It's an annual event, and this year was the 22nd time it occurred. The Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, is the largest Mopar-only happening in the country. A few years ago, the brains behind Mopar Muscle magazine thought it would be a great idea if we could start from different parts of the country and "caravan" groups of enthusiasts to the Mopar Nationals, ending the tours at Columbus' infamous Brice Road.
We quickly learned that you guys also thought it was a good idea, and the caravans have become a yearly tradition ever since. This year, we had to drop a couple legs from the trip due to a lack of manpower, but in the end the meeting at Brice Road was just as large-if not larger-as in previous years.
Although the gathering at Brice Road is an event unto itself, the caravans are the foundation for the real fun. Meeting everybody, driving on the interstate with a line of Mopars, and the spirited activities once we all get to the nightly layovers are the things everybody looks forward to in early August. The trips are sometimes long, but when the engines turn off on Brice Road, the tired and weary drivers forget all about that.
The Mopar Nationals have begun!
The Northeast tour began at...
The Northeast tour began at Just Suspensions in Fairfield, New Jersey, and started the caravan with 16 participants.
The view in the mirror was...
The view in the mirror was unmistakable-we overran the highways.
We met Dennis Hook and his...
We met Dennis Hook and his wife during the caravan. Their '67 'Cuda worked flawlessly. It even knew how to get us back on the right path, but that's another story.
Those of you with a Shaker-hood...
Those of you with a Shaker-hood car know how tough it can be to change a valve-cover gasket. Try doing it on the road. Peter Caiola from Bronx, New York, had to do just that on his wife's (the brownie lady) convertible while at Summit Racing. He also had to change the master-cylinder lid gasket on his Challenger convertible because it was leaking.
Dennis Kohr (a contributor...
Dennis Kohr (a contributor for another Mopar magazine) brought his family along for the caravan. There was one close call with the fuel gauge, but a well-placed service station cured that.
Thomas Titus and his family...
Thomas Titus and his family got the hard-luck award on the Keystone caravan. At one of the gas stops, Thomas tried to start his Road Runner only to have the starter literally come apart. Luckily, his was a four-speed car, and with a quick push, he was underway. Thomas drove three hours out of the way to a relative's house to make the repairs, and later arrived at our hotel in Ohio at 5:30 a.m. He joined us when we pulled out at 9:00 a.m. en route to Summit Racing.
Keystone Caravan
Fairfield, New Jersey, to Columbus, Ohio, is a long haul. The two-day excursion was piloted through the vast countryside of the Northeast, and few problems were encountered. We met lots of great people along the way. Some folks even contacted us at the beginning of the tour to offer their services, if needed, when we reached their part of the country. If you can, join one of the caravans next year. Even though this was my first trip with the Keystone bunch, I had the feeling these folks were like a family. They all knew each other, and one lady even brought brownies for everybody. I definitely want to do this tour again.
Hallowed Ground
The launching point for the Detroit-Columbus cruise was, for the third year running, the Walter P. Chrysler museum. Located within the DaimlerChrysler headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, the museum is the perfect mental and physical staging point for a caravan to the Mopar Nationals. Participants are treated to a discount, and about an hour is set aside for the group to explore the various aspects of Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, and Jeep history through a variety of restored and preserved Mopar products. After our tour time, museum floor manager Sabrina expertly directed our crew around the museum entrance for a photo op.
Tennessee, Ho!
The Memphis leg of the Return to Brice Road caravan launched from Competition Cams-exactly one week before the 25th Anniversary of the death of Elvis. So, Memphis was shakin' and groovin', getting ready for the big event, expecting more people than were gladly welcomed. I met tech superstar Steve Dulcich at the airport and we made quick time to Comp Cams to pick up the true King of Rock 'n' Roll-the Hot Rod Hemi Ram!
David Hakim of Chrysler's performance division had put together a beast to be reckoned with. Yes, we quickly became big boys with big toys. Driving in traffic, the passenger in the car beside us pulled out his camera and snapped a shot. Another driver gave us the thumbs-up. Someone at every service station between Memphis and Columbus asked us to pop the hood to see the 528 Hemi engine. It was great! And as for driver Dulcich-I knew that any time a straight patch of road opened up before us, I needed to hang on and pray my seatbelt was fastened because the G-forces were coming my way.
Start 'em early. That's what...
Start 'em early. That's what Walter Patruskey of Mt. Ephram, New Jersey, did. He and his son came along for the ride, and Walter wasn't the only one doing the driving. Are we starting another Young Gun, Walter?
When Douglas McCombs of Volant,...
When Douglas McCombs of Volant, Pennsylvania, joined the caravan, we all took some time to ponder the virtues of his '65 Valiant. The 340 four-speed-equipped A-Body worked as well as it looked. Stay tuned for future coverage of this one.
Jerry Lebar of Easton, Pennsylvania,...
Jerry Lebar of Easton, Pennsylvania, trailered his astounding AAR to Brice Road, but the fact that his trailer used a Mopar Muscle license plate on it added to the coolness. Yes, once he arrived in Columbus, the car was off of the trailer the rest of the weekend.
Wayne Lukonis from Meriden,...
Wayne Lukonis from Meriden, Connecticut, and his brother Neil definitely livened things up, ensuring the "partay" atmosphere remained intact.
The asphalt jaunt from Auburn...
The asphalt jaunt from Auburn Hills, Michigan, to Columbus, Ohio, isn't exactly what you would call a hard-core road trip. Barring major traffic or construction delays and pit crew-efficient gas stops, it's only half a day's drive. The Mopar Muscle caravan, however, ensures a heaping helping of fun that you wouldn't enjoy travelling solo.
Rotten Rubber Because the...
Rotten Rubber
Because the Detroit caravan is only a leisurely day trip, we didn't have time, thankfully, to indulge in major roadside repairs, although one did surface for posterity's sake. On our first gas stop somewhere in the Great Lakes state, Jay Ottenwess noticed a coolant leak in his '75 W-200 crew cab. One of the water-pump hoses decided to cut loose. Fortunately, a run to an area parts store netted Jay a replacement hose and coolant, and we were soon back on the road.
Gas-Pump Invasions One thing...
Gas-Pump Invasions
One thing that keeps road trips interesting is the stops along the way. We can only imagine what was going through the mind of the old man who was running the register of this dual-pump gas station when our sizable caravan rolled onto his turf.
Afternoon Treat Real Mopar...
Afternoon Treat
Real Mopar folk enjoy their own special brand of after-dinner delights.