Club Founding History

---

  It all started over 30 years ago, in 1993, Glenn Borneman, Frank Cossota, Earl Davis, Mark Houlahan, John Lindsey and Curt Patterson discussed starting a Mustang Club in Lakeland.  At the time, the closest clubs were either in Tampa or Orlando.

A letter dated February 8, 1993, was sent to the MCA requesting information on forming a regional club. Included in the letter were MCA territorial maps of the Mid Florida Mustang Club, the Sun Coast Mustang Club, and the Space Coast Mustang Club. The original territory for the Mid Florida Mustang Club was a radius of 50 miles from Orlando, FL for the Sun Coast Mustang club a radius of 50 miles from Clearwater, FL and for the Space Coast Mustang Club a radius of 50 miles from Melbourne, FL.

Then, the MCA would not charter a club if other clubs were already formed in that territory. In order to charter a club, the new club had to contact all of the other clubs that the new club would impact, and request part of their territory. IMPC would have to present itself to three clubs.

At 6:15 p.m. on February 15, 1993, a meeting was held at Dobbs Publishing Group.At this meeting, John Lindsey was elected President of IMPC, Frank Cossota VP, Glen Borneman Secretary, Glenna Lindsey Treasurer and Mark Houlahan Newsletter Editor.As they are now, the meetings were held on the second Thursday of the month.The formation of the club was announced by an ad placed in the Ledger on March 24, 1993, reading “Mustang Club now in Polk County.Membership then was $15/yr.For Info, call the listed phone number in evenings”.

On February 24, 1993, a formal letter was sent to the Mid Florida Mustang Club requesting written permission from them to give up territory in Polk County with the exception of Cypress Gardens. This concession was given due to Mid Florida’s continuing involvement with the Cypress Gardens Mustang & Shelby Roundup.

Also on February 24, 1993, President John Lindsey and Secretary Glen Borneman approached the Mid Florida Mustang Club Board of Directors to present their case for the IMPC Club to be given a portion of Mid Florida’s club territory.  After a brief discussion the matter was tabled until the March 31, 1993, Board Meeting.  Mid Florida wanted to talk with the Space Coast and the Sun Coast Mustang Clubs before making a decision.

A letter was mailed on February 26, 1993, to the MCA Regional Group Director informing him that IMPC had met with the Mid Florida Mustang Club and was planning to meet with the Sun Coast Mustang Club.

March 3, 1993, there was a IMPC meeting with the Classic Mustang Club in Tampa to discuss IMPC becoming a regional club in the MCA.  The Classic Mustangs of Tampa supported the idea.

A letter was mailed to the Sun Coast Mustang club on March 4, 1993, informing them of IMPC’s intent to form an MCA Regional club and to request territory rights from them and to have them send IMPC written permission stating they are aware that the IMPC exists, and they will release its claim to a small strip of its territory on the eastern edge of Polk County. At the same time a letter was sent to the Space Coast Mustang club with the same request and asking for release of a small part of its territory in the southern part of Polk County. On March 5,1993, President John Lindsey and Secretary Glen Borneman attended the monthly meeting of the Sun Coast Mustang Club to present their request to become an MCA Regional Club.

On March 17, 1993, Space Coast Mustang club gave up part of its territory to IMPC. The Space Coast Mustang Club now ends in the middle of the Kissimmee River.

March 24, 1993, the Sun Coast Mustang Club decided to table the request from IMPC until a future date feeling that the IMPC is too young and small, and the request is premature. This decision was forwarded to the MCA Regional Group Director and the President of the MCA.

In a letter dated May 5, 1993, the Mid Florida Mustang club informed IMPC that on April 28, 1993, at their monthly Board Meeting, the Mid-Florida Mustang Club voted to accept the proposal of IMPC to the MCA and relinquished part of Polk County while retaining Cypress Gardens. This is followed up on June 2, 1993, with an official letter and territorial maps showing the territory conceded and new territory maps.

As of May 6, 1993, the Sun Coast Mustang Club still was hesitant to give up any territory on the eastern edge of their 50-mile boundary.  Finally on May 10, 1993, they concede the territory as requested.

An application is filed with the MCA on June 8, 1993, for IMPC to become a Regional Club of the MCA. The territory for this club includes all of Polk County, Plant City, part of Sarasota County to include Myaka Head, the northern half of Hardee County and part of Highlands County down to Lake Joseph south of Sebring. This application is approved by the MCA on June 8, 1993.Thank you to the founding members for their perseverance!

---

Additional History

---

From the beginning, IMPC has been involved with an annual show. In February 1994, IMPC took charge of the Mustang portion of the Central Florida Auto Festival show. IMPC participated in the annual Auburndale show until the show was cancelled in 2000. The first Mustangs & Mustangs show was held at Fantasy of Flight on April 18, 1998. There were approximately 15 P-51 Mustangs on display along with 103 cars. This show was a Show and Shine with 15 awards given out by celebrity judges.

On October 9, 1997, a letter was sent to the Mustang Monthly magazine indicating IMPC’s support for the Mustang and voicing their opinion hoping to impact Fords decision to end production of the Mustang in 2000.

December of 1999 saw the club’s presence on the web with its new web site.

In 2001 dues were raised to $20.00/yr.