Introducing the all new projectSSP.com!  Check it out!  This site is still a work in progress and is currently in a slow state of growth (as members add more content to read), so check back regularly to experience the potential of this site!

Instead of bringing the Texas DPS to show and cruise with the lights on to the Tune By Tuna Whelen 911 Car Show and Car Cruise, I decided to throw myself a curve ball.  Little did I know what I was in for...

I brought the MA SSP to the first and only show it will go to before I start taking it apart.  Well, what originally was suppose to be a rack and pinion leak ended up being something a lot simpler (so we thought).  It ended up being a hose that was leaking.  After we replaced it the one we purchased, the second one blew out.  Well, you can't buy that one same day in store, so my father fabricated a new one.  We put that one in, and the third line blew.  He once again had to custom fabricate that line too, but due to the end just being so rotted, it hissed regardless.  The only other thing we had to fix was the rotted brake line.  That was the easiest part!  Then, we decided just to call it a night and loaded it on the trailer in the morning.  Since I had to leave before the car show ended to go to work, I just left it on the trailer and parked it.  It attracted a lot of attention that way, despite the fact that people thought it was for sale until they actually read the display card!  I parked it right next to the MA State Police, figuring that it was quite fitting.

FULL ARTICLE | PHOTO GALLERY

Well, the rain finally held off for a few days and lucky for me, there was a car show on a very sunny day!  On July 19th, I embarked for the first local show of teh summer that was clear enough to take the SSP out and it happened to be in Marlborough, MA.  It was a great time for many, but luckily for me, my fun started a little earlier...

On the way down, I met up with David P., another Texas Department of Public Safety SSP Mustang owner also from New Hampshire.  We met up a few exits away from the show and drove in together.  This was officially the first time I have convoyed to a show with another SSP Mustang.  It was great that it was a TX DPS SSP, as the whole time I was thinking, "Oh I can't wait to have those black and white colors on my TX DPS!"  I always found it fascinating how people slow down around me, but when there are two SSP's, you tend to get twice the looks!  This is why I can't wait to convoy to a large show next summer with multiple SSP's!  You can't beat a Mustang convoy, SSP or not!

I'm not going to get too much into the show, as there was nothing overly special about it besides meeting a few new people and having another TX DPS by mine.  I met up with another Roamin' Ponies Mustang Club member and met a few other folks that I look forward to seeing again!  There are a few other stories that would give a good laugh, but you'd only get them if you were there (the toy shotgun almost-experience and the thank God there wasnt a cop sitting on the side of the mall "road" while we were driving in).  If you want to know, catch up with me sometime and I'll fill you in!

***Please note that I will soon be collaborating and reorganizing the photo gallery since every local show I go to consists of "repeat" cars.  With this in mind, I am limiting the photos in this article to the one's below for the time being.  One is below, two others can be seen by clicking "Read More..."

Well, what can I say... words cannot express this trip, but I'll try!  It all begins when I woke up to head from NH to Southington, CT, to join John (TripleWhiteFox.com) and his '93 Triple White Feature Mustang.  Having only exchanged a few PM's and e-mails, I'd never met John in person and was quite excited to meet him for a mini-Mustang convoy to PA!  After having lunch and talking for a bit, we set out for PA together.  We were excited to see a red Foxbody Mustang GT convertible, hoping that it would join us on our journey, but a few exits later, we found it was only a short ride with another Mustang!  Continuing on in our journey, we passed a few really nice street rods and a '67 Shelby GT500 on a trailer (later to find out that he parked behind us at the event).  Since I spent some additional time in PA visiting family, in Harrisburg, John went west to Carlisle and I went south towards York.  Just before the split, we were accompanied by a black Foxbody hatchback from Ontario.  Even though it was just a few minute ride for me, I was VERY excited to be joined by another Mustang, but sad that I had to split.  Atleast John had some extra company!  Little did I know that when I went to Carlisle on Friday, just minutes after parking, who comes strolling by us in the same judging class?  Yes, the black hatch from Ontario!  It was kind of ironic.  When I purchased my TX DPS, I was originally looking for an all black hatch to trick out (my only non-stock vehicle), so I was extra excited also for that reason!  I met the owner and his girlfriend.  Both wonderful people!  Hope to see them down in the states again for some more shows!

This is the first Memorial Day that I have put in a car to drive/show, which was of course the TX DPS.  I figured it would match nicely with the antique firetrucks, as the surrounding towns don't have antique police or other emergency vehicles.  I never really thought about the lack of antique emergency vehicles until I actually showed up for the parades, so I got a rather overwhelming response by many.  In the first parade (Canaan, NH), I was given the opportunity to lead the antique and current firetrucks, being the first vehicle after all who walked in the parade (with the exception of the Chief of police in front).  My mother accompanied me in the parade.  During the second parade (Enfield, NH), I was quite honored and surprised that they asked me to put my SSP in front of everyone, just behind the county Sheriff and two other Enfield police vehicles.  The reason I felt honored was because I was put in front of the Veterans, which is a big part of what Memorial Day is all about.  It didn't feel like I was in a parade, it felt like I helped in leading something more important.  My sister accompanied me for the second parade.  It was funny to watch all these elementary school students yell out her name driving down the road, as she is a school teacher in Enfield.  A big thank you to all who are celebrated on Memorial Day, for the parade attendees, and a special thank you to both chief's of police for allowing me to run the lights!  This was my first "public appearance" of having the TX DPS all lit up while driving down a road.  Oh... I almost forgot... my apologies to all who were yelling, "light it up," "spin those wheels," or doing a hand motion to do so.  Unfortunatly, I don't intend on doing that in this car!  To all who took pictures and/or video, please let me know if you post them publicly.  To the person in the armed forces who knew about the SSP Mustangs, hope to talk to you again soon!

Canaan Parade:  This is the TX DPS "leading" the Canaan Fire Department.

Enfield: I thought this was a good photo of the car in the parade.  While sitting waiting to begin at both parades, the tree pollen just about covered the car, so it didn't really shine as much as I would have like it to!

Enfield: The police asked me to lead behind them and since there were a few stops for ceremonies and such, many of them drove up to the next intersection, got out, and watched everything from the cruisers.  In this photo, seeing the SSP sit among the cruisers made it look almost like it was doing traffic detail!  I just thought it was a cool shot!  As you can see, we were getting back in the cruisers to continue with the parade.

Enfield: Here is another cool shot just before one of the other ceremonies.  I parked the SSP and watched with the officers.  I thought the bridge sign was a nice touch to the photo.

I got back from the World of Wheels/Autorama car show that took place in Boston, MA tonight and I couldn't wait to put up something for everyone to see!  I only saw about a third of the car show due to time stipulations, but I had no problem with that at all.  Reason?  I was in line for just short of four hours to meet the man behind the Foose Mustang and my favorite car-related television program, Overhaulin'!  Yes, Chip Foose!

First let me start off by saying that it has been a dream of mine to someday design a special Mustang with Chip.  I believe that he is the most iconic legend in the Mustang world not only for his quality and creative works, but most importantly, for who he is as a person.  The person who best sums up Chip was actually someone I met in line.  He was telling me a story about how his wife couldn't quite understand why he wanted to meet Chip so bad.  It was because when he watches Overhaulin', he sees not only how much Chip loves what he does, but why he is doing it.  The people who are "Overhauled" are amazed and thankful, but what is even more amazing is seeing Chip be emotional towards the car and the owner as well.  He does what he does for the love of cars and more importantly, his love of people.

At this car show, I got to see this first hand.  Although the crowded lines got a little rowdy at first, they quickly hushed when they saw that he wasn't just signing an autograph and making you walk across the stage in less than ten seconds.  He wanted to spend time with each and every person.  He was drawing people's automobiles from photos, signing photos, signing shirts, hats, helmets, and even an army jacket (which he even wore in that person's photo).  This is what he did special for me... the Foose SSP!

Although I originally wanted a picture in place of an autograph, when people requested his creative drawings, I thought about asking him to do a creative drawing that was like no other.  I showed him a picture of my '90 TX DPS Mustang SSP on my camera phone and asked him to draw an SSP styled by Foose!  This way it's not an exact creation of my SSP, instead it is a quick rendering of a Foose SSP!  Don't worry... if you want to see this one, I will even bring it to car shows!

Thank you Chip for designing something special for me that will be cherished greatly!  I would also like to give a big thank you to the wonderful people surrounding me that made the near-four hour wait more enjoyable!  I will see a few of you next year when you enter your cars and maybe even a few of you at the Mustangs Unlimited show in CT!  Also, I can't forget to mention a big thank you for the people who accompanied me on this trip.  Thanks for being patient for those near-four hours I was in line!