DIALED IN
One Fun Ford
Larry Geddes’ ‘garage car’ lights up win lights in NMRA Open Comp
By Van Abernethy
W
hen the brand-new 1990 model
Mustang LX first began rolling
off the assembly line nearly three
decades ago, Larry Geddes knew
he wanted to own one, and with
a straight face he convinced his wife it was
“just something to keep in the garage” – which
was a declaration that veered wildly off course.
For certain, his beloved Fox-body gets stored
inside their home garage at the couple’s residence
in Barnesville, Ohio, but the Mustang also sees
lots of quarter-mile action, particularly within
the ranks of NMRA and NMCA. “I’ve been racing
with them since they started the organization and
June 2019
they do a great job,” says Geddes.
Years earlier, Geddes first took the car to his
local National Trail Raceway soon after buying
it at a local dealership, which was selling the
cars like hot cakes for $13,550. “I did a lot of
test and tuning with the car in the beginning
and also some bracket racing while it was still in
completely stock trim. I can’t remember what I
had for breakfast, but I can still remember that
the car clocked 14.71 at 95 mph straight off the
car lot,” laughs Geddes.
The Mustang came with the very common 201a
package, which featured air conditioning, power
windows and locks, cruise control and a six-speak-
er stereo system. Over the years of performing
modifications for racing, Geddes has removed
most of the car’s original luxuries, save the power
windows and locks. “In 1990 the 5-liter stuff was
just coming around, then when the aftermarket
got ahold of it, it became very versatile. When the
Fox-body came out it seemed to do everything
for everybody with its suspension and simplicity.”
Eventually, Geddes outfitted the car with a 363ci
Ford Racing crate motor, which churns out roughly
440 horsepower, motivating the 3,025-pound car
(with driver) to current elapsed times in the 10.70s
range. “I could go 10.50’s with it if I leaned on it,
but I’m satisfied with where it’s at.”
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