Preparing my car for it's first cross-state trip. The 4.11 gear is not travel friendly for long trips, so trailoring was the preferred mode of transportation to Grand Rapids.

This is the West Michigan Mustang Club Car Show at Betton & Sons Ford on Saturday, June 8th. There was a fantastic turnout of Mustangs including a large number of 71 - 73's.

Group member Dan Schott brought his green 73 429 CJ powered Convertible (second from right). In picture at right, four red 71 - 73's! One was a 73 Convertible powered by a 429 belonging to Tony Van Houten.

Three Boss 351s came as well.

I couldn't resist taking this shot of the twin Boss 302s.

This sharp 73 Convertible was photographed for possible future use in Mustang Monthly.

Group member Randy Leestma (right) came by the car show.

After the car show, Duthler Ford and the West Mich Mustang Club provided an outstanding dinner in the dealership showroom for the car show/Pony Trail participants with Jeff Ford as the guest speaker. Group members Dan Davis (left), Robert Myhrer (center) and me (John Blair) shared a table. Member Dan Schott celebrated with wings at Hooters across the street!

At 8:30 AM Sunday morning, the Mustangs (and Cougar!) gathered to line up for the Pony Trail at Duthler Ford.

Incredibly, the parking lot swelled to 232 Mustangs, surpassing the previous record of 231 held by Bellevue, WA at their Pony Trail last year!

Robert Myhrer, visiting from Florida, rode with Dan Davis in his 429 CJ Cougar and later with me in my 71 Mustang during the Pony Trail.

232 Mustangs lined up on a country road was quite a sight. People along the route poured out of their homes to line the road and wave as we passed by.

The route was fantastic with tree lined roads, hills, curves and long open stretches. The cars moved through the countryside at a brisk pace.

View of my car on the trail. 

Dan and Robert in the Cougar.

About noon, we arrived at the Gillmore Classic Car Museum. There were displays of Muscle Cars, Old Fire Engines, a Vintage Gas Station, and many other buildings loaded with antique cars.

While we were there, Dan Davis and I set up our cars to get a fresh picture for the front page of the 429 Megasite. I'll be adding one from this series soon. 

This picture gives an overview of the 230+ Mustangs parked on the grassy grounds of the museum.

About 2:00 PM, the cars left Gillmore and the Pony Trail continued back North towards Dorr, MI for ice cream.

We arrived at the ice cream parlor in Dorr where everyone got a coupon for free ice cream.

There was great shaded parking for the cars and a good place to cool off and relax before the long trip home.

This Grabber Lime Boss 351 near us. It was a very low optioned car with an unusual color.

We got back to the hotel about 5:00 PM. Editor Ford (left) helped me position my tiedown straps in the optimal location for the trip home.