If you’ve ever wondered why the Woodward Dream Cruise in suburban Detroit is a destination that winds up on everyone’s bucket-list, all you need to know is that it’s the biggest one-day automotive event on the planet. And with Ford yet again the primary sponsor for the annual cruise this year, you need to make plans right now to attend.

For 2019, Ford is celebrating the 21^st year of hosting Mustang Alley at the cruise with special cars, displays and attractions both there on East 9 Mile Road in Ferndale, Michigan, and up and along Woodward Avenue on cruise day, including a special Bronco gathering at Memorial Park in Pleasant Ridge. Michigan. While the cruising on Woodward builds all week leading up to the big day, the real action starts early on Saturday, August 17, with some 1 million people and nearly 40,000 collectible cars converging on famed Woodward Avenue.

For Ford fans, the best way to experience Woodward is to take a stroll in “Mustang Alley” where several hundred Stangs of every vintage dominate the Ford display on 9 Mile Road at Woodward every summer. But to reserve a parking spot in Mustang Alley, YOU NEED TO REGISTER YOUR MUSTANG. Parking is limited, and spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so DON’T DELAY! For full information and registration, go to: http://www.mustangalleyon9.com/.

Ford clubs of nearly every Blue Oval model have planned gatherings along Woodward for the big cruise, so contact your favorite club for info. Why do you join a Ford club? Because it allows you a variety of unique experiences, such as those put together by Team Shelby with its “Dearborn Invasion 2 – Together Again” program, where Shelby fans and owners have a variety of events planned in the week leading up to Woodward and the big Mustang Memories show the day after. They include track time, special tours, parties, VIP packages and cruise parking in honor of the return of the Shelby GT500 and its joining the Shelby GT350 in the Mustang lineup for the first time since 1970.

The fun begins at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Michigan, on Tuesday & Wednesday, August 13th & 14th. Over those two days, drivers can enjoy high-speed track time during the Mohawk Track Experience program.  You can take laps on a very forgiving racetrack as you test your car and skills. New driver? No problem, there will be classroom instruction and instructors to assist. Click on this link to register your car and get out on the track!

Team Shelby also has stops planned on Thursday, August 15, to visit: William Deary's extensive private collection of Shelby vehicles & memorabilia dubbed “The Carroll Collection” in Jackson, Michigan; Watson Engineering in Brownstown Township, Michigan, who has helped Ford Performance develop and build several significant late-model Ford Racing Mustangs over the years, including the Cobra Jet; and The Mike Berardi Collection in Taylor, Michigan, where Mike’s career at Ford had fostered his special bond with the Mustang and the more than 60 Mustangs that he now has in his private stable – all with a unique story.

If you failed to sign up in time for these private tours, there are several other great automotive attractions around town that you should experience during Woodward week: Here is our own “Top 10” list of “Must-See’s and Do’s” while in Detroit from Ford Performance:

1.    The Henry Ford Museum / 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI

• 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Daily / https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/henry-ford-museum/
• Henry Ford Museum of Innovation
• Greenfield Village
• Giant Screen Experience

2.    Ford Rouge Factory Tour via the Henry Ford / 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI

• 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. / https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/ford-rouge-factory-tour/
•  Interactive tour of F-150 production

3.    The Automotive Hall of Fame / 21400 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn

• 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wed.-Sun. / https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/
• Legendary People of the Auto Industry

4.    Ford Piquette Plant / 461 Piquette Street, Detroit, MI

• 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wed. – Sun. / https://www.fordpiquetteplant.org/visit/
• Birthplace of the Ford Model T

5.    Gilmore Car Museum / 6865 W. Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, MI

• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri (til 6 p.m. Sat.-Sun.) / https://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/
• Historic 90-acre campus with 400+ cars in Museum & 8 19^th century barns 
• Includes Model A and Lincoln Heritage museums on-site
• Recreated 1930’s era Shell Gas Station
• Authentic, functional 1941 “Blue Moon” Diner

6.    ROUSH Automotive Collection / 11851 Market Street, Livonia, MI

• 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mon-.Fri. / https://www.roushcollection.com/
• Notable Prototype and Racing Fords
• Free Admission / Self-guided Tour

7.    Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum / 100 E. Cross Street, Ypsilanti, MI

• 1-4 p.m. Tues.-.Sun. / https://ypsiautoheritage.org/
• Cars from famed local WWII-era Willow Run Plant
• National Hudson Motor Car Museum in defunct Dealership
• Tucker Movie Prop Car / Kaiser-Frazer collection

8.    Antique Touring Company / Leaves from Piquette Plant, 461 Piquette St., Detroit, MI

• 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Daily (except Tues.) / https://antiquetouring.com/book/
• Tour Woodward’s auto history in a Model A
• Ford Highland Park Plant (1^st Assembly Line)
• Advanced Booking Required
  
  

9.    Preservation Detroit Tour / Grand Circus Park, Downtown Detroit, MI

• 1-3 p.m., Sun., August 11, 2019 / https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preservation-detroit-motorcities-auto-history-tour-tickets-62649004860
• MotorCities Downtown Auto History Tour
• 2.5-hour walking experience
• See site of shed where Henry Ford built his Quadricycle
• Private tours from 5-50 also available
  
  

10.  Wheelhouse Detroit / 1340 Atwater Street, Detroit, MI

• 10 a.m. on Sat., August 17, 2019 / https://www.wheelhousedetroit.com/auto-heritage
• 15-mile Auto Heritage bicycle tour
• Includes visit to Packard Plat ruins
  

Speaking of memories, if you've been waiting for that one, extra-special enthusiast event to attend this summer, try this one: Register NOW for one of the biggest Mustang & Ford shows (up to 800+ vehicles) in the country, hosted by MOCSEM, one of the biggest Mustang clubs in the USA – all in Ford's own backyard. It’s the annual "Mustang Memories All-Ford Show & Swap" held on Sunday, August 18th at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, the day after Ford Motor Company dominates Detroit’s annual Woodward Dream Cruise.

The big Sunday show this year features special displays celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Mach 1 and 40 Years of Fox Body Mustangs. There will also be special guest appearances by Gale Halderman, the primary designer of the original Mustang who will be doing a book signing for his hardbound “Mustang By Design” history, as well as meet and greet with Kevin Marti of “Marti Reports.” The “Memories” show includes goody bags for pre-registered cars, judging, trophies, a huge vendor midway, a swap meet and car corral, a variety of food trucks, 50/50 drawings, and many feature vehicles. We hope you stick around the day after the Dream Cruise to make your own Mustang Memories!

Not going to be in the Motor City the weekend of August 17-18? Fear not, there’s another big Mustang and Ford show celebrating Mustang’s sister, the Mercury Cougar, on the Left Coast. The Pacific Cascade Mustang Club is hosting an “All-Ford and Cougar Car Show” on Saturday, August 17, at the Showare Center in Kent, Washington. Visit the club website for all the details.

If you think the Ford classic and collector car world is only about the Mustang, it’s time for a re-think. Two other great Ford brands are celebrating special events this weekend. First up is the Sixth Annual Lincoln Homecoming, which will offer a unique twist for the 2019 gathering: Not only will Lincolns of all eras be on display, but all Ford Motor Company-built vehicles are invited to join the festivities, which will be held at the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum on the grounds of the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan and the host hotel, Four Points Sheraton in Kalamazoo.

The 2019 Lincoln homecoming theme is “See Ford Blue in Kalamazoo,” referring to the multi-marque invite and the museum’s location, 15 miles north of Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is hosted by the museum in conjunction with the Road Race Lincoln Register (RRLR) Club, one of the four major Lincoln clubs that comprise the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation. The others are the Lincoln Owners Club, Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club and the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club. Homecoming activities run from August 8-11 and include driving tours to the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, the W.K. Kellogg Gull Lake mansion, Vicksburg Historical Village and Bell’s Brewery, plus a scheduled appearance by Gale Halderman, retired Ford, Lincoln and Mercury designer credited with the primary design theme behind the original Mustang. For more information, visit LincolnCarMuseum.org.

Fans of another great Ford nameplate, the Thunderbird, are also gathering this weekend for their own celebration. The International Thunderbird Club (ITC) is hosting its annual convention in Westlake, Ohio, just west of Cleveland. Convention week events include a Friday tour of the Rock and Roll Museum of Cleveland, or Seminars and a Pool Party at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westlake. The public is invited to see the ITC Concours Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the hotel on Saturday, August 10, where you’ll find beautiful 1955-2005 Ford Thunderbirds on display.

If you are an owner of a Thunderbird and are interested in having your Thunderbird judged, registration deadline for judging is noon on Friday, August 9. If you do not register your car for judging you are welcome to enter your car in the Show Case for a donation to the event charity, “Prayers From Maria” for children's cancer research. The show concludes with a Saturday night Concours Show Awards Banquet, where Ford Performance Enthusiast Communications Manager John Clor is scheduled to speak. See the club site here for full details.

Win a 2019 Shelby Mustang GT350R from the Shelby American Collection

The Shelby American Collection is offering all enthusiasts a chance to win a rare 2019 Shelby Mustang GT350R, in stunning Ford Performance Blue and loaded with all the GT350’s performance features including a carbon fiber instrument panel and Technology Package. With 526 horsepower and 429 foot-pounds of torque, this new Shelby Mustang is equipped to outrun the competition at the track, without sacrificing the luxury and comfort you want for your next road trip. Ford has not revealed how long it will continue production of the GT350R, so don't miss your chance to win this brand new, highly collectible Mustang, or you can choose $75,000 in cash as your winning prize. Simply make a donation to the Shelby American Collection and you will be automatically entered into the drawing for a chance to win this car. The Shelby GT350R Performance features include:

• 5.2L Ti-VCT V-8 with 526 hp and 429 lb.-ft of torque
• Advanced suspension including the MagneRide™ damping system
• Brembo™ brakes - the most powerful brakes in a production Mustang
• 19” Carbon Fiber Wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires
• Carbon fiber instrument panel
• Technology Package with B&O Premium Sound System

Note: Production of the Shelby Mustang GT350R Mustang is very limited, so don't miss your chance to win this modern-day muscle car. Enter today at WinANewShelby.org (For Ford Fast News readers, enter the promo code FastNews25 for 25% more entries. The winner will be drawn on August 31, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. MDT at the Shelby American Collection in Boulder, Colorado. Winner need not be present to win.

This drawing contest is a fundraiser to support the Shelby American Collection car museum in Boulder, Colorado, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The museum is dedicated to preserving the racing history and achievements of Carroll Shelby and the Shelby American Team. It celebrates the rich heritage of the Cobra, Shelby Mustang and Ford GT40 cars that changed the face of auto racing in the 1960s. Thanks to the generosity of owners and collectors, we have some of the most important American racing cars ever made on display. And an extensive collection of race records, photographs and memorabilia from the pioneer drivers and visionaries of the era including Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles, Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill, Allen Grant, Mario Andretti, Phil Remington and other Shelby American Team members. The museum, staffed and run by volunteers, is dedicated to serve as a resource for all Shelby enthusiasts, and to preserve one of the most important eras in American automotive history for all generations. You can learn more and see some of the remarkable automobiles in the collection online at: https://shelbyamericancollection.org.

Replacement 2001 Mustang Bullitt ID Labels Now Available

With Bullitt making Mustang headlines these days, did you know that the Ford Performance Info Center has recently begun handling replacement requests for the 2001 Mustang Bullitt shock tower holographic I.D. labels? The Info Center has acquired all remaining inventory of the labels and once they are gone, they are gone for good, so if you need a replacement for a damaged or missing factory label, the time to order yours is now! The Ford Performance Info Center will mail you a new label for your 2001 Bullitt, upon receipt of the following information (via email to FWRNTY@Ford.com):

• Full VIN of the vehicle
• Picture of the damaged / missing I.D Label
• A contact at your local Ford dealership (Service Advisor is usually the best)
• Please include the dealership’s shipping information

Note: Your Ford dealership MUST perform the removal / installation of this official Ford factory replacement label. These original labels are the only remaining inventory, which were made back in 2001 when the first Mustang Bullitt models were being built.  Contacting the Ford Performance Info Center is the ONLY way to get your factory replacement label. This program is offered free of charge, and is being done as a courtesy to all 2001 Mustang Bullitt owners.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Ford Performance Info Center at 800-367-3788, option 1, or via email: FWRNTY@Ford.com

Get Your Mustang’s Airbag Recall Completed!

The Takata airbag recalls are the largest and most complex recalls in U.S. automotive history. The recalls currently affect 19 automotive manufacturers and roughly 37 million vehicles. Among these affected vehicles are 2005-2014 model year Mustang vehicles.

In 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Takata Corporation determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety may arise in some non-desiccated, ammonium nitrate airbag inflators due to propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. This degradation can cause the propellant to burn too quickly, creating high pressure inside the inflator, and in extreme cases causing the inflator to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment.  A ruptured inflator can send inflator parts toward vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Additional information regarding Takata recalls can be found at www.nhtsa.gov and www.safercar.gov.

Parts are readily available to repair currently recalled Mustang vehicles. Ford sent out weekly mailings last October and November to all Mustang owners whose vehicle currently has an open Takata airbag recall. It is important that you determine if your vehicle is affected and, if so, have it repaired FREE by a Ford or Lincoln Dealer, especially before it goes into storage for the winter.

In some cases, only the driver’s or passenger’s side may be affected. In other cases, both the driver’s side and passenger’s side need to be repaired. The passenger side airbag cover is not replaced during the repair, so any signatures or other insignia on your dash will remain.

This situation requires immediate attention and is not to be taken lightly. You can input your VIN at www.FordAirbagInfo.com to see if your vehicle is affected by the airbag recall and locate a dealership to you schedule your repair. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment, or your dealership indicates that they are not able to obtain parts to repair your vehicle, please contact our Ford Customer Care Team at 1-866-436-7332.

Here’s How Easy it is to Have Your Car Featured in our Ford Fan Spotlight

For the past decade, one of the most popular features on FordPerformance.com and in our 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. 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 1 mb) of a person (full name and hometown, please) and vehicle that you think Ford Performance should feature (and why) in the "Ford Fan Spotlight" for an upcoming installment of Fast News and posting on FordPerformance.com. Then email it to: ClubHub@Ford.com. 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!

In the meantime, make sure you get out there and find and attend a Ford club meeting this summer, join a Ford club or enthusiast group and discover the fun and all the friendly people involved in the world of Ford Performance. (It’s EASY to find a great Ford club in your area here: https://registry.fordperformanceclubconnect.com/map?type=club) We’re sure that being connected with each other and with Ford will make your ownership experience even more enjoyable!

No matter what you decide you’d like to do with your free time, the great thing about owning a performance Ford is that – unlike with buying one of those “appliances” from the other automakers – when you buy a Ford, you buy into an entire enthusiast world! That’s because Ford cars and trucks have the kind of personality and style that forges a personal connection with their owners, who in turn celebrate ownership each year at hundreds of enthusiast events all over the country.

Stay tuned to our “What’s Happening” section under the “Enthusiasts” tab of FordPerformance.com to catch the latest show news. We’ll also provide the best online coverage from some of the top-notch venues sponsored by various Ford enthusiast clubs with our “Quick Look” photo galleries, or via the special features posted in our Enthusiasts Newsroom. There you’ll get the inside stories on Ford people, events and places as well as unique Ford club content that you can't find anywhere else on the Web. We do it because, just like you, we’re driving Ford passion!