Shawn's Mustang
Last June my father past away. It was a very difficult time for my family. One of the things that my dad left me, though, helps me stay connected to his memory while also giving me the opportunity to live out a dream that Dad and I shared.
Several years ago I came across a 1966 Mustang. I told my dad about the car and he jumped at the opportunity to buy it. In his younger days my dad used to drag race; in fact, he passed up a chance to become a race car driver. Dad used to regale my sisters and me with stories of the cars that he once owned back in the day. Over a span of a couple of years my dad worked at restoring the car. It has a 289 V8 engine, a tricked out exhaust system, and it is a beautiful maroon color.
After my father past away, I had a friend drive me in the Mustang back to Indianapolis. As we drove up Highway 31, I told him to gun it! Suddenly the engine was roaring as we rocketed down the highway at 110 miles per hour. The car was not even stressed at the speed, in fact it seemed like the engine was demanding that we go faster! (I have no doubt that my dad was smiling on us as we raced toward Indianapolis) The consequences of speeding through Franklin, Indiana caused my companion and me to regain our wits, and we slowed down.
The car has been sitting in my garage all winter. On Easter Sunday, I fired it up. The engine roared to life, and the sweet smell of muscle car exhaust filled the air. Oh how I longed to jump behind the wheel! Neighbors ran over to witness the unfamiliar site of a totally blind guy revving up a classic Mustang. “Nice car!” they all remarked.
Now that it is spring, I am poised to fulfill a dream that Dad and I shared. While my dad had entered the Mustang in various car shows, netting several awards, we had never entered the Mustang together. This spring I plan to enter the Mustang in a few car shows, and in September I will enter it in the second annual Bosma car show as well. In spite of my vision loss, my father’s love of classic cars will live on. Any trophies that I may happen to get aren’t mine, they are truly Dad’s. More important than any award is that I have the opportunity to still make this once shared dream a reality.
Shawn with his dad's 66 Mustang
Shawn Behind the Wheel
