FORD TEAMMATES TASCA, WILKERSON TO RUN RHODE ISLAND-PRODUCED SHELBY FUNNY CAR BODIES IN 2012
When Mike Fiore told Bob Tasca III he was interested in building a new Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car body, Tasca did most of the talking – mostly trying to talk him out of it, he said.
Fiore, founder and president of Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats, of Bristol, R.I. had come up with the idea on the showroom floor of Tasca Ford, where he was visiting. Sure, the multi-time offshore boating world champion knew about the water – but what could he know about the world’s fastest motorsport?
“He knew my brother and knew we were into racing,” said Tasca, also a Rhode Islander. “I didn’t know him, but he knew a lot about what we were doing (with the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team). As he was walking through the Service Department he saw (the Tasca Funny Car body John Force competed in at Maple Grove Raceway in the 2000s). It was hanging in the Service Department. So when he walked through he saw it and thought it was pretty cool. He had to see one close-up.
“I think he mentioned to my brother, he said ‘You know something? I could build one of those.’”
Fiore remembers the moment a bit differently, saying they seemed to ultimately talk each other into giving it a chance.
“Bob’s definitely a visionary guy. He’s very good at recognizing opportunities,” Fiore said.
This year, three Outerlimits Ford Shelby Mustang bodies will be in circulation on the NHRA Full Throttle Series tour – two for Tasca and one for Wilkerson.
