An aluminum body is a great way to cut vehicle weight, but it’s not the only way. Wheels carry quite a few pounds in them. That’s why Ford went with carbon fiber for the standard one-piece wheels on its upcoming Shelby GT350R Mustang.
The first mass-produced race-ready carbon fiber wheels the Blue Oval developed with supplier Carbon Revolution will weigh 18 pounds each; an equivalent aluminum wheel would tip the scales at 33 pounds. Those savings in unsprung (unsupported by the suspension) weight will convert into faster responses to a driver’s throttle, brake, and steering inputs. The suspension will also have less of a load to handle when battling rough pavement to keep the tires in contact with the road.
At the track, the GT350R’s brakes will have to survive a great amount of heat – over 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Ford’s testing. So will its wheels, which are covered with what Ford calls a “robust, high-gloss black finish.” Carbon Revolution came up with a ceramic coating for the inside of the car’s carbon fiber rollers that will shield the resin over the weave from extreme temperatures. The wheels are also treated to resist UV rays, salts, and road chemicals.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
