I'm sure my Editor, Steve Turner, and colleague, Associate Editor Mike Johnson, will agree that many of our readers might feel that we only concentrate our attention on bad-to-the-bone Mustangs and parts that make them better, and we don't have any concern about the people who help make our hobby so great. Well, while we have to admit that 'Stangs and the products that the aftermarket produces for 'Stangs do get a lot of our attention, we also enjoy meeting (and in some instances, really getting to know) the folks who own Fox-to-present Mustangs, and seeing genuine passion for these cars that gives our own affinity for Ponies, a good run for the money.

I'm using my Blog time today to say, "Thank You," to Charles "Charlie" Chiaramonte, a hard-core 'Stangbanger who lives in my home city of Reseda, California. Charlie works for my friend Mario, owner of M&M Towing in Northridge [(818) 774-2233], and owns a black, 1996 GT coupe that he has upgraded with every bolt-on imaginable--on a ridiculously limited budget--and has the car running 13s at the drag strip. On Wednesday, I had to do some fine-tuning on our project T-top coupe and asked Mario to carry the car to the dyno shop (for the record, I didn't drive the car to the dyno because I wanted to duplicate a cold-start/no fuel whatsoever in the injectors concern, and create a hot-weather-driveability tune) with his flatbed tow truck.

Mario told me that his driver (Charlie) "is really into Mustangs and has done all kinds of work on his car, and I know he would love to see your car," so I told Mario to call Charlie on the radio and have him come check it out. A few minutes later, the sound of headers and aftermarket exhaust could be heard at the end of the block, and Charlie came zooming up in his Mustang. Saying the least, Charlie has a lot of energy...good energy...not the kind that might quickly become annoying ("check my car out!" "check my car out!" check my car out!"), but moreso the type of energy that we like to see when we meet fellow 'Stang nuts--the sincerity of a guy who's just glad to meet another guy who digs the same thing (regardless of the other guy's job being Technical Editor of 5.0 Mustang and Super Fords).

In the time that we chatted, it actually took a few minutes before Charlie realized the Mustang coupe that was sitting atop the flatbed was the car he has been reading about in our magazine. "Is this the car that was built by 5.0 magazine?!?! I can't believe I'm seeing it in person. I have pictures of this thing taped to the wall of my garage! My son is not going to believe this car is actually right here in the neighborhood!" Even though we were running a bit late for the dyno appointment, I let Charlie spend as much time as he wanted, to ask questions and to take pictures of the car from all points. Seeing his excitement and genuine appreciation for our project Mustang was energizing, and I could tell that having the impromptu opportunity to have a first-hand look at the project car is something he's going to remember for a long time.

I dig Charlie Chiaramonte. He's a hard-working guy, he's trying to make his 'Stang as good as it can be...without breaking the bank...and he definitely lives for his family (of course) and his car. If someone were to ask me, "who best exemplifies a true ambassador for the late-model-Mustang hobby, and doesn't actually realize that he does," Charlie definitely is that guy!