Mustangs Across America Announces 45th Anniversary Drive

[Shay]

In April of 2009, the Mustang will turn 45 years old and the largest Mustang show ever is being planned in Birmingham, Alabama by the Mustang Club of America. To be held at the famous Barber Motorsports Park from April 16-19th, the three-day event will host as many as 6000 Mustangs for show and open track events.



Adding to the 45th anniversary celebration will be an epic Mustang convoy road-trip from the West that will travel across America’s heartland bringing Mustangs from all over the United States and around the world to attend the big show in Birmingham. Starting in Las Vegas, NV, Mustangs will thunder across America on a five day journey through the scenic backdrops of history, tracing the shadows of Route 66 in the West. The Midwest will include a stop in Mustang, OK and Dallas, TX before rounding up the herd through the deep South in Louisiana and Alabama. Drive participants will enjoy planned gatherings, cruise-ins and other adventures as part of the road trip itinerary.

“There is nothing that strikes a chord to the soul of America as a road trip. Adventures on the open road have become a part of our fabric in the form of legends, movies, novels and lore. For enthusiasts, driving their Mustang across the country with hundreds of others is a once in a lifetime experience”, says Sam Haymart, President of Mustangs Across America Inc. “There is nothing quite like the magic and camaraderie the grows from the event. It really captures the American spirit that has made this country great”.

The event will kick off in the excitement and glitter of Las Vegas on Saturday, April 11th 2009 and head east for historic Route 66 outpost Holbrook, AZ. The planned route incorporates some of the best remaining segments of the Mother Road. Mustangs new and old will be traveling through many of the ghost towns and rich imagery that inspired the recent movie “Cars”. The small Route 66 town of Holbrook is steeped in Mother Road history and home of the Wig-Wam Hotel, famous for its Tee-Pee motel rooms.

From there the drive continues through Albuquerque, NM and includes a visit to historic Santa Fe before heading to an overnight stop in Santa Rosa, NM. “The Desert Southwest is a place that every American should see at least once in their life. Santa Fe is a place that captures the essence of the region and all its Native American heritage, “ adds Haymart. "Our overnight stop of Santa Rosa is like turning a page back in time."

The stampede of Mustangs will grow and storm across the Texas plains through Amarillo, TX on the third day. A stop at the Route 66 Museum is planned for Clinton, OK, after which the convoy will head for the charming and much loved town of Mustang, OK for an overnight stop. From the heartland city of Mustang, the drive heads south to Dallas for a special lunch stop and then to Shreveport/Bossier City, LA where things really get exciting. The night in Louisiana will be studded with activity and fun with nearby riverboat casinos. But that will be the side show because on the fifth day leaving Shreveport/Bossier City, LA for Birmingham, the convoy is expected to grow up to 500 cars from all over the United States and Abroad. The final day’s drive will nearly double in size on the last day, with people from the entire Eastern seaboard joining in.

The event will be open for registration on April 17th, 2008. The cost to register will be $45 which will include a complete package of Mustangs Across America 45th Anniversary Drive items and regalia in addition to exclusive hotel discounts and access to special events across the country. A commemorative printed travel guide detailing mile-by-mile maps, itineraries, points of interest and a host of other goodies are included as well.

Mustangs Across America 45th Anniversary Drive Schedule:

Friday, 4/10/2009: Kick-off and Welcome Reception - Las Vegas, NV

Saturday, 4/11/2009: Las Vegas, NV to Holbrook, AZ

Sunday, 4/12/2009: Holbrook, AZ to Santa Rosa, NM

Monday, 4/13/2009: Santa Rosa, NM to Mustang, OK

Tuesday, 4/14/2009: Mustang, OK to Shreveport/Bossier City, LA

Wednesday, 4/15/2009: Shreveport/Bossier City, LA to Birmingham, AL

Thursday - Sunday 4/16 - 4/19, 2009: Attend the MCA 45th Mustang Anniversary Celebration (Separate Registration Required with Mustang Club of America Event) www.mustang.org

Sunday, 4/19/2009: Mustangs Across America Dinner Banquet

About Mustangs Across America

Mustangs Across America Inc. is an event promotion group that has been organizing cross country drives for large Mustang Club Of America anniversary events since 1994. Lead by a close knit group of enthusiasts, the events have been organized over the years in concert with the volunteer teamwork of several Mustang Clubs and sponsors across the country to bring enthusiasts an adventure of a lifetime.

Mustangs Across America events have attracted hundreds of participants of all ages and walks of life from all over the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Europe to join together in the adventure. Mustangs Across America has become an institution in the Mustang hobby, having organized many cross country drives including the 1994 30th Anniversary and 2004 40th Anniversary drives. The latter was the basis for the Discovery/Travel Channel Documentary “Kings Of The Road - Mustangs Across America” that still airs on TV today. In 2004, over 300 Mustangs took part in the MAA Drive.

Interested parties can log onto the Mustangs Across America website: www.MustangsAcrossAmerica.com or send S.A.S.E to the address below for entry forms.

Mustangs Across America
6517 S. Kings Ranch Rd #116
Gold Canyon, AZ 85218

[jwhite]

wow.
i'm gonna try to make this one! probably join the caravan in Mustang, OK

[SMOKE]

Nice .. Road trip!!!!

[Roushinator]

I am going to join in on Wednesday.

[vista blue]

I'm going to join up in Mustang OK. I can't wait. Any particular reason for not going into AR?

[Shay]

Originally Posted by vista blue

I'm going to join up in Mustang OK. I can't wait. Any particular reason for not going into AR?

It was considered, but we have gone there many times before. Our group wanted to introduce some new locations and stops into it this time around.

[S2#4737]

That sounds like a blast to do, just wish I had the time and money to do that.

[Mr DayZee]

We will be joining in somewhere. Will try and bring a large group from the Carolinas!

[02Roush2]

Wow, if I could get the Roush trailered out to Las Vegas and then drive it back I would sure give this a close look! Sounds like a great time!!

[Rider4Life01]

I wouldn't mind trying to put togeather some sort of North East leg.... I havent had a chance to talk to Chris yet but maybe a bunch of us can meet up here in the northe east and head on down the coast till we hit goergia and cross over!!! april 09 is a good ways away but we will see what we can do.

[vista blue]

Yes April 9th is a long ways away,gas will probably be 5 bucks a gallon by then but hopefully not

[sally4ponies]

It would be great to get a bunch of us together and make the drive to B'ham!! Haven't seen anything about hotels yet though.

[Bill H]

my car was in the 2004 MAA TV special when Justin owned it. i finally DVRed it so i can see it on demand.

it would be great to do this. maybe we could do an east coast convoy. meet in Atlanta or something.

i know a TV anchor in b'ham. maybe i can get her to do an fnsweet special on us.

[DayZee469]

Maybe we can coordinate a huge East Coast cruise in to Alabama and join you guys!!!

[MsBlur]

I'd love to see an eastern leg of the trip come into existence. It seems far away but will be here before you know it. If someone picks up the task of coordinating the east, let me know, I'd be happy to help.

[Rider4Life01]

Originally Posted by MsBlur

I'd love to see an eastern leg of the trip come into existence. It seems far away but will be here before you know it. If someone picks up the task of coordinating the east, let me know, I'd be happy to help.

I think Chris(FNSweetS3) and I are gonna get with a few other people and try to get something set up... Right now is way too early but come summer or next fall thing will start to be looked at. I Figure we will have people coming from the north like NJ and NY so we will pretty much be passing though NJ, NY, PA, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, and then cut over. Im assuming all the traveling would be done on Thursday...
Looks like its gonna be great! Cant wait, the more FNSweeters we can get to go, the better!

[IKandy]

This ROCKS!!!

I'm putting it on the calendar and planning to do the whole trip!!! I was already thinking about organizing a Route 66 roadtrip for 2009, and this fell perfectly into that idea. SO COOL! Anybody from Vegas heading down???

[sally4ponies]

Missed the Nashville event because I was in school I have every intention of making it this time. I will be traveling south on I-65. Let's figure out a meeting place!!Just watched all the video on the website and it was awesome.

[Shay]

Mustang, OK and Shreveport/Bossier City will be the best meet up places. We have big plans for evening fun in both cities.

Mustang, OK always makes us feel welcome with activities.

Shreveport/Bossier City has the Riverboat Casinos

The videos really tell the story well. There are some big things we are working on this time around that are going to make this drive event even more exciting. We had about 300 Mustangs in 2004, and we are shooting for 500 this time!

[Bill H]

from Savannah, my friend and I are talking about driving to Meridian, MS and catching the last 2 hours up to B'ham.

we need a group rate on a car hauler to take all us east coasters to the west !!