TBSVTOA
08-23-2003, 09:05 AM
F-150 Lightning leaves all other pickups in the dust
It’s official. Guinness World Records, Ltd., has certified the Ford SVT F-150 Lightning as the “World’s Fastest Production Pickup Truck”.
You may remember that last month we reported on the record run itself. It was conducted at Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds. The five-mile-long, high-speed oval there provided a safe, controlled environment to test the limits of the truck's performance.
"This may seem like fun and games, but high-speed stability is critical for a performance vehicle, even a pickup truck," says Tom Chapman, Ford SVT chassis systems supervisor and driver for the record-setting run. "The SVT F-150 Lightning is just as stable and planted at 147 miles per hour as it is at 55 mph; only the scenery's going by faster. That stability is a testament to the solid foundation of the Ford F-150, and the performance engineering found in Ford SVT products."
For the record, Guinness requires the truck to be production level, meaning it is identical to what a customer can find at his local Ford SVT dealer. Speeds must be measured over a kilometer, and the record speed is derived from an average of speeds in both directions.
To meet the vehicle requirements, Ford SVT used a stock 2003 Ford SVT F-150 Lightning. Exterior modifications were limited to folding in the side mirrors, and removing the radio antenna. To meet timing requirements, Ford SVT conducted the test on Ford's Michigan Proving Ground high-speed oval. Timing lights were set up seven-tenths of a mile apart (as certified by an independent surveyor). A Hot Lap In-Car Timer, from Longacre Racing Products, was used to measure elapsed time through the measured 0.7 mile. Elapsed time was then converted to miles per hour.
Clockwise, the fastest elapsed time was 17.03 seconds, or 147.974 mph. Counter-clockwise, the fastest elapsed time was 17.09 seconds, or 147.454 mph.
The average of those two runs is 147.714 mph.
This result is more than adequate to set the Guinness World Record™ for the "Fastest Production Pickup."
It’s official. Guinness World Records, Ltd., has certified the Ford SVT F-150 Lightning as the “World’s Fastest Production Pickup Truck”.
You may remember that last month we reported on the record run itself. It was conducted at Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds. The five-mile-long, high-speed oval there provided a safe, controlled environment to test the limits of the truck's performance.
"This may seem like fun and games, but high-speed stability is critical for a performance vehicle, even a pickup truck," says Tom Chapman, Ford SVT chassis systems supervisor and driver for the record-setting run. "The SVT F-150 Lightning is just as stable and planted at 147 miles per hour as it is at 55 mph; only the scenery's going by faster. That stability is a testament to the solid foundation of the Ford F-150, and the performance engineering found in Ford SVT products."
For the record, Guinness requires the truck to be production level, meaning it is identical to what a customer can find at his local Ford SVT dealer. Speeds must be measured over a kilometer, and the record speed is derived from an average of speeds in both directions.
To meet the vehicle requirements, Ford SVT used a stock 2003 Ford SVT F-150 Lightning. Exterior modifications were limited to folding in the side mirrors, and removing the radio antenna. To meet timing requirements, Ford SVT conducted the test on Ford's Michigan Proving Ground high-speed oval. Timing lights were set up seven-tenths of a mile apart (as certified by an independent surveyor). A Hot Lap In-Car Timer, from Longacre Racing Products, was used to measure elapsed time through the measured 0.7 mile. Elapsed time was then converted to miles per hour.
Clockwise, the fastest elapsed time was 17.03 seconds, or 147.974 mph. Counter-clockwise, the fastest elapsed time was 17.09 seconds, or 147.454 mph.
The average of those two runs is 147.714 mph.
This result is more than adequate to set the Guinness World Record™ for the "Fastest Production Pickup."