Ford Econoline enthusiast Thomas Welcomer doesn’t just enjoy being seen in his 1965 Econoline pickup – he loves driving it. And by driving it we mean taking it on long trips along with his beloved mother. But to understand just how deep Thomas’s affection for the classic Econoline runs, you simply have to read his email to us below:

“Hello Ford Performance! My name is Thomas Welcomer. I am sending you a picture of my pride and joy -- his name is Dester and he is a 1965 Ford Econoline pickup. I had owned a 1961 Econoline about 20 years ago and sold it – and IMMEDIATELY regretting the decision.

“In searching for a replacement, it literally took 20 years for the planets to align and to get back to driving a cool truck. 

“My mother has memory issues and has lost most of her hobbies . . . except for traveling! She loves to get in Dester and just go. We have been as far west as Missouri, as far north as Ontario, Canada, and as far south as Charleston, South Carolina. 

“The hope is to replace the engine over the winter and to be able to drive even further. Our goal is to earn enough to pay for a cross-country dream trip. I would love to introduce mom to the Pacific ocean finally. 

“I am a member of an active group of Econoline owners and my love of these strange vehicles runs deep. I only wish I could save every one of them that I find. That’s my Ford and story – thanks for allowing me to share it!”

How YOU can Get In The Spotlight: For the past decade, one of the most popular features on FordPerformance.com and in our weekly Fast News e-newsletter continues to be "Ford Fan Spotlight," where readers can send in their own reasons why they're fans of Ford Motor Company and its vehicles. You know who they are: Ford "superfans;" grassroots Ford racers; unique Ford vehicle owners; loyal Ford enthusiasts; notable Ford club people; special Ford families; and/or any avid supporter of Ford, Ford vehicles, Ford motorsports or Ford Performance who deserves a little bit of special recognition.

All you need to do to get you, your car or candidate considered is to send in a brief description (200-500 words or less) and a few photos (in .jpeg format, preferably around 1 mb in size) with the owner’s full name and hometown, please. Just tell us about the vehicle(s) and why you think Ford Performance should feature it (them) in the "Ford Fan Spotlight" for an upcoming installment of Fast News as well as for posting on FordPerformance.com. Then email it to: ClubHub@Ford.com with your contact info. Should you wish to send a video, you simply need to post it on www.YouTube.com (preferably 1-2 minutes long) and send in the link, along with a brief description, to that same ClubHub@Ford.com email address. We'll choose one submission each week. We hope to see YOU and your Ford in our Spotlight soon!