Nifty Fifty :: Mustang 50th Celebration - Charlotte, NC

[EditorTurner]

Nifty Fifty: Mustang 50th Celebration - Charlotte, NC

Mustang enthusiasts from all over the world converge to celebrate our favorite Pony car.http://www.svtperformance.com/forum...y-Fifty-Mustang-50th-Celebration-Charlotte-NChttp://www.svtperformance.com/forum...y-Fifty-Mustang-50th-Celebration-Charlotte-NC

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“There’s nothing more fun than blasting down the road in Mustang, and then looking at people when you pull up to a stoplight,” Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said during the opening ceremonies of the Mustang 50th Birthday Celebration at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on April 17, 2014.

Well, Mustang fans blasted down roads from all parts of the country and world to arrive at one stoplight in front of the car’s 50th birthday celebration held in and around the speedway. Many cars caravanned from California in the Mustangs Across America or Oklahoma in the Pony drive, while others made their own way. All of them seemed to show up at once on Thursday morning, as the traffic leading into the event was significant.

While it’s too early to have any official attendance figures, we can tell you that the event is huge. Hotel parking lots for miles around have a significant Mustang presence, and the first two days at the track were really busy. Fans waited in daunting lines to buy T-shirts, sign up for rides around the track, and receive free celebration kits and toy cars.

What’s significant about this year’s event compared with prior birthday celebrations is the mix of cars. It seems with each birthday, the Mustang fan base embraces the modern Mustangs even tighter. For example, the 2015 Mustang rotating at the center of the Ford display is the clear celebrity of the event. Onlookers snapping photos and taking video have surrounded it for much of the show.

Certainly there are a lot of special ’64-’73 Mustangs present—including some really rare examples and original-owner cars—but the number of modern cars is striking. We can’t remember seeing this ratio of modern Mustangs at previous celebrations. It’s especially amazing to see so many special S197s, like Bosses and GT500s, in one place. It’s even more fun seeing them speed around the racetrack.

While the celebration has been great so far, weather rolled in late Friday afternoon and looks to stay for most of the day on Saturday. So, we thought it was a good time to give you a taste of what the event’s been like so far by sharing 50 images from the Mustang’s 50th birthday. We’ll have more coverage in the coming days, but for now enjoy a look at the Mustang’s big five oh.

-EditorTurner

 

[cobra_4]

Great pics man, it was certainly a weekend to remember! Love the on track shots, wish I could have gotten closer to get some good ones!

 

[EditorTurner]

Thanks cobra_4!

 

[Todd03Blown]

Great pictures!! I recognize all those cars as we were at the 50th.

 

[Tyler72]

Well, Nice to see my Boss was popular this week! That's my 2013 Boss 302 LS in the garage there (the School bus Yellow one) and that's my buddies 96 Procharged Cobra next to it. American Muscle also was digging on my car... they stuck a Go pro on it while I was out on track to catch some real on-track footage.

I had just switched the boss back to "street trim" when that picture was taken. Lol, thos michelins were brand new and had never even been on the car until then.

I think Thursday was my favorite day by far since I got a ton of tack time, but to be honest, I was highly disappointed at the lack of vendor presence compared to the 45th celebration. Other than MRT and dynotech, and JLT, nobody was really there to sell parts for late model cars (as in, they didn't bring anything with them to sell). However, MPS was there and we bought a complete T56 conversion and some other small items from them for the family car (my old 96 cobra vert). I had intended on purchasing a complete suspension for the boss, but there wasn't really anything to be had at the show.

I had a great time, but the weather wasn't spectacular, and the lack or vendor support left me wishing for more.

 

[bobby_0081]

That Black 2015 looks awesome. It does kind of look like a Mitsubishi Evo crossed with a Mustang in the front end though...lol

 

[1 Alibi 2]

Great pics, thanks for posting them..

 

[Armageddon]

Great shot of the Armageddon Twin Turbo Boss 302! (Schoolbus Yellow)

 

[yeahloh95]

great pics thanks wish i could have made it down

 

[Tob]

So....when do we finally get the detailed specs on the '15? How long can Ford hide their cards?

 

[EditorTurner]

Tob,

We might get some soon...

 

[Tob]

:thumbsup:

 

[TMIProducts]

Just from those pics alone it looks like there were about 4x as many cars (and people) at the NC event vs the LV event! Apparently I chose the WRONG show We still had a blast none the less. Albeit the highlight of the week was tearing down the LV Speedway in our '65 packing a turbo'd 521rwhp -(video of that coming soon)

 

[lClutchl]

Great shots! You blew away the "Professional" photographer they had on site for the track pictures!

 

[black99lightnin]

So....when do we finally get the detailed specs on the '15? How long can Ford hide their cards?

My thoughts exactly.

 

[EditorTurner]

Thanks fellas. I'll have more Charlotte up next week.