BREA, CA. December 31, 1987… The year that was – a first. They say there’s a first time for everything. Steve Saleen designed a car based on a classic Ford chassis for the performance enthusiast, developed a nationwide dealer base for sales and took it one step further. “Putting a true performance car on the market, I felt, deserved to be put to the test in an arena unique to the automotive and motorsports community. That arena proved to be the SCCA Escort Endurance Showroom Stock Series”, Saleen commented. After successfully debating the merits of the Saleen Mustang, Steve was rewarded with the opportunity to campaign the car “heads up” against the world’s top manufacturers by the Sports Car Club of America. “I was given the chance to prove the value of our car in many different formats and we were very determined'”, said Saleen.

The Saleen Mustang and the new Saleen Sportruck (based on the Ford Ranger platform) were showcased in various “pro” and amateur aeries across the country. The efforts of Dave Frezza, of Beaverton, Oregon, took the Saleen Mustang to the winner’s circle in the SCCA Northwest Regional Championship and the Pacific Coast Race of Champions in the CP-1 category. Dave also won two Solo II events with his Saleen. Saleen Autosport also went to the drags in an NHRA A/Gas Comp Eliminator in the Northwest Region where Jim Van Cleve captured four national records with an ET of 8.06 and 166.97 MPH. Winner of two events at Yakima and Seattle, Jim also made the semifinals at Calgary and the prestigious U.S. Nationals at Indy.

Saleen Autosport’s reasons for racing and winning were many, but one of the more important has been the sponsors’ commitments, some of whom had never been involved with a motorsports program, or manufacturers like General Tire and Monroe Shocks, who had developed their own performance line and needed a platform on which to prove their products. Montgomery Ward Auto Center, Hunter Engineering, Flofit Seats, Team One Ford were all valued first time motorsports sponsors. Ford Motor Company, Motorcraft Quality Parts, American Racing Equipment, and TRW are experienced sponsors who believed in the program and contributed to a most successful year.

The year that was – a generation later. Twenty years ago, another determined young man by the name of Carroll Shelby campaigned his Mustang to a championship for Ford. His drivers – Parnelli Jones, George Follmer and Jerry Titus helped bring him this honor. A generation and three legendary careers later, P.J., George and Jerry’s son, Rick, helped bring like honors to Steve Saleen and the Saleen Mustang. Steve Saleen and Rick Titus won the Drivers Championship Award in the #19 car and finishing 3rd and 4th in the #20 car were our most talented all woman team of Lisa Caceres and Desire’ Wilson.

These regulars were joined throughout the year by: Trams Am Starts Pete Halsmer and Scott Pruett: new lady drivers – Donna Sue Landon and Molly Elliott, as well as Skeeter McKitterick, Danny May, Danny McKeever and Saleen Sportruck drivers – Tim Evans and Rob Stevens.

The year that was -memorable. There are many memories in a championship year. Some reflect statistics – 5 wins out of 7 races, 3 pole positions for the Mustangs and 2 wins and 2 pole positions for the Sportrucks. So many more reflect the emotions and physical efforts-so-often pressed in an endurance series.

Four championships won in 1987:

• SCCA Escort Endurance Team Champion – #19 Saleen Mustang
• SCCA Escort Endurance Manufactures Champion – Ford/Saleen Autosport
• SCCA Escort Endurance Drivers Champion – Steve Saleen/Rick Titus
• SCCA Escort Endurance Tire Manufacturer Champion – General Tire

The year that was – an end to the beginning.

BREA, CA. September 16, 1987… Titus, Follmer and Parnelli Jones – legendary names in legendary cars of automotive racing history. All three championship-winning drivers for Ford team up a generation later in a Saleen Mustang to run the 24 Hours at the magnificent Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Saleen Autosport has brought together a team of drivers – the likes of which many of us race fans never expected to see again.

Rick Titus proudly steps in for his father, Jerry Titus, the 1967 Trans Am Champion driving a Ford Mustang prepared by Shelby. As co-leader with Steve Saleen in the Drivers Championship and a Saleen Autosport team driver for two years, Rick will more than expertly fill in for his father to bring the Manufacturers Championship back to Ford in a Mustang chassis.

George Follmer, 1972 and 1976 Trans Am Champion, is a very welcome addition to our “All Star” Mustang driver line up.

Parnelli Jones, not only a 1970 Trans Am Champion, in his Bud Moore prepared Mustang, but a 1963 Indy 500 winner, honors Saleen Autosport and its sponsors in joining us for one of the most important and grueling races of the year on September 25, 26, and 27.

Our driver line up for #19 will be Team Owner, Steve Saleen, Trans Am and Indy star, Pete Halsmer and GTO pilot, Danny May. Saleen Mustang #20 will again be fielded by our most impressive all-woman team of internationally famous, Desire’ Wilson and Hollywood stunt driver, Lisa Caceres. Can Am and current GTU driver Skeeter McKitterick will again be joining the Saleen team with his “fast lane” skills.

The Saleen Mustangs are currently leading the GT category of the SCCA Escort Endurance Championship over the 944S Porsche. With only two races remaining, the #9, #19, and #20 Saleen Mustangs are being prepared for their final tests for 1987.

Saleen Autosport and its sponsors, Ford, General Tire, Montgomery Ward, TRW, Motorcraft, American Racing, Monroe, Hunter Engineering, Team One Ford and Flofit are proud to present our team of drivers to represent their products.

The past meets the future at Mid-Ohio. Saleen Autosport, Ford and General Tire will be there.

BREA, CA. September 15, 1987… After 122 years, Atlanta was on fire again, Saleen Autosport came to town. Bearing 3 Saleen Mustangs and 2 Saleen Sportrucks, the track at Road Atlanta on Sept. 6 & 7 “felt the heat”.

Out of 5 vehicles representing Saleen Autosport and its sponsors, they took home a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th.

In a 6 hour SCCA Escort Endurance race the Saleen Mustang #19 driven Steve Saleen & Rick Titus took 1st, the #20 “ladies team” of Desire’ Wilison & Lisa Caceres took 2nd and newest entry #9 piloted by Trans-Am and Indy star Pete Halsmer and Danny May took 4th. All 3 cars finished on the same lap and all 3 cars led at some point during the 6-hour event.

The Saleen Sportrucks had their best finish yet in the Coors Racetruck Challenge with Steve Saleen, team owner and designer, finishing 3rd in his #20 and Pete Halsmer in the #19 finishing 6th after losing the lead due to an “altercation” with a Nissan and a subsequent flat tire.

The “Saleen March” through the South continued on to Memphis and to the brand new Memphis International Motorsports Park for the 6th round of Coors Challenge on Sept. 12 & 13.

Steve Saleen and Pete Halsmer returned to field #19 & #20 Saleen Sportrucks against the best of the imports. Nissan, Toyota and Jeep had proved to be the fiercest competitors for the Ford Ranger, but the “March through Georgia” kept up the steam through Tennessee and brought home a first win for Ford and General Tire in the new Racetruck series.

The Saleen Sportrucks grabbed a 1-2 lead in the first turn and showed their off shore buddies the rear bumper view the remainder of the race.

Saleen Autosport, Ford, General Tire, and all the associate sponsors are appreciative of the support received by the team at every location across the country. We continue on to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the second 24-hour race of the year. The heat is on!

BREA, CA. August 24, 1987… For the second year in a row, Saleen Autosport has captured the win in the most difficult of all endurance races – the 24 Hours of Mosport Park, Ontario Canada. The #19 Saleen Mustang took another checkered flag – 6 laps ahead of their nearest competitor.

A 53-member crew campaigning 3 cars, for the first time in the ‘87 season, dominated the GT class of-the SCCA Escort Endurance Championship Series to take the lead for the year. The 3 Saleens all qualified in the top 5 and finished 1st, 3rd and 4th. A remarkable accomplishment in a most competitive series.

Saleen Autosport team drivers, Steve Saleen, Rick Titus and Lisa Caceres, were joined by Trans Am and IMSA stars, Pete Halsmer, Scott Pruett and Skeeter McKitterick, as well-as veteran racer, Danny McKeever. Complimenting the women’s team are drivers Donna Sue Landon and Molly Elliot.

Ford, General Tire and Saleen Autosport are setting a pace others find difficult to match.

Saleen Autosport heads for Road Atlanta, September 5 and 6 with their 3 car team as well as the Saleen Sportrucks, #19 and #20, looking for their first win after an impressive 1st and 2nd in qualifying at Mosport. After 4 races and 3 wins, Saleen has no intention of backing off now.

BREA, CA. June 15, 1987… Saleen Autosport, Ford Motor Company and General Tire are setting a pace their competitors find difficult to match. Two races and two wins for the Saleen Mustangs place them in the enviable position of first overall in the Manufacturers Cup and Team Championship in the SCCA Escort Endurance Championship.

Steve Saleen and Rick Titus in the #19 Saleen Mustang started from the first row at Portland International Raceway and never let up to capture a two-lap margin of victory over the 944S Porsche. “The tires worked great! I felt as though I could drive anywhere on the track,” commented Saleen. The General Tire engineers are always working with the team for development and with just a tire pressure adjustment on Saturday’s morning warm-up, all the hard work paid off, when the car and tires became an unbeatable combination.

Another great asset of the team this weekend came in the form of our sponsor, Hunter Engineering. They provided a free wheel alignment diagnosis available to all competitors over the weekend. Pete Whiting, Roger Creason, Jim Ackerman and Dan Savageau were available to provide their expertise. Their assistance at the track proved to be invaluable.

Four of the best drivers in the series: Steve Saleen, Rick Titus, Lisa Caceres and Desire’ Wilson will again be competing their Saleen Mustangs when the series continues on to Brainerd International, July 18 and 19.

After development work has been completed on the Ford Rangers, the Saleen Sportrucks will resume their campaign in the Coors Racetruck Challenge in Brainerd, Minnesota the same weekend.

Saleen Autosport, Ford and General Tire are a new dominating force in the Showroom Stock, High Performance and Endurance arenas. Word is spreading.

BREA, CA. April 30, 1987… The Women’s Movement was more than evident this last weekend as Lisa Caceres and Desire’ Wilson “moved” to the front of the pack of their male counterpart competitors in their first win and first race of the 1987 Escort Showroom Stock Endurance Series. In their #20 Saleen Mustang, Lisa and Desire’ not only qualified on the pole with a new GT class track record, but led the most laps during the race to win by a 2 lap margin over the new Porsche 944S.

“We really had no idea how we stood competitively with the rest of the field until the first qualifying run of the year on Saturday morning,” commented Ken Brown, Crew chief. “Our girls will be very hard to beat this year,” said Steve Saleen, Team Owner. Steve and Rick Titus, of Motor Trend Magazine, should know, as they are fielding the #19 Saleen Mustang which finished 3rd in class. After a major “incident’ in Turn 2 during Friday’s practice, the #19 was literally rebuilt overnight and placed on the grid for Saturday morning, ready for qualifying. After overheating problems were solved in the first pit stop of the of the race, the injured Saleen Mustang moved from 8th to 3rd position.

The General Tire XP2000V’s were definitely put to the test at Sears Point Raceway, which is one of the most demanding road cares in North America. “The Saleen Mustang and the XP2000V’s were an unbeatable combination this weekend,” said Dave Erickson, Motorsports Coordinator for General Tire. “We are obviously looking forward to Portland!”, he went on to add.

June 5 and 6 at the Portland, Oregon Rose Festival is the next stop, for the Saleen Autosport Endurance Team. With the support and enthusiasm of our sponsors: Ford Motor Company, General Tire, Montgomery Ward, TRW, Hunter Engineering, Motorcraft, Team 1 Ford, American Racing, Monroe Shocks, Flofit seats and Kenwood Electronics. Saleen Autosport will strive to continue their “winning ways” for the remainder of 1987.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY is “Racing into the Future” in 1987 with the Saleen Autosport team. The Saleen Mustangs and Ford Rangers will prove Ford’s performance, endurance and reliability standards in “head-to-head” competition with Porsche, General Motors, Nissan, BMW and others.

GENERAL TIRE is premiering the “General Tire Performance Team” this year. Saleen Autosport will be their representative in the GT class and Sportruck class. The Saleen Mustang will be featuring the XP2000V and the XP2000H will be choice for the Saleen Sportruck demonstrating General’s new generation of high performance tires.

MONTGOMERY WARD is entering the field of motorsports for the first time in 1987 to broaden their exposure to the performance car enthusiast as “The Tire Specialists”. Their sponsorship includes the entire General Tire Performance Team in both the SCCA Endurance Series as well as the SCORE/HDRA Off-Road Series.

TRW is a long-standing supporter of auto racing and has joined General Tire and Montgomery Ward in their sponsorship and support of the Performance Team with TRW parts.

HUNTER ENGINEERING is another newcomer to motorsports promotion. Their support of the Performance Team will help to highlight their quality alignment and balancing equipment, which is also used in the production of the Saleen Mustang street models.

MOTORCRAFT QUALITY PARTS is again sponsoring Saleen Autosport’s teams for second year by providing quality automotive parts and accessories.

TEAM 1 FORD is an authorized Saleen Mustang dealer located in Omaha, Nebraska. Their support of the Saleen Autosport racing team serves to promote their image of an “ultimate performance” dealership serving the Mid-West.

AMERICAN RACING WHEELS offers quality wheels for the Performance Teams and also manufacture the Saleen Autosport Edition OE wheels for the 1987 Saleen Mustang.

MONROE SHOCKS are specially prepared with individual attention for the Saleen Autosport team. Monroe’s engineers take part in all test sessions to provide their expertise in performance handing.

FLOFIT manufactures the many racing seats provided for the Performance Team as well the OE seats used in the street version of the Saleen Mustang.

December 3, 1986 – Saleen Mustangs – what are they, where did they come from and where are they going? A special limited edition Mustang from the performance era of the 60’s to the ”leading of technology” of the 80’s. Yes – that “leading edge” is as precarious as it sounds for one Southern California road racer, Steve Saleen, who designed and developed a Mustang that would return that chassis to the forefront of the racing community. “We have built a performance car, now we need to show just how well it does perform”, said Saleen, and that he did. The natural venue for the car was the SCCA Escort Showroom Stock Endurance Championship Series in the SSGT Class, which Saleen against IROC Camaros, Pontiac Trans Ams, Nissan 300ZX’s, Audi Quattros and the “pros” of endurance racing, the Porsche 944s. The endurance races were 4, 6 or 24 hours long which called for the Mustangs to be run hard and put away wet.

Just two weeks before the first race, slated for April 26, at Sears point, preparation for car #29 began due to major sponsorship by General Tire (don’t they make ties for Ramblers? – more on that later), as well as Ford Motorcraft, Escort Radar Detectors Koni Shocks, and Kenwood Stereos.

The new sponsor, General Tire, had previously proven to Saleen they were very serious about performance tires and after extensive back to back testing against other major brands, on skid pads, slalom runs and road courses, Saleen was convinced enough to offer the XP 2000V’s as original equipment on the Saleen Mustang and to further test them, where it really counts, on the racetrack.

Steve Saleen and Rick Titus were to be the lead drivers for the series. Steve having extensive experience in road racing from 1975 driving a Shelby Mustang in B Production Class to Super Vee, Formula Atlantic, and Trans Am.

Rick Titus, following in his famous father’s footsteps (Jerry Titus drove for Carroll Shelby in the Mustang GT 350 and won Ford championships in the Mustang GT 350 and won Ford championships in the Trans Am Series of the late 60’s) would be aiming for like honors in the 80’s.

The Sears Point race for car #29 brought out the major problems of the Mustang that would prove to haunt the team throughout the season: fuel economy and brakes. With a smaller gas tank and inadequate brakes, the Saleen had its work cut out for it. But the 200 HP 302 V-8 motor and the Borg Warner T5 trans proved to be unbelievably strong and never missed a beat. Development on the brake pads continued throughout the year. The size difference of the gas tanks between the Saleens and the Porsches meant the Saleen had to dominate with speed on the track to try to compensate for time lost in the pits during refueling. And you thought Miami Vice had drama and action!

A second Saleen Mustang was added mid-season at Nelson Ledges and was prepared by Ken Brown and Rex McCoppin of Omaha, Nebraska. The first of three 24-hour races brought new faces behind the wheel. Lisa Caceres and Alice Ridpath made up the “all girl” team for car #19. The second car also necessitated very precise logistics and planning. Thus began the intensive strategy meetings with Steve Saleen as Team Manager detailing every aspect of practice, qualifying and racing. “Don’t count on your brakes to get you out of trouble” was the main topic of discussion as well as, “No scratches – no scratches on these cars – I don’t want to replace decals for the next race!” Picky, picky, picky, but it all added up to simple logic. “We are here to be at the front after 24 hours, not off course battling a Honda CRX on the first lap.” Pit stops, driver changes and refueling were endlessly practiced. Perfection was their goal; lack of experience was their problem.

Ken and Rex and volunteers from the Mustang Club of Omaha worked seemingly endless hours to make the #29 and #19 the best they could be. Steve Saleen and Rick Titus with the accompanying core of drivers sharpened their skills as endurance drivers and everyone worked together as a “team”. Rick Titus said, “These showroom stock cars don’t behave like open wheel cars. They obviously perform like street cars and you have to change your driving philosophy. As long as you can think accordingly, these cars can do amazing things”

The Saleen Mustang/General Tire team was officially recognized as a team to beat. They consistently ran the fastest times in practice and qualifying and led in virtually every race. There were a great deal of lessons to be learned, and every mistake made became a major point in the next strategy meeting.

When the series led the team to Mosport, Canada for the second 24-hour race, it all came together. The Saleens dominated the race and won by a 6-lap margin. Skeeter McKitterick, Tom Winters and Desire’ Wilson had joined the team. These vastly experienced drivers were a key element in the Saleen’s first win. Everything they had learned up to this point had been painfully accepted in the prior two races, where a 1- 2 finish had been so close at hand. The victory – a first for Saleen, General Tire and Ford Motor Company in Showroom Stock racing – was not without its own painful scars as the first major crash of the year came early Sunday morning after 19 hours of racing. But the team’s determinations and desire only intensified to ensure the victory for car #19. “Every person involved with the team shared a part of this win -we all worked hard and it paid off.” said Crew Chief, Ken Brown.

The team was new, the car was new, the sponsor was new but the professionalism and determination of everyone involved brought every success and every failure into sharp focus and a Ford Motorsports team to victory.

“Our sole purpose for campaigning the Saleen Mustang in the Showroom Stock Series is to showcase the car and its capabilities directly to the consumer. The individual manufacturers involved in our program also benefit by featuring their products in a positive and aggressive manner,” said Steve Saleen. He goes on to add, “It doesn’t hurt to beat those Black Forest boys at their own game either!”

The Saleen Mustang’s accomplishments did not go unnoticed by Ford. The team’s efforts have been rewarded with a full-fledged backing by Ford for the 1987 season as well as continued support by General Tire.

Not one to stand still, Saleen has designed .the 1987 Saleen Mustang with “the leading edge of technology” in mind (4-wheel disc brakes to be specific). With lessons learned and aspirations still high – he plans to balance on that “edge” and capture a championship.

August 15, I986 – BURBANK, CA. … Victory – how sweet it was as the Saleen Mustang scored its first win the SCCA Showroom Stock Endurance Championship Series with a first place finish at the Mosport Budweiser 24 Hours in Canada.

Saleen! Autosport team leader, Steve Saleen commented: “Between the rain, the Porsches, the Audis and the Firebirds we had to fight to the finish to win. Saleen went on to add: “For a first year team to win in a series this competitive is a tribute to the effort everybody is making. We couldn’t be happier for Ford Motor Company, General Tire, or for all the crew and volunteers who worked so hard for Saleen Autosport.”

The team took a fairly “high profile” approach to the Mosport event, as the crew showed more confidence in its growing experience, in the Saleen Mustang’s development, and in the team’s aggressive driver selection, as regulars Steve Saleen, Rick Titus and Lisa Caceras were joined by IMSA drivers Skeeter McKitterick and Tom Winters, along with F1 and Indy car driver, Desire’ Wilson. Saleen pointed out: “Our driver core is fast becoming very strong, and given how hard you have to race in this series, no team can afford the luxury of and less than the best drivers.”

Right from the green flag the Saleen Mustangs proved their worth as the two team cars ran right to the front by the end of the first hour. Once settled into a comfortable race leading pace, both cars ran in the top three all night long, before the second team car was involved in an accident in the early morning hours, removing it from the race. All the teams efforts then shifted to the leading team car as the race drew to the closing stages. Saleen remarked: “Losing the number 29 car was a real blow to our plan. We had so hoped that we could stage a one/two finish. Perhaps that was a bit much to expect for a new team seeking its first win, but we came so close to pulling to off.”

For Ford Motor Company the victory is a “first” ever in a Showroom Stock Endurance Championship Series. The victory was just as important to General Tire, who is new to any road racing series, and now has several track records, four pole positions and now a “first” professional victory in an arena that has been, up till now, dominated by others with years of racing experience behind them. General Tire, like Saleen Autosport, is using the Endurance Series to prove to the public that their products are in fact the best. We think the point is getting home.

April 26, 1986 – Sears Point Raceway was the maiden race for the Saleen Mustang in the Showroom Stock Endurance Series. Heads were spinning from logistical nightmares of the season to follow. Only 6 races but -would you believe – 80 hours of race laps, 56 wheels, 337 tires, 1,500 gallons of race gas, 2,025 gallons of tow gas, 16,200 miles of towing, 117,600 airway miles, 72 hotel rooms, 18 rental cars, 24 mouths to feed, 120 gallons of coffee and 6, yes, 6 driver egos all in the space of one 23 ft. motorhome. “We definitely had our work cut out for us!” said Team Manager, Steve Saleen. With the addition of the second Saleen at Nelson Ledges 24 hours – “What do you mean – it’s time for another pit stop!”

When you think about it – endurance racing is like – well come to think about it – I don’t want to think about it!