Ford Mustang 50th celebration gets two venues

Ford is planning for a big turnout next year, April 16-20, for the Mustang's 50th birthday party. So big, in fact, that it secured two venues on opposite sides of the country: Charlotte and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Those venues will provide 282,000 seats for fans of the pony car, as well as a boatload of space in the infield and nearby. This will be the Blue Oval's Burning Man, only with more mullets and less hallucinogenic drugs, or maybe not.

“Working closely with Ford, we want to make the official Mustang 50-year celebration the most important car event of 2014,” said Ronald D. Bramlett, Mustang Club of America executive director of the Mustang 50th Birthday Celebration. “Whether you love modern or vintage Mustangs, Shelby or Boss, racing or cruising, a new fan or have been enjoying the lifestyle (?-ED.) for years, we'll have something memorable for everyone at both locations.”

The Mustang Club will also organize “Pony Drives” so owners can travel in groups to the event.

The tentative schedule is below, but details are still being nailed down, so go to www.mustang50thbirthdaycelebration.com to be continuously updated about the upcoming events.

Wednesday, April 16 – The first official day of the Mustang 50th Birthday Celebration will feature vendors and exhibits.

Thursday, April 17 – With April 17, 1964 acknowledged as the official birthday of Ford Mustang, Mustang Club of America (MCA) will conduct opening ceremonies followed by a host of activities. Fans will enjoy a birthday celebration complete with cake and everyone singing “Happy Birthday.” Track time, Ford ride-and-drives, hot laps and other interactive activities are planned. Car displays, vendors and special exhibits will all be there to celebrate Mustang's 50th

Friday, April 18 – The event will be in full swing with track events such as road racing, drag racing and other interactive driving events. Car displays, vendors and special exhibits will be on hand. The MCA will have a themed dinner with live entertainment

Saturday, April 19 – Festivities will follow the same pattern as Friday. The evening will feature the Saturday Night Banquet, with guest speakers and entertainment

Sunday, April 20 – Easter Sunrise Services will be offered at both tracks. There will be parade laps around both speedways, and other memorable activities and photo opportunities will fill the day. MCA will have closing ceremonies in the afternoon

Ford Mustang at 50

The Ford Mustang turns 50 years old during 2014; to celebrate the many lives of America's favorite pony car, we'll be posting selections from our archives all year long. Check out our Mustang minisite where you'll find news, road tests, sneak peeks and even classic Mustang ads from the pages of Autoweek. We'll also have all the latest news and photos surrounding the redesigned 2015 Ford Mustang as it rolls out, so stay tuned.

By Jake Lingeman