Front Page Articles

Event: Mustang Week 2014, Day 3

Photo of author

By EditorTurner

Event: Mustang Week 2014, Day 3

Smoke Show

Mustang Week shifts into high gear with autocrossing, speedway fun runs, drifting demos, and the amazing SVTP Burnout Contest

By Steve Turner
Photos by Steve Turner and StacyStangz

As the Mustang Week action moves to Myrtle Beach Speedway, you could easily describe the Wednesday activities as midweek mayhem. Sure, it’s controlled mayhem, but unlike the casual, easy feeling of the Meet ’N Greet, the second day of Mustang Week is all about the action.

We love seeing the variety of models and Mustang Week, and there was quite a variety of cars lined up to enter the Myrtle Beach Speedway for the Autocross and Fun Runs. Just like at the Meet ’N Greet on Tuesday, the events at the Speedway seem to grow in popularity with every year.
We love seeing the variety of models and Mustang Week, and there was quite a variety of cars lined up to enter the Myrtle Beach Speedway for the Autocross and Fun Runs. Just like at the Meet ’N Greet on Tuesday, the events at the Speedway seem to grow in popularity with every year.

In years past, the autocross and speedway fun runs were held at staggered times, but as the event has grown in popularity it became necessary to run these activities concurrently. To do so necessitate tweaking the layout of the event to maximize its efficiency, and this year we think the Mustang Week crew really nailed the setup.

It started by laying out a great midway with a host of vendors displaying their wares. It really picked up the energy of the day. The participants parked in the grass section of the infield and then lined up on the pit lane to either run the autocross or the fun runs. Take a left and you were cutting corners and dodging cones, or take a right and you were lapping a real, live oval track speedway.

There was a whole new layout for the events and the Speedway, and the paved part of the infield was divided in half with the autocross on one side, and self-contained manufacturer’s midway on the other side. Naturally SVTP was on hand with a display selling swag and meeting members. We were right next to Monster Energy and Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR team, so the energy was great despite the spotty weather. It certainly didn’t hurt that we had Brad Gusler’s “street truck” in our display.
There was a whole new layout for the events and the Speedway, and the paved part of the infield was divided in half with the autocross on one side, and self-contained manufacturer’s midway on the other side. Naturally SVTP was on hand with a display selling swag and meeting members. We were right next to Monster Energy and Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR team, so the energy was great despite the spotty weather. It certainly didn’t hurt that we had Brad Gusler’s “street truck” in our display.

For a fan of Ford performance, it is a great day, but after everyone had a fun day on track, the Mustang Week team ramped it up by having driftmaster Vaughn Gittin Jr. demonstrate his tire slaying for the crowd. Even though we have ridden with Vaughn, we found ourselves marveling at his level of car control an consistency as he slid the car right back to the same spot every time to give another demonstration ride.

With the crowd worked into a frenzy of tire smoke, it set the perfect stage for the annual SVTPerformance/Discount Tire Direct Burnout Contest. We accept a limited number of participants to show off their tire-shredding skills for the crowd. Each contestant’s run starts when they begin spinning the tires and ends when the tires stop spinning. The rest of the action is totally freestyle so it turns into a display of power, drifting, and billowing clouds of smoke. After all the runs are complete, it is the car garnering the biggest crowd reaction that wins $500 worth of Nitto Tires from Discount Tire Direct.

Though it’s official unveiling was rained out at the Meet ’N Greet, this years Mustang Week Edition Mustang made its informal debut at the Speedway. The 2014 edition looked clean and sharp in black and white, and you can’t go wrong with the Mustang Week logos. If you fancy owning this ride, you can call Tony Barron at Palmetto Ford [(843) 343-7997].
Though it’s official unveiling was rained out at the Meet ’N Greet, this years Mustang Week Edition Mustang made its informal debut at the Speedway. The 2014 edition looked clean and sharp in black and white, and you can’t go wrong with the Mustang Week logos. If you fancy owning this ride, you can call Tony Barron at Palmetto Ford [(843) 343-7997].
It’s hard to believe you can fit this much automotive fun into one day, but it happened. It’s definitely an action-packed day that really sets Mustang Week apart from being just another car show, and we hope to see you out at the Speedway next year.

To get an idea how far Vaughn Gittin Jr. has elevated the popularity of drifting and his RTR brand within the Mustang community, you need only stop by one of his signings at an event like Mustang Week. He made the day of many Mustang fans at the Myrtle Beach Speedway before he even strapped into his demo car.
To get an idea how far Vaughn Gittin Jr. has elevated the popularity of drifting and his RTR brand within the Mustang community, you need only stop by one of his signings at an event like Mustang Week. He made the day of many Mustang fans at the Myrtle Beach Speedway before he even strapped into his demo car.

Our friends at Blow-By Racing were not content to just set up a display and sell parts at the Speedway. They decided to perform a complete ProCharger installation on a customer’s Coyote right on the midway. They pulled it off, and the car performed great. Stay tuned to SVTP to follow the installation and testing of this blower kit.
Our friends at Blow-By Racing were not content to just set up a display and sell parts at the Speedway. They decided to perform a complete ProCharger installation on a customer’s Coyote right on the midway. They pulled it off, and the car performed great. Stay tuned to SVTP to follow the installation and testing of this blower kit.

Autocross

Our friend Ray Blankenship had a huge smile on his face every time he exited the autocross course in his FatFoxx. Who could blame him for having a blast in his widened Fox GT. Once you experience the fun of autocrossing, you want to get back out and do it again, and that’s just what Ray did—several times.
Our friend Ray Blankenship had a huge smile on his face every time he exited the autocross course in his FatFoxx. Who could blame him for having a blast in his widened Fox GT. Once you experience the fun of autocrossing, you want to get back out and do it again, and that’s just what Ray did—several times.
Most autocrossers at Mustang Week are getting the feel of cone killing, so they don’t go all out around the course. We understand that. However, others were ready to put on a show and Mike Corley came all the way from Schomberg, Ontario, Canada, to show the crowd how to drift around the autocross course.
Most autocrossers at Mustang Week are getting the feel of cone killing, so they don’t go all out around the course. We understand that. However, others were ready to put on a show and Mike Corley came all the way from Schomberg, Ontario, Canada, to show the crowd how to drift around the autocross course.
Of course, not every run on the autocross looked as pretty as the drifting run did. This Coyote ’Stang managed to loop it heading into the fast turn, but he kept most of the car off the grass and away from the guardrail. Autocrossing is pretty safe, and it’s a lot better that getting crazy on the street and giving Mustang Week a bad name.
Of course, not every run on the autocross looked as pretty as the drifting run did. This Coyote ’Stang managed to loop it heading into the fast turn, but he kept most of the car off the grass and away from the guardrail. Autocrossing is pretty safe, and it’s a lot better that getting crazy on the street and giving Mustang Week a bad name.

Fun Runs

Silver has always been a fetching Mustang color, but it looked particularly sharp on this S197 lapping the Myrtle Beach Speedway. As the 2015 Mustang gets closer to hitting the streets, these early S197s are really starting to take on a classic feel.
Silver has always been a fetching Mustang color, but it looked particularly sharp on this S197 lapping the Myrtle Beach Speedway. As the 2015 Mustang gets closer to hitting the streets, these early S197s are really starting to take on a classic feel.
There was a strong Canadian contingent at this year’s Mustang Week, and Chris Gleason of Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada brought down his 2012 Shelby GT500 droptop to enjoy Mustang Week.
There was a strong Canadian contingent at this year’s Mustang Week, and Chris Gleason of Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada brought down his 2012 Shelby GT500 droptop to enjoy Mustang Week.
Now, if you are going to rip your Terminator around Myrtle Beach Speedway, you simply have to represent for your favorite Ford performance site.
Now, if you are going to rip your Terminator around Myrtle Beach Speedway, you simply have to represent for your favorite Ford performance site.

Drifting Demonstration

What’s the number-one Ford performance site on the Internet? That’s right, it’s SVTP. Don’t believe us, you can clearly see Vaughn is giving the sign in front of our banner. Sure, we can’t confirm he even saw the banner as he drifted by, but you have to admit it is a cool shot.
What’s the number-one Ford performance site on the Internet? That’s right, it’s SVTP. Don’t believe us, you can clearly see Vaughn is giving the sign in front of our banner. Sure, we can’t confirm he even saw the banner as he drifted by, but you have to admit it is a cool shot.
When you are a drifting star, it definitely pays to have sponsors, particularly if one of them is a tire sponsor. Vaughn delighted the crowd with a spectacular display of car control and tire smoke. After each demo ride, his crew swapped on a fresh set of tires. That’s how much rubber he was burning!
When you are a drifting star, it definitely pays to have sponsors, particularly if one of them is a tire sponsor. Vaughn delighted the crowd with a spectacular display of car control and tire smoke. After each demo ride, his crew swapped on a fresh set of tires. That’s how much rubber he was burning!
Vaughn gave a limited number of demo rides to lucky Mustang Week attendees, and SVTP awarded one of these thrill rides to member turbo01cobra after his wife’s post on our contest post spoke to us. They later tracked your author down and delivered heartfelt thanks for the ride of a lifetime. We’ve been in that seat, so we know how much you loved it.
Vaughn gave a limited number of demo rides to lucky Mustang Week attendees, and SVTP awarded one of these thrill rides to member turbo01cobra after his wife’s post on our contest post spoke to us. They later tracked your author down and delivered heartfelt thanks for the ride of a lifetime. We’ve been in that seat, so we know how much you loved it.

SVTPerformance/Discount Tire Direct Burnout Contest

Certainly this site was born out of a love for Ford’s highest performing vehicles, those created by the Special Vehicle Team. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t love all facets of Ford performance. Fortunately we don’t always have to bang that drum, and case in point is the lineup of competitors in our annual SVTP/Discount Tire Burnout Contest, which closes out the official festivities at the Speedway. We had everything from Foxes to S197s to Coyotes ready to shred a set of tires for the crowd.
Certainly this site was born out of a love for Ford’s highest performing vehicles, those created by the Special Vehicle Team. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t love all facets of Ford performance. Fortunately we don’t always have to bang that drum, and case in point is the lineup of competitors in our annual SVTP/Discount Tire Burnout Contest, which closes out the official festivities at the Speedway. We had everything from Foxes to S197s to Coyotes ready to shred a set of tires for the crowd.
We had the strongest crop of burnout competitors ever at this year’s event. We certainly encourage those that love to smoke tires to do so at our competition, rather than on the street. That’s just what James Justin Conner of Elkin, North Carolina, did.
We had the strongest crop of burnout competitors ever at this year’s event. We certainly encourage those that love to smoke tires to do so at our competition, rather than on the street. That’s just what James Justin Conner of Elkin, North Carolina, did.
Now, the SVTP/Discount Tire Burnout Contest isn’t just your run-of-the-mill tire-smoking affair. It isn’t just about smoking the tires and putting on a show. No this burnout bash is done SVTP-style. It is all about which car puts on the most crowd-pleasing show. The only rule is you can’t stop spinning the tires. Well, that wasn’t a problem for James. He put on quite a display of car control and tire smoke. Think of the action as free form drifting that might just continue until a tire pops.
Now, the SVTP/Discount Tire Burnout Contest isn’t just your run-of-the-mill tire-smoking affair. It isn’t just about smoking the tires and putting on a show. No this burnout bash is done SVTP-style. It is all about which car puts on the most crowd-pleasing show. The only rule is you can’t stop spinning the tires. Well, that wasn’t a problem for James. He put on quite a display of car control and tire smoke. Think of the action as free form drifting that might just continue until a tire pops.
After wowing the crowd with his Trick Flow Stage 1-cammed 5.0, Justin garnered just enough crowd response to edge his nearest competitor to take home a $500 worth of Nitto tires from Discount Tire. Here he shows off a piece the tire he shredded in the process while accepting his prize from our fearless leader, SID297.
After wowing the crowd with his Trick Flow Stage 1-cammed 5.0, Justin garnered just enough crowd response to edge his nearest competitor to take home a $500 worth of Nitto tires from Discount Tire. Here he shows off a piece the tire he shredded in the process while accepting his prize from our fearless leader, SID297.



Comments

comments

Event: Mustang Week 2014, Day 2

Event: Mustang Week 2014, Day 4

6 thoughts on “Event: Mustang Week 2014, Day 3”

  3. Pingback: News: SVTP 2015 Mustang Week Schedule | SVTPerformance

Leave a Comment