Ponies in The Smokies Quickly Becoming A Ford Mustang Must Go

Many Mustang enthusiasts and car club members are itching to get their ponies out after a long winter, especially those who live in the Midwest. One such show helps kick off Mustang car show season in a grand way with a beautiful back drop to boot. Ponies in the Smokies should be added to your Mustang Must-Go list as this four-day event features cruises, indoor and outdoor car shows, swap meets, autocross, poker runs, autocross and a swap meet. Not to mention it’s a fantastic gathering of fellow Mustang enthusiasts.

Where does Ponies in the Smokies Take Place?
Ponies in the Smokies, referred to as PITS, is a four-day event from March 25-28 and takes place in Sevierville, Tennessee, which is in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge location. This popular Midwest vacation spot is in the heart of the Smoky Mountains and has tens of thousands of hotel accommodations as well as numerous other things to do. PITS is a family-friendly event and the Sevierville area has plenty of activity to keep the entire family happy including restaurants, go-karts, shopping and amusement parks.

One of the reasons Ponies in the Smokies is becoming so popular is that the location is ideal as both appealing as a Ford Mustang car event, but also as a family vacation destination too.

What Events Take Place at Ponies in the Smokies?
Another appealing aspect of Ponies in the Smokies is that this isn’t a park your pony and sit by it event. PITS involves several driving events including the Shine Run. This is a two-day poker run with 13 stops along the way. It allows for sightseeing at a leisurely pace. Each of the 13 stops provides a playing card with the goal of making the best poker hand. The Shine Run is not a race, and is not timed, but prizes are awarded for the best poker hand.

One of the best stops along the way is at the famous Tail of the Dragon which has long been an enthusiast destination thanks to the twists and turns of this famous 11-mile stretch of US Highway 29. Rev up those engines and truly engine Tail of the Dragon as part of the Shine Run. The Shine Run is a two-day event that also includes the PITS Driving Experience at Smokies Stadium as well as drifting, drag racing and ride-alongs. You can also test your quarter mile times at the English Mountain Dragway.

Friday, March 27 is the PITS show which takes place at the Sevierville Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This will be both an indoor and outdoor car show, along with a swap meet that’s supported by hundreds of vendors. Saturday, March 28 is the All-Ford Cruise-In Show. You can get info on registration, lodging and more on the event’s website.

I have already seen many of my Mustang friends and car clubs organizing group outings to PITS. And for sure, we are all ready for some nice weather and the opportunity to let the ponies out of the corral and start show season.

Read more of my Mustang coverage here, and also weigh in on which Mustang is your favorite.

Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. In addition to being a nationally syndicated automotive columnist, Jimmy has been published in a compilation book about children growing up with disabilities, where he shared his own very personal experience. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.