By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – With two years in the rear-view mirror, the Cornwall Area Mustang Club is showing no signs of slowing.
Seventy-six ‘Stang’s – spanning the Ford automobile’s 51-year history – lined the parking lot at the club’s anniversary event on July 4.
“It all started because of the cars, but it grew into a social gathering,” said CAMC president Guy Lemay. “It’s not a guy’s club, it’s a family club.”
CAMC meet on Saturdays at the Home Hardware in Cornwall (at the corner of 13th & Pitt streets), from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., to discuss life in the fast lane and share updates on their vintage and tricked-out Mustangs, before taking a cruise to a nearby restaurant for coffee or ice cream.
Claude Turcotte and his wife Ginette make the weekly drive from Montreal for two reasons: “the love of Mustangs and friendly people.”
To explain why he’s a loyal fan of the Ford automobile, Claude roared the engine of his 2007 Mustang GT Convertible.
“It’s the way it sounds when you start it that keeps me in the driver’s seat,” he said.
The Turcottes agreed the club’s welcoming atmosphere is a huge draw.
“Everybody speaks to everybody. There’s no cliques,” said Ginette.
A few rows over, CAMC member Jody Archambault showed off the new custom-built 347 engine in his reef blue ‘93 Mustang Nothchback.
As spectators admired the shiny chrome, he promoted the third annual Kinsmen in Motion: Show & Shine at Lamoureux Park on August 23.
“We encourage all car, truck and motorcycle enthusiasts to register ($10 fee) to help support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cornwall-SDG,” said Archambault.
According to attendees, the anniversary gathering ran much smoother than last year.
Lemay credited the CMAC’s newly formed event committee for organizing entertainment, food and beverages, and parking, amongst other logistics.
“We have about 110 members (65 cars) and we’re still growing,” he said.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/cornwallmustangs.
