[Editor’s Note: This article originally ran in the December 2012 issue of Grassroots Motorsports.]
The ancient Hebrew story of David versus Goliath is a parable used to illustrate how the little guy—if cunning and agile—can triumph over the big oppressor. Of course, the modern version of this Biblical classic involves a whole lot less beheading, vengeance and wrath, but it’s still an effective teaching tool.
Maybe it’s because we’re always rooting for the little guys to triumph over tyranny—to the point where we really can’t consider them the little guys anymore—but many in the sports car community automatically root for the small, nimble car over the one that’s big and powerful.
We just can’t help ourselves: We often pick the lithe gymnast over the brutish professional football player. You’re simply not going to expect the defensive lineman to do a whole lot of running around to get his job done. He’s on the field merely to be large and in charge, and that doesn’t make for a fun day of competition.
Think about it: Many of our readers like to road race and autocross, both of which have more in common with gymnastics than football. It’s going to take a car with low weight and quick reflexes to perform well when the chicanes and pylon gates are flashing by at a rapid clip. We’re typically not muscle car freaks, but maybe it’s time to stop being so prejudiced. After all, times have changed and muscle cars have improved dramatically in the 45-plus years they’ve been pounding the ground. Even modern football teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers are teaching their defensive line to be more agile and quick on their feet, not just big and mean. The result? A package with more power and speed on the field than the competition—and lots of points on the scoreboard.
Despite our penchant for the small and sporty, the late-model Mustang is our favorite brute on the line of scrimmage. It packs a mean…
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