• Featured RRC Member: Carl, #163, of Hawthorne, CA and his 1997 ROUSH Stage 2 Mustang

    by
    tjuliette
    Published on April 11th, 2012 02:15 PM
    3 Comments Comments
    I purchased my 1997 ROUSH Stage 2 Mustang GT from the original owner in 2003. At that time the car had just over 8000 miles on the odometer. When I first saw the Mustang and heard the music from the side exhausts, I knew I had to have this car.



    My first task after buying the car was to thoroughly clean and detail it including a complete exterior clay bar treatment and three stage polish and wax job. The car now looked brand new again. The leather seats took a lot of work to bring them back as the original owner had never treated them.

    I only had the car a few weeks when I decided to take it on a trip up the California coast. I spent about a week touring and doing lots of canyon cruising. That’s where I discovered just how well the ROUSH handled. I loved the sweet sound of the exhaust and was soon shifting by ear instead of using the tachometer. For the first time in a long time I had a love affair going with a car again. The last time that happened was in the late sixties with my two Sunbeam Tigers.

    One of my friends talked me into entering the car in local car shows. I joined them and started attending Roush Signings and where I first met Jack Roush. I took an instant liking to Jack and had him sign my car and over the years since he has signed lots of things for me. I now have tons of 1st and 2nd place trophies and even one third place where I actually beat out a blinged out ‘09 ROUSH Stage 3. Go figure! I have taken two 2nd place trophies in the MCA Nationals. These are the two that mean more to me than any other.

    I don’t drive the car that much anymore. At this writing the car has just over 25,000 miles on the odometer. When I do take it on the less traveled back-roads, I drive it hard and fast and generally have lots of fun. I don’t push things as far as I used to due to reactions being a little slower. A fact of relentless aging!

    I have taken tons of photos of my car, but this one at a show adjacent to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA is one of my favorites.

    So, that’s about it. I would like a new Stage 3 ROUSH or better still one in Grabber Blue, but now being on a fixed income that is not likely to happen unless I win the lottery.