fast. With her Four-Valve Cobra, that meant strapping on a Vortech S-Trim supercharger with a corresponding Vortech Max-Flow Aftercooler. We're sure she has no problem roasting the hides-even in her heels-with 4.10 gears out back.
A self-described high-maintenance girl, Pamela isn't satisfied just having more power; she wanted the car to look good as well. She added a Saleen ground-effects package with an SR rear wing, a Cervini's Auto Designs Cobra R hood, and Performance Wheel Outlet Y2K Cobra R wheels wrapped in Nitto treads. Ford Ziems painted the ground-effects package and hood to match the Laser Red metallic. Of course, the inside had to be just as nice, so Pamela added several UPR billet accessories to keep up with her high-maintenance lifestyle.
So what's in the future for this Cobra? A lot more, but in the meantime Pamela plans to enjoy the car and take it to as many shows as she can. She even plans on trying to start more shows in her area. Trust us, Pamela's BOTY victory is just the beginning for her and her Cobra.