STANG Magazine December 2022 Issue

MAGAZINE

Mustang enthusiasts have asked for a magazine that has no ads, no sales pitches, and no bogus “fillers” to eat up space. They have asked for a magazine that is free, easy to access, and nothing but focused on Mustang pictures and content. They have asked for a magazine produced and written by Mustang owners. They have asked for a magazine that highlights the daily drivers and the average Mustang that is driven and is not a trailer queen. They have asked for the chance to one day have their ride, their group, their club, or their cause to be recognized in print or online. It is our absolute pleasure to meet these standards and to give you STANG Magazine. We hope that both our message and our image will be seen in every Mustang community out there. Thank you Mustang fans and enjoy your ride!

- Daniel Ramey, Editor-In-Chief

TALKING WITH TJ

As we begin our journey into the descent of madness that is my mind and the crazy antics of my life, I would like to first introduce myself. My name is TJ, blah blah blah, that sums it up and all you need to know. Whew… got past the CRAP no one cares about! Now for the good stuff.

Mustang culture is one that is very unique and brings together people from all walks of life. One thing is for sure though, the STANG Mag crew isn’t your typical crew. We are a bunch of weirdos, oddballs, and outcasts. We party hard and live by our ride or die motto and have adventures like no other.

From partying in various spots all over the U.S., to touring some of America’s most haunted sites, to having my ass spanked by a beautiful Latina in Las Vegas in front of a restaurant packed full of guests (and owning it), it’s never a dull moment! All I can say is... strap in, rev the shit out of your motor, and let’s go!

STRONG CONNECTIONS

Happy Holidays Stang Enthusiasts! I know this holiday season is full of cheer and celebrations, but I would like to dedicate this month to all my friends (you the readers) who find this time of year especially difficult. Mental health is so important, especially in our community during this time. As it gets towards the end of the year a lot of our gatherings tend to disappear until spring time. We lose our social support network temporarily, the nights grow longer, and both internal and external factors can make it especially difficult for some.

The shorter days during the winter, means that we are exposed to less daylight exposure which leads to the conversions of serotonin into melatonin earlier in the evening, since it gets darker quicker. This shift in melatonin release causes disruption of the sleep-wake

cycle, which leads to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD affects about 10 million Americans every year. We can combat these effects by going outside or even sitting near a window to get daylight, increasing fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet, and keep active with 30 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week which can change the level of the mood-regulating chemical serotonin in the brain. There are many internal and external factors for this stressful period which can arise from money worries,

practical issues (childcare, lack of time, being a caregiver, and traveling logistics), people who aren’t around, loneliness, difficult situations and relationships, society and the outside world (pressure to enjoy yourself, stigma of mental health, feeling overlooked, and expectations to drink alcohol), Christmas compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, limited access to support and services (limited access to crisis teams, therapists, pharmacies may close making it harder to get medications), and for some, being in a hospital.

JOKE OF THE MONTH

WHY WAS THE SNOWMAN SMILING?

He could see the snowblower coming down the street

TALKING WITH TJ

STRONG CONNECTIONS

In a recent study 88% of Americans felt the holiday season is the most stressful time of the year, and 77% had reported that it was hard to relax, which can leave them stressed and worn out. In addition, 64% of people with a mental illness had said that the holiday makes their condition worse. As you can see, this makes for a perfect storm for a very challenging time. What can we do to help us during this stressful time? First accept your feelings. Whether the holidays bring up negative or positive emotions, its ok to acknowledge and accept them rather than place judgement on them. Take time to be compassionate about how your feeling, its ok to not be ok! Don’t succumb to catastrophic thinking, watch for your triggers, and remember you are not alone. Second, maintain healthy habits like going to therapy, sleeping enough, and staying active. Third, is to set boundaries. You don’t have to buy everyone expensive gifts or you may have to limit time you spend with a person with a complicated dynamic to maintain peace in your life. Boundaries are important to strengthen our mental stability and to build better relationships with ourselves and others. Lastly, make time to connect. Connections and meanings are vital for mental health. Make time for important relationships and with yourself. You can even connect with a loved one who is no longer here through a family tradition or a personal remembrance ritual.

I would like to touch base on connections because this is one that impacts our community the most, since during the winter we lose our connections. Poor social systems have been tied to alcohol abuse,

cardiovascular disease, depression, and suicide. Social support networks can provide emotional support, esteem support, instrumental support for example, helping you physically like giving you a ride when your car is being repaired, and informational support, which includes giving guidance, advice, or mentoring. With any kind of relationships, many of these types of social support overlap. As we are going through tough times, the key thing we can do is surround ourselves with healthy individuals, which helps us avoid triggers and stay focused on mental health. Cut ties with people who have had an unhealthy effect on you (which can be difficult but is necessary).

Talking to trusted healthy people about your struggles. More than likely people will have similar experiences to yours, and they could offer you advice and what they did that helped them or what not to do. Life is very difficult and is a learning experience. You never know what someone it truly going through and maybe by you reaching out to someone it becomes a mutual beneficial thing, where both you end up supporting each other. That is the crazy thing about life is the impact we have on others whether intended or unintended. Having someone you can talk to in a non-judgmental way can aid in strengthening your positive mindset.

Now with all this talk, I am going to give you some real talk. Life is not easy nor are people always with altruistic intentions. When finding social networks you will experience rejection, criticism, and apathetic behaviors. Compound this with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), mental illness, or just the roughness of this time of year can make it very difficult for us

TALKING WITH TJ STRONG CONNECTIONS

to rely on or build new social networks. The damage of this can further throw us deeper into the abyss. Worse yet that damage can blind us from seeing the people who were there for you the whole time. Be careful who you reach out to. How a lot of people see the world is based off of their life experiences, how they perceive the world, and how they perceive you. Some people will offer good support and others will offer, well quite honestly garbage. They may even insult you but again that is just a reflection of their biases and issues being projected on to you. Take advice that is negative with a grain salt and set boundaries with toxic people.

Now with this all this being said, during this tough holiday you can build a new social network or rely on your existing social network (car clubs, group, or car friends) to help make this holiday just a little bit more manageable. Create holiday parties with your friends, where all that is expected is to just come out and hang. No need for presents or anything crazy. In my world, we have weekly meetings but they are really weekly dinners with my friends and random adventures. It breaks up the monotonous work week, and it gives you a break from reality where you can just go and forgot about your problems. Being surrounded by good people who want nothing from you but to just live in the moment and have a good time is priceless. I urge anyone to build your social network, rely on your fellow Stang enthusiasts, these connections build a strong base for a great relationship which in turn strengthens your emotional stability, improving your quality of life and if you don’t have

anyone around you that you can build these bonds with, take a chance and go to a different social circle and be the influence you want for yourself. The influence can be as simple as a nice compliment. Be the person that has a positive impact or influence on another’s life, you may get something back from it or maybe not, but at the end of the day at least you can say that during your dark time, you took the higher ground to brighten up someone else’s world during their dark time. Who knows maybe it will lead to a relationship that changes your life! Take that chance, be bold, and live for the day! As always, we here at STANG Magazine will always be rooting for you, so you are never truly alone, and don’t ever think that.

2015 GT BJEALUS

KRISTINE CAMPBELL

BJEALUS–2015 GT

SHE IS A COMPETITOR AT MOST SHOWS WE GO TO, WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING THE ALL FORD FEST CRUISE FOR A CAUSE SHOW IN WISCONSIN.

Just out of High School I had a chance to get a 67 Notchback Mustang but could not get a clear title and that started the need for a stang. Years later we were looking for a newer Stang to cruise around with and found this Deep Impact beauty! BJEALUS is her name!

Her first show was at Gilmore Muscle show 2021 and she didn’t even have her custom plate yet. She won her class, all makes 2015 to present, out of 14 cars! She is a competitor at most shows we go to, with the most

recent being the All Ford Fest Cruise for a Cause show In Wisconsin. She also won her class 2015 to current with the competition heavy. That was very special for us with the show to benefit cancer having many affected in the family. She started out this show year with an MCA GOLD in Buffalo, NY followed by the Michigan Mustang show class win at the Essen Haus, and a class win at the Mustang Memories show 2022.

We also have an older classic 76 II Stallion but this newer Stang with air, auto, and a coyote is so comfortable and easy to drive. We hit all the cruise-in spots and we will be driving this Stang often.

KRISTINE CAMPBELL

BJEALUS–2015 GT

Mods include an AFE Cold air, Catback Magna Flo, 20 inch Niche wheels with wider rear offset, APR front splitter, GT350 rear spoiler, side and rear louvers, Roush paint matched quarter panel side scoops, Ford Performance radiator cover, MMD radiator cover extensions, Ford Performance hood strut lifts, Ford Performance fluid cap covers, SR strut tower brace, all custom painted Deep Impact Blue engine cover parts by Modify My Stang, and MGP red caliper covers. We treated her at the end of the summer with a complete paint correction and ceramic coating. Thank you Brian for making her easier to clean and for everyone to BJEALUS!

We are planning to be at the Ponies in the Smokies March 2023!

PHOTO CRED: KRISTINE CAMPBELL MICHAEL CAMPBELL

GT BLACK WIDOW 5OH

JOSEPH KEILY

BLACK WIDOW 5OH–2016 GT

I RECONNECTED WITH A LONG TIME FRIEND AS SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR MUSTANGS AS WELL AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

I have always had a love for Fords since an early age when my dad bought a Bronco II in 89. I have had numerous Ford vehicles through the years to include an SN95 302 powered Mustang many years ago.

I found this Mustang on marketplace in April of 2021 and made the five hour journey to pick it up in Rock Hill, SC. I reconnected with a long time friend as she has always had a love for Mustangs as well and the rest is history. We did all things Mustang and car related. We got married this December with our Mustangs as the centerpiece.

My Mustang, known as the Black Widow is a 2016 GT premium car and is FBO. It is tuned by Fastlane Motorsports out of Benson, NC. We have attended Mustang Week and Mustang Fest and love going to the local car meets as well. The car sports Kooks LTH headers, JLT CAI, Eibach sportline 2” springs, 20 x 9 and 20 x 11 Niche M194 wheels with Continental Xtreme Contact DW06 rubber. It has custom headlights done by PS lighting solutions and has 2018 tails with custom led markers as well. The Mustang community as a whole is a large family and I always enjoy seeing the creativity of other Mustang owners.

PHOTO CRED: JOSEPH KEILY

1969 MACH 1 FASTBACK BLUE

BABY

STEVE MONISH

BLUE BABY–1969 MACH 1 FASTBACK

THIS MUSTANG WAS ORIGINALLY FROM CALIFORNIA, USA AND HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO RIGHT HAND DRIVE FOR USE IN AUSTRALIA…

I love Mustangs because of their style, shape, and presence. They are the original two door muscle car then and still are today. This 1969 Mustang Mach 1 Fastback was bought by my father in 1975 and he has had it until his passing six years ago. I have now restored it to what you see. Back then he paid $1,275 USD for it which is around $1500 AUS.

BLUE BABY–1969 MACH 1 FASTBACK

2014 CONVERTIBLE DOUBLE CHIN

BRAD PETERSON

DOUBLE CHIN–2014 CONVERTIBLE

I have always loved the Ford Mustang. From the older ones to the newer ones, they are all awesome. What really drew me in though was the 1969 Fastback. The long, mean, sexy body curves that year is not like any other ever offered. I believe that no other car could ever compare to the Mustang. It is the true muscle car and that is the way it will always be.

When I found my 2014 S197, the body style reminded me of the older Mustangs and it made me feel like Ford brought them back to life. The true straight-lined body style is one that I have grown to love. This car is perfect in every way and I drive it like I stole it!

As we say here at STANG Magazine, enjoy the ride and who you ride with.

PHOTO CRED: DANIEL RAMEY

THIS CAR IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY AND I DRIVE IT LIKE I STOLE IT!

2013 GT GIDDYUP

GIDDYUP–2013 GT FROM THEN ON IT BECAME A MOTHER AND SON THING...

My story starts years before the purchase of my 2013. I previously owned a 1989, 1990, and 1993 Cobra. After that time it was family time so no room for a Mustang like many other families. Once my son was old enough to develop his passion for Mustangs, I helped him purchase his 2008 Mustang GT. From that moment on I knew that my passion for Mustangs never left and I had the “Mustang Fever” again. That is when I purchased my Mustang, with the idea that we can help him grow his passion for cars and keep him in a positive hobby. From then on it became a mother and son thing, from competing to see who could get the next mod added to our cars, to who could out run who on 400 and at the drag strip in

Commerce, GA. We still share the passion for

and

to this day.

PHOTO CRED: TERRI BLACK DUSTIN HARDEN

2007 GT HOT PONY

STEVE YOUNG

HOT PONY –2007 GT

SHE AND HER TWIN BROTHER (GT) SHARE THE SAME ONE-OF-A-KIND PAINT SCHEME, AS THEY BOTH HAVE THE FIVE COLORS LOOK TO THEM.

Meet Hot Pony! She went unidentified for the first couple of years because she was abused and misused early in life. She was born in 2007 and put up for adoption (sale) at a Ford dealership in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Prior to the adoption process she was sent to Mark III Customs in Dallas, Texas for their adding of the RAZZI ground effects and special paint scheme. She and her twin brother (GT) share the same oneof-a-kind paint scheme, as they both have the five colors look to them. Only their flames have a little difference in their patterns, and all of their cousins

have two colors to their appearances. Within her first year of age, her first adoptive parents (owners) became ill and faced repossession by DFS (Department of Financial Services…aka bank), and placed up once again on the adoption market.

In the summer of 2009, Steve Young fell in love with her at first sight of this beautiful girl, so he and his wife Rita adopted (bought) her. She hadn’t been around a lot or seen very much of the country as she only had 11,000 miles to her record. Within six

STEVE YOUNG

HOT PONY –2007 GT

months she became identified with her new name tag (license plate) HOTPNY… short for Hot Pony as recognized by the State of Oklahoma’s Department of Transportation, as well as registered in the White Mustang Registry #0813.

Over the past 15 years she’s been adorned with multiple accessories i.e. a Roush hood scoop, SilverHorse Racing ¼ flush-mount window louvers, Grand Design Mat trunk deck mat, and more along with some performance enhancements with PYPES polished headers, cat removal and California Special GT exhaust, Accel Super Coil pack, high performance spark plugs, BBK throttle body and cold air Induction system, and BAMA Super tuned. She sports her own ID logo as seen on her grille pony, front seat headrests, trunk badge, and steering wheel. Over these past 15 years she’s been presented with multiple first and second place trophies/awards in local, regional, and national Mustang as well as open class beauty pageants (car shows), appeared in magazines, websites, commercials, YouTube, on the USS Lexington aircraft carrier, and has traveled throughout the United States and now registering 118,000+ highway miles.

PHOTO CRED: STEVE YOUNG

NATHAN STUCKEY

SAPHYR–2017 SHELBY GT 350

TO OWN A SHELBY ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE A FAR OFF DREAM FOR ME, BUT IN DECEMBER OF 2021 I MADE THAT DREAM COME TRUE.

Mustangs have been a part of my family since before I was born. My mother had a 1966 as a young adult and my father had a 1971 Grande with a 351 Cleveland in it when I was born. In high school, before I owned my Mustang, my friend Danielle would pick me up in her Red 1979 5.0 Foxbody and off to school we would go. Yep, the girl picked up the boy. I’ve owned seven Mustangs throughout the years, ranging from a 1985 GT to my newest and favorite, my 2017 Lightning Blue Shelby GT 350 named “Saphyr”. Saphyr truly is like no other Mustang made before

it and probably will never be duplicated. To own a Shelby always seemed like a far off dream for me, but in December of 2021 I made that dream come true. This car is a track car with a VIN. With its never ending redline and precise shift engagement, you quickly realize this machine is made to run. It impresses with phenomenal handling and big brakes that could stop a tank.

As a professional mechanic for 22+ years and working as part of the great team at APC, Automotive

Performance & Chassis in Cary, NC, I get to drive many different brands of cars, all the way up through the highest performing exotics. But there are very few cars that I feel can compare to Saphyr. The Shelby GT 350 is a very capable machine in all areas. One of my favorite things about this car is the excitement I see and get to experience from the young kids when

NATHAN STUCKEY

SAPHYR–2017 SHELBY GT 350

they see or hear it in the neighborhood or at a car show. They see the snake and get all into wanting to learn about it. I will never part with this car. It is part of our family now. It is truly an American Icon that I get to drive every day. And let’s be real...I bought this car to “get the girl”, and 28 years after that girl, Danielle, would pick me up for high school in her Mustang, I picked her up in my Saphyr (who she named) and we have been living our happily ever after ever since. She even went and purchased her own 2020 Red GT named Fireball, cause you are never too old to keep living your dreams. Here is to the dreamers. PHOTO

CRED:

TINKER

2017 ECOBOOST

LORI JONES

TINKER–2017 ECOBOOST

MY GRANDPA WAS A FORD MECHANIC. I USED TO TINKER IN HIS GARAGE AND WORK ON CARS WITH HIM.

I got into cars when I was a little girl. My grandpa was a Ford mechanic. I used to tinker in his garage and work on cars with him. My grandmother gave me the 1969 Mustang she had when my grandpa was alive. Sadly, I wrecked it when I turned 20.

I bought my 2006 V6 Mustang in 2011. I slowly built it into a show car. It was my daily driver as well. I entered many local shows taking home first and second

place trophies. I also won Best Lady Driven at Mustangs After Dark Show at Sunrise in 2017. Then the opportunity came up to get my 2017 Ecoboost Mustang so I sold my V6 to a co-worker. Now I am working on building my new car into my show car. In the time of building this Mustang, I have added Liquivinyl Aerodynamics front and side splitters. I also had the dash and engine parts hydro-dipped by Image Hydrographics. I finished it up with Project6gr Triple Chrome 7 spoke wheels. I am looking forward to more custom projects coming soon.

Special thanks for the detail goes out to Neatly Clean Detailing.

PHOTO CRED: JASON SALINAS

THE THRILL

2021

SHELBY GT500

JEREMY SMITH

THE THRILL–2021 SHELBY GT500

THE SOUNDS OF THE CAR ARE UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE I’VE HEARD. THAT IN ITSELF IS THE BIGGEST DRAW AND WHERE THE ADDICTION BEGAN.

This is my 2021 Shelby GT 500 Mustang. This car is perfect just how it is. The mods list is short and simple with just a JLT CAI, 5% tint all the way around, 35% tint on the windshield.

The sounds of the car are unlike anything else I’ve heard. That in itself is the biggest draw and where the addiction began. The new modified DCT shifts better than any manual transmission will ever accomplish. The power of the car makes this Shelby the most thrilling ride I’ve ever owned.

PHOTO CRED: AMANDA RATHBONE - MINGO’S PHOTOGRAPHY

CHRIS GUITON HAS ASPIRED TO BE THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY SINCE GRADUATING FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF FORT LAUDERDALE AND HIS WORK ETHIC, DRIVE TO SUCCEED, AND CREATIVE SKILLS EARNED HIM

THAT TITLE.

Chris Guiton has worked with some of the most recognized companies and networks in the broadcast, sports, and gaming industries worldwide. Throughout his career, Chris has worked with top companies which include EA Sports, NBC Sports Group, Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, FOX, Ubisoft, Microsoft, Zimmerman, Nissan, Friendly’s, University of Miami and has built some of the most complex and award winning graphics packages for professional sports teams and live event arenas and stadiums.

Throughout his career, Chris Guiton has worked as a Broadcast/ Motion Graphics Designer for EA Sports, the Lead Broadcast/ Motion Graphics Designer for NBA LIVE 2018, 2019, and Madden 2020, the Broadcast Designer/Animator for NBC Sports and NBC Sports Group, the Lead 3D Designer/Animator that created NBC’s Thursday Night Football package from the ground up for the initial season, NBC Sports Network’s Lead Designer for the entire network, the Lead 3D Animator for FOX and FOX Business Network for many Emmy Award winning prime time

and day time television shows, and the Design Director for WHDH-TV in Boston, Massachusetts.

Chris Guiton’s unique vision has earned numerous accolades, including 2009 and 2012 Emmy Awards for Graphics Composite. What is an Emmy Award? The Emmy Award is one of the most recognized and coveted awards in television history. Why is it called an Emmy? The name Emmy derives from Immy, a nickname for the image orthicon, a camera tube used in television. The Emmy Award statuette consists of a winged woman, representing art, holding aloft an electron, representing science. The Emmy Awards are made by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and hold a lifetime status of achievement and recognition.

Aside from the Emmy Awards, Chris Guiton has also earned Telly Awards for Animation in 2010 and 2011. What is a Telly Award? The Telly Award is a widely known and highly respected national and international award that showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screen. Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies, and publishers from around the world. The Telly Awards recognizes work that has been created on behalf of a client, for a specific brand and/or company (including your own), or self-directed as a creative endeavor.

Chris Guiton has aspired to be the best in the industry since graduating from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and his work ethic, drive to succeed, and creative skills earned him that title.

PHOTO CRED: DANIEL RAMEY

“JUST THE TIP

In the past few episodes of Just The Tip, we’ve been looking at the effect of lowering your Pony and the potential effects of handling, and required adjustments to the suspension, focusing on Caster/ Camber/Tow in last month’s episode. One final topic with the suspension that we wanted to cover as part of this segment is the cars front Sway Bar. This is a SUPER critical part to your cars performance and handling. But unlike a spring, or a strut, you can actually drive your car with no front Sway Bar at all!

Doesn’t sound critical then, right?

I mean I don’t need a Sway Bar, so what gives? Let’s break down what it does – The Sway Bar is a steel bar that is attached to the cars front wheels on the A-Arm. So one end is mounted to the passenger side A-arm and the other to the drivers side A-arm. The center of the Sway bar is also held to the body of the car

(through the engine mounting system) with two bushing that allow this steel bar to slide back and forth from one side to the other.

OK, a lot to take in, but that’s the basic setup. Basic laws of physics state that ‘an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it’. You’re driving at high rate of speed, and turn the steering wheel. What do you feel? Body roll. The car wants to keep going in the same direction it was just going, but the force of tires is making this ‘object’ change its motion. It causes the car to lean to one side, putting more down force on one tire, and pulling the other tire off the ground.

Of course going through a corner at high rate of speed on one tire is not the ideal situation to be in. And BAM! That’s where the Sway Bar does its thing.

As the car leans towards one side, it compresses the suspension on that side, which causes the A-arm to move up. When the A-arm moves up, it pushes the

AWWW PUSH IT! PUSH IT REAL GOOD!

“JUST THE TIP

Sway Bar through the mounted bushings, and forces the A-arm on the opposite side of the car (the side that is trying to come off the ground) back to the pavement. The harder the lean on one side, the more down force on the opposing tire.

This is what gives the car great handling through the corners – equal down force on both tires, despite the roll of the body. This one reason why Sway Bar upgrades can be a great enhancement to your car if you like taking corners at high speed. Even if your ride is just a daily driver, the Sway Bar is needed for traction and balance, and rain, snow and basically

everyday driving conditions. But Pro-Tip for whatever type driver you are – make sure to keep the bushing where the Sway Bar mounts to the frame lubricated with grease or silicone.

It’s only a few inches off the ground and is constantly getting wet, inundated with dirt and debris, and can rust/seize. If the Sway Bar cannot move, then it’s the same as not having one at all, so as part of your typical maintenance, have your bushings cleaned up as well!