GROSSE ILE, Mich. – Blue Oval fans well-know of retired Ford VP of Design Jack Telnack, whose styling leadership gave us the beloved Fox Body Mustang, as well as the “Aero-look” 1983 Thunderbird and the groundbreaking 1986 Taurus, among many other striking Fords produced right through 1997. But they may not know that Telnack is also an avid boating enthusiast who has held leadership and even design roles at the Ford Yacht Club, a family oriented private club located on the southwestern tip of the suburban Detroit island-community of Grosse Ile, Michigan.

The club, founded back in 1947 by a small group of Ford Engineering employees at the water’s edge of Lake Erie, has grown today to include a clubhouse with a restaurant and bar, plus an outdoor patio and a grill on the surrounding grassy grounds that feature boat wells and a boat launch with diesel, gas and pump outs available to members. Each year for the past three decades, the club has hosted a no-registration-fee car and motorcycle show that is open to the public that some insiders consider to be “Jack Telnack’s car show” because of his unwavering support of the event.

This past fall, the Ford Yacht Club held its 30^th Annual Specialty Car and Motorcycle Show on the grounds and parking lot surrounding the clubhouse, which was open to indoor dining while offering hot dogs and hamburgers cooked by the past commodores on the outside grill. The event featured a DJ, dash plaques for the first 150 vehicles and an awards ceremony replete with member-selected trophies. Several former Ford designers, including Bud Magaldi, Ara Ekizian and Camilo Pardo, were in attendance as well as Jack Telnack himself.

Telnack had invited the Mustang Owners Club of SouthEastern Michigan to attend the show after MOCSEM’s own cruise-in at the yacht club earlier that summer had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. So MOCSEM president Mike Rey decided that Jack’s ongoing support of the local Mustang club deserved some special recognition in front of his peers, and had a special “Industry Icon” award made up to be presented as a surprise to Jack before the show’s awards ceremony. MOCSEM vice-president John Clor summoned Ford retirees and yacht club dignitaries to the stage to give Telnack the custom award, as well as a copy to be displayed in the clubhouse. Jack graciously accepted the award, admitting it was both a surprise and an honor before thanking MOCSEM for its years of supporting Ford and the Mustang.

Beyond the good friends and food enjoyed that afternoon were all the great cars (and bikes) to check out at this unique multi-marque show held in such a picturesque setting. Of course, we were most interested in the Fords we found there, and hope you enjoy some of our favorites in the photo gallery below:

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / JOHN M. CLOR