Love requires certain sacrifices, such as moving across the country or holding your tongue during arguments. Forum member FFFASTGTO’s love of his 2004 Pontiac GTO required him to give up a significant number of mpgs. His fuel economy figures are now in the low double digits. However, something tells me he doesn’t mind…
After his LS1 threw a rod in Oct. 2011, FFFASTGTO removed it and put “a new LS3 Block w/ Forged [sic] Callies Crank/rods [sic] and coated Diamond pistons” in its place…then stroked the new engine out to 418 cubic-inches.
He installed other go-fast parts such as a set of 243 heads, 42-pound injectors and a one-piece driveshaft. His blacked-out beast also has an LS6 intake and throttle body, as well as a cold air intake.
On the dyno, he’s seen readings as high as 475 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque. Sounds as if this is a relationship in which the Goat gives as much as it takes.
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.
He installed other go-fast parts such as a set of 243 heads, 42-pound injectors and a one-piece driveshaft. His blacked-out beast also has an LS6 intake and throttle body, as well as a cold air intake.
