The Mustangs are coming to the Southern Tier.
Hornell is the new home of the Mustang Rally of the Finger Lakes, and the Steuben County city will host the 16th annual rally over two days Aug. 1-2 in Veterans Memorial Park at James Street.
Hornell is picking up the baton from the Ontario County Village of Phelps, which hosted the first 15 Mustang Rallies.
The event showcases a variety of classic and modern Mustangs and draws Mustang enthusiasts from across the region, as well as Pennsylvania and Canada, according to local organizers.
This year’s event in Hornell begins Friday, Aug. 1, with a cruise to and from Watkins Glen International, giving participants a rare opportunity to drive on one of the most renowned racetracks in the world.
The rally will continue on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the park. Registration to show at the rally is $20 per car on the day of the event. An awards ceremony is at 3 p.m.
There is no cost for spectators to attend. In addition to Mustangs, the park will have a full slate of craft vendors, food trucks and concessions.
The rally’s relocation to Hornell has the city’s most well-known Mustang fan and owner, Mayor John Buckley, pumped and ready to go.
“This event marks an exciting new chapter for the Mustang Rally of the Finger Lakes, and I look forward to welcoming all attendees to Hornell for a weekend full of fun, camaraderie, and, of course, incredible cars,” Buckley said.
Buckley is one of the rally’s sponsors, along with Hornell Partners for Growth, the City of Hornell and car show promoter, Cruize’n Time.
“Cruize’n Time has been organizing car shows throughout our area for the last decade and are a perfect fit for the Mustang Rally,” Buckley said.
In addition to signing up a large lineup of vendors, HPG is partnering with Rochester Regional Health to bring a Mobile Mammogram unit to the park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No insurance or appointment is required and no one will be turned away.
Buckley said car shows foster community pride, create excitement, and bring people into the host city, benefiting local businesses.
Buckley attended the rally in Phelps many times and said he always came away impressed.
“I would like to thank all the volunteers who made the rally into such a wonderful event in the Village of Phelps for so many years,” Buckley said. “We are honored to carry on the tradition here in the Maple City.”
Email Neal Simon at nsimon@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Mustang Rally of the Finger Lakes rolls into Hornell for first time Aug. 1-2. What to know
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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