Kyle Caraway couldn't have realized what he was getting into when he purchased a '07 Shelby GT500 in the fall of 2006. Like so many who find themselves entangled in the Shelby mystique, Kyle began connecting with other Shelby owners, eventually striking up online friendships with six other GT500 owners in the St. Louis area. They decided to meet at a local park to take photos for what is now the Team Shelby website. In 2007, a second meeting, this time in Hermann, Missouri, attracted 26 Shelby owners, which was topped by 138 in 2008. Last year, 260 cars from 15 states converged on downtown Hermann for what had become known as Shelbyfest.
Now that we've been to Shelbyfest, we can understand the attraction. Of course, part of it is the gathering of Shelbys, Mustangs, and other Fords, which fill two downtown streets on Saturday. Another part of the attraction is the city of Hermann itself. A historic and picturesque German community located on the Missouri River about 90 minutes west of St. Louis, Hermann provides a unique setting for a car show with local pubs (try the Chicken Lips at Wings-A-Blazing!), wineries, ice cream shops, and antique stores. Don't look to stay in a Hilton or Holiday Inn; Hermann is a town of bed and breakfast inns, including the cozy Wine Valley Inn, which sits right in the middle of the Shelbyfest action. Speaking from experience, they make great biscuits and gravy.
Event organizer Kyle Caraway...
Event organizer Kyle Caraway was chief cook, bottle washer, guitar player, and announcer for Shelbyfest, which started in 2006 when Kyle and five other Shelby owners got together on the Stangs Unleashed (now Team Shelby) website.
Unfortunately, there was bad news on the weather front for the 2010 Shelbyfest. Storms were predicted all weekend, so the event failed to continue its record-breaking streak, with just over 200 cars on display. Thankfully, the rain stayed away until mid-day, so it was time to head to the restaurants and pubs anyway. We were impressed that so many attendees stayed for the entire day.
When I called my wife from the Wine Valley Inn to tell her about Hermann with its wineries and antique stores, she was quick to make an addition to my 2011 travel schedule: "You're going back next year-and bringing me." Guess we'll see you there on April 29-30, 2011.
This was my ride during my...
This was my ride during my trip to Missouri. Better than a rental, I say.
Every so often, the deadlines, printer schedule, and planets align, allowing me to escape the office for a few extra days. That's what happened in April when I headed to Missouri for Shelbyfest. Seeing how I was in the area, I added a couple of days to the trip to visit Gateway Classic Mustang near St. Louis. And it didn't take much arm twisting to tack on a Kansas City side-trip when R&A Motorsport's Jeff and Julie Yergovich offered to loan me one of their '10 Dominator GT Mustangs. Supercharged Mustang or tin-can rental car? Not a difficult decision.
Proving that R&A is a full-service...
Proving that R&A is a full-service restoration shop, local Mustang owner and hair stylist Dawna Sbisa arrived with her scissors, so I got a much-needed haircut in front of a disassembled Shelby GT500.
R&A was worth the visit. One of the top Mustang restoration facilities in the country, the shop had just completed a black with white interior '641/2 convertible -"Tuxedo," they called it-and sheetmetal magician Richard Jackson was performing extensive bodywork on a '67 Shelby convertible. As the only '67 Shelby convertible built, it was originally used by Shelby American as the prototype for the '68 Shelby convertible. Later, we headed for the Yergovich homestead, where Jeff and I, along with R&A's resident parts authority Mike Poston, retired to the "Garage Mahal," a backyard shop that's nearly as large as the Yergovich home. This is where Jeff often brings R&A restorations for peaceful final assembly and detailing. During my visit, the cars included a '68 Rainbow of Colors fastback, a just-completed '68 GT500KR, and pair of rare '67 Hi-Po fastbacks, both Nightmist Blue.
Not to be out-done by R&A's...
Not to be out-done by R&A's haircutting services, Mom Childress showed some Missouri hospitality by showing up at Gateway with homemade peach and pear pies. We forgot all about suspension parts...
After driving the Dominator GT across Missouri, I stopped in for a visit with the gang at Gateway Classic. Specializing in restomods, including builds for Sammy Hagar and Steve McQueen's son, Chad, Jason and Lonnie Childress gave me the rundown on their new strut suspension system (see "Gateway to Modern Handling" on page 52), including the chance to drive Ed Schmidt's '67 GTA fastback, which is equipped with Gateway's front suspension and power rack-and-pinion steering. Watch for a feature on Ed's GTA in an upcoming issue.
Shelbyfest 2010 roared off...
Shelbyfest 2010 roared off the starting line with a Friday Night Kick Off Party, sponsored by Classic Design Concepts, at the Hermann Amphitheatre, just a short walk from downtown. We're not kidding when we say that event organizer Kyle Caraway does everything; he even supplied the music with his band, the Blues Deville Band.
The city of Hermann shuts...
The city of Hermann shuts down a couple of streets for Shelbyfest. It's a great, relaxing venue for a car show with plenty to see and do thanks to the abundance of local pubs, wineries, ice cream shops, and antique stores.
Shelbyfest doesn't end after...
Shelbyfest doesn't end after the banquet on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, you have to "catch your breakfast" during Chris Cakes' pancake breakfast. It's held in the garage area of Hermann Ford, which had a '67 GT500 in one of the bays and a pair of real 427 Cobras in the showroom.
There were a few vintage Shelbys...
There were a few vintage Shelbys mixed in among the modern versions. This participant is getting up close and personal with the engine detailing on Steve Fowler's '68 GT500KR, recently restored and displayed at Shelbyfest by R&A Motorsports.
Although Shelbyfest is open...
Although Shelbyfest is open to all Mustangs and Fords, it's basically a celebration of everything Shelby, with a heavy emphasis toward the '06-'10 models, like this new GT500 that's being checked in by volunteer Angela Holohan.
You may remember Retrobuilt's...
You may remember Retrobuilt's modern rendition of the '69 Shelby GT500 from our April 2010 issue. They brought their new Mach 1 version to Shelbyfest. Built on a '10 Mustang GT, the Mach features a '69 Mustang-style fiberglass front end along with fiberglass body panels over the original door and rear quarter sheetmetal to replicate the '69 Mustang styling. You have to look twice to realize it's not a real '69 Mach 1.
Ford SVT and Ford Performance...
Ford SVT and Ford Performance Group Communications Manager John Clor was the keynote speaker during the Saturday night banquet, but he was in for a surprise when R&A Motorsports delivered his freshly restored '78 Cobra II. For John, it was great to see the car back in one piece. "It spent 10 years in boxes," he said.
Patrick Lee from Classic Design...
Patrick Lee from Classic Design Concepts stayed busy on Saturday with CDC installs. Here, he adds a Light Bar to Gary Spaniak's '10 GT convertible.