July 1-3-Grand Junction, CO: 15th annual Mopar Magic Weekend in Grand Junction, Colorado. All Mopar car show presented by Mopars Unlimited of Colorado. Info: Carol or Roger Bryant; bryantchargers@msn.com; 970-434-7756.
July 8-10-Carlisle, PA: The Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals presented by DaimlerChrysler for all Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, and Jeep vehicles. Show field, swap meet, car corral, and Mopars, new and old, as well as concept cars and special guests to keep you entertained. Info: www.carsatcarlisle.com.
Also this year, do you have a Super Bee or Road Runner that came with an A-12 package? At the 2005 Chrysler Classic in Carlisle, PA, The A-12 Restoration group from Moparts.com is hosting a get-together of all lift-off-hood Road Runners and Super Bees. Info: Moparts.com, and go to the A-12 restoration page for more info.
July 8-9-York, PA: Fourth annual York US 30 Musclecar Madness at the York Expo Center, York Fairgrounds. This year, a "Tribute to Ronnie Sox" and the Sox & Martin race team. Two day Cruisin' Into Summer cruise in and Legends of Drag Racing. Info: www.yorkus30.com; Darwin Doll, (717) 755.5849.
Nickens Neon NewsTexans David and Bo Nickens have sold their '01 Dodge Neon to West Virginia-based racer Lonnie Johnson. Prior to consummating the final sale, the Nickens were at the NHRA Carquest Winternationals in Pomona, where they came very close to sending the car off to its new home with a national event title! Driver Bo Nickens wheeled the former Pro Stock car to the semifinal round in Competition eliminator before fouling out to the dragster driven by eventual winner Michael Stone.
David Nickens confirmed the machine features a unique 470 Hemi-engine, which he manufactures. "It's basically a 500-inch Pro Stock motor, which has been de-stroked," revealed David. "It's one of our main products. We continue to specialize in Mopar engine applications for Sportsman racing." The slick-looking Neon, which is run in B/A class with a planetary transmission, has carded a best of a 7.41 e.t. to date.
Pomona PromiseNHRA POWERade drag racing fans got a serious dose of "Nitro Dodge" during the season-opening Winternationals in California following a record number of Dodge Stratus Funny Car class entries. No less than five new Dodge Stratus cars ran at the event. The Mopar parade was led by Gary Scelzi, who finished second in points last season behind the wheel of the Mopar/Oakley Stratus. Scelzi was the quickest in qualifying and during eliminations hit a best run of 4.717 at 331.53 mph. Scelzi's FC class teammates, Whit Bazemore and Ron Capps, also qualified. Bazemore had the best finish overall for the Dodges in attendance, placing in the semifinal round in the Matco Tools Stratus, while Capps was the talk of the pits following the unveiling of his new, spectacular-looking, Brut-sponsored Dodge Stratus.
The Pomona event also included the debut of new Dodge Stratus Funny Cars for California's Frank Pedregon and Ohio's Jim Head, who both show great promise.