For nearly three decades, the Ford faithful have converged in Columbus, Ohio, during Labor day weekend for the Ford Expo at National Trail Raceway. For many, traveling to Columbus has become a Labor Day ritual, a grand ending for summer before the northeast weather turns too cool for cruising.
Originally organized and run for many years by National Trail, the Ford Expo is now part of the NMRA's season-long series of drag races and shows. The 28th annual event was somewhat hampered by rain, enough to cancel Friday's drag racing and delay Saturday's qualifying until mid-afternoon. But a bit of wet weather has never dampened the enthusiasm for Ohio owners when it comes to showing off their Mustangs. In spite of the weather, the Laurel Mountain Mustang All-Ford Auto Show 'n' Shine at Columbus was loaded with some of the area's nicest Fords.
Longtime readers will remember Herb Gordon's '65 Hi-Po fastback from our Oct. '03 issue. His father purchased the Mustang new but stopped driving it after receiving a couple of speeding tickets. The odometer had 2,847 miles on it. Herb restored the fastback several years ago, right down to the Cobra dual-quad induction kit his father added in 1965.
MUSTANG SHOW
WINNERS |
| SATURDAY |
| Best Classic Mustang |
| First: | Ken Schmidt, ’68 GT/CS |
| Tie: | John Baucher, ’65 Coupe
Charlie Smith, ’681¼2 GT Cobra Jet
Tim & Sue Pfautsch, ’65 GT |
| Best Modern Mustang |
| First: | Terry Allen, ’93 LX
Jesse Houseman, ’88 LX |
| Second: | Ben Halker, ’05 GT
Jay McConahay, ’05 GT |
| Best Daily Driver |
| First: | Charles Francis, ’04 Mach 1 |
| Second: | Loren Mayle, ’93 LX |
| Best Young Builder |
| First: | Eric Wiget, ’96 Mustang GT |
| Second: | Ben Palecek, ’69 Fairlane |
Editor's Choice
Ken Schmidt had a good weekend in Columbus. First, his '68 California Special took First Place in Saturday's Best Classic Mustang competition. On Sunday, the restored Acapulco Blue GT/CS drove away with Second Place for Best of Show, topped only by Carl Lynn's '56 Crown Victoria. As a bonus, photographer Paul Rosner picked Ken's hardtop for Mustang Monthly's Editors Choice award.
One of 4,117 hardtops built as a special Shelby-influenced promotion for the California Western Region Ford Dealers, Ken's GT/CS has all of the California Special equipment. Starting out as a 289 4V-powered GT, the car gets its unique status from the Shelby-style rearend and sidescoops, grille-mounted Lucas foglights, hood locks, and side stripes. This GT/CS is also equipped with a white vinyl roof, automatic transmission, console, and Cobra dress-up kit for the engine. Ken, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, employed Powell's Auto Body for the blue paint.