DEARBORN - You’ll find thousands of racers in the SCCA, but you won’t find many who track a 1996 SVT Mustang Cobra that wears the rare “Mystic” paint option. Yet that’s exactly what one immensely popular racer, Tony “Rosco” Rietdorf, had driven before his tragic death in 2016. To get the remarkable story of how his widow, Michelle, and a whole host of friends in the racing community have banded together to get Rosco’s “Mystic Missile” back on the track, read what Rosco’s friends have written as a tribute below:

“Tony “Rosco” Rietdorf entered his 1996 SVT Mustang Cobra, dubbed the “Mystic Missile,” in the SCCA Solo National for the first time with his wife, Michelle, back in 2016. But after a full weekend of racing, Tony suffered an unfortunate accident, falling off a golf cart and landing head-first on the concrete. The mishap put him in an Intensive Care Unit with major head trauma, and after a long week he passed away, on September 11, 2016, leaving Michelle with their 10-month-old son, Tyler.

“In the racing community, Rosco’s spirit touched all who met him. He inspired his friends to be a better, more committed person both on and off the track. But on race day you better be ready to kick tail, because he would bring it, and become the train bearing down on you! He had one speed: DO. To him, if you are not doing, you are a quitter, and had always said that ‘Sitters are Quitters.’ He had one goal: to DOMINATE. He wanted to dominate everything he put his hands on. Yet after meeting him, you could feel LOVE from this guy; he was a true friend and had love for all. You could not avoid seeing his SMILE, because 99.9 percent of the time you were with him you would have seen a smile on his face. And finally, yes, he was LOUD. Laughter was his trademark. You could have the worst day ever and his laughter would cure your worries. Tony “Rosco” Rietdorf was surely a special man.

“Before his fatal accident, ‘Rosco’ was so fired up about his first SCCA Solo Nationals that he was already planning on making improvements to his “Mystic Missile’ for the 2017 season. Hid didn’t feel that the car needed more power but he was convinced it needed more tire, as 315’s were just not going to cut it anymore; instead, he felt he had to upsize to a set of 335’s front and rear. He had talked to his friend, Brian Hoover at Auto Body Specialist in Columbus, Ohio, and a plan had been discussed. But his tragic passing put everything in limbo.

“After his funeral and a memorial event at Peru, Indiana, that October, Michelle decided Rosco would have wanted her to keep racing the car, so it went to Columbus for a little cosmetic surgery during the off-season. Michelle worked with Brian and his Auto Body Specialist team of Randy Hoover and William Pritchett, to make Roscoe’s dream for the car come true. They widened the fenders with custom, all-steel flares to make room for the 335/30/18’s and give them a natural look underneath the car. It’s hard to notice at first glance, but once you really look at the new footprint and stance, it is clear how the change made the Mystic Missile even more beautiful.

“Michelle also worked on a few other tuning options that Rosco wanted done as well, just to help the car perform even better and make it more reliable on race day. Brian told Michelle that Rosco spent all summer of 2016 coming up with ideas to make this car dominate the SCCA CAM-C class, and now she wanted to take on the task of turning his ideas into reality. Thanks to the overwhelming support from the racing community, it all came together.

“She got back into the swing of things by taking the car to the 2017 SCCA National autocross competition in Lincoln, Nebraska. The trip to Lincoln is several hours away from her home Indiana, and the tow there gave her time to reflect on the racing journey that she and her late husband had made together in 2016. Thanks the full support of the SCCA family, and with Rosco’s 2016 co-driver, Dave Feighner, in the driver’s seat, they were able to put the Mystic Missile on the podium in Lincoln.

“The Mystic Missile reappeared on the SCCA Solo scene in Peru, Indiana, on August 11, 2017. Brian Hoover delivered the car to Michelle at the Grissom Auto Plex in Peru just in time for the 2017 CAM (Classic American Muscle) Autocross East Challenge. The car looked fabulous after being rolled out of Brian’s trailer, with its Mystic paint showing off all of its multiple color hues thanks to the light bouncing off the many angles of the all-steel fender flares that completely conceal the giant tires mounted on those 18x12 wheels.

“Michelle had a plan and that would start at here the 2017 Peru CAM Challenge and end at the 2017 Solo Nationals. Co-pilot Dave was there, and tells this story:

“I was just the lucky guy that got the call asking if I would help get the car ready for battle to see Rosco’s vision come full circle. Of course I would help – just tell me where to be, and when! The first order of business that Friday in Peru was to pull maintenance and do some shakedown runs. We changed the oil, changed the plugs, changed coil packs and looked over the nuts and bolts underneath the car. Then we added some fuel and headed for the practice course.

“Michelle took the first two runs and improved from the first run to the second run. I rode shotgun to listen for noises. No noises – good! We swapped seats and about half-way through the course, the car stopped running. While coasting off the course, I figured out that we had lost all electrical power.  Turns out that the battery shifted and grounded out. Good news: I had a spare battery in the trailer and with a little work we had it in the car tight. So we headed back over to try and get a couple of runs in. Bad news was they closed the test-and-tune session, so there would be no more runs.

“Saturday, the car ran well and we thought we had cured a hot-condition stumble. While we didn’t place as high as we would have liked, the car made a good showing despite using up the back tires in the morning. The next morning it was much cooler and we took our runs. On the last run, the hot-condition stumble made a return and we broke the belt. I was able to get coverage for my work assignment and got the time to change the belt, plus make some shims that brought the belt pulleys into better alignment. We made the call for the runoff but, sadly, went out after the first round.

“The following week was spent emailing the tuner and asking if there was something we were missing on the setup that was causing the hot-condition misfire/hesitation. By the middle of the week we had a dyno appointment for the following Tuesday. We got the car to the dyno and on the very first pull, the operator shut the car down at about 5,000 rpm. He got out of the car and asked, ‘What did you do to this car?’ We told him what we had done the weekend before, but he said that was not it – something else had changed. The problem was the car was running way too rich.

“Then we mentioned that the supercharger had also been replaced, so he went to work leaning the tune out. A couple hours later we had a tune that had the car responding much better than what we started with. The following Sunday, it was off to Peru for some testing. As it turned out both Michelle’s Mystic Missile and my own ‘Big Girl’ needed some testing. After a day of running and purposely doing back-to-back runs, that Missile never had a hiccup. Next stop – Lincoln.

“Michelle got to Lincoln on Friday afternoon and took 10 runs on the practice course to help heat-cycle the car and break-in a fresh set of tires. We got all checked in, and got ready for Saturday, which started off well. Michelle took Run 1 and kept the car going the right direction. My first run was dirty but it was an easy cone to miss in corner 5, yet no worries – we will be fine on Run 2. Coming to the finish in Run 2, the tube from the supercharger to the intercooler popped off. It made such a noise that I backed off and coasted through the lights with a time that was till good enough for Second Place.

“We put the tube back on and sent Michelle out for Run 3 and she had no issues. I was getting ready for the 3rd run thinking if I can power through the finish that should put the Missile on the top. I found out that I hit a different cone on my 2nd run, but no one could tell me which cone. I hit just a cone in corner 4. Unfortunately, the tube popped again on my Run 3, this time in the middle of the course instead of at the end. I stayed in it this time, not lifting in the slalom so as not to lose any momentum. Turns out I ran out of talent and tagged a cone and finished the morning runs in a disappointing 20th position.

“The girls were kicking my butt. Rosco would not approve of this, but he might have given me a pass since I didn’t give up trying on the last run. We made some substantial adjustments during the lunch break to hopefully cure the tube pop-off issue. All was going well through the first runs and I finally had a clean run. Then the second run decided to kick us right where it counts. Michelle was having a great run and just as she went through the lights, I heard that sound that the tube makes when it decides to check out. But this time it was followed by a belt slithering its way out of the bottom of the engine bay and onto the ground. Michelle came in from the run to say the power steering is gone. I told her more than that was gone, as a corner worker brought back the remains of the belt and clamp.

“I said that we just don’t have time try and to fix this, so I found a replacement Mustang for Michelle to drive on her last run, and I took my last two runs in Big Girl. (BG can slow down better than the Missile but it just does not have the same go.) After all the runs, we went back to the trailer and proceeded to change the belt on the Missile and reattach the tube, and found what appeared to be a better clamp this time. To be safe, we drove around after dinner to see if we could find some boot material so that we could make a longer boot to help lock-in the tube if it tried to exit stage left again on us. (Thank you O’Reilly’s on Cornhusker in Lincoln for helping us out just before closing time.)

“Sunday started out well as everything held together on Michelle’s first run. My first run was not so good, as the tube popped off yet again in the middle of the slalom. The run was clean but we still had the tube issue to deal with. I got back to the grid spot, got the car in the air and we started changing the boot. Because of the extra length of the replacement, it took more time to wrestle the new boot into place. Unfortunately it took longer than 10 minutes to get the boot in place, and Michelle had to give up her second run. Shortly after the allotted time, the car was back on the ground and ready to go. The second run was clean and quick enough to be solidly in the challenge.

“Michelle turned in her quickest time on her last run and the tube was still firmly attached. However, she said the steering was making strange noises. In my last run, I confirmed that my previous run was clean. I said to Michelle that tis final run is either going to be spectacular or a train wreck. If there was a run that would have gotten Rosco to say his favorite phrase, “That was bad-ass!” that run was it. After crossing the line I was the only C car to break into the 36’s and secured the No. 1 seed for the runoff. But (there is always a ‘but’) the strange noise that Michelle heard was the power steering taking its last breath. We tried a flush of the power steering system before the runoff but the ‘do not resuscitate’ order had already been issued.

“With a bit of luck I made it to the final paring only to come up approximately 0.015 short of making it to the top runoff for the big Speedway Motors Trophy. I certainly made it further than I should have but the lack of power assist became more evident as the rounds went on. Care to take a guess what we went looking for after the runoff was finished?

“We have now made it to Labor Day Monday. Did I mention it was a perfect day to change a power steering pump? After a very leisurely install, we checked all the connections and topped off the fluid. Next, we started the car and . . . no leaks, no squeals, no growls; a quick test drive confirmed successful transplant.

“The next mission would start Thursday during the 3rd heat on the west course. The Missile would take its first runs at the Solo Nationals and the final steps fulfilling a wish, and providing closure. Michelle’s first run was drama-free as she made it around the course without any episodes of being pointed backwards. My first run on the other hand found me looking in the wrong direction in the showcase turn of the west course. Not sure if it was the quicker power steering that got the car upset or just the dingbat behind the wheel. Run number two found Michelle getting a little deep in the straight that takes you into the sweeper that leads to the finish and she, too, found the spin cycle. My second run was clean on no-spin and got me all the way to 3^rd Place.

“Time for our third runs and thankfully the car has not demanded any maintenance between runs! Michelle’s third run was her quickest and she ended the day on a good note. On my third run I was tentative through the showcase turn and then got a little behind for that section afterwards. To top it off, I didn’t get into the finish straightaway as good as the other run and the shift to 3rd for the lights did not help, so there was no improvement in time but I was still in 3rd.

“Friday’s course was supposed to be the more open course that would allow the cars to be tossed around a bit more. As it turns out, there was a tricky showcase turn that falls off downhill and off- camber that could upset the cars. The first time through, I had a big slide but kept it going the right direction. With the high track temperatures and no clouds, sliding the car was only going to get tires hot and greasy. After the first run, I was still in 3rd but it was too close and I was going to need more time if I wanted to stay there. Cones on the other three players were the only reason I was still there.

“On Run 2 Michelle cleaned up the DNF and was able to get a time in the books. My second run found me struggling again with the showcase turn and I had another long, slow slide. I managed to find some time on the run but now have fallen to 4th. Michelle posted her best time on her 3rd run and she ended her Nationals on a high note. I talked to a friend who had run earlier, and he said that I needed to move over to the right a few feet to help settle the car down and get through that turn without losing time. So this time when I came into showcase, although I got a little lockup on the front tire, I had moved over enough so that the car slid very little. That meant I was able to line up the next section and hammer the gas. My final and quickest run was third-fastest of the class but I still missed getting 3^rd Place by 0.187, and was off from 2nd Place by just 0.192. Not all that bad for the oldest car in the class.

“I really would have liked to have kept the car on the podium but I think Rosco would still approve of the effort and give us a fist-bump. My thanks to Michelle and Tyler, plus Mike, Les, Scott, Troy, John and Jay for the wild ride, and for helping under the hood when the Mystic Missile wanted more attention than just being wiped down with a diaper and some quick detailer.”

Finally, we offer this quote that a fellow racer, Ryan Procise, had posted after one of the events:

"I feel as if God himself has given me these words to express to everyone: Tony "Rosco" Rietdorf was a living angel that was sent here as a gift from God to all who he met, and even beyond. The proof is easy to see: The contagious positive attitude; the inspiring drive for life; the infallible work ethic; the LAUGH; and the love. Tony may have gone home to the Lord, but his spirit will live on in all of us, as a gift that we are now realizing God has given us. So that is our charge, to be responsible for this gift, to go out and show Tony's spirit to the world, to work as hard as he worked, to hold our heads high with a contagiously positive attitude, to live life to its fullest, to LAUGH without restraint, and to love fiercely the people who mean the world to us. Tony has left us clear instructions. His work is done here, and now ours starts.”

Michelle was, and still, is overwhelmed by all the support she has received from everyone. She could not put into words how proud she is of her racing family.

WORDS AND PHOTOS / COURTESY JASON MASSEY and DAVE FEIGHNER

Mystic Missile Specs

1996 Mustang Cobra color Mystic

The outside

Auto Body Specialist all-steel wide-body fender flares.

18x12 CCW classics BFGoodrich Rival S 335-30-18 square

6-inch rear spoiler

Non-functional Ram-air hood

The inside

Rear-seat delete

Reclining race seats with 5-point harness driver and passenger

Momo Monte Carlo suede

THE Chassis

Tubular k-member, torque arm, panhard, tubular rear control arms, adjustable blade sway bar, sub-frame connectors

Upsized front sway bar

Double adjustable shocks front and rear, coil-over front and rear

6-piston front brake upgrade, hydro boost delete

Under the Hood

4.6L 32valve Ford Modular V-8 engine

Bottom end and pistons upgraded for supercharger duty

Centrifugal supercharger, air-to-air intercooler

Tuned for E85 producing 608 hp at the wheels

6-speed manual transmission, Torsen T2R rear differential

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All you need to do to get you, your car or candidate considered is to send in a brief description (200-500 words or less) and a few photos (in .jpeg format, preferably 300 dpi) of a person (full name and hometown, please) and vehicle that you think Ford Performance should feature (and why) in the "Ford Fan Spotlight" for an upcoming installment of Fast News and posting on FordPerformance.com. Then email it to: AskTFR@Ford.com. Should you wish to send a video, you simply need to post it on www.YouTube.com (preferably 1-2 minutes long) and send in the link, along with a brief description, to that same AskTFR@Ford.com email address. We'll choose one submission each week.