Contributed by Russ Muller Photography
If 2022 has shown us anything so far, it’s that people want to return to a normal pre-pandemic life. That helps to explain why there was a record number of pre-registered entries for the Mid-Florida Mustang Club’s 35th Annual Mustang & Ford Roundup show held on Saturday, February 5th in beautiful historic 
downtown Longwood, FL. Between pre-registered cars and day-of-show entries, there were nearly 300 Mustangs and a handful of other Fords in attendance. Grey skies and early morning rain likely caused a few potential participants to stay home, but it was their loss as they missed an awesome show.
This year’s show featured a special event that Matt Cannizzaro organized; a parade of historically significant Mustangs down Church Avenue, a brick road that passes by both Longwood City Hall and the Longwood Police Department before ending at Reiter Park. Longwood Mayor Brian Sackett led the parade, sitting in an S550 (2015-present) Mustang convertible. He was followed by 40 other Mustangs representing every generation of America’s first pony car. Matt managed (somehow) to find two people locally who brought their Mustang IIs (1973-1978),
perhaps the hardest Mustang to find and for many the hardest Mustang to love. My first car was a Mustang II, so I have always had a soft spot in my heart for them. And who can forget Farah Fawcett with the white Cobra II on Charlie’s Angels? But I digress…The parade wrapped up with a Mustang Mach E, the electric SUV that carries the Mustang name. Is it a Mustang?
I’ll leave that discussion for others. As mentioned, there were more than “just” Mustangs at the show. The Sunshine State Cougar Club had several members attend, there were 4 Cobras, a handful of Thunderbirds, as well as a few Fairlanes and a Falcon or two.
Lots of local vendors, from Pete Muller and Tint World Orlando to Gingerbread Insurance to National Parts Depot to Orlando Mustang and others were on site to offer their services and parts for every Mustang at the show. Pet Rescue by Judy was there as well, with dogs available for adoption. I’m not sure if anyone went home with a new best friend that day, but I sure hope so. Many local police departments participated, as they do every year, providing demonstrations of their 
equipment and getting to know their community neighbors.
While there was a lot more to talk about, I’ll keep it brief so that maybe you’ll want to make it out the show next year to find out more and experience it for yourself. Thanks to the Mid Florida Mustang Club for another awesome event!
