RICHMOND, Va. – Mustang has been dominating the automotive media in recent months, with Ford’s iconic pony car turning 60 this year and owners and fans around the world celebrating the occasion in a myriad of different ways. Ford Motor Company itself commemorated 60 years of Mustang with an exhilarating gathering on the car’s official birthdate of April 17 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hundreds of Mustang clubs and enthusiast groups big and small also marked that date – some with big, notably extravagant events.

But owners and fans don’t require mega events with hundreds of cars in attendance to feel part of the Mustang family, as many small-group get-togethers have proved just as rewarding. Take the Victory 7 Mustang Club out of Richmond, Virginia, as one example. We’ve often featured this group HERE thanks to their tireless award-winning efforts toward community service. So how did this small club with a big heart celebrate Mustang’s birthday? Well, just like any close-knit family would – they went out to eat together.

“The Victory 7 Mustang Club celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Mustang with a luncheon at a local restaurant and we appeared on a local CBS-affiliate TV station earlier in the week,” club president and founder Thomas Victory told us. “We had great time at the lunch with 36 members in attendance – some coming from as far as 50 miles away to be there. Our home dealership, Richmond Ford-Lincoln, sponsored our event t-shirts, thanks to owner Mr. Ron Kody and vice-president Mr. Mike Serpico. Happy birthday, Mustang!”

Just days, later, the club was back at work, providing the cars for a local Autism Parade -- and then making another toy donation for the local Children’s Hospital. As you might expect, Thomas likes to donate Hotwheels/Matchbox-sized 1/64-scale Mustang diecast cars. He says the hospital is seeing an average of 700 children per month, so the need is great. If you have toy cars you can donate to the cause, feel free to email Thomas Victory at tjvictory7@gmail.com to see how you can help his club make Mustang magic happen for the youth of his community. It would surely make Mustang’s 60th birthday year even more special.

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS COURTESY THOMAS VICTORY / VICTORY 7 MUSTANG CLUB