Mustang Club of Maryland

Ok I dont want to rain on anyones parade but I have to say a couple things. First I had a great time today on the cruise but I saw alot of things that really worried me. We signed up to go on this cruise to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Western Md, not to be flying through 25 mph towns at 60+. As responsible car enthusists we should be setting an example. How are we being any better than the people that go out and street race and end up killing someone. This was not a race. If you want to run an open track event then pony up your $100 and do it legally. Being on a cruise doesnt not give you leave to risk peoples lives cause you want to prove that your car is faster. These roads while they may be fun are not built as a track. There are other drivers and pedestrians out there. And be considerate of other cruisers, they are out there to enjoy the cruise as well. Another common sense thing is "NO DRINKING AND DRIVING" if you are trying to get drunk before the big game then just stay home. I know of at least 1 driver that seemed quite intoxicated. Today could have ended very badly and Im glad it didnt but if this continues something will eventually. These are just my thoughts and if anyone has more please chime in. I'm not saying we have to have the cruise control set at the speed limit but lets be responsible and respectful.

I agree with your thoughts about being responsible on the streets. To be perfectly honest, I do tend to drive on the faster side, but I still take responsibilty to keep my car in control and never speed through populated areas such as towns.

I apologize to anyone who may have had their day spoiled by the experience with the speed racers. Next year, I will suggest that the group be split into two groups... One that wants to get to the park in the shortest time possible and a second group that would like to enjoy a backroads drive and actually see some scenery.

As far as drinking and driving, I personally did not see anyone drinking or intoxicated. If I did, I would have taken the matter very seriously and reported the driver to the event organizers and/or police. I agree 100% that driving while intoxicated is criminal and is absolutely dangerous/stupid in a backroads cruise.

I agree 100% regarding the drinking and driving. I did not see any of it either, but I don't understand how someone can do that. No excuse.

Regarding the actual cruise, however, I agree that there were two types of people out there.

The first group went out to relax and enjoy the scenery. No problem with that. That's what I intended to do when I came out (and what I did do the first leg of the trip before we stopped at Sheetz).

The second group drove a little faster. After pulling out of the Sheetz station I found myself driving with a couple of people that had some pretty fast cars. I wouldn't characterize the faster driving as a race (nobody was trying to beat anyone else). I never saw anyone out of control and it seems that people were generally respectful and didn't bury the needle through the residential areas.

Again, I can't speak for everyone else because I was only with a group of about 6 or 7 other people. I completely agree that the two groups of people should be divided...but I don't know the logistics of organizing poeple based on speed..... =)

I'd like to enter this discussion to apologize, and to make it a better event next year.

First, I need to take complete responsibility for the pace getting out of hand. It's been gradually creeping up each year, and this year I was very uncomfortable with it, but I thought I was worrying because I was involved in running the event. I can see it was bothering others, and I never should have allowed that to happen. At the front, I only drove fast on back roads, and tried to do the limit through towns. But with a group this big, I can see that allowing the large gaps on the country roads is only asking for some speeding among others to catch up in the towns. But I have to acknowledge that my driving on the back roads still needs to take into account others who use the road, as well as those behind me.

Second, I like the idea of two groups, but I wish it didn't need to come to that. I can see some wanting to take a "spirited drive on the back roads" and others a "beautiful drive through the country". If two groups can achieve this, than that's what I'll set up next year. I do want this to be a cruise, not a race. I can ask those that must drive dangerously fast to do so to and from the event.

And as for any drinking, we never serve alcohol at any of our events, and if I had seen anyone intoxicated, they would have been asked to leave. We (SVTOA) can't take the risk, and I personally can't condone that.

I hope this answers most of the concerns, and I hope everyone understands this is always a learning project. I very much wanted to get a number of clubs together for this event, and I hope, with some better management on my part, I can continue to do so.

Greg

I think the multiple group thing just kinda happened naturally. Local traffic is always going to get in the way and with upwards of 70 cars, we can't expect to keep all together. I guess we lucked out and only saw a couple incidences of excessive speeding and passing when it wasn't necessary.

The directions were great and we had no problem following them. The route was also great, very scenic. I really enjoyed the questions as we drove. Maybe turning it into a scavenger hunt/cruise may slow people down if they have to look for things? However the speed demons will always be the speed demons.

We had a similar experience at a CJ Pony Parts "Cruise". We pulled out and the regulars and event organizers took off. The directions were horrible and we had no idea where to go. We followed best we could and just cruised back home.

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Dave

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Some people are like Slinkys. They have no purpose, but they sure bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

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2005 Mustang GT: Stock shortblock and heads, comp cams, intake/exhaust, 11.89 at 115mph

MY suggestion would be for the cruise next year that there be some kind of check points or time outs (for pictures and what not) If people don't want to take pictures then they just go on ahead. I was going pretty fast in some open roads no cars around. But I did not go any more than 5 miles over the speed limit in those little towns. I saw little kids (and we all know little kids love to see cars go by not speed by) in those towns waving and jumping up and down. And it would be a tragedy if some one would be hurt because of some one trying to catch up with the pack.
I was by my self, I guess in the middle of the pack maybe more to the end, I had enough trouble following the pack, I was in then when they lost me (because of the wildlife police guy on my bumper). No big deal that area of the ride was through the wild life park and very narrow and twisty, so I was already going slow because of the road.
All and All I had fun. I would have liked to stay with the group I came with but with that many cars and me having no sence of direction I just fell in line and kept up.
Now for the truth every one was givin directions so it was up to us to decide how the cruise was drivin.
WE ALL COULD HAVE CHOSEN HOW WE WANTED TO DRIVE THERE WAS NO TIME LIMIT. ON THE OTHER HAND IF YOU WANTED TO DESTROY YOUR CAR, LIFE OR SOME ONE ELSES LIFE, YOU COULD HAVE CHOSE THAT DRIVE.
I would hope know one gets mad at me for the comments I have made in this part of the conversation. I am a straight shooter I say what I feel and I hope I will not be judged for it. If you know me personaly you know that this is how I am.

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Of course it's ORANGE!!!! And you couldn't have been going that fast cause I almost passed your slow Cobra! LOL! POKEY!!!

Did you see the orange SVT Focus that came in later. I di not even get a picture of it. And when did you almost pass me????

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I like the idea of stopping along the route, especially for photo ops. I wish I had done it this time. For next year I'll make sure I work in someplace big enough for something like that. Boy, 70+ cars take up a lot of space.

The Orange Focus belongs to Cliff Niblock, out of Lovittsville, VA. Its one of the Europian packages. Great looking car. Almost as nice as my wife's Burnt Copper Sunset Focus.

Greg:

I think you did a great job of organizing a great event. I think there may have been a few bad apples that spoiled the show... No fault and or anything you could have done about that. I've made many mistakes during my short term as MCOM cruise director.... The fact that you took responsibility & are trying to fix the situation is very admirable. Thak you for your efforts & I look forward to the next event with you & your club!

Thank you very much for organizing the cruise, Greg! Despite some difficulties, it still easily beats just hanging around looking at cars in a parking lot.

Fast driving or slow, My wife and I had an unbelievable time Sunday and it was well worth missing the beginning of a Ravens game to come to.

I can only take so much of looking at perfectly polished cars at a car show.....this cruise was a very welcome diversion for those people that love to DRIVE their cars! =)