The 2012 Piedmont Mopar Club's...
The 2012 Piedmont Mopar Club's annual show at Farmington Dragway in North Carolina featured hundreds of cars, both classics and modern versions.
May 12, the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend found Mopar fans and racers from around the southeast gathering at one of the largest one-day Mopar shows in the country. For the 27th year, the Piedmont Mopar Club has hosted this event, located at Farmington Dragway on the outskirts of Wniston-Salem, N.C. Coupled with great weather, 2012 found a huge field of show cars, drag racing, and swap meet goodies on the property.
Show promoter Ron Osborne runs a tight ship; the club takes care of the smaller details and responsibilities that the event entails, and everything went off without a hitch. Ron and his crew take a great deal of pride in the event, spending months working on the custom diorama trophies that go to the first place and best of show winners. Cars are arranged in rows of classes, based on body styles and whether stock or modified, and you never know what may show up from the garages of enthusiasts. Judging is done by club members, who graciously agree to not display in the show's judged areas. Ron told us this was the biggest show the group had ever held, and new track owners Everett and Holly Justice were very impressed by the turnout and car quality.
Meanwhile, the racing program is managed by the track and its staff, with most vehicle parked on the left hand pits where the facility even maintains a set of racing garages.. A concise racing program, featuring classes in both footbrake and box, was completed in about three hours, with wheels-up action in various classes. Exhibition runs were made by Steve and Kay Moths' Bad News Dodge FX car. Fran Olsen's Hurri-Cain II Barracuda FX also made a couple of laps.
We came out for the day to take a look at the 2012 happenings; check it out...
It is one of the largest one-day...
It is one of the largest one-day events on the Mopar calendar.
The Best of Show trophy was...
The Best of Show trophy was this working DVD theater; Ron and the club changes the theme each year.
John Jancic and his Hemi Road...
John Jancic and his Hemi Road Runner tribute was the winner this year.
Ron Polidora was competing...
Ron Polidora was competing in two classes, one with his big-inch Duster, featured in Mopar Muscle several years ago, and the other with his late-model Challenger.
Steve Moths was on hand making...
Steve Moths was on hand making exhibition runs in his Bad News (...Travels Fast) Dodge altered wheelbase car.
Former Slant Six racer Ron...
Former Slant Six racer Ron Hamby had two cars on hand, a Valiant that took a second place award, and his 1970 D100 Dodge truck that took First Place in the Truck category.
Rows of swap meet vendors...
Rows of swap meet vendors were set up as well...
...this area was sold and...
...this area was sold and features everything from NOS items to race-used parts.
Meanwhile, though no price...
Meanwhile, though no price was visible, this numbers-matching 1970 Coronet R/T convertible got John Stunkard's attention in the car corral area. Fairly solid, it might need a little TLC, and doing this rarity right would be pricy...
Herb McCandless takes a look...
Herb McCandless takes a look at a rare two-piece Lakewood safety bell housing in the swap meet.
Petty's Garage had this custom...
Petty's Garage had this custom convertible on display as well; the club is involved in doing a special all-makes show at that facility over Memorial Day weekend.
Chris Hannus' beautiful Barracuda...
Chris Hannus' beautiful Barracuda Formula S package was a standout among the restored A-bodies; the car is 340/A727 combination.
Ray Burnette is the only-ever...
Ray Burnette is the only-ever owner of this Bahama Yellow 1969 Road Runner.
Ron Osborne introduced the...
Ron Osborne introduced the club and attendees to new track owners Everett and Holly Justice.
The track at Farmington is...
The track at Farmington is 1/8 mile and has been around since the 1960s...
and an ample coating of glue...
and an ample coating of glue allowed cars to get up and go...
including this '72 Road Runner...
including this '72 Road Runner that won the footbrake title.