So how does an event organizer hold a car show and a meet & greet with a myriad of hobby celebrities so that every enthusiast can experience both without fear of health consequences during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Why, he creates something new in the virtual world, that’s how! And that’s exactly the idea behind “Mustangs On A Mission: The Experience” that will be held August 22^nd without the need for attendees to travel a single mile. All you need is to register and have access to an internet connection. Here’s the full story:

"On the Road Again" was the title of a famous Willie Nelson song. Unfortunately 2020 has kept most of us at home and not on the road -- way more than we would ever have planned, in fact. Hitting the road this year to attend car shows and events can be summed up in one word: cancelled. Staying home taking care of the kids because schools have been closed and figuring out how to work from home has changed many of our lives. Having meetings from our home offices, living rooms or dining rooms has become – as they now say – the new normal. The term “Zoom Meeting” has become part of our everyday life. So it is that many of our daily activities have become virtual ones, and even for enthusiasts, enjoying our weekends have now been possible due to the advent of the Online Virtual Car Show.

If you have been on the Mustang and Ford car show circuit over the past several years, then you likely know or have heard of Dan Neve and his “Cruise for a Cause” crusade. Neve has been traveling the country attending Ford and Mustang events for more than a decade now, raising awareness and funds in the fight against breast and prostate cancer. But the cancellation of car shows this year has crippled Dan’s important mission and donations have dropped drastically. It was a friend who told Dan that he needed to do something to continue to do the great work without traveling to shows, so he needed to come up with a unique online event. Virtual car shows were already happening, so what could be done to make Neve’s not only different but special?

After Dan reached out to others in the hobby and active in social media, an idea was surfaced to create a platform for enthusiasts to not only showcase their cars but to also have them interact with some of the top names in the Mustang hobby. That’s when "Mustangs on a Mission: The Experience" was born, and it’s set to place the weekend of August 22-23, 2020.

The team of Dan Neve (Cruise for a Cause); Doug Sandler (‘Ford Mustang the Early Years’ Podcast Host and Producer); Mike Rey (President of the Mustang Owners Club of South Eastern Michigan); John Clor (Enthusiast Communications Manager, Ford Performance); Bradley Belcher (Millennial Mustang Registry President); Natasha De Melis (Mustang Performance Social Communications and "Mustang Marie" Public Figure); and Jaron Cole (Founder of Mustangology and Mustang Fan Club) finalized the idea and reached out to their contacts to assemble a panel for the live interaction part of the show. So far, they have recruited the likes of Dave Pericak, Jim Owens, Mark Schaller, Art Hyde, Kevin Marti, Aaron Shelby, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Carl Widmann, Jack Roush Jr. Billy Johnson, Lee Holman, Justin Pawlak, Gary Patterson, Amy Boylan, Donald Farr, The Ring Brothers, and the list goes on and on . . .

So for your chance to show off your ride, see many other fine Fords and not only hear from these Ford experts and professionals online, but to also get some of your questions answered – all from the comfort of your own home -- make sure to sign up early as bandwidth will be limited. Simply visit https://www.mustangsonamission.org/ to see all of the names that will be taking part in this two-day virtual event and to register, as you will not want to miss what will surely be the epic Virtual Mustang event for 2020!  

Get Your Tickets for the 2020 Roush Stage 3 Mustang Raffle to Support the Restoration of Historic Fair Lane Estate   

Whenever we get an email from Edsel Ford II, you can bet all of us at Ford Performance pay serious attention – and this time you should, too. That’s because the note we received from the great grandson of Henry Ford (and son of Henry Ford II) offers some great news for Ford fans, who now can not only have the chance to win a brand-new high-performance Mustang, but also to help in the ongoing restoration efforts on the Ford Fair Lane Estate in Dearborn. Here’s Mr. Ford’s note, entitled: “2020 Roush Stage 3 Mustang Raffle To Support Fair Lane Estate Restoration:”

“I would like to invite you to join me in supporting the ongoing restoration of Fair Lane: Home of Clara and Henry Ford. As an independent non-profit organization, Fair Lane relies on philanthropy and contributions to fund its work to preserve and restore this National Historic Landmark.

“Like many non-profit organizations, this year they needed to find a different way to raise funds and are excited to announce the launch of an online raffle where you can enter to win an amazing one-of-a-kind 2020 Roush Stage 3 Mustang. You could be the lucky winner and command the road with this custom, 1-of-1, 2020 Roush Stage 3 Mustang that includes a number of unique features including carbon fiber mirror caps and manual shifter ball, serial dash badge 1-of-1, specially branded seats and custom-lit door sills, as well as the personal signatures of Jack Roush, Sr. and me.

“For just $10, you can purchase your raffle ticket online at mustangforfairlane.com. You can follow the progress of the raffle and get additional information about Fair Lane – and this amazing vehicle – on Facebook and at henryfordfairlane.org. The winning ticket will be drawn on Oct. 1, 2020.

“Thank you for your consideration and your support that will help ensure the legacy of Clara and Henry Ford endures and continues to inspire others to follow their dreams and make a positive impact in the world.”

--- Good luck!

Edsel B. Ford II

Now is the Perfect Time to Get Out to Your Garage and Teach the Kids about Basic Car Care and MaintenanceBecause Ford-based car clubs have a direct link to both Ford Motor Company and each other via FordPerformanceClubConnect.com, we’re able to keep up with what’s happening in the Ford enthusiast community much better than ever before. All the tips, news, views and comments about the Ford collector car hobby that you send to ClubHub@Ford.com are both read and valued, because it’s only when you talk and we listen that there is real enthusiast communications taking place.

That’s exactly how we came across a great idea for a family activity that you can plan and do right now. Original ‘65 Mustang owner Lyn Adams of Fairfax, Virginia, (see: https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/fan-spotlight/2014/10/fordfanspotlight.html) sent us a note recently in support of a suggestion she spotted online. It was for parents being “sheltered in place” with their out-of-school children during the global pandemic, noting that one worthy activity they could do together would be to take them out to the garage and begin training them about the care and maintenance of the family’s automobiles. Lyn received an email newsletter from Carlisle Events which she forwarded to us. In it, Carlisle sponsor RockAuto.com posted the following, entitled “Kids & Cars:”

“Toilet paper may be in short supply, but there are now plenty of children wandering around aimlessly after their schools shut down and booted them out the door. Now is a great opportunity to get kids interested in cars. A little tinkering on cars can help teach them how to use their minds and hands to prevent and solve problems. Increased confidence and competence will make them better able to handle and enjoy life's challenges.

“If they have replaced heater hoses on a car, then they probably will have the confidence to replace a leaky bathroom faucet in their own homes someday. Instead of feeling helpless and panicky when the toilet paper shelves are empty, they will stay calm, trusting in their ability to come up with their own solutions if necessary . . .

“Car ‘tinkering’ does not have to start big. A child's first car project could be as simple as learning how to properly wash a car. It is easy to forget that a younger child may not even yet know how to connect a garden hose to a spigot. He/she will beam with pride once he/she has that knowledge and sees how nice the family vehicle looks after winter grime is washed away. The adults involved in all this mentoring will have memories of good times spent with the kids that drown out insignificant memories of empty toilet paper shelves.”

Truly, this could be a rare opportunity for enthusiast parents to share some car culture with the next generation of Ford lovers! And the idea seems to be taking hold: The NAPA auto parts online blog now has lots of great tips on teaching kids about car repair, and Car and Driver magazine recently ran a story about how this would be a great time to spend a few hours in the garage with kids of all ages to begin teaching some auto repair basics.

Of course for some of you, working on a Mustang in the garage with your kids is second nature, as we often chronicle in our weekly Ford Fan Spotlight. Send us your own “garage time with the kids” story (and photos) to ClubHub@Ford.com. After all, Ford fandom and knowledge -- like charity -- begins at home.

Now Read Our Enthusiasts News Each Week on Ford Performance Club Connect

One race – one win – was all it took for Henry Ford to generate enough buzz and belief in his engineering among investors to secure funding and launch the Ford Motor Company. At Ford Performance, we have never forgotten where it all began. So we’ve been honoring our heritage, our products and our relentless competitive spirit by shining a light on motorsports and the Ford enthusiast world each week with our Fast News e-newsletter. 

From news on our hottest cars and trucks or performance parts to the latest scoop on all the must-see Ford enthusiast events and shows, our weekly Fast News email has been your ticket to stay connected to the company that put the world on wheels. But trying to keep up with emails has left some of you in the dust. So that’s why Ford Performance is now posting our weekly Enthusiast News directly on www.FordPerformanceClubConnect.com -- so you can check it out the next time you’re online without sorting through your email inbox. So put our FordPerformanceClubConnect.com website on your Favorites list, and then hop-in, buckle-up and hang-on each and every week for our Enthusiast News, because like you and all of us in the Ford enthusiast world, we’ll be driving Ford passion!

Time to Register your Ford Fan Facebook Group with Ford Performance Club Connect

Earlier this year we told you about a cool Ford Performance initiative called “Club Connect” that can help all Ford and Mustang enthusiasts get connected with both Ford Motor Company and each other. Only those clubs who register with the program are eligible for no-cost promotion and support from Ford Performance, so you owe it to members of your Mustang or Ford vehicle club or online forum to register and appear on our Ford enthusiast club map. All it takes is a visit to www.FordPerformanceClubConnect.com and a single click on the “Register Your Club” link. Once you fill out the form and hit “Submit,” you’ll be notified within just a few days of your acceptance in Ford Performance Club Connect -- it’s that simple, and it’s FREE

The primary goal of our Ford Performance Club Connect program is to get everyone to register their club – at no cost – and get themselves on our Ford enthusiast group map so that we can all connect with each other. Once there, you’ll be able to see all of the other clubs and groups who have registered in your region – not just Mustang clubs, but ALL Ford vehicle organizations. And now we’d like to invite all of you who are part of any Ford vehicle Facebook Group to register with Club Connect, too. Why? Because connecting your Facebook Group with more owners and fans makes your group more worthwhile – and registering with Club Connect will link your online group with participants who may never have known that your group exists.

The value in all of this is that whenever you plan a club or group activity, you can see what other clubs and groups are in your area that you may wish to contact and ask to join you at a show or event. It also allows Ford Performance to see all the clubs and groups in a certain area, so that when we are coming to town or planning a special Ford event in your city or state, you and your club members can be contacted to participate.

It takes only a few minutes for a club principal or board member to register your club and establish a direct link for your members to Ford Performance. And now, you can also register your group and logo with Ford Brand Licensing all in the same process. Have a product or parts question that you want answered? Wish you could get some free club event promotion in our weekly “Fast News” e-blast that goes out to more than a quarter-million Ford fans each Thursday? Looking for event coverage for your show in the Enthusiasts section of FordPerformance.com? Hoping you could find a cool Ford goodie-bag or door-prize item, or a banquet guest speaker? How about requesting on-site show support with an appearance by our Ford Performance Meet & Greet tent, along with FREE Mustang poster giveaways for all show attendees? Individual requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but they can ONLY be awarded to clubs who are registered.

So go to www.FordPerformanceClubConnect.com and click on the “Find Your Club” link to see if you are on the map. If not, then act now to register your Ford-based club or Facebook Group so that you can join this special program -- all backed and supported by a real enthusiast staff managed by Ford Performance. If you have questions or want more info, you and your members can always email us at ClubHub@Ford.com, or can simply call our Ford Performance Info Center, toll-free during regular business hours, at 1-800-FORD-788 (800-367-3788).

So what are you waiting for? Get online and make sure you’re connected. Then plan to enjoy your performance Ford later this year so that you can discover the fun and all of the friendly people involved in the world of Ford Performance. We’re sure that being connected with each other and with Ford will make your ownership experience even more enjoyable!

FordShowParts.com Now Offers Factory Correct Window Stickers for 87-88-89 Mustangs

Any collector car owner will tell you that having factory documentation can often increase the value of your vehicle – and one of the most popular documents that owners want to have for their car is the factory window sticker. The problem is, most were discarded after the original sale or destroyed in the process of trying to remove them from the car’s window glass. Those lucky enough to get theirs off intact or smart enough to secure a copy from the selling dealer when the vehicle was purchased new had an advantage on the rest of us – until now.

While a few online companies have offered reproduction VIN-based window stickers (otherwise known as “Monroney Labels”), the problem is most are just that – printed reproductions that can offer some of the VIN-based build info but often don’t look very much like what came on the car from the factory the day it was built. For the past few years, Ford Performance has been offering factory window stickers for some 2007-2019 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles though the FordShowParts website. But the Ford Performance Info Center has also been working on a program to have factory-correct window stickers reproduced for older classics, especially Mustangs. We’re pleased to announce that the first to come out of that effort are window stickers for 1987, 1988 and 1989 Ford Mustangs. These are authentic Ford reproductions, with all the proper info in the factory format – right down to the correct sticker size, print font – even ghost-printing and colors just as Ford had made them.

While we hope to add more years and more cars in the future, if you happen to own an 87-88-89 Mustang, you owe it to yourself to purchase the correct factory window sticker for your car, so don’t delay. All you need is the VIN for your 1987-88-89 Mustang listed as sold, and a valid credit card. (These custom-print orders take 4-6 weeks to ship, but are worth the wait!) You can go online to FordShowParts.com HERE to order, or you can call the Ford Performance Info Center TOLL FREE at 800-FORD-788 for more information.

Ford Show Parts.com Expands its ‘Certificate of Authenticity’ Program Offerings

Our Ford Performance Info Center has been hard at work expanding its "Certificate of Authenticity" program which you can find on the Ford Show Parts.com website. Official Ford Performance certificates of authenticity are now available for the 2017 Ford Raptor, the 2016 and 2017 Ford Focus RS and the 2018 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350.

That also means you can now get a full Ford Performance Certificate of Authenticity Package for owners of any 2015-2018 Shelby GT350 or GT350R, which includes the following: An official Ford performance Certificate of Authenticity, VIN decoder, Production Summary Chart, Poster, Tri-Fold Brochure, Certificate Sleeve, Track Tips, Window Sticker, "Disc Brake Rotor & Caliper" Business Card Holder, as well as a Cobra logo Keychain. Many GT350 owners and enthusiasts will notice that this special package contains many of the items that were included in the Owners Supplement kit that came with GT350's when they were originally sold. Please note that there is LIMITED AVAILABILITY for these items, so order now!

What’s more, official Ford Performance Certificates of Authenticity are available for a wide variety of other performance and specialty Ford vehicles. All you need is your vehicle’s VIN number and a valid credit card. Order either via our Ford Performance Info Center by phone (1-800-FORD-788) or online directly from our Ford Show Parts website.

Own a 2005-2014 Mustang? You Need to 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 you drive it this summer.

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.

Replacement 2001 Mustang Bullitt ID Labels Still Available for Limited Time

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

Join the Online Stampede: Check Out ‘The Mustang Store’ on Amazon.com

Being involved in the Mustang hobby goes far beyond loving, owning, driving and celebrating all years of the Ford Mustang. Every self-proclaimed Mustang fan also has a prized collection of their favorite Mustang memorabilia – from posters, books and keychains to apparel and die-casts. The fact is, no true Mustanger ever really stops collecting cool Mustang stuff.

But the problem with collecting Mustang stuff is that the market is flooded with poor-quality imitation knock-offs. Real Blue Oval fans want the real deal -- officially licensed Ford products. That’s why Ford Licensing has recently approved the launch of “The Mustang Store” on Amazon.com. There, the Ford faithful can find the latest in officially licensed Mustang apparel, gifts & novelties, toys & collectibles and automotive accessories – all with the quality you expect and the ease of ordering from Amazon. So get online to check out www.amazon.com/fordmustang and get the best new official Ford Mustang items delivered right to your door!

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!

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” produced by 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 plus unique Ford club content that you can't find anywhere else on the Web.