Mustang race car collector and enthusiast, Brent Hajek of Oklahoma, goes for land speed record at Talldega with E85 ethanol-fueled Mustang and hits the wall.

If you've been reading Mustang Monthly for any time at all, you know the name Brent Hajek of Oklahoma.  Brent has been collecting, racing, and enjoying old Ford race cars for longer than we can remember.  That said, it seems logical Brent would campaign one of the fastest Mustangs ever - the S197 Mustang FR500C built by Hajek Motorsports of Ames, Oklahoma.

Brent's shakedown mission happened at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah where the FR500C whacked 252 mph thanks to a 1,000-horsepower 5.4L DOHC Modular V-8 in the summer of 2008.  If it isn't the fastest Mustang out there, it's darned close, and a great example of what can be done with Ford's venerable Mod' motor and the S197 Mustang.  Ford didn't get on board with Brent until he decided to use green fuel - E85 ethanol - as a means to putting both Ford and Mustang into the history books.  Corn fed and proud of it.  And although Brent owns an oil and gas company, he has nothing to do with the ethanol industry whatsoever.  E85 has left a lasting impression, however.

Brent's goal was to take the FR500C down to Talladega and crack the E85 land speed record of 172.680 mph set by a group of engineering students with a Chevy Cobalt SS. NASCAR legend Bill Elliott would pilot the FR500C for this historic event.

Elliott was on a shakedown run at Talladega in Brent's FR500C preparing for the record setting run when he experienced tire failure in Turn 2 and smacked the wall, which put an end to activities.  Elliott, beside himself, knew there was no way out as the tire failed.  Brent tells Mustang Monthly he will be back in the fall when track temperatures are cooler and tires stick better.  "We're going to stay after this thing until we get it," Brent adds. 

We will keep you abreast of events as they happen at www.mustangmonthly.com and in Mustang Monthly.