Tuesday, April 22, 2014

HOME FROM THE MUSTANG 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

WHAT A TRIP

The Car
My Mustang........1964 1/2 Ford Mustang.......... Manufactured June 30th, 1964
Paint Oxidized and dull..... Vinyl top OK..... Engine rebuilt in 1997.....
Mustangs passed that were on trailer, Lots and Lots.....Years owned 25

The Drive
11 days....3112 miles.....53 hours driving time.....Time on side of the road 0..... Parts replaced, 1 ignition points set, $8..... Time lost because of repair 0..... Cruising speed on highway 70 mph


This was a wonderful trip.  I have always wanted to take a long road trip in a classic car.  The birthday celebration was great because there were show cars, race cars, and a few plain old drivers, like mine.  I like historic racing and hanging around the paddock at the races, and track and paddock were full of cars I love.  The lectures, arranged by Ford, had the guys who designed the '65 thru '04 Mustangs as some of the speakers.  The guy that designed the 65-66 (Gale Halderman) drew the car on his kitchen table the night before the deadline. They picked his design and that made his career.  He was also responsible for the 67-68 and the 69-70 Mustangs, which I think were the 3 best designs.  This was a great bucket list trip and I haven't had so much fun since the hogs ate my brother.    

Me and the MUSTANG this afternoon when we got home.
THIS IS A GREAT CAR

Thursday, April 17, 2014



The 50th Anniversary of the Mustang

Today, the 17th, is the 50th Anniversary of the introduction of the Mustang. There are thousands of Mustangs here.  And yes, when you have seen all the Mustangs you have seen one.  I was able to park my Mustang inside the track today.  Mine was just about the only one that was not in perfect condition.  The most beautiful and rare Mustangs I have ever seen are here, including Mustang #4, and one of 3 original Mustang Pace Cars from the 1964 Indianapolis 500.   Lots of Shelby Mustangs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.  One of the best parts of the show are the lectures given by people who were involved with the development of the Mustang.  Today I heard Lee Holman, of Holman Moody Racing, who talked about their development of the early Mustang race cars, in 1964, that won the first and second in the Tour de France Rally.  Tomorrow there a several more lectures I am going to attend.  Many Mustang owners are running their cars on the NASCAR track.  Some are racing on the road coarse inside the oval.  It was a great day.  Here are a few pictures.  Check back tomorrow more another update.



These guys are probably complaining about the dirt under my hood.

The fourth Mustang manufactured

One of three original Pace Cars from the 1964 Indianapolis 500

Lee Holman of Holman Moody Racing

The introduction of the 2015 Mustang

An old race car

A Shelby, just a shell now, being restored

Lunch

Row after row of Mustangs


To each his own

One of the racers getting ready to go on the track

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Day 5 Birmingham to Charlotte

Today I drove from Birmingham to Charlotte.  It took about 6 hours and it was a real pretty drive.  I got to the registration area at the same time as the other 3500 cars.  I had to stand in line but there we two guys from Florida that I could lie to so we filled the time with good conversation.  The track opens in the morning at 8 so I expect there will be a few thousand Mustangs lined up to get in.   My Mustang made the 1565 miles almost without a hitch.  I had an ignition problem but new points, in Birmingham,  seems to have solved that problem.  The problem did not cause any delay because the car ran fine at 70 mph.  Here are a couple pictures from the registration area.  Check back tomorrow; I should have lots of pics of the Mustang show.  The internet is slow here; I just put on a couple of pics.  On the news they just said there might be 6000 cars at this show. Somebody better go out and buy a bunch of hay.

I don't know about the rest of the Mustangs but mine is tired and going to take a 3 day nap.

These guys came in on a trailer.  How dull.



Monday, April 14, 2014

BEALE STREET MEMPHIS

Today the Pony Drive we drove from Little Rock to Memphis.  It was just a couple of hours and when we got to Memphis they had Beale street blocked off All the Mustangs, about 250, parked on the street, while everyone had lunch. It was great fun.  Also while in Memphis I am staying at my son Jackson's house where my two grand daughters live.  Claire and Scarlett had been saving up sugar for me so I have gained a little weight.  Tomorrow it is off to Cavett's house in Birmingham for some more weight gain.  Here are some pictures of Beale Street.  Check back later for more.

Me and my Mustang


Australian Mustanger

Mustangers from New Zealand

4 Blocks of Mustangs

B B Kings Place on the corner

These Australians bought the car in Florida and are shipping it home after.

A great time on Beale Street

Saturday, April 12, 2014

The Great American Pony Drive

Today I made the first leg of my trip to the Ford Mustang 50th Anniversary celebration.  I drove the 256 miles from Canyon Tx. to Norman Ok..  It was great looking at all the Mustangs that had gathered for the trip to the celebrations in Charlotte Nc. and Las Vegas Nv.  I'm starting to Charlotte in the morning at 8am with all the other Charlotte Mustangs.  Our first stop is Little Rock tomorrow afternoon.  There will be a show and cruise in Little Rock.  Monday we will head to Memphis where I will visit my son Jackson and his family for a night.  I will leave the Pony Drive in Memphis and head to Birmingham Al. to visit my son Taylor and his family for a night.   The only problem I have with the Pony Drive is that for every old Mustang you see, you see about 25 modern Mustangs. But they might be a little more comfortable than the old cars.   I have also seen Mustangers from New Zealand and Sweden that I helped get the pontoons off their cars.  Here are a few pictures.  Check back for more updates.