Congratulations to @Kagey for being October 2024 Ride Of The Month! Here is his story and his incredible black 2021 GT500.
First off thank you to everyone on this wonderful forum that has helped me in this journey. You are the best group of enablers! Every time someone showed some cool part installed or carbon fiber, it was hard to resist. You all have made it really fun! I am grateful and humble for this honor of Ride of the Month (ROTM).
My love for cars started when I was young with my dad who seemed to buy and sell our family car every year but not because we ever had anything fancy or sporty but functional as I come from a larger family with 5 siblings and always several dogs. I always helped him especially with the 3-4 motorcycles in the garage which he worked on and rode so I gravitated toward motorcycles because of the excitement they provided riding with the wind in your face and fast, doing stupid stuff like stunts thinking I was Evel Knievel which led me to the attending the Indy 500 and Nascar races. After attending several races at the brickyard and Michigan speedway, I wanted to do just that, a race car driver but it was just a teens dream so instead I wanted to be all I could be so I joined the Army. How’s that for a 180, lol, but I had a plan for the government to pay for my college. Basic and then MOS training, 64 Charlie, as I would never walk anywhere being heavy transportation hauler. On my way home, I stopped by my Army buddy’s place in southern Illinois as he had a friend selling a 1968 Lime Gold Mustang 289 automatic! It had some bondo and needed work but it ran well, looked cool and had some awesome mag wheels, plus the power and sound. I jumped at the opportunity to buy my first car being a mustang. What’s really odd is I don’t have 1 picture of that car but it’s fitting many years later we purchased our current 1968 Raven Black 289 Convertible.
That summer flew by doing burnouts and cruising till it was time to go to college, so I sold the ‘68 to a guy for about 3 times what I paid for it.
No more than 3 months later, he totaled the ‘68 wrapping it around a tree.
Over the next 30 or so years, I had various cars like a Celica GT-S but never any Mustangs until my wife and I cosigned for my Nephew’s 2014 Mustang GT Premium Deep Impact Blue. He couldn’t drive stick yet so I got to drive that baby home! Brought back those memories and the love for Mustangs plus the S550 styling reminded me of my first car the ’68.
Fast forward to Sept 2021, my neighbors brother drives by real slow revving his 2020 White Shelby GT500! I couldn’t believe how it looked and sounded. Needless to say, that night I started laying the groundwork with the wife to find a Shelby which came at the end of November 2021. I found a new one real fast with the best-looking color for 5 minutes, Black. I’m a glutton for punishment as all our current vehicles are black. Lol.
First thing I did was the break in till the first snow late in December and then in January when the roads were salt free it went to be completely PPF’d and ceramic coated. A year goes by of reading the forum and thinking about if I want to do anything until the madness started in early 2023 when I purchased a carbon fiber steering wheel along with some other carbon fiber parts, thinking I’m going to get the dealer to install all this stuff. Nope!
I went to work in Mid '23 & then Spring of '24 buying the manual, Race Ramps, a Quickjack TL7000 and got started, very slowly but I have completed everything I have with only a few extra screws.
In '24 it was my 6+ month mod madness but I enjoyed every minute of it. I am not a mechanical person as I’ve always paid someone to do this type of work but I said why not.
Many of you helped me along the way like Tim, Chris, Ricky, James, Chad, Bob, Evan, and countless others with their enabling posts and advice. I couldn’t have done it without you and that’s why this forum is so great! The finished product, well sort of, as some parts still aren’t here. Who knows what’s next, rims, more Carbon Fiber, and just maybe some engine power mods. Thank you for this honor! Kevin
Interior Mod List:
Zen Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel (Purchased from forum member David)
S550 Euros Carbon Fiber Paddle Replacements
Mustang Carbon Carbon Fiber Top Steering Wheel Bezel
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Complete Center Console
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Center Console Side Panels
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Window Switches (Broke them removing for Door Latches)
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Dash Trim
TruFiber Carbon Fiber End Caps
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Navigation Radio Bezel
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Center Console
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Driver and Passenger A-Pillars
5 Spurs GT500 Gear Shifter Crown
5 Spurs Headlight Knob Cover
5 Spurs Radio Knob Covers
5 Spurs Metal Start Button – Custom Snake Logo
5 Spurs Black Metal Toggles
Mustang Carbon - Carbon Fiber Window Switches
Mustang Carbon - Carbon Fiber Door Handles
Mustang Carbon - Carbon Fiber Active Door Handles and Latches
NextGen Speed Carbon Fiber Interior Door Handle Trim Cover
MPR Performance Carbon Fiber Map Light
Diode Dynamics LED Map Lights (Cool White)
Diode Dynamics LED Vanity Lights (Cool White)
Steeda Black Anodized billet Aluminum Interior Hood Latch
Mustang Hunters Carbon Fiber Cup Holder Coasters
Shelby Trunk Mat
Shelby Floor Mats
S550 Euros Carbon Fiber Sunglass Holder Overlay
Diode Dynamics RGBW MultiColor Footwell LED Kit – 4 Strips
Diode Dynamics RGBW MultiColor Footwell LED Kit – 2 Strips (For Door Sill Plates)
Exterior Mod List:
Steeda Full Length Jacking Rails
FFP Carbon Fiber Hood Vent and Rain Tray (Now magnetically attached)
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler Gurney Flap
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Splitter Wickers
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Front Bumper Trim
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Turn Signal Bezels
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Side Rocker Panel Splitters
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Side Rocker Panel Splitters Extensions
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Rear Splash Guards
Ford Performance Carbon Fiber Front Splitter Kit
Ford Performance Carbon Fiber Bumper Insert
Ford Performance Carbon Fiber Rear Deck Lid Trim Panel
Base Rims Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber by Covering Infinity Finishes
Shelby Carbon Fiber Valve Stem Caps
5 Spurs GT500 Center Wheel Caps – Custom Snake Logo
Diode Dynamics 4th Brake Light
Diode Dynamics Smoked LED Sidemarkers (replaced with Striker RGB Lights)
I-5 Autohaus Blackout LED Headlights
Opt7 LED Arrow Turn Signals with Switchback & Sequential Smoked
Renegade EU Style LED Sequential TailLights Smoked
Striker Lights RGB Rear Side Markers Smoked
Striker Lights RGB Rear Diffuser Reflectors Smoked
MPR Performance Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps
MPR Performance Carbon Fiber Exterior Triangles
MPR Performance Carbon Fiber License Plate Surround
S550 Euros Carbon Fiber Mirror Trim Covers
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Tail Light Bezels
RaceSeng Open Conical Floating Seats Lug Nuts – Spitfire
RaceSeng Titanium Tow Hook – Spitfire
RaceSeng Tug License Plate Mount
Shelby GT500 Hood Pin Beauty Ring Kit
Steeda Front Parking Camera Kit
Morimoto XB LED License Plate Lights
Engine Mod List:
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Radiator Overflow Cover
Etsy Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber Fuse Cover
eBay GT500 Strut Tower Cover (Now Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber)
Shelby GT500 Engine Cap Set
SPE GT500 Stage 2 Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake
SPE GT500 Carbon Fiber Billet Radiator Mount Kit
SPE GT500 DCT Cooler Line Kit
JLT Performance ABS Master Cylinder Cover (Now Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber)
Redline Carbon Fiber Sleeve for OEM Gas Strut
Vorshlag S550 Brake Cooling Deflector Kit
Steeda Ultralite 2-Point G-Trac Brace
OPR GT500 Stainless Brake Caliper Stud Kit
Borla ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust with Carbon Fiber QUAD Tips
Misc Items:
Automotive Authority Spare Tire Kit
Fumoto F107SX Oil Drain Valve
Pilot Gore’s Oil Change gear!
Exhibitions of Speed Carbon Fiber Snake Fender Emblem (Cancelled due to Production Quality)
Left to do:
SPE GT500 Stage 3 Track Bite System
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Door Sill Plates (Waiting on custom Ford Show Parts Sill Plates) - To be illuminated by Diode Dynamics RBGW Lighting.
Carbon Addons Carbon Fiber Exterior Door Handles
Bemaro Films GT500 and Shelby White Lettering
PPF and Ceramic all Carbon Fiber
4 pack Sliplo Ultra for Splitter and Rocker Panels
5 Spurs Cupholder Armrest Cover – Leather – Custom Embroidery Snake (Not Received Yet)
First off thank you to everyone on this wonderful forum that has helped me in this journey. You are the best group of enablers! Every time someone showed some cool part installed or carbon fiber, it was hard to resist. You all have made it really fun! I am grateful and humble for this honor of Ride of the Month (ROTM).
My love for cars started when I was young with my dad who seemed to buy and sell our family car every year but not because we ever had anything fancy or sporty but functional as I come from a larger family with 5 siblings and always several dogs. I always helped him especially with the 3-4 motorcycles in the garage which he worked on and rode so I gravitated toward motorcycles because of the excitement they provided riding with the wind in your face and fast, doing stupid stuff like stunts thinking I was Evel Knievel which led me to the attending the Indy 500 and Nascar races. After attending several races at the brickyard and Michigan speedway, I wanted to do just that, a race car driver but it was just a teens dream so instead I wanted to be all I could be so I joined the Army. How’s that for a 180, lol, but I had a plan for the government to pay for my college. Basic and then MOS training, 64 Charlie, as I would never walk anywhere being heavy transportation hauler. On my way home, I stopped by my Army buddy’s place in southern Illinois as he had a friend selling a 1968 Lime Gold Mustang 289 automatic! It had some bondo and needed work but it ran well, looked cool and had some awesome mag wheels, plus the power and sound. I jumped at the opportunity to buy my first car being a mustang. What’s really odd is I don’t have 1 picture of that car but it’s fitting many years later we purchased our current 1968 Raven Black 289 Convertible.
That summer flew by doing burnouts and cruising till it was time to go to college, so I sold the ‘68 to a guy for about 3 times what I paid for it.
Fast forward to Sept 2021, my neighbors brother drives by real slow revving his 2020 White Shelby GT500! I couldn’t believe how it looked and sounded. Needless to say, that night I started laying the groundwork with the wife to find a Shelby which came at the end of November 2021. I found a new one real fast with the best-looking color for 5 minutes, Black. I’m a glutton for punishment as all our current vehicles are black. Lol.
First thing I did was the break in till the first snow late in December and then in January when the roads were salt free it went to be completely PPF’d and ceramic coated. A year goes by of reading the forum and thinking about if I want to do anything until the madness started in early 2023 when I purchased a carbon fiber steering wheel along with some other carbon fiber parts, thinking I’m going to get the dealer to install all this stuff. Nope!
I went to work in Mid '23 & then Spring of '24 buying the manual, Race Ramps, a Quickjack TL7000 and got started, very slowly but I have completed everything I have with only a few extra screws.
Many of you helped me along the way like Tim, Chris, Ricky, James, Chad, Bob, Evan, and countless others with their enabling posts and advice. I couldn’t have done it without you and that’s why this forum is so great! The finished product, well sort of, as some parts still aren’t here. Who knows what’s next, rims, more Carbon Fiber, and just maybe some engine power mods. Thank you for this honor! Kevin
Interior Mod List:
Zen Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel (Purchased from forum member David)
S550 Euros Carbon Fiber Paddle Replacements
Mustang Carbon Carbon Fiber Top Steering Wheel Bezel
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Complete Center Console
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Center Console Side Panels
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Window Switches (Broke them removing for Door Latches)
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Dash Trim
TruFiber Carbon Fiber End Caps
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Navigation Radio Bezel
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Center Console
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Driver and Passenger A-Pillars
5 Spurs GT500 Gear Shifter Crown
5 Spurs Headlight Knob Cover
5 Spurs Radio Knob Covers
5 Spurs Metal Start Button – Custom Snake Logo
5 Spurs Black Metal Toggles
Mustang Carbon - Carbon Fiber Window Switches
Mustang Carbon - Carbon Fiber Door Handles
Mustang Carbon - Carbon Fiber Active Door Handles and Latches
NextGen Speed Carbon Fiber Interior Door Handle Trim Cover
MPR Performance Carbon Fiber Map Light
Diode Dynamics LED Map Lights (Cool White)
Diode Dynamics LED Vanity Lights (Cool White)
Steeda Black Anodized billet Aluminum Interior Hood Latch
Mustang Hunters Carbon Fiber Cup Holder Coasters
Shelby Trunk Mat
Shelby Floor Mats
S550 Euros Carbon Fiber Sunglass Holder Overlay
Diode Dynamics RGBW MultiColor Footwell LED Kit – 4 Strips
Diode Dynamics RGBW MultiColor Footwell LED Kit – 2 Strips (For Door Sill Plates)
Exterior Mod List:
Steeda Full Length Jacking Rails
FFP Carbon Fiber Hood Vent and Rain Tray (Now magnetically attached)
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Rear Spoiler Gurney Flap
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Splitter Wickers
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Front Bumper Trim
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Turn Signal Bezels
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Side Rocker Panel Splitters
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Side Rocker Panel Splitters Extensions
Anderson Composites Carbon Fiber Rear Splash Guards
Ford Performance Carbon Fiber Front Splitter Kit
Ford Performance Carbon Fiber Bumper Insert
Ford Performance Carbon Fiber Rear Deck Lid Trim Panel
Base Rims Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber by Covering Infinity Finishes
Shelby Carbon Fiber Valve Stem Caps
5 Spurs GT500 Center Wheel Caps – Custom Snake Logo
Diode Dynamics 4th Brake Light
Diode Dynamics Smoked LED Sidemarkers (replaced with Striker RGB Lights)
I-5 Autohaus Blackout LED Headlights
Opt7 LED Arrow Turn Signals with Switchback & Sequential Smoked
Renegade EU Style LED Sequential TailLights Smoked
Striker Lights RGB Rear Side Markers Smoked
Striker Lights RGB Rear Diffuser Reflectors Smoked
MPR Performance Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps
MPR Performance Carbon Fiber Exterior Triangles
MPR Performance Carbon Fiber License Plate Surround
S550 Euros Carbon Fiber Mirror Trim Covers
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Tail Light Bezels
RaceSeng Open Conical Floating Seats Lug Nuts – Spitfire
RaceSeng Titanium Tow Hook – Spitfire
RaceSeng Tug License Plate Mount
Shelby GT500 Hood Pin Beauty Ring Kit
Steeda Front Parking Camera Kit
Morimoto XB LED License Plate Lights
Engine Mod List:
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Radiator Overflow Cover
Etsy Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber Fuse Cover
eBay GT500 Strut Tower Cover (Now Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber)
Shelby GT500 Engine Cap Set
SPE GT500 Stage 2 Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake
SPE GT500 Carbon Fiber Billet Radiator Mount Kit
SPE GT500 DCT Cooler Line Kit
JLT Performance ABS Master Cylinder Cover (Now Hydrodipped Carbon Fiber)
Redline Carbon Fiber Sleeve for OEM Gas Strut
Vorshlag S550 Brake Cooling Deflector Kit
Steeda Ultralite 2-Point G-Trac Brace
OPR GT500 Stainless Brake Caliper Stud Kit
Borla ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust with Carbon Fiber QUAD Tips
Misc Items:
Automotive Authority Spare Tire Kit
Fumoto F107SX Oil Drain Valve
Pilot Gore’s Oil Change gear!
Exhibitions of Speed Carbon Fiber Snake Fender Emblem (Cancelled due to Production Quality)
Left to do:
SPE GT500 Stage 3 Track Bite System
TruFiber Carbon Fiber Door Sill Plates (Waiting on custom Ford Show Parts Sill Plates) - To be illuminated by Diode Dynamics RBGW Lighting.
Carbon Addons Carbon Fiber Exterior Door Handles
Bemaro Films GT500 and Shelby White Lettering
PPF and Ceramic all Carbon Fiber
4 pack Sliplo Ultra for Splitter and Rocker Panels
5 Spurs Cupholder Armrest Cover – Leather – Custom Embroidery Snake (Not Received Yet)