Ford Performance Racing School is now Wheelhouse Racing

[2BigDogs]

Back in the day there was GT350 Track Attack, GT500 Track Attack, Mach 1 Track Attack, DH Track Attack, Explorer St Experience.... No more. Ford Performance Racing School in Charlotte, NC is now Wheelhouse Racing. Had so much fun at the Mach 1 Track Attack, was looking forward to the 2026 Explorer ST experience, but alas, it is no more. If your 2026 window sticker, for any vehicle, doesn't show a Ford Performance invite, your not going without paying. Too many recalls and Ford needs to save money??

 

[EDWYER]

Ford Performance Racing School in Charlotte, NC is now Wheelhouse Racing.

Yup, right near me.

 

[Nascarbilly]

Back in the day there was GT350 Track Attack, GT500 Track Attack, Mach 1 Track Attack, DH Track Attack, Explorer St Experience.... No more. Ford Performance Racing School in Charlotte, NC is now Wheelhouse Racing. Had so much fun at the Mach 1 Track Attack, was looking forward to the 2026 Explorer ST experience, but alas, it is no more. If your 2026 window sticker, for any vehicle, doesn't show a Ford Performance invite, your not going without paying. Too many recalls and Ford needs to save money??

@2BigDogs :

Welcome Aboard!!

Unfortunately, you are totally correct based on what I have read and heard. FORD dug themselves a tremendous hole, TOYOTA even tried to get them to stay "HYBRID" but the Corporate Execs wanted the trendy "Clean Air/Green Earth" vehicles that did NOT sell well. Right here in Sacramento, a month ago you could get a MUSTANG Mach-E with -0-% interest and $10,000 off MSRP; if you would take a GT, an extra $3,000 off.

As for the Ford Performance Racing School, this was a tremendous Ambassador for them:

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Mach-E GTs are selling for low $30k last time I checked with only a few thousand miles.

 

[Nascarbilly]

Mach-E GTs are selling for low $30k last time I checked with only a few thousand miles.

@2020FordRaptor :

This is extremely sad when you realize the "REAL" Mustang cars are not selling that well now either. In previous years when a new generation was unveiled, the sales were in the 125,000 to 150,000 yearly range before tapering off. Now the monthly sales amounts for the S650 is about 2500-3000 or so units, or a grand total of less than 40,000 per year. And the trucks are even worse. Although they still claim to hold the #1 in Sales record for over 40 years now, a friend of mine said there is an area about the size of 5-6 football fields somewhere in Michigan that is stocked full of unsold F-Series trucks.

 

[Nascarbilly]

Mach-E GTs are selling for low $30k last time I checked with only a few thousand miles.

@2020FordRaptor :
Here is what I was looking for last night. This is from CJ PONY PARTS:

FORD Mustang Generation Model Years Total U.S. Sales
First Generation1964.5-1973. 2,981,259
Second Generation (Mustang II)1974-1978 1,107,718
Third Generation (Fox Body)1979-1993. 2,608,812
Fourth Generation (SN95)1994-2004. 1,562,529
Fifth Generation (S197)2005-2014. 1,006,975
Sixth Generation (S550)2015-2023. 672,677
Seventh Generation (S650)2024+. 47,212

 

[2020FordRaptor]

@Nascarbilly couldnt agree more. Always hear “well the Mach-E sells more then the regular Mustang,” and always say thats more a reflection on the regular Mustang sales. It’s sad. It definetly stems from how dang expensive they are.

 

[Mustang5L5]

[

FORD Mustang Generation Model Years Total U.S. Sales
First Generation1964.5-1973. 2,981,259
Second Generation (Mustang II)1974-1978 1,107,718
Third Generation (Fox Body)1979-1993. 2,608,812
Fourth Generation (SN95)1994-2004. 1,562,529
Fifth Generation (S197)2005-2014. 1,006,975
Sixth Generation (S550)2015-2023. 672,677
Seventh Generation (S650)2024+. 47,212

Got bored and did an inflation adjusted base model V8 price for each gen. Cheapest V8 numbers i could find. Might not be 100% accurate so don't crucify me if i'm off a bit.

1st Gen: (1965) $28,500
2nd gen: (1975) $21,200
3rd gen: (1987) $35,900
4th Gen: (1999) $43,075
5th Gen: (2009) $41,800
6th Gen: (2015) $ 45,744
7th gen: (2026) $ 46,500


But even doing this quick, you can see which way the numbers are headed for a base V8 car. Granted, you get way more bang for your buck these days but it's quickly pushing out of reach for some, especially when you consider the interest rates being offered today.

I threw together a build on a GT premium with 360 copilot assist and the performance pack and I was over $60K and i didn't even check off all the boxes I really wanted. When i graduated college back in 2003, I splurged and ordered myself a brand new 2003 GT, got all the options available and that was $27-28K which is $47K today. But that was fully loaded with the Mach 1000 and the brite wheel option and IUP. Now, That's what a base V8 starts at today.

At $60K for a new Mustang GT...well, lets just that's why I am in an Explorer ST. I needed practicality along with some fun. I can't load 20 bags of mulch into a new Mustang.

 

[Nascarbilly]

Got bored and did an inflation adjusted base model V8 price for each gen. Cheapest V8 numbers i could find. Might not be 100% accurate so don't crucify me if i'm off a bit.

1st Gen: (1965) $28,500
2nd gen: (1975) $21,200
3rd gen: (1987) $35,900
4th Gen: (1999) $43,075
5th Gen: (2009) $41,800
6th Gen: (2015) $ 45,744
7th gen: (2026) $ 46,500


But even doing this quick, you can see which way the numbers are headed for a base V8 car. Granted, you get way more bang for your buck these days but it's quickly pushing out of reach for some, especially when you consider the interest rates being offered today.

I threw together a build on a GT premium with 360 copilot assist and the performance pack and I was over $60K and i didn't even check off all the boxes I really wanted. When i graduated college back in 2003, I splurged and ordered myself a brand new 2003 GT, got all the options available and that was $27-28K which is $47K today. But that was fully loaded with the Mach 1000 and the brite wheel option and IUP. Now, That's what a base V8 starts at today.

At $60K for a new Mustang GT...well, lets just that's why I am in an Explorer ST. I needed practicality along with some fun. I can't load 20 bags of mulch into a new Mustang.

@Mustang5L5 and @2020FordRaptor : yes, it is truly sad what FORD has done to itself. I have been a very loyal owner since the mid 1970's and most recently had (2) two SHELBY GTE's as my play toys. Unfortunately, both SHELBYs are lowered approx 1.5 inches below the stock versions. At my age coupled with the collateral damage from a horrific car accident in 2006, I don't do well getting inside and especially out of the Mustang cars. Hence, the ST provided me with a fast car that I could easily get into. Marriage made in heaven EXCEPT I am somewhat on pins and needles waiting for the frequency of repairs and recall issues to drop on me. Let's hope and pray I got a good ST!!!

 

[2020FordRaptor]

@Mustang5L5 and @2020FordRaptor : yes, it is truly sad what FORD has done to itself. I have been a very loyal owner since the mid 1970's and most recently had (2) two SHELBY GTE's as my play toys. Unfortunately, both SHELBYs are lowered approx 1.5 inches below the stock versions. At my age coupled with the collateral damage from a horrific car accident in 2006, I don't do well getting inside and especially out of the Mustang cars. Hence, the ST provided me with a fast car that I could easily get into. Marriage made in heaven EXCEPT I am somewhat on pins and needles waiting for the frequency of repairs and recall issues to drop on me. Let's hope and pray I got a good ST!!!

How many miles on the car? Usually the issues will pop up within the first couple thousand miles if they ever do. Usually they’re just fine.

 

[2BigDogs]

@Mustang5L5 and @2020FordRaptor : yes, it is truly sad what FORD has done to itself. I have been a very loyal owner since the mid 1970's and most recently had (2) two SHELBY GTE's as my play toys. Unfortunately, both SHELBYs are lowered approx 1.5 inches below the stock versions. At my age coupled with the collateral damage from a horrific car accident in 2006, I don't do well getting inside and especially out of the Mustang cars. Hence, the ST provided me with a fast car that I could easily get into. Marriage made in heaven EXCEPT I am somewhat on pins and needles waiting for the frequency of repairs and recall issues to drop on me. Let's hope and pray I got a good ST!!!

Bought my 2026 ST for my wife (as my fun car LOL.) Turns out, at my age (probably not far off from yours), and not being able to climb in or out of Mustangs or even an MKZ, my wife drives us more than I do the driving. I still love the acceleration, especially since my wonderful bride of 33 years has finally found out what the right side pedal is for.

 

[Nascarbilly]

How many miles on the car? Usually the issues will pop up within the first couple thousand miles if they ever do. Usually they’re just fine.

@2020FordRaptor :

It just turned 3,138 miles; Job 2 vehicle, mfgr 5 Dec 2024. It was sold in Jan 2025.

 

[Nascarbilly]

Bought my 2026 ST for my wife (as my fun car LOL.) Turns out, at my age (probably not far off from yours), and not being able to climb in or out of Mustangs or even an MKZ, my wife drives us more than I do the driving. I still love the acceleration, especially since my wonderful bride of 33 years has finally found out what the right side pedal is for.

@2BigDogs : LOL!! Forgive me, somehow I missed your comments till tonight.

Some landmarks on my age, I spent my 18th BD in Great Lakes Naval Training Ctr with Company #231 in 1970. My 20th BD was literally in a hangar during a 3 day typhoon shutdown in Okinawa after returning from a detachment to the Philippines and off the Coast of Viet Nam. 1972 was also the last year you could purchase any American Automobile with NO smog equipment.

Vehicle wise, my ST is all mine. The Very Lovely wanted something new so that came first for her BEFORE my ST. So which is the better vehicle: My ST or her Toyota Highlander Platinum Hybrid? Great Question: She and I have joked about it but now we have daily knowledge of how they compare, both good and not so good.

Around town, she does most of the driving, on a day trip, one of us drives there and the other does the heading back driving.