I think you can call me a Ford man. I remember as a young boy, my dad taking me to the Ford dealerships every September for the unveiling of the upcoming new model year of Fords. I was nine years old when the first Mustang came out in April 1964. My first car was a 1965 white, Mustang Coupe. I enjoyed the car very much and literally wore it out.
Sandy and I got married in 1977. She had a 1968 Cougar. We often joke that that is why I married her. My next Mustang wasn’t until 1986, which was called a four-eyed Mustang Fox body. We totally enjoyed this car. At the time we had two children, Audrey and Joey. We thought having kids was over so we bought this 86 Mustang. Well, you know how things work, we had another child, Billy in 1987. The Mustang had to go as three kids in the back of a Mustang is just not good. I was without a Mustang quite a few years but never lost interest and followed them religiously.
In 2007 I found a red 2003 Mach 1 at Erich K Motors in North Vernon. It had been at that car lot for six months or more. I would see it every Sunday as we went to church in North Vernon. One day I just said, I’m gonna go check on that car. I might not be able to trade for it but I’m gonna try. Lo and behold, we made a deal and I drove it home.
A short time after that in 2008 I was able to locate and become a member of the Hoosier Mustang Club in Columbus. Sandy and I were very excited to be a part of this great car organization. I was able to serve as president for four years.
In the fall of 2008 I surprised Sandy with a birthday present, a 2004 Mustang 40th Anniversary Edition, also from Erich K Motors. She enjoyed driving that car for several years.
I thoroughly enjoy all of our members and participating in various types of activities: drives, car shows, and other outings. I have love driving my Mach 1. Sandy and I have been from the Woodard in Detroit; to the Ford Nationals in Pennsylvania; to the 45th Anniversary of the Mustang in Alabama; to the 50th in North Carolina; and to the great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee for Ponies in the Smokies. This last March I was able to take my granddaughter Chaela, to Ponies in the Smokies.
Over the years, I have been able to meet great people associated with Ford and the Mustang, including: Gale Halderman, Designer of the first Mustang; William Ford, CEO Ford Motor Company; Dave Pericak, Ford Design Team on the 2015 Mustang; Richard Petty, all time winning NASCAR driver; and Scott Hoag, head of Design Team for the 99 Bullet, 2003 & 2004 Mach 1.
I am currently working on a 1995 Mustang complete restoration project.
