F.A.Q.

What is the Scenic Stampede?

A multi-day, driving event for Ford Mustangs put on by the Blue Mustang Registry.  The majority of our time spent will be on the road.  Not sitting in a parking lot. 

I’m not a blue Mustang, can I still come?

Absolutely.  We allow any color Ford Mustang to join us.

How much does it cost?

Admission for the Scenic Stampede costs nothing.  There are other costs associated with the Scenic Stampede you may incur such as lodging, meals or venue admission fees.  Stampede branded items are available for purchase and are usually pre-paid items as they are custom.

Do I need to pre-register?

No. We do have a pre-registration that allows you to pre-pay for event merchandise since they are all made to order. We occasionally have extras for sale at the event, but not always. If you want to make sure you get something, pre-register. This also helps us cut down on time spent registering people on arrival and gives us a forecast for how many people we might have.

I’ve never done a car cruise, what can I expect?

We do our best to organize this into a safe and enjoyable event.  We demand all participants maintain control of their vehicle and act responsibly on the roadways.  At the end of the day we never want to attract negative attention to ourselves or the Blue Mustang Registry. 

We post a schedule online.  This schedule will give times and locations. Most times are estimated with the exception of the start times. All events are optional, you can pick and choose which you want to attend.  Need a rest day, take one.  It is your responsibility to be at the designated place at the designated time.  We do our best to ensure we have everyone, however, some locations do not allow us to have enough visibility to physically see everyone is at their vehicle. 

Every morning we meet up at the designated area on the schedule. This is typically the parking lot of the hotel.  At this time we will give a quick brief on what’s happening for the day and some general information.  We will hand out any extra two-way radios to those that do not have one.  Ensure these radios get back to the respective owner at the end of the day. These radios are imperative to the success of the cruise as it is generally the only means of communication we have. Cell service is non-existent in many places.

After the brief we will line up and leave behind a designated leader car.  Depending on the size of the group we have, there may be multiple groups.  When you choose a group, stay with that group throughout the day. If for some reason you need to change groups during the day, let one of the staff know. Once the group leaves everyone will follow the leader and navigate through the area to our cruise location for the day.  The radio is integral during this time as we travel through the city and red light systems.

The routes are designed so that the lead car is able to slow down and let everyone catch back up.  If we are spread out to the point where the lead car is unable to allow everyone catch up, the leader may pull over onto the shoulder and stop in a safe location, with the group, and wait.  Do not get out of your vehicle at this time.

If you are separated from the group and are the new “leader” ensure that you are communicating to the group you are leading and also attempt to contact the group you are trying to catch.  The lead car will communicate via radio what lane everyone needs to be in and when.  They will also let everyone know when and where we are turning. 

We have multiple stop points during the day, usually about 1 hour apart.  The schedule will typically note if a stop has a restroom. For long stops we will announce what time everyone needs to be back to roll out to the next checkpoint. It is critical that you make it back at these times.

Designated Rear Vehicle (DRV)

The designated rear vehicle is a voluntary position.  As we grow in size we will ask that someone take on this responsibility if it has not already been assigned to someone.  Traditionally the DRV has been a local resident that knows the routes we are taking.  As the DRV you are responsible for communicating with the lead vehicle to ensure everyone is caught up and together.  They are also responsible for ensuring everyone has made a turn. 

Global Positioning System (GPS) / Cellphones

If you have a GPS, use it! Sometimes we end up in traffic and we are unable to get everyone in the group to catch up. We need your help in getting to the destination, so please use your GPS if you have one.

Cell phone service can be non-existent in some of the mountains and back roads we travel. Keep this in mind when using your cell phone as a GPS. We have personally used cell phone GPS on all of the routes and as long as the map is loaded up before heading out, we can usually maintain the route despite lack of service.

Two-way Radios

We use handheld, two-way radios for communication during the cruise. We will use channel “2” on most handheld radios which is GMRS frequency 462.5875. Radio recommendations are below and are ones we have tested. The 36 and 50 mile range stated is misleading. In the locations we travel it can be difficult to get a 1/4 mile range out of these radios.

Drag Strip

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Venue Information

We travel many different routes and we have included the most common we use. We will add as we go.

English Mountain Dragway

English Mountain is an 1/8th mile drag strip. It is a private rental which means you can run as many times as you want in the time allowed. We are usually there from 10 AM to 4 PM and you will have more than your fair share of seat time. The cost is per car, with a 10 car minimum. We also usually get some Bojangles from the up the street for lunch and bring it to the track. No helmet is required but recommended. Insurance is not included. If you wish to purchase additional insurance, as your regular auto policy may not cover this, you can check with Hagerty Insurance.

Cade’s Cove

Get your cameras ready! Cades Cove is a slow cruise through a broad valley surrounded by mountains with opportunities to see white-tailed deer, bear and more! We will stop at the back side and visit the Becky Cable house. Restrooms available when we arrive and at the halfway part of the park.

Tail of the Dragon

The Tail of the Dragon is one of our usual cruise areas. It has 318 curves in 11 miles and is a complete, in your face, experience. These 11 miles need focus and dedicated attention. While the 35 MPH speed limit may not seem very fast, it can be overwhelming on this road. There are ample professional photographers along this road and you can order the photos online.

Devil’s Triangle

The Devil’s Triangle is a 44-mile loop that offers a wide assortment of unusual twists and turns along with beautiful scenery. Boasting some of the tightest and steepest switchbacks you’ll probably ever encounter, the Triangle also has steep drop offs and rock cliffs that leave little room for error. The middle of the Triangle is pretty tame as you pass by rural houses and some smooth undulations in terrain.

Cherohala Skyway

The Cherohala Skyway was opened in 1996 and cost over $100 million to construct. It is about 40 miles long with some of the steepest elevations we will reach, 5400 feet above sea level. The Skyway offers many picturesque vistas with many pull over spots. If you feel comfortable, feel free to pull over at one of these pull offs to take photos. We suggest letting someone in the cruise know via radio so we don’t think you are having mechanical issues.