The author Thomas Wolfe claims, “You can’t go home again”. As I lined up on the starting grid for a Labor Day HPDE event at Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex, my thoughts drifted back to May, 1969.

My brother and I watched the FoMoCo car hauler offload the first Boss 302 I would own bright yellow with black trim. The Boss was well-equipped from the factory, but we optioned out a close-ratio 4 Speed Top-Loader, deeper 3:91 rear end gears, a rear spoiler, and a tachometer.

Growing up in a Pittsburgh suburb, we quickly immersed ourselves in all things speed-related during the heyday of Detroit Muscle Cars while honing our street racing, drag racing and autocross skills. As uninitiated teen speed-freaks, we immediately ripped off the smog equipment and rev limiter.

Our paychecks were shamelessly thrown at Hooker headers, Thrush mufflers, Hays clutch components, Lakewood traction bars and Midnight Auto Sales, as well as a myriad of car magazines.

We were rewarded with 13.80s at the Drag Strip and punished with piston skirt failures, a common Boss ailment that FoMoCo refused to acknowledge until it became epidemic amongst the community.

Lessons learned, even bad ones, can be beneficial throughout one’s life. Like most car enthusiasts reading this story, errors on one car provide for improvements on subsequent vehicles.

The original Boss, pictured here, was sold when I departed for the Marine Corps. Another later model was sold to a Ford muscle enthusiast in Australia, as several of my Boss Mustangs were purchased and sold between overseas military deployments.

My proclivity for speed was never satisfied so it was no surprise to my family that I ended up in fighter aviation. Here’s one of my former Mustangs alongside a Phantom II F-4 fighter aircraft at the MCAS Miramar aircraft museum…I have “flight time” in both of these particular vehicles!

My affection for Boss Mustangs has not diminished over the decades since my first purchase. When I read earlier this year the 50th Anniversary of the Boss Mustang was to be celebrated in my hometown over my birthday, my wife A.B., immediately made plans for me to attend.

With guidance from several Club members, we eventually selected Plycar Transportation to ship our current 2012 Boss 302 there to participate in the festivities. Plycar is a top notch automotive shipper with pristine enclosed car haulers. The professionalism of the company’s drivers and dispatchers mitigated any concerns about transporting our Mustang crosscountry.

Before reaching our ultimate destination, we spent the 1st portion of this automotive time travel enjoying the 25th annual Woodward Ave cruise celebration in Detroit, details of which can be found in our Sept-Oct newsletter. We had first class access to all the FoMoCo venues courtesy of friend Kevin Foley, our esteemed newsletter editor, and his “Press Credentials.” Kevin was the perfect host and gentleman as we met various Mustang automotive luminaries during our weekend in Dearborn.

The next stop on my automotive bucket list was home to Pittsburgh to join 140 other Boss owners to celebrate the brand’s golden 50th anniversary. On Friday evening we enjoyed a dinner presentation featuring a number of guest speakers associated with the Boss Mustangs.

Included at the dinner were Ken Dowd who was a Larry Shinoda design team member assisting on the Boss 302, Pantera & King Cobra. Boss 302 and 429 test engineer at Kar Kraft Don Eichstaedt and Adam Christian, engine performance development team member for the 2012-13 Boss 302 Coyote based “Road Runner” engine.

Over the next two days we enjoyed Bosses of every color and hue, as well as some noteworthy Boss platforms: Randy Saba’s 196 original mile “Pony Tail” dragster. Rich West’s 1 of only 9 Aqua Metallic 1970 Boss Mustangs and Larry Shinoda’s original FoMoCo Mustang Boss 302 prototype.

More importantly, we met Boss Mustang enthusiasts from as far north as Whitehorse, Yukon, to as far south as Key West, Florida. I was overwhelmed when Boss designer Larry Shinoda’s widow Joyce, graciously agreed to a photo with her daughter Karen and me alongside my car trackside. Mr. Shinoda is almost as wellknown throughout the Boss community as Parnelli Jones and is always referred to in reverent tones.

I’ve never failed to be amazed at how an inanimate object like a certain vehicle can permit you to become fast friends with other likeminded enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, the three day HPDE proved to be most personally rewarding for me. I was able to provide rides on the 2.8 mile road course for numerous family members.

The Mustang was quite stout the entire weekend. We were able to run consistently in the top 3-4 in our run group while battling other Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, Porsches and BMWs.

I suspect, much like Mikie Evan’s trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this birthday trip (planned and managed by my Pit Crew/wife A.B.), exceeds adjectives like legendary. So with due respect, I take exception to Mr. Wolfe and his novel, “You can’t go home again”.