MotorTrend

2017 Mustang Week Event Guide

September 4-10
WriterPhotographer

• Autocross

• Burnout Contest

• Car Show

• Cruise-Ins

• Drag Racing

& More

Sponsored byMuscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, Mustang-360.com

Welcome to Mustang Week

Sixteen years! The fact that Mustang Week celebrates its 16th birthday this year is very exciting. What’s more, it’s actually extremely rare. Very few car-based events last that long. Mustang Week broke from the mold of the typical Mustang event and was the first to offer a weeklong series of events that covered all aspects of enjoying our cars. There’s something for everyone, including cruise-ins, car shows, track events, and of course a beach vacation.

The Mustang Week staff is made up of longtime car show enthusiasts. When we started Mustang Week we wanted to do something different, in a place that offered fun things to do away from the show or track. We are humbled by how Mustang Week has grown and evolved. Continued success and growth does bring challenges, though. The staff has worked hard for many years to meet the needs of all involved, including participants, sponsors, spectators, and even local municipalities and law enforcement. It is our goal to provide the safest, most fun experience possible. We are very excited about the 2017 schedule. New dates and new venues will give our events a fresh new look while keeping with the spirit of Mustang Week.

If you have never been, Mustang Week is unlike anything you have ever attended. It’s an annual pilgrimage that brings us together in one place to celebrate the iconic Ford Mustang. Those who make the yearly trek to Myrtle Beach understand there is no feeling like when you first pull out of your driveway, marking the beginning of the weeklong adventure. It is the excitement you feel when you cross the South Carolina state line or first see the Atlantic Ocean. However, for you newcomers, nothing can prepare you for the wave of emotion the first time you see and hear a group of Mustang Week participants pass you on Myrtle Beach’s streets. No other event brings you this exciting experience for an entire week. For you regulars, the excitement is already building as you prepare for that yearly crusade to the Grand Strand! Once there, you realize that each day’s event is unique, having its own feeling and attitude. As the week draws to a close, the wave of emotions comes over you again and leaves you wishing it would not end.

Every year in Myrtle Beach, Mustang owners have the chance to take the road trip of a lifetime to the country’s premier celebration of the cars we love. Folks from all over the country are making their plans and getting their Mustang or SVT ready for the 16th Annual Mustang Week. The only question left to ask is are you ready?

Mustang Week Info

Mustang Week just keeps getting bigger and better. Mustang Week began in 2002 as a small cruise-in with roughly 150 cars at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It has grown steadily, and we expect 2017 to draw record-setting numbers of participants, spectators, and sponsors.

Mustang Week takes vacation to a whole new level. The staff has carefully thought out the schedule so that participants are able to enjoy everything the Grand Strand has to offer while still making it to all the scheduled events. Many events don’t begin until midday so you have the whole morning to hit the beach, shop, or clean up your ride.

Several of the events start early enough so participants can enjoy the Grand Strand nightlife. A trip to Mustang Week is the ultimate combination of cruise-ins, car shows, drag racing, an autocross course, and a great beach vacation all rolled into one.

Why Myrtle Beach?

Why does Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, make the perfect setting for Mustang Week? This coastal area is part of South Carolina’s Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, and offers something for everyone. Vacationing on the Grand Strand you will be able to enjoy the fantastic white sand beaches throughout the week, but that isn’t all. There are thousands of restaurants to explore. Whether it’s local Calabash-style seafood, a fine steak, or breakfast at one of the large pancake houses, you will find whatever you are looking for. After you have soaked in enough rays on the beach, you can shop until you drop at many large shopping destinations. You may hit one of the two factory outlet shopping centers, check out Broadway at the Beach or Barefoot Landing, or Myrtle Beach Mall and Coastal Grand Wall. You won’t be able to see them all in one vacation.

If it’s entertainment you are looking for, Myrtle Beach has you covered as well. There is the Palace Theatre, Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage, Medieval Times, the Carolina Opry, Alabama Theater, IMAX, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Ripley’s Aquarium, and the House of Blues, just to name a few. Families will enjoy the 187-foot SkyWheel, zip lines, the old-fashioned Family Kingdom amusement park, Myrtle Waves Water Park, and NASCAR Speed Park’s go-carting.

If golf is your sport, then there is no better destination. With courses designed by Fazio, Palmer, Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Love, Norman, and many others, you are sure to find just the right place.

The Grand Strand offers a variety of accommodations when you are deciding where to stay. There are thousands of motel and hotel choices, countless condo rentals, and several world-class RV campgrounds. You can always find a great place to fit any budget or need in and around Myrtle Beach.

But Wait, There’s More

Mustang Week provides an excellent opportunity for clubs to gather and have a good time. National, regional, and local clubs make Mustang Week an annual club destination. A weeklong trip to the beach is always more fun when surrounded by your Mustang friends and family. Several larger clubs plan events of their own, before or after the official Mustang Week events. Mustang Week offers a club the chance to stand out among the crowd and gain exposure in many ways. The Mustang Week staff also welcomes volunteers from clubs that have experience with large shows. Contact a Mustang Week staff member if your club would like the opportunity to volunteer.

Saleen Returns in 2017

The Mustang Week staff is excited to announce that Saleen is returning as a sponsor of Mustang Week. Steve Saleen is excited to return to Mustang Week and will be unveiling the latest, exciting vehicle from Saleen Automotive. Steve looks forward to

visiting with old friends and meeting new ones throughout the week; he will be signing autographs on Friday and Saturday at the convention center. Steve will also speak at the annual Mustang Week awards ceremony and is looking forward to presenting the Saleen Mustang Awards on Saturday.

Vaughn Gittin, Jr. Returns

He’s back! World champion drifter, professional fun-haver, and Mustang madman Vaughn Gittin, Jr. returns to Mustang Week for his fourth year of high-energy, high-performance drifting action with his 2017 Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR. Gittin, the founder and president of Mustang RTR, will have a few different RTR vehicles on-site and, as always, is excited to hang out with fellow Mustang enthusiasts. Mustang Week attendees will also have a chance to be selected for a ride-along with Gittin.

Online Info

So if you think Mustang Week is the vacation you have been looking for, head over to the Mustang Week website (mustangweek.com) for official information. Join the message forums and post any questions you may have about the week. You will get answers from participants as well as the Mustang Week staff. The website also has a ton of pictures and videos from years past that will surely help you decide to become part of the Mustang Week family. See you all in Myrtle Beach in September 2017!

Mustang Week 2017 Schedule

Day 1

Tuesday, Sept. 5

• Meet-n-Greet. New location: Broadway at the Beach; 1 p.m.–6 p.m.

• BFGoodrich Driving School, Myrtle Beach Speedway, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and also 2 p.m.–5 p.m.

Day 2

Wednesday, Sept. 6

• BFGoodrich Track Day at Myrtle Beach Speedway

• Stifflers Fun Runs and Gateway Classic Autocross, Myrtle Beach Speedway, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

• SVTPerformance.com Burnout Contest, 6 p.m.

Day 3

Thursday, Sept. 7

• Mustang Week Test-n-Tune at North Myrtle Beach Drag Strip

• Dyno Challenge. New location: North Myrtle Beach Drag Strip; 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

• Test-n-Tune. New location: North Myrtle Beach Drag Strip; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Day 4

Friday, Sept. 8

14th Annual Mustang Week Car Show. New location: Myrtle Beach Convention Center

• Check-In 8:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

• Judging 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

• Awards on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Day 5

Saturday, Sept. 9

• East Coast’s Largest Mustang and SVT Cruise-In, Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

• Car Show Awards & Raffle Drawing, Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 3 p.m.

2017 Mustang Week Hotels

Host Hotel

Sheraton Myrtle Beach Hotel

2101 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; phone 843.918.5000; starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1609120559&key=5135C32

Carolina Reef Rentals

1501 S. Ocean Blvd., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582; phone 843.272.0976; carolinareefrentals.com

Comfort Suites

710 Frontage Rd. East, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; phone 843.448.4884 (ask for the Mustang Week rate); Book online; trailer parking; free hot breakfast daily.

Fairfield Inn Broadway at the Beach

1350 Paradise Cir., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; phone 843.444.8097 or toll-free 800.217.1511; marriott.com/hotels/travel/myrfb-fairfield-inn-myrtle-beach-broadway-at-the-beach

Hampton Inn Harbourgate

2112 Little River Neck Rd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; phone 843.249.1997; hamptonharbourgate.com; mention Mustang Week.

Red Roof Inn

2801 South Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; phone 843.626.4444; redroof.com; pet-friendly.

Suburban Extended Stay Hotel

730 Frontage Rd. East, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; phone 843.448.4899 (ask for Mustang Week rate); myrtlebeachsuburban.com; trailer parking; kitchenettes.

Please note: The Mustang Week Staff has simply contacted the hotels above and they have agreed to be listed. Please use your own discretion when picking a hotel. We cannot be held responsible if the room/property does not meet your standards.

Trailer Storage

Host Hotel

Sheraton Myrtle Beach Hotel

2101 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; phone 843.918.5000; $20/day with $60 max fee.

A & A Boat Storage

3041 Forestbrook Rd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588; phone 843.903.1829; $25 flat rate.

Strand Storage Frontage Road

870 Frontage Rd. East, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; phone 843.279.0026; call for pricing.

U-Haul Moving & Storage of Myrtle Beach

5604 S Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach, SC 29575; phone 843.238.5701; $25 flat rate.

Contact the Staff

Extreme Productions, Inc.

143 Lakeside Dr., Marston, NC 28363; phone 910.894.3592; mustangweek.com

Day 1: Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017

Meet and Greet

We start the week with a bang on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, with the annual Meet-n-Greet at Broadway at the Beach. The event has grown to be one of the favorite events of the week. This year we are moving the Meet-n-Greet back to the site of the very first Mustang Week gathering. The Meet-n-Greet will take place at Broadway at the Beach, in the northernmost parking lot, closest to the U.S. 17 Bypass and 29th Avenue intersection. A fun, informal gathering to start the week off, the event is open to all Ford-powered Mustangs and SVTs and is scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In 2016, over 1,000 Mustangs and SVTs filled the lot and gave returning attendees the chance to see friends from previous years and newcomers the chance to make new friends. The atmosphere is very laidback, and some folks come straight off the highway from their journey to Mustang Week. You can come and go as you please, and with this year’s earlier schedule you have the entire evening to get a jump on all the other exciting things the Grand Strand has to offer. Most participants choose to get there a little early and stay the entire time, and some choose to stop by for only an hour or two. The choice is yours.

If you have never been to Mustang Week, the Meet-n-Greet turnout will seem overwhelming, but it is only a glimpse of the week to come. This is where you first see the major difference between Mustang Week and all other car shows and events. You will see everything from classics and pristine show cars to built drag cars and daily driven street cars. The Meet-n-Greet is where you get a real feel for the sense of family that has grown over the past 16 years. This will also be the first opportunity to purchase the yearly Mustang Week T-shirt and the raffle tickets. The Mustang Week staff will be onsite and available to answer any questions and provide updates about the rest of the week's events. The Myrtle Beach Speedway manager will also be on hand to preregister folks for Wednesday’s Speedway event.

For the seventh consecutive year Palmetto Ford of Charleston and the Mustang Week staff have partnered to build two 2017 Mustang Week Special Edition Mustangs! The cars will be designed by Mustang Week staffer Mike Clay (designer of past Mustang Week Editions) and Palmetto Ford’s Tony Barron. The 2017 Mustang Week Editions will be unveiled at the 2017 Meet-n-Greet. You can own one of these unique cars for yourself. Give Tony Barron a call at Palmetto Ford, 843.343.7997, to see how you can get your hands on a 2017 Mustang Week Edition.

No registration is required to attend the Meet-n-Greet. Please check the Mustang Week website forums for parking lot map and entry/exit information.

Special Tuesday Event

As part of the BFGoodrich Track Days at Myrtle Beach Speedway, on Tuesday, Sept. 5, BFG will again host the Mustang Week Autocross Driving School at Myrtle Beach Speedway. You will learn to quickly analyze a new course, apply effective trail braking techniques, understand where to go fast and where to go slow, and use your tires more effectively. A brief classroom session is followed by a track walk. Drive time in your car is the focus, with professional drivers riding in your passenger seat.

Registration is online on the Mustang Week website (mustangweek.com) and will be first come, first served.

Day 2: Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017

BFGoodrich Track Day at Myrtle Beach Speedway

Gateway Classic Autocross • Stifflers Speedway Fun Runs • SVTPerformance Burnout Contest

On Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, we head back to the Myrtle Beach Speedway (myrtlebeachspeedway.com) for a day of autocross, Speedway fun runs, and the official burnout contest. The event is open to all Ford-powered Mustangs and SVTs. Myrtle Beach Speedway is located just 2 miles west of the waterway bridge on U.S. 501, towards Conway, South Carolina. In 2016, the Speedway filled to capacity as more than 450 cars and over 5,000 people took part in the fun. Gates open for this amazing day at 9 a.m.

The Gateway Classic Mustang Autocross and the Stifflers Speedway Fun Runs run simultaneously from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The SVTPerformance Burnout Contest is held promptly at 6 p.m. We have confirmed that the cost to participate in this year’s event will be $25 for car and driver. You can also come to watch all the fun from the stands for $5 per person. Watch the Mustang Week website (mustangweek.com) for more important information and details on the Speedway event.

The Gateway Classic Mustang Autocross course is set up and run by experienced personnel, ensuring safety and fun. A proper autocross course gives the driver the opportunity to test his or her driving skills on a flat, coned course. The autocross will provide a low-speed opportunity to push your car's handling capability while testing your skill behind the wheel. In 2016, there was a continuous line of cars waiting to give the autocross a try. This year’s all-day schedule allows participants plenty of chances at the course. If you have never tried an autocross, you are in for a real treat.

The Stifflers Speedway Fun Runs are a very unique opportunity. The MB Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned, 1/2-mile, oval track. Fun Run participants get the chance to go out onto the track one car at a time and take a few laps at their own pace. Staying inside the cones ensures that speeds are kept within safe limits. This is an excellent photo and video opportunity and an absolute thrill for the driver. Prior to the event, Speedway and Mustang Week staff will position cones on the racetrack to provide a safe yet challenging line around the racetrack.

At 6 p.m. the annual SVTPerformance Burnout Contest takes over the Speedway. Participants line up one at a time on the racetrack to light ’em up for the crowd. Some of the best Mustang Week videos found online after the 2016 were taken during the burnout contest.

Day 3: Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017

MM&FF Dyno Challenge • Mustang Week Test-n-Tune

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, is going to be an action-packed day. For many years people have asked for it, and in 2017 Mustang Week’s drag racing event will be held at North Myrtle Dragstrip, located at 2003 Star Bluff Road in Longs, South Carolina. This event will take many of us Mustang owners back to our roots. You will get the chance to bang gears on North Myrtle Beach Dragstrip’s eighth-mile track. Even better, the dragstrip is less than a 30-minute drive from Myrtle Beach. The proximity to the beach will certainly draw a very large crowd. Gates open at 9 a.m., and the Test-n-Tune runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. There is a $10 fee at the gate for general admission and a $15 fee for a tech card for those who wish to take part in the event.

The Test-n-Tune format allows participants to take as many runs as they would like and as time allows. This gives the drivers the opportunity to try out their car and their skill on the eighth-mile for fun. Staging lanes will be open all morning and afternoon. Many of the Mustang Week sponsors and vendors will be set up at the Test-n-Tune as well. Also, you will be delighted to try some of the home-cooked concessions, including North Myrtle Beach Dragstrip’s famous chicken bog. It is a day filled with drag racing excitement!

All cars and drivers are expected to use the safety gear required by North Myrtle Beach Dragstrip [843.399.RACE]. Drivers are expected to wear closed-toed shoes while on the track, and long pants are preferred. The event is open to Ford-powered Mustangs and SVT vehicles.

Also on Thursday at the North Myrtle Beach Dragstrip is the annual MM&FF Dyno Challenge, hosted by Pro-Dyno. Spectators at the dragstrip will be able to enjoy both racing and Dyno Challenge action, all at one venue. See the Mustang Week forums for more info.

Day 4: Friday, Sept. 8, 2017

Mustang Week Car Show

Time to clean up your ride on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, as the 14th Annual Mustang Week Car Show rolls into the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, located at 2101 North Oak Street. This venue offers the ultimate opportunity for the Mustang lover. Mustang Week takes over both the outside and the inside of the Convention Center. Outside you will enjoy the conventional outside car show setup with sponsors surrounding the show fields. Inside, spectators and participants will enjoy Mustang Week in true trade show style. Sponsors and vendors will be out in full force. This offers participants and spectators the opportunity to talk one-on-one with industry professionals and get great deals on some of the hottest new products.

The 2016 show brought another sellout crowd of over 500 cars in the judged show and just over 12,000 spectators. The car show is open to all years of Ford-powered Mustangs and SVT vehicles. Spectators and participants will have the chance to see everything from mild to wild and from classic Ponies to late models just off the lot.

Mustangs and SVTs will be judged on the overall cleanliness and quality of presentation. We will look at the interior of the car, the engine compartment, the body, the wheels, and tires. We will not judge convertible tops or side glass since they are optioned to be down during the judging period. Since most people make the trip to Mustang Week in their Mustang and carry most of the cleaning gear with them, we will not judge trunks either. People who do win at the Mustang Week Car Show take cleaning serious and it shows. The staff understands that you are not at home with all your usual cleaning products and procedures. However, as we have seen in past years, each year folks drive a long way to Mustang Week and always manage to get their cars really clean.

For those who wish to be part of the judging, the preregistration fee is $45. Registration for the judged portion of the car show is by preregister only on the Mustang Week website (mustangweek.com) and started in mid-May. No late entries are accepted. Check-in for the show is between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Those preregistered for the Car Show will be given a two-day parking pass that will get you into the Meet-n-Greet at no extra charge.

Judging runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year we ask that all participants in the judged portion of the show to please not take their car out of the show field until the Mustang Week staff has announced that judging is completed. It would be a shame if your car qualified for a trophy and it was not there for staff review after initial judging was completed.

The car show awards will be presented at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Participants will enter the Car Show from the Oak Street entrance to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. There is a $5 charge per car for spectator parking. This year the convention center will offer trailer parking as well for $20 a day. Mustang Week staff and volunteers will be present to help with parking. In 2017, we will again be looking for judging volunteers, so if you have prior judging experience it will be your way to become more involved with Mustang Week.

2017 Mustang Week Car Show Classes

Car show awards given out Saturday at 3 p.m.

Best Of

’64 1/2-’66

’67-’68

’69-’70

’71-’73

’74-’78

’79-’86

’87-’93

’94-’98

’99-’04

’05-’09

’10-’14

’15-‘18

’93 Cobra

’94-’95 Cobra

’96-’98 Cobra

’99-’01 Cobra

’03-’04 Cobra

’07-’18 Shelby

Best Saleen

Best Roush

Best Steeda

Best Ford Specialty

Best Lightning

Best ’65-’70 Shelby

Best Engine

Best Paint

Best Specialty

Best SVT

Long Distance Award

Best Boss

Best GT/CS

Best Mach 1

Best ’01 Bullitt

Best ’08 Bullitt

Also, Many awards of excellence and several special trophies!

Day 5: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017

SVT Cruise-In • Car Show Awards • Fox-Body Cruise

Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, ends the weeklong fun with the East Coast’s Largest Mustang and SVT Cruise-In. The Cruise-In takes place at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center (same venue as Friday's Car Show) and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The sheer volume of Mustangs and SVTs at the Cruise-In never ceases to amaze participants and spectators. In 2016, attendance at the Mustang Week Cruise-In included over 3,000 Mustangs and SVTs that packed the show field and surrounding parking lots. It would take the entire afternoon to walk around and see everything. Nearly 12,000 spectators got a chance to see all the cars, sponsors, and vendors. It goes without saying that the 2017 Cruise-In will be one of the largest gatherings of Mustangs you will see in one place at one time. It is a can't-miss event. There will be a parking fee of $5 per car for the Cruise-In. Those registered for Friday’s Car Show will get in with the two-day pass they received when checking in to the show. Once again, Mustang Week staff and volunteers will be on hand to help with parking and answer any questions.

Also on Saturday, for the 11th year in a row, Southeasternfoxbodies (SEFB) will be doing their annual Fox-body cruise. Last year's cruise brought out 151 Fox cars, and the club hopes to better that this year. The cruise starts at the same location as last year, Tire Town on Waccamaw Boulevard. The cruise is around 15 miles long under Horry County Police escort to the Convention Center. SEFB will be collecting a $5 donation for each car, with proceeds going to a local charity. This is an event you don't want to miss in your Fox car while at Mustang Week. This will be a perfect time to "Get the Fox Out.” Full cruise details can be found under the Mustang Week 2017 section of the club's forums at sefb.net.

At 3 p.m. the awards from Friday’s Car Show will be handed out to the lucky winners. Gather around and cheer on those who get to take home the much-deserved trophies. Near the end of the afternoon we will give away the incredible raffle prizes that we will have sold tickets for all week long. Very few shows give out the kind of high-caliber raffle prizes that are given away at Mustang Week.

Tips to Make the Week Better

At this point we would like to offer a few suggestions to help make your week more fun and comfortable. First, take the time to read all information posted on mustangweek.com in the Event Overview and forums. The answer to most any question you could think of can be found on the website. The Mustang Week website is where theofficialinformation is distributed. Social media can sometimes add confusion, so please refer to the website.

It is important to mention here that the only thing you need to preregister for is the judged portion of Friday’s Car Show. The track events are paid/registered on the day of the event. Spectators can enjoy Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday free of charge.

Afternoons are hot, so drinking plenty of fluids will ensure that you make it through the day without becoming dehydrated. Always have a good supply of sunscreen as well. Sunburn can make for a miserable day, not to mention a miserable night’s sleep. It is also a good idea to bring along a set of two-way radios if you have them. Folks enjoy having those while rolling around the beach. Also, you may want to bring a chair. Having somewhere to sit and rest can make all the difference.

We also ask that you do not enter the Friday and Saturday’s show field until the posted time. The Mustang Week staff will be hard at work getting sponsors and vendors set up and making the show field ready for participant cars. As in the past, we will have volunteers on hand to help make parking go quickly once we open the show field. Please be patient, as we have to park a lot of cars in a very short amount of time.

Most importantly, Mustang Week was created to be a celebration. We want the time to be very relaxing and laidback, without all the hassles of the typical car show.

Lastly, please obey all traffic laws when coming into and leaving a Mustang Week event. The staff does not condone any inappropriate behavior on public roads and highways. We want everyone to return home safely after having the time of their lives.

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