The 25th edition of the Mopar Nationals had it all--cool cars, lots of on-track action, and a swap meet/car corral filled with the next round of show winners (many of them in not-yet-trophy-winning condition).
It also featured lots of Mopar enthusiasts who appreciate the style, power, and overall "IT!" that Mopars have, despite many of them being younger than the cars they build and drive.
We met up with some of the Young Guns Club members who were on hand at the Nats, and we got to take a closer look at the rides they discovered, built, and/or preserved, and drove from their hometowns to National Trail Raceway just east of Columbus.
You'd smile too if you'd restored...
You'd smile too if you'd restored a 340/four-speed '68 Barracuda Formula S coupe the way Gregg Orr Jr. from Hamlet, Indiana, did. He was at the Nats with it and was part of the Young Guns display.
Once a Mopar, always a Mopar...but...
Once a Mopar, always a Mopar...but Ryan Cameron's '68 Dodge didn't start out as the Super Bee you see here. He made it from a Coronet 440, adding a 440 and reverse-manual valvebody 727, among other items. Ryan is from Gladwin, Michigan.
Young Guns rides at the '07...
Young Guns rides at the '07 Mopar Nationals didn't get any bigger than Chad Carroll's '97 Dodge Ram 2500 from Glenford, Ohio. He's upgraded the Cummins turbo diesel, as well as adding brush guards up front--but this Ram's still a hauler and hard worker.
New Middletown, Ohio's Rodney...
New Middletown, Ohio's Rodney Knight was one of the large contingent of B-Body enthusiasts in the Young Guns corral. His '74 Road Runner sports a stock 360/four-speed powertrain.
Not only did the Young Guns...
Not only did the Young Guns show off their Mopar prides and joys, some also raced them. In the pits is T.J. Kost from Atwater, Ohio, and his '71 Charger R/T.
Brandon Lenz was the long-distance...
Brandon Lenz was the long-distance traveler of the Young Guns this year, coming from Grandview, Washington, and showing his immaculate '72 Road Runner.
There's a good reason why...
There's a good reason why Morgan Campbell had the hood and trunk open on his '73 Coronet Custom from Lebanon, Ohio. He picked the parking spot in the Young Guns' corral that was right next to the judging tent, right where folks could see his well-preserved, late-production '73.
It's a Dodge; it's an R/T;...
It's a Dodge; it's an R/T; and a Young Gun has made it his own. That's Aaron Work and his McConnelsville, Ohio-based '01 Neon R/T.
When was the last time you...
When was the last time you saw a hideaway-headlight-equipped '71 Charger 500 in the pits waiting to race? Unless it was Alex Kosts' Dodge from Atwater, Ohio, (wearing a year-of-origin plate up front), it was many moons ago.
If you think Slant Six-powered...
If you think Slant Six-powered Swingers like Young Gun Rachel Walz' '71 are sweet, you're definitely Dodge Material!
OK, Mopar historians: Which...
OK, Mopar historians: Which item under the hood of Rachel Walz' '71 Swinger from Gowanda, New York, wasn't included in the optional Easy Order Package that year, but should have been?
The Plymouth-win-you-over...
The Plymouth-win-you-over beat goes on, generation after generation, as evidenced by Kyle Matthew from Hamlet, Indiana, and his '68 Plymouth Satellite.
Another one for you Mopar...
Another one for you Mopar Historians, courtesy of Young Gun Rodney Knight's '74 Road Runner: Name an iconic Mopar-related movie where you saw one of the title characters drive a car with that same-style steering wheel, and name one where the lead character grabs gears with a pistol-grip shifter like that one. (Answers: The Blues Brothers and Vanishing Point.)
Cleveland rocks, especially...
Cleveland rocks, especially when Young Gun Lorna Springer fires up her 440-powered '71 Charger R/T.
You'd smile too if you had...
You'd smile too if you had a sweet '69 Charger R/T like Tyler Harvey's from Villa Grove, Illinois.