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Index of Shadow's supercar feats, deeds, and exploits

(from the driver logs)


Iconic image of real-life one-of-a-kind 1969 Ford Mustang supercar from the 1970s

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 supercar

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This page last updated on or about 9-16-07
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BACK to Me and my Shadow supercar: Driver logs An introduction to J. Staute and Shadowfast


Below I list things no ordinarily equipped car and driver could (or likely would) have done, compared to Shadow and driver in the events described by the driver logs (in some cases of course car and driver did have some help from their friends or plain old luck).

Could your own million dollar 21st century supercar of choice match or surpass all these 1970s era deeds by a 1969 Mustang built and equipped for maybe $5000 or so? I seriously doubt it!


The accounts linked below were inspired by actual events. Details like names, dates, and more have been changed for reasons of privacy and readability.

From Slip, sliding away:

Shadowfast equipment status beyond factory stock: traction bars; hand-made fan shroud to replace missing factory version; a club kept under the driver's seat consisting of a piece of industrial electrical cable. In some ways Shadow is below factory stock status now, as having suffered multiple wrecks (some quite severe) and subsequent rebuilding, not all his original items have been replaced. For example, he may be missing (among other things) dual exhaust tips and a passenger side rear view mirror he originally possessed new.

Scraping parking lot escape from an unruly mob, and rescue of damsels in distress via guile, speed, and handling.

Evasion and escape from a demolition derby-style trap via car-surfing atop a large sign across a pond.

Winning a hair-raising slalom against an expertly-driven and hot-rodded 1964 Pontiac GTO to make a buck.

Covert infiltration, damsels rescue, and escape by moonlight alone.

From Too close for comfort:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: Metallic brake linings all around; high-rise aluminum intake, ram-air, Boss 429 hood scoop, headers, heavier duty front drums, and roll-cage installed; new front end scoops added, both front and rear small scoops opened and ducted to brake cooling; rear shocks staggered; come-along, tow ropes and other sorts, plywood panels added; missing rear interior; battery relocated to trunk; sound insulation removed. Front fender flares enlarged, front air dam added, rear spoiler extended and enlarged. Front grill replaced with lighter quick-change custom version. Much extraneous factory gear removed for weight reduction. Missing factory coolant recovery system replaced. Louvers installed in hood.

The main events in Too close for comfort occur during late fall, early winter.

Winning a race against a 1969 AMC Javelin AMX 390 at the last minute by brute stopping power.

Beating a train across a railway bridge.

Crossing an old automobile bridge that's definitely out of service (no floor) using tow ropes, roll-cage, a come-along, and large plywood panels to traverse the trusses on one side rather than the largely absent roadway. Think spider-mobile!

Outrunning an armed truck driver via hazardous tools dump when a rescue must be made with less than optimal engine performance (a carburetor rebuild gone wrong).

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From A call to arms:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: New Holley carburetor, CB radio, hidden police scanner, and overhead console installed. Completely redone quick-change custom rear interior, expanded to take over some space previously a part of the trunk. Shadow now officially a two-seater. Battery relocation to behind passenger seat, kill switch and quick-disconnects installed at battery. Mini-fire extinguisher and bracket added to console between seats. 180 degree rear view mirror installed. A passenger side door mirror added too by now, if not earlier. Local road maps.

The climax to a Call to arms takes place in the late spring/early summer.

Cutting off a killer from his planned wilderness getaway by scaling a steep mountain-side using tow ropes and a come-along to anchor the car to steel cable netting installed by the state to prevent rock-falls onto an interstate highway. The return of the spider-mobile!

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From The Daytona 1200:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: A hotter ignition coil and Accell dual point distributor; a marine-type flare gun, plus pen-type single-shot flares, kept in a small ammo box onboard; Boss 302 rear suspension springs and anti-sway bar, plus Boss 429 front anti-sway bar installed. Coil springs added over rear shocks; front springs stiffened. An aluminum transmission fluid cooler and flex fan. Entire car blacked out, including bumpers and chrome trim-- but not yet permanently. Longer distance road maps are added to the inventory.

The Daytona 1200 takes place at the height of the summer.

Winning a drag race against a hot-rodded 1970 Mustang with 351 Cleveland (a race among friends).

Winning a long distance race against a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona 426 Hemi on a bet.

From Wild horses:

Wild horses takes place near the end of summer.

Putting out a friend who's on fire with the supercar's onboard fire extinguisher.

Making it over an improvised bridge of two wrecked cars to escape a forest fire (one bridge car being upside-down).

Transporting far more passengers out of harm's way than a factory-standard Mustang could have, due to the roomier custom interior.

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From Blue light special:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: Tire poppers, crash bars, siren, and stealth lighting circuit installed. Hiking and camping gear is gradually being added to Shadow's repertoire now-- including emergency food and water supplies.

The hometown events wrapping up Blue light special occur roughly a week before fall quarter college classes were to begin half a state away at Tech.

From Fast times at Sigma Chi:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: used Remington 12 gauge pump shot gun with short slug barrel with rifle-sight and extra big ammo magazine, plus new stainless steel snub-nose .38 Special revolver; roughly 100 rounds for each gun in onboard ammo box (getting the slug barrel and extra big magazine were pure strokes of luck there; I didn't realize their extra added value until later). Military ROTC training with compass and USGS maps leads to those beginning to be added. Strobe lights are installed in the backup light bezels.

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From Too close to the bone:

Timeframe: a long summer in Texas

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: An entire case of pork and beans loaded for food supply previous to Texas trip.

Feeding three men for a couple weeks via onboard emergency rations.

Providing the sole housing/shelter/living quarters for a college student working construction 1000 miles from home for two different weeks.

Only running dry of gas once during two weeks within a dire gas shortage including local rationing, despite being forced to stay on the road and running much of the time due to having nowhere to safely stay put-- and when Shadow did run dry it was within 20 feet of a gas pump (Shadow got 24 miles per gallon when not running hard).

From No good deed goes unpunished:

Timeframe: a long summer in Texas

Saving an infant from a car thief by gently stopping a stolen car in mid-chase by a combination of police scanner intelligence, positioning, strobe lights, and direct careful contact.

From Kissing the wall:

Timeframe: a long summer in Texas

Putting a harassing pursuit car in its proper place-- a deep hole-- with a small blind jump and truly advanced emergency stop technique.

From When push came to shove:

Timeframe: a long summer in Texas

The 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Shadowfast supercar driving acrobatically around a huge pipe interior to avoid a deadly obstacle and evade pursuit.

Escaping a death-race against a 1969 Dodge Polara 440 Magnum via superb engine design and construction (and savvy driver).

Overcoming a deadly obstacle course via advanced aerodynamics and acrobatic driving to escape murderous pursuit.

From Shadowfast versus the tornados:

Timeframe: a long summer in Texas

Surviving multiple tornados up close with superior aerodynamics and supercar accessories-- and a direct lightning strike too (the fire extinguisher helped there).

From Heartbreaker:

Timeframe: a long summer in Texas

Winning a drag race against a 1970 Ford Torino GT 429 Cobra Jet .

Winning a state highway race by causing armed pursuit's vehicle to blow an engine first.

From Liars and traitors and bears:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: Replacing half the 12 gauge buckshot rounds onboard to slugs for longer range and more devastasting firepower options.

From Black and blue magic:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: Many one-time-use road tricks and devices are created and carried here for a special audition mission. Also, quick-change interior armor against gunfire, including a frame for the rear deck with folding plates plus supplementary plates, and seat back silhouette plates which can be lifted out and carried as shields. Replacement of factory interior door panels with custom-made lighter ones (which also incorporated disguised openings for secret storage inside the doors themselves).

From Ring of fire:

Helping distract a band of killers to aid a fleeing family in escaping a seige, as well as protect the driver from being shot in another instance.

Providing emergency gas and fuel tank repair for a family escape vehicle. Ammo reloads for their shotguns too.

Providing field cover with a lift-out steel plate shield for the driver during a shoot-out.

Using flares to create a forest fire barrier against approaching gunmen.

Avoiding positive identification by the authorities partly due to heavy cosmetic customization/one-of-a-kind-nature.

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From Over the edge:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: Lots more road maps and USGS maps. A custom lightweight dashboard based on GT-40 design.

The custom dash and factory dash actually switched places several times during Shadow's lifespan, due to builder dissatisfaction with various elements of both. Determining exactly which dash was present during a particular event can be difficult now, decades later. But at some point around the time of Over the edge, the custom dash likely gained permanent status.

The custom dash proved to be one of the most difficult to complete changes of the entire supercar project.

Avoiding one fall off a cliff by traction gained from dropped crash bars.

Surviving a cliff jump into a mountain forest.

Utilizing the onboard tool and spare parts kit to make repairs in the field, as well as quickly adjust suspension and body to function better off-road.

Using a come-along and tow ropes to remove obstacles from its path.

Using custom interior components to escape a natural trap in the wilderness.

Escaping a wilderness trap by the sudden massive distractions of strobe lights, siren, and streaming fireball.

Winning an off-road race against four wheel drives and motorcycles through a mountainous wilderness by a combination of experience, luck, and well-chosen accessory gear.

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From Daytona 2.0: Between a Ferrari and a hard place:

Notable changes to Shadowfast equipment and accessories since previous account: Nitrous oxide system to help compensate for added weight of armor and other recently added accessory equipment, and provide an equalizer for larger engined competitors.

Winning a brutally short slalom contest against a fierce Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, piloted by a highly skilled driver.

From What goes around...:

Fending off a gun-toting robber with a mix of secret door compartment, thick cable club, and bluff.

Losing a 1973 Firebird Trans Am 455 Super Duty with a combination of strobe lights, fast stop, and trick maneuvers.

Surviving and winning against a premeditated mugging at an intersection by retrieval of crash bars from under rear of car for use as surprise weapons

Winning a showdown (with some help from an unexpected source) against a huge gang of pursuit and ambush vehicles set in motion by a drug dealer's bounty.

Easily winning a race against a 1970 Camaro Z-28 on the interstate with nitrous oxide

Winning a showdown with a sniper on a motorcycle in a curve by way of expert driving, savvy, and nitrous oxide

Winning a game of chicken with multiple vehicles of armed attackers with series of 360 degree spins

Winning a game of chicken with multiple vehicles of armed attackers with a harmless display of multiple flares, followed up with active disabling of vehicles via shotgun slugs

Using feints of strobes and nitrous oxide to get pursuit to take themselves out of the game

Escaping an armed road block with a 180 degree turn and nitrous-oxide-aided acceleration and smoke-screen

Escaping a road pin ambush via crash bars to create an opening and then driving in reverse to escape

Escaping a road ambush via healthy spacing from cars ahead and quick maneuvering past enemy vehicles to use the emergency lane

Running off the interstate and up a hill to avoid an armed ambush by a van ahead.

Making a stand on a hillside beside the interstate highway with a revolver, shot gun, and help from a friend against an enemy car and van, both armed.

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From Nowhere to go but up:

Stopping a truck of armed thugs with a flare shot into their cab.

Stopping deadly gun firing pursuit with strobe lights, tire poppers, and crash bars.

Threading the needle between two armed motorcycle riders by surprise to knock them off the road.

Helping a heavy armored limousine come to an emergency stop.

Ramming a truck broadside to stop an imminent rocket attack.

Using a flare to set fire to an abandoned limousine as a distraction for pursuit.

Escaping from murderous pursuit by jumping a river.

Notes from the actual owner/driver of the Shadowfast super car offers pointers to some of the real-life events which inspired the driver logs.


BACK to Me and my Shadow supercar: Driver logs 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 supercar site map


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