For those of you who have missed part one on Brandi, click here for the full rundown of specs on this nearly 2,000 horsepower 5th-gen Camaro SS, powered by a twin-turbocharged ERL Performance LS engine.

Nearly three weeks ago, we spoke with Robert Taylor regarding his 1,993 horsepower ERL powered 5th-gen Camaro SS, dubbed Brandi. Robert taught us the trials and tribulations of the quest to become the world’s fastest 5th-gen Camaro, but the day has finally come.

On Saturday, April 2nd, 2016, Robert Taylor’s Camaro, Brandi, broke the record for the world’s fastest 5th-gen Camaro and set the new record on his third pass (albeit his first pass on Saturday) at the Texas Mile event.

Robert Taylor and Andres Vivanco from ERL Performance

Robert recalls everything for us in great detail from start to finish on that day, including the events after. “We prepped the car, and launched when our turn came up,” says Robert. “The term launch is a misnomer, as this car is about like launching a battleship in mud.

‘Quick’ and my car should never be mentioned in the same sentence. Things happen at the speed of a slug, until we get to about 4,000 RPMs and the boost tries to pick up where the camshaft isn’t awake yet. Finally when the moon and stars align, at 6,000 to 6,200 RPM, shi… stuff starts happening in a huge hurry.”

He continues saying, “It’s almost as if a truck has hit me in the ass-end. This car explodes down the track; traction control is about all that keeps it from ending up in the grass backwards at speeds upwards of 200 MPH. Brandi kind of dances her backside all the way down the track at breakneck speeds. I really can’t describe how hard she accelerates; sometimes the dance is relatively controllable, and other times it’s a razors edge of control.”

Image Source: Tyler Brummel Photography

This is where things begin to get intense from Robert and Brandi. To reiterate from our last article, we spoke with Robert regarding some of the changes that necessary for this year’s Texas Mile event. Robert incorporated an ERL Performance 417 cubic-inch LS engine package and larger set of twin Precision 76/75 turbochargers this time around, and was not aware how the combination would perform.

The results? He says, “So, I launch, she comes alive, and then I hit second and stand on it. I go past the 1/4-mile sign at 140.8 MPH; darting in little sharp turns back and forth across the race lane, never out of control but right on the edge, and slam it into the gate for third (damnit), clutch it again and finally slam it into third. Off the clutch and on the loud pedal again, I lost the boost I had built up so we have to build that again. Finally it comes on, and off we go. Approaching the 1/2-mile sign (which I fly past at 184.2 MPH); damnit, I missed 4th. Not as bad, but enough to lose both a little speed and the built up energy again. I’m not feeling too hopeful on this pass and figure it’s back to the pits and regroup, but I still have to finish the pass. Might as well gather the data we can. I finally run out of 4th and hit 5th and stand on it.

She pulled pretty well in 5th, but nothing to write home about. I pass the trap and toss the laundry out; a comfortable (though somewhat violent) jerk hits and I lift off the throttle and cruise down to the turn off lane.”

When Robert thought all may have been lost, he was pleasantly surprised approaching the lanes for the speed tickets.

This was the moment. Head hung low, and in no rush to receive his MPH slip, Robert patiently waits until his turn; to which he receives the news he has waited four years to hear.

We’ll let Robert take over from here. Robert says, “There is a pass through lane for speed tickets, and those cars that use chutes or need assistance go outside the coned area to keep traffic moving. So, the AirTech of Houston Mustang is sitting near the ticket window and I pull up next to and just behind him. The driver is obviously excited and jumping around. He tells me to open the passenger door. I still have my helmet, gloves, harness, HANS device, radios, etc hooked up in addition to the window nets and door bar, so I’m kind of a captive at the moment. The ticket dude comes over and hands me my speed ticket; and I start giggling, but I manage to open the passenger window and unlock the door.”

Say hello to Brandi, the official fastest 5th-gen Camaro SS in the standing mile.

Robert continues, saying “The driver for M2K Motorsports gathers my chute and dumps it in the passenger window. I finally manage to climb out of the car and after the driver told me they now had the record for the fastest Mustang pass ever in the mile (at 232.8 MPH), he gave me a big ole hug of excitement.

Robert Taylor (left), Corey Henderson (middle), and Justin Lyons (right).

I finally got to tell him I now had the record for the fastest 5th-gen Camaro ever in a ‘Standing Mile’ at 225.8 MPH, and he yells nuther hug. Then, he looks up and says the digital clock only showed 225.4, which led to the gang with me thinking I had just missed the record. But the printed card is the official record (back to back world record runs. I was stoked and couldn’t stop giggling). He asked me why I was giggling and I mentioned that I had beaten the record by 0.1 mph.

The bar was set very high by the previous owner of the record who was in attendance and competing in this event. We high fived about a dozen times until his support crew showed up to take the car back to the pits. Bare in mind, the M2K driver of the Mustang was one of the guys that helped me fabricate a replacement hydraulic clutch line when we smoked mine. I have nothing but love for the M2K guys. They assisted in keeping my weekend going.”

Upon returning to the pits with and after some lighthearted joking, Robert presented the ticket to his crew. After a short celebration, Robert says, “Four and a half years of trying, a trail of broken parts, and finally, all the effort and time is worth it.”

To say that we’re stoked for Robert and his 5th-gen Camaro Brandi would be a complete understatement, as what Robert, Brandi, and the rest of his crew have achieved over the course of four years, is just pure insanity. Where others have tried and given up, Robert carried on with his endeavors, and it shows. We know you can’t wait to see what’s next for Brandi, so check out the full post on page 640 of Robert’s build thread for Brandi here until our next update.