Rick Titus
Encyclopedia
Rick Titus is an American
former race
car driver
and now automotive journalist
, who hosts a syndicated radio program called Drivers Talk Radio. He is the son of another former race driver-turned-journalist, Jerry Titus.
As a driver, Titus won 11 races on the SCCA
Endurance Road Racing circuit. His hands-on involvement with cars and trucks, including a stint as head of engineering at a leading automotive accessories manufacturer, led him to a career in journalism after he retired from racing.
Titus has written over 350 articles or segments for several magazines, including Motor Trend
(as Technical Editor), Popular Mechanics
(as West Coast Automotive Editor), TNN (as NASCAR Editor), Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords (as Engineering Editor), Road & Track
(as Features Editor) and Sports Car magazine (as Technical Editor).
In addition, Titus is a spokesman for Ford Motor Company
and has appeared in several ad campaigns and product information videos for various Ford vehicles. He is a lifetime member of the American Automotive Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) as well as a member of the Motor Press Guild.
In 1990, Chuck Beck of Special Editions and Rick Titus took seven Ford Festiva
s, gutted the interiors, and mounted Ford SHO
(Yamaha-built for the Taurus SHO) 3.0 liter V6s
behind the front seats to make the car mid-engined
. There were substantial cosmetic and mechanical changes, including relocating the gas tank to the front of the car, structural bracing and improvements to the chassis, adding wider wheel arches to accommodate a wider stance and larger tires, and a complete redesign of the suspension. These changes resulted in a car that could accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–96.6 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, travel the quarter-mile (0.4 km) in 12.9 seconds at 100.9 miles per hour (162.4 km/h), and could achieve a lateral acceleration figure ranging from .95 to 1.04 g
. It was called the SHOgun
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former race
Auto Race
is a Japanese version of motorcycle speedway, but combines gambling added into it and is held on an asphalt course, throughout Japan. It is regulated by the JKA Foundation.A typical Auto Race bike is 599㏄. Autorace is predominantly a gambling sport...
car driver
Driver
-Surnames of people:* Alexander Gooch and Alice Driver , English Protestant martyrs* Andrew Driver , English professional footballer* Betty Driver , English singer, actress and author...
and now automotive journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, who hosts a syndicated radio program called Drivers Talk Radio. He is the son of another former race driver-turned-journalist, Jerry Titus.
As a driver, Titus won 11 races on the SCCA
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
Endurance Road Racing circuit. His hands-on involvement with cars and trucks, including a stint as head of engineering at a leading automotive accessories manufacturer, led him to a career in journalism after he retired from racing.
Titus has written over 350 articles or segments for several magazines, including Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
(as Technical Editor), Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
(as West Coast Automotive Editor), TNN (as NASCAR Editor), Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords (as Engineering Editor), Road & Track
Road & Track
Road & Track is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, and is published monthly. The editorial offices are located in Newport Beach, California.-History:...
(as Features Editor) and Sports Car magazine (as Technical Editor).
In addition, Titus is a spokesman for Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and has appeared in several ad campaigns and product information videos for various Ford vehicles. He is a lifetime member of the American Automotive Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) as well as a member of the Motor Press Guild.
In 1990, Chuck Beck of Special Editions and Rick Titus took seven Ford Festiva
Ford Festiva
The Ford Festiva is a subcompact car that was marketed by the Ford Motor Company between 1986 and 2002. Built by Mazda in Japan and Kia Motors in South Korea, the Festiva was sold in Japan, the Americas, and Australasia...
s, gutted the interiors, and mounted Ford SHO
Ford SHO V6 engine
The Ford SHO V6 is a family of DOHC V6 engines fitted to the Ford Taurus SHO from 1989 to 1995. The designation SHO denotes Super High Output....
(Yamaha-built for the Taurus SHO) 3.0 liter V6s
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
behind the front seats to make the car mid-engined
Mid-engine design
A mid-engine layout describes the placement of an automobile engine between the rear and front axles. Another term for this is mid-ship.-Benefits:The mid-engine layout is typically chosen for its relatively favorable weight distribution...
. There were substantial cosmetic and mechanical changes, including relocating the gas tank to the front of the car, structural bracing and improvements to the chassis, adding wider wheel arches to accommodate a wider stance and larger tires, and a complete redesign of the suspension. These changes resulted in a car that could accelerate from 0–60 mph (0–96.6 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, travel the quarter-mile (0.4 km) in 12.9 seconds at 100.9 miles per hour (162.4 km/h), and could achieve a lateral acceleration figure ranging from .95 to 1.04 g
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
. It was called the SHOgun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
.