Read all about how YOU helped us get our Metal Mustang back!
April 26, 2017 UPDATE!
It’s BACK! And it’s even more beautiful than ever!
Our beloved Metal Mustang is back! Here are some photos from this event…
April 19, 2017 UPDATE!
Our Metal Mustang is BACK! Come to the unveiling on Wednesday, April 26 at 8:30 am! Event listing is here.
Thanks to all the donors who helped make this possible!
- John Thomas Tone (’85)
- Wendy Woodard (’83)
- Natalie Renee Powell (’83)
- Danette and Bart Smith
- Cindy Iohning (’84)
- Lizbeth Ecke (’75)
- Brianna K. Huntoon (’05)
- Louise Sullivan Hoffman Abbott (’68)
- John Van Horn
- Doug Bowen (’58)
- Anonymous (’08 & ’09)
- Leslie Kulchin Saldana (’84)
- Mary Arballo Magaña (’40)
- Anonymous (’63)
- Ellie Diaz Herr (’63)
1/4/17 UPDATE!
Our Metal Mustang is almost completely repaired and ready for installation. Would you help us pay for the cost to restore this iconic landmark to the San Dieguito campus?
11/10/16 UPDATE: We need your help AGAIN. This time for installation costs.
We’ve run headlong [SMACK!] into a bit of hurdle with our Metal Mustang and now are turning to our alumni for help!
Installing the Mustang on school grounds costs a lot more than it did when it was first installed in 1981 because the State building code standards are much more complex today. We must follow these plans, which were drawn up by our SDUHSD architect.
For example, a detail not required in the 1981 installation is a steel cage (or basket) placed within the 4-foot deep hole holding the concrete, which will be welded to the post. We’ll also need a crane to lift the Mustang from the truck in order to place it into the ground.
We got a competitive bid: installation cost will run approximately $6900, which includes picking up the Mustang, delivering it to the school, using a crane to move the pole, the steel cage, etc…
We are now rolling up our sleeves. We need your help.
Any donation, any size, will help us get our Mustang back on the road. If you donate via the SDA Foundation to this cause you will receive a tax receipt.
06/10/16 UPDATE! It’s not funded yet, but THANK YOU TO ALL DONORS!
Susan La Forest Williams (’81) finished painting the Mustang and may I say what a great job she did? Ken Harrison wrote an article about it, here.
Susan Ash Bruun (’61) had the Mustang delivered from Baker Iron Works in Solana Beach to RW Little in San Diego, which is where the Mustang was painted. Thank you, Mrs. Bruun! After it cures (next week) she’ll be bringing it back and holding it in her work yard for us until the District is able to install it.
None of this would’ve happened if it weren’t for Susan Bruun! THANK YOU, MRS. BRUUN!!!
Ken Harrison wrote an article in the San Diego Reader about Susan La Forest William (’81)
06/06/16 UPDATE! SUSAN LA FOREST WILLIAMS WILL PAINT TUESDAY, 6/7/2016!
We are still short of our goal of $800 to pay for the Metal Mustang repair. Any little bit will help!
We are finalizing arrangements to paint and reinstall our Metal Mustang. In the meantime, we want to thank those donors who’ve helped so far! (See list, above.)
04/28/16 UPDATE!
Susan Ash Bruun (’61), owner of Baker Ironworks, and Randy LaPage of RW Little, Co., are collaborating to provide us with the high performance marine-grade finish that should far outlast all previously applied powder coating finishes… for the same price as was quoted for the regular powder coating. This is a tremendous gift to all San Dieguito alumni as this is a much more expensive coating.
Randy is not an alumnus, but he should be considered an Honorary Mustang for this contribution to the cause! Hooray for RW Little, Co.!
This super-duper high performance coating consists of an inorganic zinc primer, a zinc metal spray, and then two applications of an intermediate coat of epoxy before a final top coat of polyurethane. Holy hoofprints!
It hardens very quickly and will resist any paint applied to it — unless that paint is applied within 24 to 48 hours after application of the high performance marine finish. The original artist, Susan LaForest Williams (’81) is coming in from out of state to paint those details, so we must schedule the marine finish application accordingly.
The SDUHS District Facilities team will the install the Metal Mustang very close to its original location.
All is coming together! If you would like to help, click to donate to this worthy cause.
MARCH 3, 2016
Help us repair the Metal Mustang! All donations will receive a tax receipt.
Our Metal Mustang was created by Susan De Forest (’81) and stood by the field for over 30 years — until it had to be removed when our track was renovated. It was placed in the “Art Yard” on campus, which was when we realized how much repair it actually needed.
After standing for over 30 years in the sun, rain and ocean breezes, the Mustang was rusty, bent, and dented in spots.
We asked our Metals teacher, Jason Berend, if he could fix it. He determined that it needed sandblasting or chemical stripping plus some torch work, and let us know that the school’s sandblaster is too small and the chemicals involved in paint stripping would be too hazardous for students.
Then we looked into several alternatives with local contractors. When we contacted Mrs. Susan Bruun (’61) owner of Baker Ironworks of Solana Beach, she immediately said, “Yes!” She gave us an extremely competitive bid in which she absorbed most of the cost of the repair basically did everything for FREE and we very much appreciate her kindness! The remaining balance we hope to raise will pay for the remaining cost charged for those services Mrs. Bruun has to contract out.
This morning, SDUHSD facilities workers picked up the Mustang and took it to Baker Ironworks. Mrs. Bruun’s plan is to go over all welds, then send it to the sand blaster, have it marine coated and powder coated white.
THANK YOU, BAKER IRONWORKS! (And thanks to the alumni donors listed above!)
If you’d like to help contribute to the cost of repairing and re-installing our iconic Metal Mustang, please click on the donate button; you will be helping the San Dieguito Alumni Association maintain as many campus landmarks and memorabilia as possible. Help us repair the Metal Mustang! All donations will receive a tax receipt.
All of our landmarks and memorabilia can’t be saved, but we do our best to save what we can! We are so glad to be able to save our Metal Mustang.