With more than 16,000 specialty vehicles on the road, Roush Performance feels the time is right to create a new, in-house lifestyle club for the owners and fans of their products.

Previously, this aspect was managed by the Roush Owners and Enthusiasts Association (ROEA), an independent, volunteer-run organization.

The name of “The Club,” as it will temporarily be referred to, will be voted upon during the month of January. The official, chosen name will be announced in early February, with the logo unveiled shortly afterwards.

“We appreciate the efforts of the ROEA and thank them for their unwavering support and dedication," said Joe Thompson, Roush Performance vice-president and general manager. "However, we came to realize that running a club and all that it takes to put on events requires much more time and resources than the dedicated volunteers of the ROEA are often able to provide. As we looked out into the future, we saw an opportunity to create a new Roush lifestyle club that can bring our fans across the country together to participate in a variety of local and regional get-togethers as well as some national level events. The resources that we have internally offer us the ability to put together a tremendous framework for a club that will be as high-performance as the Roush Mustangs that we put on the street.”

While there are still many details to be worked through, Roushanticipates an annual membership to cost $35. If they choose to accept, current ROEA members will be offered membership into “The Club” with proof of valid membership along with some personal information such as name, address, and contact details.

“The goal of ‘The Club’ is to create a forum of fun, information, and events,” Thompson explained. “There will be a high level of interaction with ROUSH employees, some exciting activities each year, as well as an open forum for information about the vehicles, parts, engines, and other things that make up the ROUSH Performance universe. This is a club that will be for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts, and filled with enthusiastic people.”

To help answer questions people will have about “The Club” and its goals, Roush will be hosting a live webcast on December 15 at 8 p.m. (Eastern). During this forum, anyone interested in learning more is invited to log on, watch the presentation, and ask questions. Specific details on the webcast will be posted on www.roushperformance.com/club shortly. It is anticipated that this type of open “town hall” meeting will be held several times each year for club members to discuss upcoming events, answer questions, and continue the flow of information.

While a dedicated website will be developed once the name has been voted upon, for now people can visit www.roushperformance.com/club for more details. Membership sign-ups will begin in early January, 2010.