From Showroom Floor to Sick Summer, This 1993 Mustang Has Seen Action on Street and Strip Since New
The Fox Body Mustang, built from 1979 to 1993, has been a popular choice for enthusiasts from the first model built. Over three-and-a-half million were built in the 15-year span, and Jeff Kurczak’s 1993 model has been through a ton of changes since new.
“I drove the wheels off of it as soon as I got it and started doing all the basic mods,” said Jeff. “Then I started hitting some of the local cruise areas and street race scenes on the Southside of Chicago where I lived and grew up.”
The original 302 cubic inch engine was plucked with eleven thousand miles on the odometer for a warmed-up version, and Jeff retained the factory 5 speed stick shift transmission behind it.
The Mustang saw action over the next four years on the street, as Jeff street raced the car around the Chicago area. “I also ran some of the Fun Ford events when they were at Union Grove or 41 (race tracks),” said Jeff. He also cruised it on Hot Rod Power Tour, as well as the famous Woodward Avenue in Michigan.
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The Mustang would also lead Jeff to meet his wife in 1996 while cruising one night heading up to a street race spot with a buddy. He was friends with the girl that was driving the other Mustang that his soon-to-be wife was the passenger in. “We stopped to talk, and here we are 27 years later,” said Jeff.
1997 marked a couple big changes for Jeff, as the Mustang would get a transmission swap from manual to automatic, as well as a halt to the street racing. “The police were starting to crack down on our local street race scenes and it probably wouldn't fair well to lose my CDL for street racing when I drove for a living,” said Jeff.
The Mustang would sit from 1997 to 2004 while Jeff recovered from knee surgery, and he started to put together a new engine while his children were born. But after a short stint bracket racing it, the Mustang was parked again in 2008 so he could spend more time with his family.
Fast-forward to 2021, and Jeff was ready to start playing with the Mustang again, especially after a little drag-and-drive influence. “I had visions of going on Hot Rod Drag Week with my son and his car when he turned 16,” said Jeff. “It worked out that we could do Drag Week, but not in the vehicles I had hoped for.”
Since Jeff was dealing with shoulder surgery, they decided to take his son’s daily driver, a 1973 Ford Gran Torino Sport. “I knew we wouldn't be fast, but we can see what it's all about and plan for what we need to do for future events.”
That first Drag Week participation was all it took, and now Jeff and family were hooked. Following a successful 2022 Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive where Jeff and family earned third place with a 1980 Ford Fairmont in the Dial-Your-Own class, Jeff started making plans to return the Fox Mustang to action.
The choice was made to go with Ford’s new Godzilla engine, and Jeff would add some additional power with a ProCharger. A Turbo 400 transmission would back the engine, and the thrash was on to finish it all.
Barely getting everything finished in time for Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes, Jeff would compete in the Mustang while son Nick would run the Fairmont. After day one where Jeff overcame a ton of problems just to turn in a 12-second pass, they finally got on the road for Byron Dragway.
“I pulled out happy to finally be on the road, and realized quick we forgot to secure the hood,” said Jeff. Now the thrash was on to find a replacement windshield for the one that got cracked just mere miles from Cordova Dragway.
A used windshield was found and installed the next day, and Jeff got on the road to Byron, arriving just as the rains came and the day’s racing was cancelled.
On day three at Great Lakes Dragaway, the Fox Mustang started showing signs of life, as Jeff clocked a 10.13. But it came with a hurt lifter at the end of the run, ending Jeff’s chances to complete the week with the Mustang. His son Nick did complete the week in his Fairmont, and plans are already underway for their next drag-and-drive event.
“My daughter, Aly ‘Gator’ Kurczak, just turned 16 in January, and Sick Summer was her first drag-and-drive event,” said Jeff. “She still enjoyed herself, and we’re already registered and looking forward to driving her 1974 Dodge Dart on Hot Rod Drag Week in September.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Jeff Kurczak.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com