Ford Pinto 40th anniversary - Pinto Owners to mark it with 1,600 mile X-Country drive - May 29-June 2
Enthusiasts Celebrate the Ford Pinto's 40th Anniversary with "The Pinto Stampede" 1,660 Miles across Seven States. The Cross Country Drive Will Also Raise Money for Wounded Warriors Project.
- (1888PressRelease) March 12, 2011 - New York, NY - Enthusiasts of the Ford Pinto have created a unique way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the compact car, which sold more than 3 million units from 1971-1980. Drivers from 12 states will participate in The Pinto Stampede (www.pintostampede.com), a five-day drive across 1,660 miles through seven states from Denver, CO, to Carlisle, PA, site of the Carlisle Ford Nationals. The Stampede begins on Sunday, May 29 and concludes on Thurs, June 2, in Carlisle, where the compact cars will lead a parade through the Pennsylvania town.
Along the route, drivers in The Pinto Stampede will head east from the Rocky Mountains, visit Ft. Reilly, KS, for Memorial Day services, take a lap around the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, circle the St. Louis Arch, take a lap of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and meet other Pinto owners at the Carlisle Ford Nationals. The car show will feature a display of Pintos in all shapes and sizes, including rally racing and drag racing cars, coupes, hatchbacks, wagons and modified models. "Together we will take in sights along the way, make lasting friendships and share in the odd looks from other drivers who suddenly come across a convoy of Pintos," said Norman Bagi, "Trail Boss" of The Pinto Stampede. "The Pinto's reputation is unlike that of any other car. It has been the brunt of jokes and unfairly attacked using exaggerated statistics. This is a celebration of a beloved little car."
In the 1970s, the Pinto was responsible for fatalities due to fires caused when the car was rear-ended at high speeds. However, the actual number (27) was indeed much less than the "thousands" reported by the media of the era and consistent with the performance of other compact cars of the time. The Pinto Stampede is not just a Sunday drive; it is also a charity event. All proceeds from sponsorships and other fundraising efforts will go the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), an organization that helps soldiers returning with disabilities regain normal lives. "We want to take the opportunity to do something meaningful while having fun, so we included a charitable component to the Stampede," Norm Bagi said. "Wounded Warriors was a logical choice. Drivers will solicit sponsors 'per mile' completed along the route. We hope to raise $10,000 for the charity."
Pinto Stampede highlights:
Day 1 - Sun, May 29th, 2011
Denver, CO to Salina, KS - 426 mi. (about 7.5 hours)
- Pintos start their engines in Denver
Day 2 - Mon, May 30th, 2011 (Memorial Day)
Salina, KS to Columbia, MO - 317 mi. (about 6 hours)
- Ft. Reilly, KS (Memorial Day Services)
- Pinto Stampede takes a lap around the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City at 3:30 pm (event less than one week before NASCAR's Kansas Speedway 400 Sprint Cup Series race on June 5th)
Day 3 - Tues, May 31st, 2011
Columbia, MO to Indianapolis, IN - 361 mi. (about 6.5 hours)
- Visit the St. Louis Arch
- Arrival in Indianapolis, IN
Day 4 - Weds, June 1st, 2011
Indianapolis, IN to Cambridge, OH - 281 miles (about 5 hours)
- Pinto Stampede takes a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Visit to the National museum of the U. S. Air Force in Dayton, OH
Day 5 - Thurs, June 2nd, 2011
Cambridge, OH to Carlisle, PA - 281 miles (about 5 hours)
- Pinto owners pay respects at Flight 93 Crash Site Memorial in Shanksville, PA
- Arrival in Carlisle, PA, site of the Carlisle Ford Nationals
The Pinto Stampede and the Pinto Car Club of America have joined forces to corral Ford Pinto owners across America and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the compact car. The 1,660 mile drive across the heartland starts in Denver, CO, on Sunday, May 29th, 2011, and concludes in Carlisle, PA, on Thursday, June 2nd, 2011. Participating cars will be part of the Carlisle Ford Nationals (June 3rd-5th) celebration highlighting the birth of the Pinto - the largest ever display of the model. The Pinto Stampede will also serve to raise funds benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition back to civilian life. For more information, visit www.pintostampede.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pinto-Stampede/102282473149546
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