Welcome to the home of the 2015 SEMA Show
1966 Ford Mustang Build
SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED US GLOBALLY
The sponsors you will see on this page are finest companies you will find in the automotive industry. They have stepped up to support the not only this build, but the industry and its future, and most importantly our troops and our country as a whole. It is our sincere belief that they deserve your trust and support, as they have earned ours through their actions.
Welcome to the home of the 2015 SEMA show build of a 1966 Ford Mustang for the United States Military Educators Association – USMEA, whose purpose is promoting educational opportunities to active and veteran military personnel across the country. USMEA has teamed up with WyoTech and Richard Wood Kustoms to revamp this tired old notchback into an eye catching showpiece to aid in awareness and promotion for years to come.
The project is led and hosted by 1982 WyoTech graduate and world renowned builder, Richard Wood. He is aided by a hands on team of carefully selected, recent WyoTech graduates who are receiving invaluable real world experience before they enter the industry. His own team of experienced builders at Richard Wood Kustoms, the majority of which are WyoTech graduates as well, will be working right alongside this young crew, offering guidance whenever needed. Behind the scene, a small army of personnel from WyoTech, USMEA, Richard Wood Kustoms and RTM productions are working tirelessly to keep the build team supplied with everything they need to complete the car.
USMEA president and car owner Mike Ramlogan, a retired Marine, works closely with local, state and federal legislators, officials, and organizations as well as many internal DOD personnel including base commanders and generals to promote veteran educational opportunities. The goal of the USMEA is to provide the most seamless framework possible for our veterans to transition from the battlefield into post secondary education, paving a path to productive and meaningful careers outside the military.
When the USMEA decided their Mustang needed some help, WyoTech, the premier automotive technical school in the county was the obvious choice. WyoTech is no stranger to supporting the military community, and boasting some of the highest graduation rates of any two-year collage in the United States, the two key aspects of this build, Education and Veteran Support were radically bolstered.
In addition to these key aspects, WyoTech wishes to showcase the skills their graduates possess, as well as career opportunities in the automotive industry and the value of a technical education. WyoTech has chosen this car build to kick off its 50 year anniversary celebration, a year long event concluding at SEMA 2016.
Richard Wood, Founder of Richard Wood Kustoms, is an outspoken supporter of both his alma mater, WyoTech, and the veteran community. For over 30 years, he has set, then raised the bar in the custom car world, and further into the automotive aftermarket. A repeat ISCA champion, Richard has never lost a Best Paint award in his life. Fresh out of WyoTech, he started Custom Car Crafters in Austin, Texas, and from scratch, grew it into one of the largest independent paint and body shops in the southwestern United States. In September of 2015, he realized his life goal when he sold the auto body collision company to concentrate solely on the Kustoms.
RTM productions will be filming an episode of PowerNations's Detroit Muscle from the shop as the Mustang comes back together. Co-host and WyoTech graduate Marc Christ will be firmly reinforcing the distinguished WyoTech alumni presence throughout this build.
Attending SEMA? Be sure to come the WyoTech Booth #24593 in the Central Hall on opening day, November 3rd at 1:30PM. Steve Ross, Mayor Pro-Tem of Las Vegas will be unveiling the car with a wide rage of congressional, military and celebrity guests in attendance. Cant make it? Don't worry, you can watch all the action live streams at the top of this page.
CAR SPECIFICATIONS
Year – 1966
Make – Ford
Style – Mustang Notchback
Motor – 347 ci stoker
Numbers – 425HP/415lb/ft'
wyotech built, small block ford stroker fresh off the dyno at the blairsville campus came in at 421hp and 413lb/ft torque
