Got my classic Mustang stuck in a muddy field at a car show last month

I was at a huge show out in Elkhart, Indiana about 5 weeks ago. They had overflow parking in this field and it had rained the night before. I drove my '66 Mustang in thinking it was fine, then went to leave around 4pm and the tires just spun. No traction at all. I sat there for 20 minutes trying to rock it out, people were honking at me. Finally a guy with a lifted F-250 offered to pull me out with a strap. Thing is, I didn't have a tow hook on the front so he had to hook to the control arm. Scratched it up a bit but at least I got out. Anyone else ever had a show turn into a recovery mission?

2 comments

2 Comments

sam_wood601mo ago

Honestly I think you're overreacting a bit here. 1966 Mustangs are cool but they're not off-road trucks, so driving into a muddy field after rain was kind of asking for trouble. People honking at you probably weren't being jerks, they were just stuck in the same mess waiting to get out. Plus that guy in the F-250 saved your day, scratching a control arm is nothing compared to sitting there overnight or paying for a tow truck. Tbh the show organizers should have had better planning but you also could have scouted the field first before parking. Ngl I've seen way worse at shows where guys tear up their oil pans or bend tie rods trying to get pulled out with straps in bad spots.

the_beth1mo ago

Scouting the field first" is exactly the kind of thing people say after they've already made the mistake, isn't it? But let me ask you this - have you ever actually tried to scout a muddy field at a car show without getting your own shoes or tires caked? Most people just roll up and hope for the best. And yeah, the guy in the F-250 was a lifesaver, but that doesn't mean the scratch doesn't sting when it's your baby. Also, what kind of show puts parking right in a mud pit and doesn't have a backup plan for rain? That's just asking for trouble from the start.