To learn how I leveraged social media and my interpersonal skills to introduce Japan and Texas to the 2010 Ford Mustang, click on the “Mustang Drifts Japan Liveblog” link to the right and browse through the thumbnail grid.

Language barriers are imperceptible when bonding over cars. I personally proved this theory during the 2010 Ford Mustang’s introduction, when I tailed Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr. to Japan for the world’s first international automotive liveblogging session. During the 400-kilometer drive from Tokyo to Ebisu Circuit, I carefully adopted the role of “automotive ambassador” by inviting local car buffs to take a photo inside the Mustang.

Vaughn Gittin, Jr. isn’t just a great drift pilot. He’s instrumental in convincing import-savvy youth that American-built performance machines are worthy of consideration. I traveled to Japan to liveblog his first slides in the 2010 Ford Mustang GT, and conducted a series of video interviews carried on SpeedSportLife.

In seventh grade, I began teaching myself Japanese. My use and study of the language waned in the following years, but thanks to a handy phrasebook, I was able to hand out scale models of the Mustang to kids and car enthusiasts on the way to Nissan’s Zama headquarters.

After reviewing the 2010 Ford Mustang in Japan, I took delivery of a pre-production unit in Dallas. I stopped at tens of dealers between Dallas and Houston, giving sales professionals an unfiltered look at their next flagship sportscar. My ability to interact with dealers, service techs, industry analysts and auto shoppers on distinct and personal levels has been honed in the most authentic way: on the road.

In the fight for car culture, it’s important to engage your closest allies. That’s why I visited several speed shops and Mustang specialists to give them an exclusive preview of the new car.

A quick on-campus photoshoot at the University of Houston parking garage grabbed the attention of three students who happened to be Mustang owners. The newly formed entourage paraded down to Strictly Performance, Houston’s preeminent meeting place for fans of fast Fords. The visit culminated in the first public dyno test of the 2010 Mustang. The popular YouTube video was great exposure for both Strictly Performance and the new Mustang.

Service technicians are often a manufacturer’s best assurance of customer satisfaction after a sale. Wouldn’t you feel better taking your car to an enthusiastic service technician that feels a sense of duty to the brand? That’s why it’s important to afford technicians the same previews of new models that sales staff and enthusiasts receive.

James Draughn introduced himself during one of my “dealer drive-bys”, and kindly offered to allow me to photograph the 2010 Mustang alongside his personal collection. His brother, professional photographer Jeremiah Draughn, shot a photoset and posted the pictures to Flickr. I’ve stayed in touch with James, who was profiled in the August 2010 issue of 5.0 Mustang and Super Fords Magazine.