CAR OWNER

RICHARD NOCERO DARKHORSE - 2005 MUSTANG GT

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

MEMBERS OF THE STANG MAG FAMILY ARE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT FUN AND INCLUSION THAN THEY ARE THEIR CARS AND THAT SAYS A LOT!

In March of 1996, I was 7 years old leaving Sayville Ford, grinning ear to ear, buckled into my father’s brand new, special-ordered 1996 Rio Red Mustang GT. He doesn’t understand what he started that day.

If you asked me if I thought I’d be writing an article for STANG Magazine for my car this time last year I would’ve said no. If you asked me if I would be writing it about a different car than the 2005 Roush Mustang I had I would’ve said hell no. I loved that car but acquiring this one reinvigorated my passion for car shows and events!

I purchased my 2005 Mustang GT in August of 2012, completely stock. Within the first month, the first time down the track, it went 14.3 at 99 mph. Unfortunately, in 2015, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor that required immediate surgery. I woke up with no fine motor skills in my left hand and no feeling in my body except my right arm. Worst of all, I had no guarantee that I could ever drive again. For eight months straight, I’d go to physical therapy five days a week, and immediately after, I’d work on the car. I was determined to drive again, no matter what. In those 8 months, I slowly regained most of the feeling in my legs and partial feeling in my left arm and hand. Thankfully, I never lost the motivation to drive and work on the car. Through it all, after multiple different setups over the years, I’ve piloted it to a best of 9.90 at 133 mph with a stick shift!

I met Daniel Ramey at a Beltway Mustang show and won my spot with STANG Magazine in their Carlisle Ford Nationals display. Needless to say I wasn’t sure what to expect being that I didn’t know the people attending and was going by myself.

The STANG Mag family welcomed me in from the very start and made me feel like one of their own!

Members of the STANG Mag family are more passionate about fun and inclusion than they are their cars and that says a lot! I can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2022!

It currently has a 4.6 3v that I assembled myself, TR6060 6 speed transmission, CG Fabrication turbo kit with an 85mm VS racing turbo, built 8.8 rear, and Holley Terminator Xmax tuned by Sam Biddle at Biddle’s Performance Solutions.

MICHAEL FORESTO