Mustang Week 2018 Kicks Off With A Gigantic Meet ’N Greet

Idling into the parking lot of the massive Broadway at the Beach entertainment complex in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, our Mustang’s exhaust isn’t the only one audible. In fact, from the street to the lot and all around, we hear the glorious sound of eight-cylinder pony cars with free-flowing pipes. This isn’t just any week at the beach, this is Mustang Week.

I believe we are back where we were if not stronger than when it was in July. — Mike Clay, Mustang Week

Since the Labor Day weekend, this tourist town became a corral for enthusiasts from across the land who have come to celebrate our favorite pony car across the five-day event. The official start to the event was on Tuesday September 4, 2018 as the Meet ’N Greet filled the town’s signature megacenter for dining, shopping and entertainment.

As you may recall, Mustang Week rescheduled from July to September starting last year. While the change shocked some, the adjustment period was short. While the new dates and hurricane Irma may have tamed last year’s excitement a bit, this year’s event started off quite strong, with throngs of Mustangs taking over a swath of the complex’s parking lot.

“It looks really strong. I believe we really are on par with where we were in years past when the event was in July,” Mike Clay of Mustang Week told us. “I know last year with the hurricane we lost some people. We felt good last year, but this year — between what we are seeing on social media and what we are seeing here today — I believe we are back where we were if not stronger than when it was in July.”

We would have to concur, but this event is only the first official gathering of the week. Along with numerous other unofficial gatherings at various locations, the Mustang Week activities come to life at Myrtle Beach Speedway for the second day of fun.

“Wednesday we are at the circle track doing fun runs and autocross. Vaughn Gittin Jr. will be out there doing demos,” Mike added. “Thursday we will be at North Myrtle Beach Dragway for the test ’n tune, and Friday we are at the convention center for the car show and back there on Saturday for the cruise-in.”

Of course, we’ll be there documenting the festivities this week, so stay tuned for more. For the official schedule, you can click right here.

Peace, Love & Meets

If you love checking out Mustangs, there is something going on every evening after the official action wanes. We can’t possibly make it out to all of the events, but we did pop into Burky’s Grill to sample the gathering put on by the Blue Mustang Registry and the Peace, Love, and Mustangs online club. The former was obviously formed to celebrate blue stallions, but the latter came together as a more positive club designed to weed the negativity that can tend to pop up online.

The club has grown to over 4,600 members from over 58 countries, and its event drew a health group of cars after the official Meet ’N Greet. “PLM is all based around Mustangs, but it really is about family,” the club’s Tony Carravallah told us. And, they say you can’t pick your family. Maybe not, but you can pick your Mustang family.