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Each year, the North East Tennessee Mustang Club hosts its annual open car show in Kingsport, Tennessee, to raise money for the American Patriots and Pastime Inc., a charitable organization that helps out Troops & Veterans in need with supplies & meals. NETMC President and APPI board member Tim Duncan and his group of faithful club members and volunteers do a great job each year in drawing a huge crowd to raise money for the troops.
With over 100 Mustangs on hand and close to 150 cars total, Tim and company were able to raise over $3,500 dollars for AP&PI. With the money raised, they will send care packages to troops over seas as well as feed local homeless veterans and assist with Toys For Tots each Christmas.
Tim tells us that it costs approximately $16Â to ship a box overseas. In the past five years, he estimates they have shipped over 750 boxes to different areas of the world!
This year they show greatly reduced the number of awards, or “dust collectors” as Tim calls them. He wanted to be able to contribute as much money to the cause as possible. This makes getting an award here even more special. With just a Top 20, seven specialty awards, and a Best Of Show up for grabs, winning an award here against this stiff field of Mustangs was surely something special!
Of the few awards given at the show, perhaps none was more special than the “Iron Mike” award. Given in honor of the late Mike Winder to a Mustang that is daily driven. The award’s namesake always believed that Mustangs were meant to be driven and not garage queens and we agree! This year’s winner was Susan Ball and her beautiful black GT!
The Award for “Best Paint” went to David and Lynne Middleton and their beautiful red 1979 Ford F150. Featuring factory black bumpers and grille along with a white stripe package over the red paint, this F150 is a work of art! The truck is one of only 465 to come with this rare paint and trim code combination. A 351 engine, automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering and power brakes are among the other options that were ordered with the truck. Detailed to perfection, it is easy to see why the judges picked this one out of the crowd for best paint!
Even though it has probably been a while since this beauty saw a gravel or dirt road, it still comes picnic read with a bed full of supplies!
Gary Burke brought out his all-original, 17,000-mile Mustang SVO for everyone to check out. The car was owned by the Ford dealer for all of its life before Gary got a hold of it. It is a great time capsule.
In a sea of Mustangs, Wilmer Duncan’s V8-swapped Bronco II immediately caught our eye! The truck maintains its factory looks and is super cool in our book!
