Sunshine Show—Beautiful Blue Oval Machines Glistened in the Florida Sun at the Season Opener
Written by Steve Turner
Photography by the author
Just over the fence, drag cars blasted down a historic quarter mile. Behind one row of cars, motorcycles flew through the air, while the riders performed stunts. In the distance, the squealing of tires and plumes of smoke signaled that drifting was underway. All of it was within view of the UPR Products All-Ford Car Show during the NMRA Spring Break Shootout at Gainesville Raceway.
While the action all over the property gave the car show participants more to enjoy, the stars of the show field were a wide range of beautiful Blue Oval machines, which included everything from classic Fords to the latest Mustangs as part of the BMR Suspension S650 Stampede, but more on that and other specialty events in our coverage elsewhere in this issue.
In advance of the car show festivities, National Parts Depot hosted the first Cars, Coffee, & Cruise-In event at its impressive facility in Ocala, Florida. There Ford fans got a head start on the fun. They earned prizes from host Clarence Barnes and took the opportunity to tour NPD’s amazing museum filled with a variety of vehicles, including a robust contingent of Fords.
From NPD, participants caravanned to the Spring Break Shootout and participated in the UPR Products All-Ford Car Show, where the host club, the North End Florida Venom Outlaws orchestrated the action, judged the cars, and bestowed the most deserving machines with awards.
Here we are hitting some highlights from the show, but we are already looking forward to next year’s show. Until then, enjoy some of the winners from the 2024 event.
Best Of Show
Venturing over from Kissimmee, Florida, Michelle Scott drove back home with Best of Show honors for her 2017 Mustang GT. Wrapped in striking Midnight Purple, it is decked out in tribute to the Joker, an iconic villain from the DC Comics universe. Powered by a Coyote 5.0-liter engine boosted by a ROUSH supercharger, the S550 also benefits from a Stainless Works exhaust and suspension pieces from Eibach and Steeda.
Clean and mean on the outside, Julian Castro’s 2021 Mustang not only earned the Best Mustang ’15-’23 honors, but its nicely detailed cockpit scored the Best Interior award as well at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.
Decked out in the unusual Need 4 Green hue, Chris Ridgedell’s 2019 Mustang stood out thanks to the striking custom wheels it rode on. However, it was the complementary accents underhood that allowed its Gen 3 Coyote 5.0-liter engine to rumble away with Best Engine.
While there were more modern machines on hand at Gainesville Raceway, there were some gorgeous classics on display as well. Chick DeCesare’s freshly restored 1968 Mustang nabbed the Best Paint & Body award.
Decked out in JMS drag wheels, Paul Holman’s white 2014 Mustang hauled away the Best Pro Street accolades at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.
Despite a limited production run, the Ford SVT Lightning remains an enduring icon in the world of performance trucks. Gary Armitage’s beautiful, blue 2004 struck gold with the Best Lightning award in Gainesville.
From a more modern point of view, Vaughn Gittin Jr. and his merry band of Funhavers at RTR Vehicles are revving up Mustangs and trucks with that inimitable Ready to Rock flavor. Jason Steamer’s 2020 RTR F-150 hauled away the Best F-150 award.
Steve Saleen’s styling came into its own during the SN-95 and New Edge Mustang eras. Elizabeth Hines’s 1997 Saleen still looks great in black and gold, and the Vortech-supercharged model powered to the best Roush/Saleen/Steeda award given to specialty ’Stangs.
Charged with choosing a pair of Fastest Street Car Editor’s Choice awards at the show, it was Forrest Roberts’ nicely modified, purple 2022 Shelby GT500 that stood out from the crowd.
On the Classic side of things, it was a bit painful for this scribe to select a Fox Mustang, but they are getting up in years at this point. Besides, Kyle Lee’s Predator-swapped example was too cool not to bestow it with the Fastest Street Car Editor’s Choice, Classic award.
Speaking of classics, Karl Summers’ 1968 Mustang restomod scored the Best ’64-’70 Mustang award at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.
Not only did National Parts Depot support our Cars, Coffee, & Cruise-In, but the company’s Mustang expert Matt Lazaic was on hand throughout the weekend. He selected and presented NPD Awards to several car owners, including Chick DeCesare (1968 Mustang), Dean Ward (1968 Mercury Cougar), Travis Winstanley (1982 F-150), Josiah Santiago (1993 Mustang LX), Elizabeth Hines (1993 Saleen), and Arabella Seiler (2002 Mustang GT).
Huge thanks to the North End Venom Outlaws for acting as the host club for the UPR Products All-Ford Car Show during the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.
2023 NMRA Car Show Awards
Saturday Award Winners
Special Recognition Awards
NPD Award Winners
Chick Decesare 1968 Mustang
Dean Ward 1968 Mercury Cougar
Travis Winstanley 1982 F150
Josiah Santiago 1993 Mustang LX
Elizabeth Hines 1993 Saleen
Arabella Seiler 2002 Mustang GT
Director’s Choice Awards:
· Best Early Mustang
· Winner : Dave Ure 1967 Mustang
· Best Modern Mustang
· Winner: Michelle Scott 2017 Mustang
· Best Late Ford ’49-Up
· Winner: Ron Ackerman 1973 Pinto
· Best Ford Truck
· Winner: Jason Newman 2003 Lightning
· Best Race Car/Pro Street
· Winner: Garu Schick 1970 Mustang
· NMRA Editors Choice Best Classic
· Winner: Kyle Lee 1990 Mustang
· NMRA Editors Choice Best Modern
· Winner: Forrest Roberts 2022 Mustang
· Directors Choice Best Paint
· Winner: Chick Decesare 1968 Mustang
· Directors Choice Conservative
· Winner: Jay Beason 1965 Falcon
· Directors Choice Modified
· Winner: Ken Donaldson 1969 Bronco
SUNDAY CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
NMRA Best of Show Award:
Written by Steve Turner
Photography by the author
Just over the fence, drag cars blasted down a historic quarter mile. Behind one row of cars, motorcycles flew through the air, while the riders performed stunts. In the distance, the squealing of tires and plumes of smoke signaled that drifting was underway. All of it was within view of the UPR Products All-Ford Car Show during the NMRA Spring Break Shootout at Gainesville Raceway.
While the action all over the property gave the car show participants more to enjoy, the stars of the show field were a wide range of beautiful Blue Oval machines, which included everything from classic Fords to the latest Mustangs as part of the BMR Suspension S650 Stampede, but more on that and other specialty events in our coverage elsewhere in this issue.
In advance of the car show festivities, National Parts Depot hosted the first Cars, Coffee, & Cruise-In event at its impressive facility in Ocala, Florida. There Ford fans got a head start on the fun. They earned prizes from host Clarence Barnes and took the opportunity to tour NPD’s amazing museum filled with a variety of vehicles, including a robust contingent of Fords.
From NPD, participants caravanned to the Spring Break Shootout and participated in the UPR Products All-Ford Car Show, where the host club, the North End Florida Venom Outlaws orchestrated the action, judged the cars, and bestowed the most deserving machines with awards.
Here we are hitting some highlights from the show, but we are already looking forward to next year’s show. Until then, enjoy some of the winners from the 2024 event.
Best Of Show
Venturing over from Kissimmee, Florida, Michelle Scott drove back home with Best of Show honors for her 2017 Mustang GT. Wrapped in striking Midnight Purple, it is decked out in tribute to the Joker, an iconic villain from the DC Comics universe. Powered by a Coyote 5.0-liter engine boosted by a ROUSH supercharger, the S550 also benefits from a Stainless Works exhaust and suspension pieces from Eibach and Steeda.
Clean and mean on the outside, Julian Castro’s 2021 Mustang not only earned the Best Mustang ’15-’23 honors, but its nicely detailed cockpit scored the Best Interior award as well at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.
Decked out in the unusual Need 4 Green hue, Chris Ridgedell’s 2019 Mustang stood out thanks to the striking custom wheels it rode on. However, it was the complementary accents underhood that allowed its Gen 3 Coyote 5.0-liter engine to rumble away with Best Engine.
While there were more modern machines on hand at Gainesville Raceway, there were some gorgeous classics on display as well. Chick DeCesare’s freshly restored 1968 Mustang nabbed the Best Paint & Body award.
Decked out in JMS drag wheels, Paul Holman’s white 2014 Mustang hauled away the Best Pro Street accolades at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.
Despite a limited production run, the Ford SVT Lightning remains an enduring icon in the world of performance trucks. Gary Armitage’s beautiful, blue 2004 struck gold with the Best Lightning award in Gainesville.
From a more modern point of view, Vaughn Gittin Jr. and his merry band of Funhavers at RTR Vehicles are revving up Mustangs and trucks with that inimitable Ready to Rock flavor. Jason Steamer’s 2020 RTR F-150 hauled away the Best F-150 award.
Steve Saleen’s styling came into its own during the SN-95 and New Edge Mustang eras. Elizabeth Hines’s 1997 Saleen still looks great in black and gold, and the Vortech-supercharged model powered to the best Roush/Saleen/Steeda award given to specialty ’Stangs.
Charged with choosing a pair of Fastest Street Car Editor’s Choice awards at the show, it was Forrest Roberts’ nicely modified, purple 2022 Shelby GT500 that stood out from the crowd.
On the Classic side of things, it was a bit painful for this scribe to select a Fox Mustang, but they are getting up in years at this point. Besides, Kyle Lee’s Predator-swapped example was too cool not to bestow it with the Fastest Street Car Editor’s Choice, Classic award.
Speaking of classics, Karl Summers’ 1968 Mustang restomod scored the Best ’64-’70 Mustang award at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.
Not only did National Parts Depot support our Cars, Coffee, & Cruise-In, but the company’s Mustang expert Matt Lazaic was on hand throughout the weekend. He selected and presented NPD Awards to several car owners, including Chick DeCesare (1968 Mustang), Dean Ward (1968 Mercury Cougar), Travis Winstanley (1982 F-150), Josiah Santiago (1993 Mustang LX), Elizabeth Hines (1993 Saleen), and Arabella Seiler (2002 Mustang GT).
Huge thanks to the North End Venom Outlaws for acting as the host club for the UPR Products All-Ford Car Show during the NMRA Spring Break Shootout.
2023 NMRA Car Show Awards
Saturday Award Winners
Special Recognition Awards
- Beth Hines: 1997 Saleen Speedster
- Matt Williams: 1966 Mustang
- Robert Jaramillo: 2003 Cobra
- Dean Ward: 1968 Cougar
- Travis Winstanley: 1982 F150
- Chris Dahl: 2017 Mustang GT
- Chris Ridgell: 2019 Mustang GT
- Derek Cummings: 1997 Mustang GT
- Clemente Palacios: 2022 Mach 1
- Mike Rogers: 1971 F100
- Jason Steamer: 2020 RTR F150
- Tom Kennedy: 1975 Mercedes (big block Ford powered)
- Brad Craig: 1979 F150
- Myrna Winters: 1993 Mustang LX
- Cale Stephens: 2020 GT500
- Cody West: 2023 F250
- Scotty Grudner: 2009 Mustang GT
- Terri Thomas: 2022 Mustang GT
- William Rosser: 2006 Mustang GT
- Karl Summers; 1968 GT500
- Karen Ranes: 2014 Mustang GT
- Charles Hancock: 1965 Mustang
- Wes Lewis: 2014 Mustang GT
- Rob Lowther: 1973 Maverick
- Ronald Winters: 2015 Roush S3
NPD Award Winners
Chick Decesare 1968 Mustang
Dean Ward 1968 Mercury Cougar
Travis Winstanley 1982 F150
Josiah Santiago 1993 Mustang LX
Elizabeth Hines 1993 Saleen
Arabella Seiler 2002 Mustang GT
Director’s Choice Awards:
· Best Early Mustang
· Winner : Dave Ure 1967 Mustang
· Best Modern Mustang
· Winner: Michelle Scott 2017 Mustang
· Best Late Ford ’49-Up
· Winner: Ron Ackerman 1973 Pinto
· Best Ford Truck
· Winner: Jason Newman 2003 Lightning
· Best Race Car/Pro Street
· Winner: Garu Schick 1970 Mustang
· NMRA Editors Choice Best Classic
· Winner: Kyle Lee 1990 Mustang
· NMRA Editors Choice Best Modern
· Winner: Forrest Roberts 2022 Mustang
· Directors Choice Best Paint
· Winner: Chick Decesare 1968 Mustang
· Directors Choice Conservative
· Winner: Jay Beason 1965 Falcon
· Directors Choice Modified
· Winner: Ken Donaldson 1969 Bronco
SUNDAY CAR SHOW CLASSES & AWARDS:
- Mustang 64-70
- Winner: Karl Summers 1968 Mustang
- Mustang 71-78
- Winner: Sean Steen 1978 Mustang
- Mustang 79-93
- Winner: Lonnie McDaniel 1993 Mustang
- Mustang 94-98
- Winner: Derek Cummings 1997 Mustang
- Mustang 99-04
- Winner: Arabella Seiler 2002 Mustang
- Mustang 05-14
- Winner: Scotty Grudner 2009 Mustang
- Mustang 15- 23
- Winner: Julian Castro 2021 Mustang
- Mustang 2024
- Winner: Daniel Smith 2024 Mustang
- SVT & Cobra Mustang
- Winner: Robert Jaramillo 20023 Cobra Mustang
- Roush,Saleen,Steeda Mustang
- Winner: Elizabeth Hines 1997 Saleen
- Shelby & Boss
- Winner: Tyler Kuilan 2013 Boss Mustang
- Comet, Cougar, Capri
- Winner: Ron Mahnke 1967 Mercury Cougar
- Falcon, Fairlane, Maverick
- Winner: Jay Beason 1965 Falcon
- Ford Full Size Truck All Years
- Winner: Jason Steamer 2020 RTR F150
- Ford Compact Truck All Years
- Winner: Chris Lord 2019 Ranger
- Ford Lightning
- Winner: Gary Armitage 2004 Lightning
- Race Car & Pro Street Modified Only
- Winner: Paul Holman 2014 Mustang GT
- Best Paint & Body
- Winner: Chick Decesare 1968 Mustang
- Best Engine:
- Winner: Chris Ridgell 2019 Mustang
- Best Interior:
- Winner: Julian Castro 2021 Mustang
NMRA Best of Show Award:
- Best of Show
