Article: George Pich
Photos: David Gates
Bob Clayton was interested in cars as a child, but developed a true passion for power when he got a 1991 Mustang GT for graduating high school. He soon hooked up with a group of like-minded friends and enthusiasts, and began modifying the car for action on the street. In 1992 he tried his luck at the dragstrip and has been drag racing ever since. His attraction to fast cars was pretty much a hobby, but after a magazine article on his 2003 Mustang Cobra, he dove into the deeper end. “After I witnessed the competition in heads-up drag racing, one thing led to another and I took it on as a serious sport,” Clayton explained. “I went through a few cars with each one becoming faster and faster and by 2010 I started racing in X275 and raced that class for 11 years all over the east coast.” Bob would rack up a number of wins with his family by his side and forge friendships among his peers that have stood the test of time.
The body started as an aftermarket steel tub. Carbon fiber body panels were added and it was sprayed in Mopar PSC Billet Silver Metallic with airbrushed trim and emblems
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In 2021, Clayton decided to step up to the next level and threw his hat into racing Pro275. “Pro275 would take my team to their limit and we would learn much much more,” he added. During his freshman year in the class, Bob had his eye on a friend’s 1967 Shelby GT 500 that was debuted in 2019 as a purpose-built Pro275 car by Skinny Kid Race Cars/Bill Gilsbach. “The build, fit and finish is second to none on the Shelby. I had a dream to one day own this car and it finally came true in September 2021.”
Having this particular car was something that was meant to be since Bob has a true passion for the Shelby GT500s, owning a number of them over the years and currently driving a 1,000+ horsepower 2020 GT500 on the street. “There’s just something about these cars that attract me,” he said with a smile.
The build, fit and finish is second to none on the Shelby...
The skill and craftsmanship that Bill has put into this car is just plain unbelievable...
Bob Clayton
The new GT500 Pro275 car was a yearlong project for Skinny Kid and boasts an SFI 25.2 certified full double-rail chassis with 4-link/coilover rear suspension and custom front tubular suspension with
coilover struts. The detail, fit and finish of the car is definitely top-shelf in all areas, “The skill and craftsmanship that Bill has put into this car is just plain unbelievable,” reiterated Clayton. A Dynacorn repro-
Bob Clayton (left) with his crew chief Derek Tillery.
duction ’67 Mustang Fastback body tub was used with remaining body panels being carbon fiber. Alan Pennywitt applied a flawless skin of Mopar PSC Billet Silver Metallic and the front end was air brushed along with factory style badging to give that original GT500 vibe. Glasslife Atlanta worked their magic on the whole car with their popular high-end ceramic coating and several areas are also covered in clear PPF to add further protection against the effects of drag racing, not to mention loading, unloading and wrenching on a drag car.
The 548-inch mill is a Proline-built Outlaw Hemi piece. A billet crankshaft spins billet GRP
The 548 ci billet Outlaw Hemi sports a Bryant crank, billet GRP rods and Diamond pistons. AJPE Outlaw heads were fitted Reid rocker arms, Victory valves and lash caps and PAC springs. A jewel-like Visner intake sits atop the mill and is mated to an Accufab 125mm throttle body.
A monster ProCharger F3-140 supercharger with gear drive provides copious amounts of boosted atmosphere to the Hemi. Rumors are it is setup to deliver over 50psi!
While the inside of this predator is 99% race, a slick retro-style ’67 dash was reproduced complete with faux gauges, face and emblem. Of course, it’s actually the FuelTech FT600 display that relays vitals to Bob and crew (and also greets Bob with a photo of the car on the home screen).
rods with Clevite bearings and Diamond pistons. Alan Johnson Outlaw heads are fitted with Reid rocker arms, Victory custom valves and lash caps, PAC Racing dual valve springs and Smith Brothers pushrods. A Visner custom all-billet intake manifold is mated to an Accufab 125mm throttle body
fed by custom piping larger than most home heating ducts! Forced air enters via a monster ProCharger F3-140 centrifugal supercharger with ProCharger gear drive. Boost numbers are rumored to be in excess of 50psi! Sixteen 720lb Fueltech injectors are fed M1 fuel via a Waterman Lil Bertha fuel pump.
The SFI 25.1 cert. double framerail based skeleton of Bob Clayton’s Hemi powered 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 was constructed by Skinny Kid Race Cars/Bill Gilsbach.
The cage and chassis snakes through the interior and surrounds the driver with a Funny Car style halo. The air-assist twin parachute and fire suppression activation are within easy reach and Bob pilots from a carbon fiber seat. Carbon wheel tubs and filler panels were also fabricated into the mix.
A Reid-cased Turbo 400 3-speed by M&M with multiple dump valves and billet lock-up converter adeptly handles the Hemi power, transferring it to a custom 10” full-floater rearend with a billet Carmack Engineering third member and Strange axles.
FuelTech’s FT600 engine management system controls the package along with “all the sensors you will ever need,” as Bob put it. “We have the ability to adjust any and everything to make the car fast and consistent. Jamie Miller has been hired for tuning
The front suspension is custom tubular with coilover struts and rack and pinion steering. Out back, a massive fabricated 10” full-floater rearend with billet third member is suspended by a custom 4-link with 4-way adjustable canister coilover shocks.
Bob Clayton’s Pro275 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500
Chassis Type & Mods:
Custom built double frame rail with 4-link rear suspension, SFI 25.2 certified chassis built by Skinny Kid Race Cars / Bill Gilsbach back in 2019 purpose built race car to run PRO275. Dual parachutes with air launchers.
Suspension:
Front suspension was also custom built by Skinny Kid Race Cars / Bill Gilsbach and utilizes Mencser Motorsports canister shocks by Mark Menscer. Rear suspension custom built by Skinny Kid Race Cars / Bill Gilsbach with Mencser Motorsports 4 way adjustable canister shocks.
Body & Paint:
Alan Pennywitt sprayed Mopar PSC billet silver metallic over the Dynacorn (National Parts Depot) reproduction ’67 Mustang Fastback body. Front end air brushed to factory type appearance. Badging was air brushed as well as the dash. Glasslife Atlanta ceramic coating to protect paint. Various parts of the car are covered in clear PPF as well.
Engine:
Pro Line Racing 548 ci Outlaw Hemi. Billet GRP Rods and Diamond pistons. Sonny Bryant Billet crankshaft, Alan Johnson Performance Engineering Outlaw heads, Reid rocker arms, Victory custom valves, Victory lash caps, PAC Racing dual valve springs, Smith Brothers push rods and Flatout copper head gaskets. All ARP fasteners.
Induction & Fuel Delivery:
Custom billet intake manifold from Visner Engine Development, Accufab 125mm throttle body and 16 720lb Fueltech injectors being fed by a Waterman Little Bertha fuel pump while Running on M1 fuel.
Power Adder:
ProCharger F3-140 supercharger with ProCharger gear drive - over 50psi.
Electronics:
FuelTech FT600 engine management system with multiple sensors. Jamie Miller hired for tuning duties. Car custom wired by Jonathan Homier of Homier Fabrications.
Transmission & Converter:
M&M Turbo 400 3-speed Reid case with multiple dump valves. Billet lock-up converter & shifter by M&M.
Rear Differential:
Custom 10” full-floater rear end by Skinny Kid Race Cars with custom Carmack Engineering third member, custom axles and carbon brakes.
Thanks to:
Crew; Derek Tillery and Mike Corder. They always put in the time to make sure everything is 100% and for helping me along the way. Brian Roche from Roche Racing Engines will always be my go to for any engine work. He has been there any time I have needed him and he is also a good friend. My wife Erin Clayton is always at my side and I could never do any of this without her support and love that she shares. A big thank you to her. It takes a family to do this sport.
Best ET & MPH (Race Only): 3.73 at 200MPH in the 1/8 mile
duties and his knowledge and dedication will have the car under control and flying.” To date, the GT500 tribute has been a solid 3.73 at 200mph in the 1/8 mile, so it seems Bob and his team have pretty much covered the “control and flying” part of the equation already.
“My most memorable moment with the car in the short time we’ve had it would have to be the first time that my crew
(Derek
this car in the Pro275 October race at Cecil County Raceway. Even after all the years of racing, the first pass down the track felt like a whole new experience. It was also exciting for all of us to be racing with that caliber of racers/cars. It’s something that you only dream about, but we are actually doing it!”
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