Pony Trails 2002 - Northest, North Central, North West

Tired. Plain old tired. You see, these trails are fun but weary work because the stuff at the office does not abate when we hit the road for a trail. So we go out a couple of days and come back a couple of days and voila, you have the portents of late stories, which makes the managing editor grumpy. Sure, we could work waaaay out ahead and get the issue in question caught up, but what is the fun in that? As men, we are bound by the secret code (oops, I wasn't suppose to reveal this) to procrastinate up to and until the last minute. It's our nature. (Note from managing editor: We'll let him think this is a secret.)

Of these three trails, one is brand spanking new-the one in the middle. We're excited to be a part of the West Michigan Mustang Show since we seldom seem to get up that way. Additionally, we're thrilled to be a part of the Carlisle event, one that I have watched grow over the last six years. And finally, we're looking forward to the Kings of Cruise at Mustangs Northwest at least equaling their numbers from the past several years. All these events are fun, all are wild, and all are on our list of "things to do this summer." You ready? 'Cause we sure are.

The Trail
May 31 through June 2
Carlisle All Ford Nationals
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Pony Trails: May 31
Departure time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: CJ Pony Parts, 7481 Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg, PA 17112; (800) 888-6473
Show contact: Carlisle Productions (717) 243-7855
Trail Boss: Jeff Ford (863) 644-0449; fordj@primediacmmg.com

Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle All Ford Nationals
We love the All Ford Nationals. The show field is always a good place for us to pick up some cars and the swap meet area is one place we don't get to visit long enough-mainly because it's getting too big to see on our limited schedule. A great show for anyone who's in the Northeast. We recommend it.

Route:
We exit CJ Pony Parts, turn right onto Allentown Blvd., and head east to Hershey Rd. where we turn left and make a dash to Interstate 81. At I-81 we bear right into the superslab and blaze north to exit 31. At exit 31 we pick up State Rd. 443, turn right and head northeast to Pine Grove. In Pine Grove we turn right on East Wood St., which becomes Rock Rd. We'll possibly stop outside Pine Grove on Rock Rd. to regroup. We then move on to Rock and Summit Station and through Auburn to Deer Lake and state highway 61 where we turn right and move quickly toward Hamburg and lunch. At 61 and Interstate 78 we bid adieu to the backroads and push on to I-81 and Carlisle. At Exit 17A we peel off and make our final stop of the day. From there it's down US Highway 11 to Clay St. where we turn right, then right again onto Spring St., and a final right into the show site on K Ave.

The Trail
June 8-9
21st Annual All Mustang Car Show-June 8th
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Pony Trails: June 9th
Departure time: 8:30 a.m.
Start location: Duthler Ford Inc., 3560 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Show contact: Ron Stratton, (616) 246-6919
Trail Boss: Jeff Ford, (863) 644-0449, or e-mail:
fordj@primediacmmg.com; or Ron Stratton, (616) 246-6919, or e-mail: kathys@iserv.net

Grand Rapids, Michigan
21st Annual All Mustang Car Show
We like to try and hit one show a year that exemplifies "the local show." This year we chose the 21st Annual All Mustang Car Show. Ron Stratton and crew put up such a convincing argument at the Spring Fling two years ago that we felt compelled to attend their show in Grand Rapids. We haven't regretted the decision once. Ron and the whole West Michigan club have really come through and made this easy on us. We can't wait to do the show and trail there.