BEHIND THE SCENES: The Drive Home to the Mustang Stampede

In 2015, America’s Automotive Trust chairman David Madeira and North American International Auto Show executive director Rod Alberts came up with the idea for The Drive Home, a cross-country classic car road trip to the Detroit Auto Show. For AAT, it was the chance to celebrate the automobile, but to also show the Big Three automakers the marketing value of America’s automotive heritage. In 2022, that idea came to full fruition when Ford Motor Company partnered with AAT to help tell the story of the Mustang, with a cross-country trip featuring seven generations of America’s ponycar; a journey which would lead to one of the largest and most anticipated product reveals in Ford history.

Seven teams set out from the LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma on September 6 for a nine-day caravan to Detroit. Included in that group was Martin Mosakowski, Ford’s Project Launch Leader, in a heavily camouflaged Gen 7 Mustang that would remain cloaked until the Detroit Auto Show and its global unveiling.

What happened next is the stuff of legend…

AAT board member George Ingle generously hands over the keys to his 1971 Mach 1 Mustang at the kickoff to the Drive Home to the Mustang Stampede held at LeMay – America’s Car Museum. George’s Mach 1 served as the ACM entry into the six-car group, and ultimately would lead a “stampede” of hundreds of Mustangs from Ford headquarters to the North American International Auto Show in downtown Detroit.

At ACM in Tacoma, Allen McLaughlin applies sponsor decals on the vehicles. Ford provided two brand-new, $100k GT500 chase cars, which swarmed like drones around a queen bee, flanking the Gen 7 Mustang to protect it on the road to Detroit. With 760 hp on tap, we could easily accelerate ahead of the pack to set up for camera shots or scout locations (or lunch!) Many of the privateer cars still wear their decals today as remembrance of this special event.

Anderson “Andy” Jolly drove a 1993 Mustang GT convertible in The Drive, and was a star of the event from the beginning. He had all the confidence of a self-made immigrant entrepreneur, and it really came across on camera. He loves Mustangs, and early-on committed to having the convertible top down on his Fox-body Mustang for the whole way, which he accomplished. As a long-distance driver he was the real deal, and a lot of fun to be with on the trip. Ford picked up on his personality and he was featured heavily in the video for the 2024 Mustang reveal.

In media, the best content is made from organic stories about real people. This trip had lots of that. When we met Cody Dvorak outside our hotel in Kearney, Nebraska, he and his dog Crew were all set to go fishing that day. They had the boat hooked up, a jar full of worms, and a tube of sunscreen. That is until Cody saw our cars, then ran home to get his red 2017 Mustang GT/CS and follow us for 300 miles to Missouri. Brenton Tobaben and Michael Bower drove through the night from Omaha to follow us to Missouri, and Brenton was texting me until Chicago about dropping everything and driving to join us in Detroit. Few consumer products inspire such passionate stories as Ford’s Mustang, and it was left to America’s Automotive Trust to find and tell them. All three guys were featured in Ford’s Gen 7 rollout reel in Detroit.

Bill “Billy” Smallwood is an independent insurance agent in Washington, and one of Hagerty’s top selling agents in the region. He is also a Mustang fanatic. Through his business and personal relationships, he was instrumental in helping to assemble examples of each of the six generations of Mustangs, and some great people to boot. Fun fact: Billy’s kryptonite is chocolate milk. He cannot pass a gas station without trying the local variety, and could seriously write a book about the best chocolate milks across America.

Our group pulled over in a scenic overlook, and that’s where I saw the tire marks, and decided to stage what would become “that photo” of the Gen 7 Mustang appearing to drift. I discussed this with Marty beforehand. I didn’t want to get him in trouble – or worse, break the car – but he was game. He called back to Ford and spoke with his immediate boss who basically said, “Well, we want you to test all the features, and a drift brake is a feature, so go for it.” So, we set the shot up, and it sure looked like he had left all those tire marks, but he didn’t exactly. I was conscious of us not being disorderly or leaving vandalism behind. We ran the photo as the lead in Hemmings Daily that next morning, and all the engineering guys at Ford saw it and absolutely loved it. It isn’t a fake photo. The car was certainly capable of that, and more.

The Allen family from Kansas City, Missouri, saw our TDH coverage in Hemmings Daily and decided on a lark to follow us along to Detroit. They just missed catching up to us in Auburn, Indiana, where dad Sean had to sleep in the family’s “Bus-tang GT” Ford Transit van, while his wife and seven kids slept in the last hotel room available. By the time we arrived at Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, they were the media darlings of the event.

For Pat and Connie Trine, driving their 2004 Mach 1 Mustang in TDH had special significance. The car had been owned by Pat’s best friend, Mike Zimmer, before he passed away. Now, a picture of Mike accompanies the car wherever they go. “Mike would absolutely love this,” Pat said of The Drive Home. “He’s here with us.”

Liz and Molly Saleen were on hand at Ford headquarters at the start of the Stampede. Molly’s personal Saleen Mustang, Molly Pop, was driven by Tammy Granberg on The Drive Home as a representative of the fifth-generation Mustangs. AAT board member Steve Saleen arranged for the use of the car in the event.

When you think about all the things that have to go right for six vintage vehicles and teams to traverse 3,400 miles over nine days to a global product reveal in Detroit, The Drive Home to the Mustang Stampede was nothing short of miraculous. In truth, it was a combination of experience, hard work and careful coordination between AAT Marketing Director Ashley Bice, AAT Advancement Officer Diane Flis-Schneider and Ford’s Jiyan Cadiz and his team.The police-escorted final leg to the Detroit Auto Show was a thrilling capstone to an epic adventure which elevated the Trust, its entities and our partner Ford Motor Company, fulfilling the vision of its founders David Madeira and Rod Alberts.

Harold LeMay’s passion for cars started with early Fords, not unlike this one which showed up for the 10th Anniversary Wheels and Heels Gala for LeMay – America’s Car Museum. The event capped a series of celebrations commemorating the last decade of ACM’s contributions to preserving America’s automotive heritage.

The word “intimate” is usually not applied to the 165,000 sq. foot LeMay – America’s Car Museum exhibition space, but the gathering of friends, donors and Trust leaders known as the Concours Club created just such an environment with the return of their annual dinner and awards ceremony held amongst the cars of Lucky’s Garage on September 9th.

Honored during the elegant evening were Renée Crist, retiring ACM Collections Manager, and Suzanne Hight, ACM Event Coordinator, who were both recognized with President’s Awards for their outstanding service. Also celebrated were AAT Master Craftsman Rick Dore, AAT Master Collector Bruce Wanta, and Bulgari Award winner Miles Collier.

Receiving their Concours Club jackets were Stan Dickison, Robin Durbin, Douglas Howe, Jay and Terry Ackley, Sam Baker, Janice Coogan, Pat and Julie Riley, and Bruce and Peggy Wanta.

Receiving special recognition was the Erivan and Helga Haub family, who attained the membership’s highest level of distinction, Chairman of the Concours Club, for surpassing $1 million dollars in support. Helga and her family members traveled from Germany to be at the event.

“Harold’s dream was to preserve the history and showcase the importance of the automobile in America. Ten years of LeMay — America’s Car Museum existence proves that Harold’s dream has truly become reality.”