FEBRURARY 2007 NEWSLETTER

The Suncoast Mustang Club met on Monday, January 8, 2007 at Autoway Ford in St. Petersburg.

Wayne recounted to us his tale of a rotting carcass in his dumpster. It turned out to be some kind of animal that someone dumped, but Wayne being the good citizen he is thought that it might have been a human and called the police.

Past president Walt Lockwood attended the meeting and told us he would like to return to active duty with the club.

We had some discussion on the upcoming show on April 28^th, 2007. Member Scott Stees has volunteered to head the parking detail for the show. John Moody also stepped up to the plate and volunteered to be the head judge at our upcoming show. Show chairman Steve Hansen would like to congratulate these valuable members and will come calling on other members to help out with the show.

We had prospective new member Robert Rackham at the meeting. He owns a 1997 Cobra. Let’s hope he joins the club and becomes a valued member. We also did the old “go around the room and introduce ourselves” routine and we learned that Peg Garuti is entitled to half of Larry’s stuff.

The club had a small turnout for the Toys for Tots campaign. Only 6 people showed up, but our club did donate toys for the children. After all the hoopla died down, club members enjoyed a nice dinner at Smokey Bones.

Five of our members went to the Silver Springs show where over 1000 cars were on display. The weather was good and the cars were even better. Jim and Lucy Carroll met 14 people at the show that they had participated with on the Great American Pony Drive.

The Fantasy of Flight show in Polk City will be on April 14, 2007. Emerald Coast Mustang Club show at Ft. Walton Beach will be April 21, 2007. Mustang and Ford Show at Jacksonville on May 19, 2007

Our next meeting will be held on February 12, 2007 at the Golden Corral in Largo at 7 p.m. Don’t miss it, the food is tasty and plentiful and who knows, maybe Wayne and his lovely assistant will stage a game or two with semi valuable prizes.

The Spring Fling Car Show on April 28, 2007 will be here before we know it. We really need all club members to enter their cars to make this a successful show. Plus, we all know someone who owns a ‘stang that isn’t a member and we need those people to enter their cars also. Make sure to keep your calendar open on this date and register for the show. Wouldn’t it be nice to have this show at the same place and same time each year? All we need is each member to come out for this show and make it happen and have a lot of fun.

Treasurer Bill Dellert would like all members to submit a story of how they attained their cars, restored their cars, etc. for the newsletter. I’m sure most people can think of some interesting facts about their Mustangs.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. so we could go home and watch the Gators romp over OSU.

A record was set with 1050 cars on display. It was an awesome sight. The weather was beautiful, which is a big change for this show. We are usually bundled up and freezing. There was a slight shower Saturday afternoon and some cars didn’t come back on Sunday, but there were still enough cars to make a big showing. SMC members attending were Jim and Lucy Carroll, Joe Brend with his son-in-law, Wayne Farnham with daughter Jennifer, Della Overholt, and John and me.

SUNCOAST MUSTANG CLUB OFFICERS:

President Wayne Farnham 727-573-9696 wayne@restomod.com

Vice President John Stockowski 727-321-6341 cjski@netzero.com

Secretary Steve Hansen 727 397-0100 hansenskmb@yahoo.com

Treasurer Bill Dellert 727-343-4187 bdellert3@hotmail.com

Newsletter

Editor Judy Dellert 727-343-4187 jdellert121@hotmail.com

Our car’s “Auto-biography” begins in early May, 1969, when a red sports-roof started its long journey down the Metuchen, New Jersey assembly line. Along the way this red sports roof received factory air, an AM-8 track stereo, power steering, and the deluxe Mach I interior in black. All of this was wrapped around a 351 Windsor with the standard 3 speed transmission. The now completed 1969 Mach I was shipped on May 16^th to Grant Ford 2525 34th Street North (Sound Familiar) in St. Petersburg, Florida.

This Mach 1 was special ordered by Angel Rodrigus. I did a title search and contacted Angel. He was told they had to special order the car because all of the red Mach I's were big blocks. The only 351 Mustang Mach I's were Green.

9T02H20XXXX was delivered on May 28th, 1969 and spent the nest two years and 22,000 miles in St Petersburg. She was traded in 1971 at Colonial Dodge for a new Dodge Charger. The second owners kept her for 5 years where she was resided in Clearwater but she spent a lot of time in Daytona. The third owners Denise and I met in 1977 while the Mach I sat in the back lot of a body shop almost totaled. Tome and Betty O'Connor's saved this Mach I, repaired her and in September, 1980 Denise and I bought her.

The Mach was purchased to use as our weekend fun car. I have been in love with '69 Mach I's from the first time a friend on my parents came by our home in 1969 with his brand new "RED" Mach I. I remember spending the next hour setting in the driveway just dreaming... Anyway, we added the Mach to our stable of other Mustangs. Denise had a 1978 Mustang II Mach I, and I still had my High School car, a 1965 (early car) Mustang Convertible, 289 4V factory 4 speed. Little did we know this '69 Mach I would outlast the rest of the fleet. We showed the car for the first time in December of 1980 and at that show I met Orrie Engle, and he invited Denise and me to join a Mustang Club they were forming. The Suncoast Mustang Club.

The Mach I has seen the birth of both of our daughters. Sabrina was always my co-pilot when we went to shows. Christine slept numerous times in the back seat. When we acquired the Mach I from Tom and Betty it already that the rear window louvers, and the front spoiler. Denise and I added the original Mack I stripping, (in our garage), a factory tachometer, and I detailed the engine. The Mach has been on TV, in numerous car shows throughout Central Florida, and even in the 40th, Anniversary show at Nashville in 2004.

An ironic thing is when we replaced Denise's car, we bought our 1997 GT from Carlisle Ford 2525 34th Street North in St. Pete and this GT was also built in May, 1997. What are the chances of owning two Red Mustangs, built in May, delivered to the same address now setting in the same garage/driveway?

When Denise and I take Red out for a ride (oh by the way, that's the name we gave her over 15 years ago) I remember why after all these years why I love the look and the feel of 1969 Mustangs. I restored a blue 1969 Sports-Roof many years ago, and sold that one, but this Mach I is not going anywhere. Our future plans include installing the tilt-kick away steering column, front disc brakes and giving her a coat of new paint. After all of these years, our Mach I “Red” has NEVER been restored, I think she is due.

To assist with record keeping, please fill out this application and mail it or bring it to an upcoming meeting along with the dues. Please be sure to include all information and you’ll save the club mailing cost if your newsletter can be e-mailed to you. Thanks, Bill

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For Sale: 1979 302 ci engine, mild cam, no carb, about 10k miles since overhaul, runs great, will include fmx tranny. All for $300. Contact Jim Carroll at (813) 884-8736.

For Sale: C-4 Transmission out of my 67 Fastback. Transmission in great shape and has a shift kit which makes for really fast shifts. I’ve decided to put a 5 Speed in this car and will sell the entire unit, trans, bell housing, flexplate, torque converter, etc. for only $250. Contact Bill Dellert 727 343-3187 or bdellert3@hotmail.com