Cruising Tulsa in a 1/2-mile-long...
Cruising Tulsa in a 1/2-mile-long caravan is pretty darn cool. The cruise is open to anything that is Ford-powered. Anyone can enter the Art district for fun and games, but you have to be a registered participant to park in the designated cruise-in area. The entire Arts district gets taken over.
It has been 37 years since Jim Wicks first put together a simple meeting of Mustang enthusiasts in his backyard in Oklahoma City. As time marched on, so did the event, growing from a single day, to what has become a five-day event that covers everything a Ford and Mustang owner could want: road racing, dragstrip action, a cruise night, and a car show. This just isn’t any old car show, this is an all-Ford experience, where you can bring your car and enjoy it for what it was intended—speed.
For the uninitiated, this event is held in three locations throughout Northeastern Oklahoma in the middle of June. The first three days of the show take place mainly at Hallett Racing Circuit. This is a serious road course that is easy to learn for the novice, but challenging enough to keep the experienced driver on his/her toes.
Mustang Club of America past president Steve McCarley told us, “What is so great about this track is that it has all the elements of a great course: elevation changes, complex turns, and two nice straights—you can really get a workout driving this track.” We had a chance to take a few laps with Steve at the wheel and again with Steve guiding us along in the passenger seat; this is a really fun course that helps you hone your skills behind the wheel.
Ford Motor Company was on hand with the new Boss 302 and Boss 302 Laguna Seca, and a few lucky spectators were given a serious thrill ride around the track with Steve at the wheel. More than one passenger got out of the Boss with an ear-to-ear grin.
You never know what you’re...
You never know what you’re going to see at Mid-America. This rare Falcon sedan delivery is powered by a 5.0L Cobra drivetrain. We didn’t see it at Hallett, but when he pulled into the staging lanes, it was brutal. This is not a quiet wagon; the noise coming from this bird was ridiculous.
Thursday night at Mid-America means the big cruise. Starting at the host hotel (Southern Hills Marriott in Tulsa), the more than 1/2-mile-long line of Mustangs, Shelbys, and Fords cruised to the downtown Tulsa Brady Arts district for a cruise-in. The entire length of the cruise was chaperoned by 30 or so police escorts, which closed off side roads so the caravan could bypass signal lights and stop signs. There is nothing quite as satisfying as running a light in a Shelby with a cop watching and waving as you speed by.
Shelby American had its latest offering, the GTS, which is the new entry-level Shelby. Starting life as a new V-6 Mustang, this post-title package is very close to what the original G.T. 350 was all about—taking a well-balanced car and upgrading the brakes, suspension, and looks. Driving this car around the track showed that the 305hp V-6, coupled with the new suspension, has the goods to be a really fun street car. With some track tires, this car would be tough to beat in its class.
On Saturday, the dragstrip opens up for some straight-line action. What is always interesting is that many of the same cars that spend three days on the track at Hallett also make the trip to Tulsa for a few quarter-mile blasts at Tulsa Raceway Park. There were even a few more “utilitarian” cars running the ’strip, like a Ford Fusion that ran in the Powderpuff class. Since this is a bracket race, you don’t have to have the fastest car, just a consistent one.
One more unique aspect of the Mid-America Ford and Team Shelby Nationals is the banquet. For just a few bucks, you can get a ticket for a great meal, door prizes, and a series of speeches from prominent members of the Ford and Mustang community. This year, Steve Ling, North American Car Marketing manager from Ford, gave the crowd a tour of what Ford has coming and where it is headed. Donald Farr, longtime editor of our sister publication, Mustang Monthly, was honored with the Mustang Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his long career as a Mustang enthusiast and journalist.
This event is unlike most other car shows. Instead of sitting around in a lawn chair, wiping trailer queens with a diaper, Mid-America encourages you to use your Ford, on the track, the ’strip, and cruising on the street. This is one Mustang event every enthusiast should experience at least once. Chances are you’ll be coming back for more. The 38th Mid-America event is scheduled for June 13-17, 2012. You can find more information at www.midamericafordmeet.com. Make your reservations now.
“The 38th Mid-America event is scheduled for June 13-17, 2012. You can find more information at www.midamericafordmeet.com. Make your reservations now.”
Another long-time veteran...
Another long-time veteran of Mid-America is Tammy Anderson of Claremore, Oklahoma. This is the newest ’12 800hp Super Snake, and yes, it’s hers. It was less than a week old at this point and had already been to two shows. While she didn’t take this to Hallett, she did put one of her other Shelbys on the track.
This is what this event is...
This is what this event is all about. Kristen Arnold and her family have been coming to the Mid-America event for 20 years. Kristen and her dad, Steve, built this ’64 Falcon 13 years ago. It was her first car.
Hallett is always a good time,...
Hallett is always a good time, though the weather is always questionable. Last year it was 110 degrees in the shade with no wind, the year before it was raining. This year was perfect. The Shelby crew brought out the GT350 and new GTS, while Ford was giving rides in the Boss 302 and Laguna Seca.
There were three classes for...
There were three classes for racing. Class 3 is for beginners with no passing, Class 2 is street cars with passing, and Class 1 is for full-on race cars. Here’s yours truly driving a Shelby GT350 around the track in Class 3. Class 3 is pretty boring, but gives you a feel for being on track
MCA past president Steve McCarley...
MCA past president Steve McCarley was giving a few lessons in vehicle dynamics to a couple of novice drivers. Not only is Steve a huge Mustang enthusiast, but he also has 20 years of experience as a professional race driver. The track offers a race school for amateur road racers that want to learn.
The parade lap is the only...
The parade lap is the only time you can get on the track without a helmet, not that that stops a few spirited drivers from getting squirrelly.
Dragstrip action at its best....
Dragstrip action at its best. How often do you get to see 1,000-plus-horsepower Cobras hanging the wheels? This is David Williams, owner of FastLane Classics, giving his Cobra the beans.
If you need some parts, this...
If you need some parts, this a great place to find them. All five days of the event have swap meet sections set up for enthusiasts to buy, sell, and trade all manner of goodies.
At the banquet on Friday night,...
At the banquet on Friday night, there were several guest speakers, one of which was Steve Ling from Ford. Steve is a true car guy, and he had the crowd rolling with a few of his “rejected Mustang slogans.”
One of the treats of the show...
One of the treats of the show was getting to see the new Shelby GTS. Based on the V-6 Mustang (available for the GT as well), the GTS features performance suspension and braking along with a styling package that shows the true potential of the V-6 Pony. With the stock tires, this car was track capable; it would be even more fun with some real track tires.
You don’t have to have a traditional...
You don’t have to have a traditional performance car to experience the fun and passion for racing at Mid-America. This Ford 500 was entered into the Powderpuff class (the class for novice ladies). The finals had the 500 running against a late-model V-6 Mustang. If you have never drag raced, they hold a class in the morning for beginners.
We watched as this young man...
We watched as this young man was handed his first Mustang. His eyes lit up and you know there will be a fullsize Pony in his driveway in the future. Unlike some stuffy car shows, kids are always welcome at Mid-America.
Another family legacy of Mid-America...
Another family legacy of Mid-America is Dan Riley and his daughter, Kayla. Dan has been to the last 36 events, making him one of only two participants to do so. Dan built this ’65 G.T. 350 as a tribute to Ken Miles and Jerry Titus. He lost the transmission during the vintage race at Hallett, but he managed to get another one installed before the show on Sunday.