There's no denying that summer-time is cruising and car show season, and there are plenty of these events to attend. Some-times these things can conflict with summer vacations, but a select group of Mustang enthusiasts decided to combine the two, and create a summertime vaca-tion destination that includes a large variety of fun things to do with your Mustang, along with quality family time at a world-renowned beach resort. Mustang Week was born several years ago, and the organizers have been working hard every year to make it bigger and better than the previous one.
Mustang Week 2010 started out with a meet and greet at the local Planet Hollywood restaurant, but let us say, this was no ordinary get together. Hundreds of Mustang enthusiasts descended upon the parking lot in what would set the pace for the events the rest of the week.
The following day, the action kicked off with an afternoon of cone crushing and corner carving at Myrtle Beach Speedway, where the organizers had set up a pretty stout autocross, the staging lanes of which were constantly three wide and 10 cars deep per lane. While some dodged cones in a timed trial, others were making laps on the half-mile oval. Though the staff had set up gates around the track to prevent attendees from going too fast, most could get up to a pretty good speed and experience the banked track surface. Though a brief storm shower halted activities for a while, the action resumed and culminated in a burnout contest.
Thursday started out with everyone meeting at the local Hooters restaurant around noon, and by 2 p.m., it was off to Darlington Dragway. Hundreds of Mustangs attended the event, with most giving it a go on the quarter-mile strip of pavement. The event also attracted several manufacturers and performance companies, and a mobile chassis dyno was on hand in case you wanted to get your ride tuned up before making some passes down the 'strip.
Friday's festivities started early with the Mustang Week annual car show-an event that attracts several hundred cars from all over the United States. The Long Haul award went to Bernie and Grace Burl who trekked from their home in Fountain Hills, Arizona, all the way to the East Coast Mustang Week destination.
Mustang Week culminated in a Saturday cruise-in, where the previous day's car show awards are given out right before dinnertime. We did notice that the Mustangs in attendance were largely late-model cars, but we did spot a couple dozen vintage Ponies, as you'll see in the accompanying pictures. In fact, the Best of Show award went to a classic Colt. The event has grown bigger every year, and we expect more classic Mustangs and Fords will attend. One of the best things about the event is that each day's events only take up half of the day or so. That gives you half the day to take in the beach, or other area attractions and really make the most of this week-long Mustang family vacation. For more information on next year's event, visit www.mustangweek.com.
Myrtle Beach Speedway saw...
Myrtle Beach Speedway saw folks get the chance to twist and turn through some autocross cones, and turn some mild laps on the half-mile oval track.
Event organizer Scott Morgan's...
Event organizer Scott Morgan's brother, Todd, was the epitome of the Mustang Week attendee, as he and his daughters hopped in this clean Mustang convertible cruiser and traveled from their home in West Virginia to Myrtle Beach to hang out for the week. Todd told us that the late-model 5.0L powertrain provides plenty of reliable power.
Mustang vendors were on hand...
Mustang vendors were on hand at most of the week's events.
The crew from Piedmont Custom...
The crew from Piedmont Custom Motorsports out of Raleigh brought out their toys as well. The Cobra even got out on the oval track.
Someone trucked in this late-model...
Someone trucked in this late-model S197 Mustang that sported a 427 SOHC engine. It makes the stock Three-Valve look downright diminutive.
The Fastlane Motorsports crew...
The Fastlane Motorsports crew out of North Carolina had a slew of fast rides at Mustang Week, including this turbocharged Mustang fastback.
Paul Witalis of nearby Conway,...
Paul Witalis of nearby Conway, South Carolina, took home the Best of Show award with his '68 Mustang coupe. The original 302 has been warmed over with some speed parts, and the body was treated to several layers of a custom-mixed House of Kolor blue hue.
William Muntz showed off his...
William Muntz showed off his '65 GT350 Mustang at the annual Mustang Week car show.
Bernie and Grace Burl received...
Bernie and Grace Burl received the long haul award and had to fork over their driver's licenses to prove it. The Burls hail from Fountain Hills, Arizona, and drove out in their late-model Roush Stage 2 Mustang to attend their first Mustang Week.