Mopar Breaking News

The Paddock Having Huge Liquidation Sale!

2010-07-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

One of the great reproduction muscle car parts sources for the better part of the last two decades suddenly closed its doors last year and shocked all of us by their sudden departure. The Paddock was well-known in the hobby as one of the “go to” sources for just about everything from weatherstripping to chrome trim to sheet metal, and everything in between. While the dust over their closure has far from settled, there will be a mammoth auction on July 29, 2010, to sell off all the holdings of The Paddock, including all their parts, their property, the building, everything!
Key Auctioneers out of Avon, Indiana has been commissioned to sell off everything The Paddock owned, including over 60,000 car parts in stock. We’re told there will be bulk lots of small items for entire product lines as well. Everything from stripe kits to engines to interior components to fasteners and screws will go under the gavel. In addition to that, they’re selling off The Paddock’s 60,000 square foot building, all the office furnishings, warehouse equipment, their trucks, and even their traveling display trailers that were such common sights at the major Mopar shows. This is going to be a monumental event!
If you’re going to be anywhere near Knightstown, Indiana on July 29, this is definitely the place to be - and bring your check book! For more information, contact Key Auctioneers, 317-244-3728.

Mopar Photographer and Hobbyist Paul Wilson Passes Away

2010-07-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

We have grim news out of Indiana this morning. Paul Wilson, longtime photographer and writer for Mopar Collector’s Guide passed away last night at his home in Crawfordsville. Paul had been battling cancer for the last several years, but through it all, our long-haired friend seldom missed an event or a show, and he was something of a fixture at Mopar races around the country - especially the Classic Events series races. Details are still forthcoming, but as we’re preparing to board airplanes for the Carlisle show, we wanted to let the Mopar faithful know and we wanted to express our sincere condolences to Paul’s family and his countless friends. He never met a stranger in this hobby, and we’ll seriously miss our old friend.

B5 Blue SRT8 Challenger on eBay Motors

2010-03-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Hope McCorkle:

Thanks to several avid readers and the enthusiasts over at Challengertalk.com, we were alerted to a very bizarre bit of news every Mopar fanatic will likely find interesting. Glenn E. Thomas Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep in Long Beach, California decided to open an eBay store to sell some of their cars and trucks. In early March, they listed a brand-new B5 Blue SRT8 Challenger on eBay Motors and ran the auction with no reserve. The auction closed on March 12, 2010 with fifteen bidders and a winning bid of only $29,100! Obviously, that’s far below sticker price for any new SRT8 Challenger, let alone a very well equipped B5 Blue limited edition car. You might think somebody got the deal of a lifetime, but as of this writing, the dealership is refusing to sell the car for that price, despite having listed it for sale at no reserve.
The Challengertalk.com website has an on-going thread about this issue on their forum, which is receiving a lot of attention from enthusiasts world-wide. While this is a nightmare for the dealership, this event points up several interesting things. First, a new B5 SRT8 Challenger didn’t even fetch $30K in an open auction, so that tells us to watch for rapidly falling prices on these cars. Secondly, it tells us that Dodge dealerships need to be very familiar with how online auctions work before they start selling on them! “No reserve” means “no reserve” - you roll the dice and take your chances. Hopefully this matter will be settled amicably for both the dealership and the high bidder after it all shakes out.

Click Here for the whole thread.

Disaster at Russo and Steele!

2010-01-22T07:18:00.000-08:00

The legendary Russo and Steele auction in Scottsdale, Arizona suffered an unprecedented catastrophe at just after 6:00 pm, January 22. Violent storms have been wreaking havoc at both Barrett-Jackson and Russo and Steele this year, with torrential rain and extremely fierce winds. The storms got the better of Russo and Steele Thursday night and chaos reigns at the moment.
With somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people inside the gates and the auction underway, rain and straight line winds in excess of fifty mph struck the sight, tearing apart two of the approximately 800 foot long exhibition tents that the collector cars are kept in prior to, and after, going across the auction block. The largest of the exhibition tents tore, then collapsed, across hundreds of valuable collector cars, followed by a second huge tent covering hundreds more cars. One of the tents actually ripped in two and most of it flew over a hundred feet away and landed on a nearby freeway, blocking traffic well into Friday morning. Meanwhile, hundreds of magnificent cars sat exposed to the raging storm, almost all of them with their windows down, and just about every convertible on site had its top down as well.
Due to the ferocity of the storm and flying debris, Scottsdale and Phoenix police evacuated the crowd right away, uncertain the main auction tent could withstand the storm. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. As of this writing, the whole Russo and Steele complex is still under lock down by the police and fire departments, and car owners have not been allowed onto the grounds to assess the damage to their cars or even cover their cars in some way. Whether or not the auction will continue this year is still in doubt, as Russo and Steele themselves cannot allow people back in the compound until all the damage is cleared. It is unlikely the sale will continue this week.
Over the next few days the extent of the damage to the cars at Russo will be worked out, but what will be done about this is likely to be a long-term dilemma. To our knowledge, nothing like this has ever occurred at any major collector car auction, let alone the second largest car auction in the world. If you've been watching Barrett-Jackson on television, you might be wondering where all the Mopars are (and all the high dollar cars for that matter). Well, they're over at Russo and Steele in huge numbers, with their owners opting for that venue's rules of not allowing owner buy backs and allowing owners to place reserves on their cars. As such, a very large number of high-end Mopars are at Russo and Steele, including a significant number of Hemi cars, Max Wedges, Superbirds, E-body convertibles, and at least two factory '68 Hemi Super Stockers. Right now, we’re all waiting to see how many suffered damage, and to what extent. We'll keep you posted.

Click Here for video.

Beach Boys 'Cuda Seized at Barrett

2010-01-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

There’s disturbing news out of Scottsdale, Arizona this morning. Our longtime friend and founding member of The Beach Boys, Al Jardine, brought his purple Hemicuda to the Barrett-Jackson auction to make room for another project. The ‘Cuda was featured back in our July, 2006 issue of MCG. After dropping the car off with Barrett-Jackson and turning over the title, as per the rules of the auction, a major problem arose.
It was reported to us this morning that the Scottsdale Police Department has seized Al Jardine’s ‘Cuda and placed it in their impound because the car’s VIN turns up on a stolen vehicle list dating back to the 1970's! Al has a title for the car and there was never any controversy around the car during its restoration/modification, but reportedly there may be an issue with the car having two different VIN numbers on it. Until things are sorted out, the Scottsdale Police have decided to keep the ‘Cuda in custody, which is not a good thing for Al, Barrett-Jackson, or the people who had already planned to bid on the car in hopes of bringing it home.
Al’s a great guy, and we hope all this shakes out well in the end, but the timing of this matter couldn’t seem to be any worse.

Click Here for pictures and the full story featured in Mopar Collector's Guide July of 2006 issue.

Congress Voted

2009-12-15T10:35:00.001-08:00

Congress voted to approve their massive appropriations bill in the wee hours of the morning last Sunday, and by doing so, perhaps give GM and Chrysler dealers who were given closure notices a second chance. The bill mentioned in our previous breaking news article regarding dealership closures was rolled into the giant omnibus bill, so it appears that it will now be in the hands of an independent arbitrator, appointed by the feds, to designate which new car dealerships are closed down. It should be interested to see how this works out, but for now, at least the dealers who were shut out by the factories now have a glimmer of hope that they can keep their doors open. We’ll have more in the next MCG.

Congress May Give Cut Out Chrysler Dealers a Second Chance... Maybe...

2009-12-09T11:43:00.000-08:00

Submitted by Rob Wolf:
Congress has tacked an amendment into their newest omnibus U.S. Funding Bill that would allow Chrysler and GM dealerships that were told they had to forfeit their dealerships a second chance. The program is part of a last-minute $447 billion dollar spending bill introduced December 7 by Democrats in the House of Representatives. Basically, this sidebar in the bill would allow dealerships to appeal the government and the auto manufacturers to reinstate them as dealers and keep their doors open. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer are quoted as being very excited about it. However, this may be just more smoke and mirrors.
Last July, Republican Congressman Steven LaTourette of Ohio joined with ninety-nine other senators and sent a letter to Majority Leader Hoyer demanding that locked out auto dealerships be given a fair shake. He managed to get wording into House Bill 3170, which would’ve required automakers to rethink and reinstate soon-to-be-closed dealership in order to secure their government bailout money. This new revision in the current funding bill seems to do away with that as-yet unsettled bill and put the ultimate fate of the dealers in the hands of Congress. If we’re reading it correctly, dealerships would have to plead their case for existence to Congress, not to the auto makers themselves, and Congress would then decide who lives and who dies.
Bear in mind, this is a $447 billion “funding bill” that’s an “omnibus bill.” An omnibus bill is one that has a lot of different things stacked into it, so if one particular issue is important to a senator, they have to vote for the whole package to get their one item. In addition to possibly assisting Chrysler dealerships, this bill includes $10.5 billion for high speed rail projects, it eases long-standing federal abortion restrictions, it pays for drug abuse needle exchange programs, it legalizes medical marijuana in Washington D.C., and it would allow for terrorists held at Guantanamo to be brought to U.S. prisons and provide for them to stand trial in U.S. civil courts. For all of Congressman LaTourette’s efforts, and those of other like-minded conservatives, the effort to help dealerships has been saddled down with an awful lot of ridiculous baggage. A vote is expected in the next day or two.

Got breaking news? Let the entire World know! E-mail Web Editor Paul Wilson

breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

Mopars at the Strip Date Change!

2009-11-18T12:39:00.001-08:00

During the first week of November, a group of investors purchased the Super Chevy Sunday shows and bumped Mopars at the Strip from its recently announced March 19 - 21st date. Mopars at the Strip has rescheduled for the following weekend, so the dates for Mopars at the Strip are now March 26 - 28, 2010. Please adjust your calenders and check out www.moparsatthestrip.com for more information.

Mopar Photographer and Hobbyist Bob Stone Passes Away

2009-11-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

Longtime friend and all-around fantastic guy Bob Stone passed away Tuesday night, November 3, 2009, after suffering a heart attack. Bob’s been a familiar face at Mopar events coast-to-coast and has photographed countless thousands of cars through the decades. We were privileged to work with Bob on tons of projects and can honestly say he’s one of the few guys we never heard an ill word spoken of.

Bob was a member of the Amity Fire & Rescue squad in Amity, Pennsylvania, and he had just returned from an emergency call on Tuesday night. Bob not only served the Mopar family and community tirelessly, he served his local township to his utmost as well, right up to the very end.

Our most sincere condolences to Bob’s family, and we’ll dearly miss our longtime friend.

Mopars At The Strip 2010 Event Dates

2009-10-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Rob Wolf:

Mopars At The Strip - March 19-21, 2010. For more information on the event visit http://www.moparsatthestrip.com/2007/home.shtml

Got breaking news? Let the entire World know! E-mail Web Editor Paul Wilson

breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

Hobbyist Dick Towers passed away

2009-10-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Randy Holden:

We’re saddened to report that Mopar drag racing historian and hobbyist Dick Towers passed away on Friday, December 23 at the age of sixty-six. Dick had been battling cancer for some time. Dick is well-known in the hobby as the owner/operator of Match Race Madness.com and as one of the premier organizers of nostalgia race events coast-to-coast. Dick, along with friends Mike Guffey and Jim Kramer, began holding some of the earliest Super Stock reunion events in the country back in the early 1990s, and he continued to organize these events on through this year. Towers has had a number of Hemi Super Stock cars himself and used to race in SS/D and SS/LA classes. He still owned a ‘68 Hemi Road Runner that he’d bought brand-new.

Dick Towers was a serious driving force in the realm of vintage Mopar drag cars, and his knowledge and influence will be missed very much. Our condolences go out to the Towers family.

Got breaking news? Let the entire World know! E-mail Web Editor Paul Wilson

breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

RICHARD PETTY TO MOVE TO FORD

2009-09-11T03:35:00.001-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:

NASCAR racing legend and long time Mopar racer Richard Petty has decided to make a change for the 2010 NASCAR Season and will switch brands.

Richard Petty Motorsports and Robert Yates Racing have signed a letter of intent that will see the two teams merge in 2010 and form a four car operation that will race Fordsunder the Richard Petty Motorsports Banner. This is not the first time that Petty has switched from Mopar to Ford.

Long time fans will remember that in 1969, after having his best years driving Hemi powered Plymouth for most of his 200 wins in NASCAR competition, that Petty ran a Ford Torino for one season. He quickly returned to Plymouth in 1970 with a Super Bird. While the driver line-up remains to be set, with Petty dropping the Dodge brand, it looks as if only one team is left to carry the Dodge banner in NASCAR for 2010. That being Penske Racing that currently runs cars for Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr.

Got breaking news? Let the entire World know! E-mail Web Editor Paul Wilson

breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

WECOTT SETS EARLY PACE AT INDY HEMI CHALLENGE

2009-09-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilson

Charlie Wescott Jr. set the stage for a all-out Shoot-out on Wed. during qualifcations for the Hemi Challenge in Indianapolis during the 55th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Wescott laid down a8.49 pass in the heat of the day during the second session of time trials. This was the first public appearance of his new car War Fish 2.

That Wescott was fast was no surprise. The fact that Jim Daniels posted quick time in the morning session at 8.51 in a Ray Barton powered Dodge Dart was a huge surprise that got everyones attention. Wescott Sr. was third fast, followed by David Barton both at 8.57.

John Rains was fifth at 8.61 in his Dart , and Bob Wolkwitz was sixth quick at 8.62

Qualifications for the Hemi Challenge continue today with the Elimination Rounds on Friday. The Final will run Friday night, just before the Pro qualifying sessions.

Got breaking news? Let the entire World know! E-mail Web Editor Paul Wilson breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

BIG DADDY DON GARLITS RETURNS AT INDY

2009-09-02T23:07:00.000-07:00

Submitted by :Paul Wilson

Mopar racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlit's returned to racing on September 2nd by making a qualification pass at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis in attempt to make the feild in the Stock Class driviving a Mopar backed Dodge Challenger for the 55th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. This car is the first "Drag Pack" Challenger that was offered by Dodge. Garlit's had to pull out of line in the early morning session with mechinical issues but later came back to make a full pass.

Garlits retired from top fuel racing in 2003. He first ran a stock class car in 1963 also a Dodge.

He has won 17 World Titles in his career along with 144 National Championship Events.

Got breaking news? Let the entire World know! E-mail Web Editor Paul Wilson breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

NEW SOX & MARTIN CAR UNVEILED

2009-08-12T03:12:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:

This past weekend at the Mopar Nationals, an all new Sox & Martin Cuda was unveiled before a big crowd.

An exclusive marketing agreement was also signed by Buddy Martin, Dianne Sox and Bill Sefton that will put these new cars in production and available to the public.

The cars are based off the new Challenger with a variety of modifications and of course feature the World Famous Red, white and Blue Sox and Martin paint scheme.

Watch for more details and a full feature on this major development in the upcoming pages of Mopar Collectors Guide.

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

Internet Myth: Chrysler Forced to Destroy its Archives due to Bankruptcy!

2009-07-29T08:20:00.001-07:00

Submitted by Randy Holden:

There’s an e-mail circulating out there about Chrysler Corporation trashing its archives collection because of the government’s restructuring of the company after bankruptcy. Apparently, some internet bloggers have picked up on this story as well and have run with it as gospel truth and are pondering whether GM will have to scrap all their archival materials and collections as well. Please! Do not believe everything you read on the internet!

We spoke with Galen Govier about this story because he had just gotten off the phone with the guys at the WPC Museum about it. The execs and curators at the WPC Museum, who are in charge of Chrysler’s historical records and historical car collection, assured Galen that the story is 100% false. They HAVE NOT destroyed anything in their archives, nor have they been ordered to liquidate anything from the historical collection. So, at least as of now, this is nothing more than an internet rumor. If the feds do force Chrysler into having a world-class garage sale, believe us, we’ll tell you about it as soon as we get the word.

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web Editor Paul Wilson at breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

Wescott Jr. crashes War Fish

2009-07-28T03:49:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:

US 131 Dragway in Martin Michigan was the sight of a wild and wooly Hemi Shoot-Out in which the father/son Hemi Militia team of Charlie Wescott Jr. and Sr. emerged with the win but was bruised and battered in the battle.

The horsepower took it's toll on the Super Stock Ranks as several cars broke in the qualifying rounds and did not make the call for Eliminations. The Final paired the two Hemi Militia cars (the Warfish and Fish Tank) and it was a very dramatic Final!

Wescott Jr. got a little wide to the left upon launching and ended up crossing up and over to the other lane, He almost saved the car but ended up against the wall and did cosmetic damage to the body. Wescott Jr. was not injured in the accident and was still in good spirits after the race. Charlie Sr. went on to post an 8.51 E/T and took home the win! Wescott Jr. was real close to debuting an all new War Fish car this season and you can be sure that it will be coming out real soon!

Read more details of the Hemi Super Stock Shoot-Out at Martin and the new War Fish Barracuda in the up-coming issue of Mopar Collectors Guide.

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web Editor Paul Wilson at breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

HEMI SHOOT-OUT SET FOR MARTIN MICHIGAN

2009-07-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:

The MCG Chrysler Classic Events race scheduled for US 131 Drag Strip in Martin Michigan on July 18-19 will have an added bonus as it will have a Hemi Super Stock Shoot-Out featuring the cars and stars of the NHRA Super Stock A/H A/A Class. Scheduled to be on hand are over 16 Hemi cars and the race will run Saturday in conjunction with the Classic Events all-Mopar drag racing action along with the show cars and swap meet. For more information on this up-coming race contact Chrysler Classic Events at www.ccevents.com

Got breaking news? Let the entire World know! Contact web editor Paul Wilson

breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

HEMI CHALLENGE SERIES TO BE ANNOUNCED!

2009-07-02T13:40:00.001-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:

It looks as though Mopar will back three Hemi Shoot-Outs for the 2009 season. After Chrysler filed for bankruptcy, the 2009 NHRA Mopar Hemi Challenge Series looked to be in jepordy. Although official word in the form of a press release is pending , it appears that enough sponsorship has been found to back three races!

Mopar has sent word out to all the Super Stock Hemi Challenge competitors, to let them know of this breaking development.

The first Hemi Challenge will take place at the NHRA U.S. Nationals on Labor Day week-end Sept. 2-7 with the final being ran Friday eve just before the Pro qualifying sessions. Pay-out will be ten thousand dollars to the winner.

THe other Hemi Challenge Races will be the Jegs Northern Sports Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Columbus Ohio on Sept. 25-27 and at the Dutch Classic in Maple Grove Raceway in Reading PA. on Oct. 22-25. Pay-outs for those two race winners will be five thousand dollars.

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

PITTSBURGH CHRYSLER CLASSIC RESULTS

2009-06-23T00:50:00.001-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:
Here are the racing and Show car results from the MCG Chrysler Classic Events Series at the 5th Annual Curt George Memorial at Pittsburgh Raceway Park held June 19-21.
Show Car Winners:
Pure Stock: Robert Conca-70 Cuda
Modern Muscle:Gary and Mindy Sheldon-2008 SRT Challenger
Semi-Stock: Ed Perz: 1969 GTX
Modified: Martin Pitttman : 02 P/T Cruiser
Extreme Modified:Challinor :1967 GTX
Finer Details Best of Show: Robert Conca ~70 Cuda
Racing :SAT/ Results:
PRO: Clancy Keaton over Walt Haas
SUPER PRO: AJ Casini over Randy Duncan
HEMI: Gary Murphy over John Buehler
Max Wedge: Jeff Day over Millward
QUICK 16: Charli Wheatcraft over Charlie Kukenbacker

SUN. RESULTS:
TEN-O Shoot-out Keith McKeller over John Vesley
PRO: Pat Norton over Jim Pucci
QUICK 16: Charlie Kuchenbecker over Andy Conrath
SPORTSMAN: Lester Johnson over Richard Schrader
SUPER PRO: Dale Johnson overRandy Duncan
HEMI: Shaun Dornan over John Buehler
Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson
breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

Important Mopar Auction This Weekend

2009-06-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Ted Moser:
Written by Randy Holden:

For anybody looking for one of the better Chrysler oriented auctions we’ve seen in a long time, Birmingham, Alabama is the place to be - and get there quickly! Worldwide Auctioneers is liquidating The Old Car Heaven Museum collection on June 19 and June 20, and there are a large number of old Mopars in the sale. Everything from prewar Imperials to 300 letter cars and muscle car era machines as well. Most are older restorations or all-original survivors, so this is definitely the place to be this weekend if you’ve got some extra money. To check out the cars up for grabs, see their website, www.wwgauctions.com

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

MOPAR ENDS SPONSORSHIP OF NUFORMZ RACING

2009-06-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

Submitted by John Teas:
Written by Paul Wilson:
Mopar has announced it will end it's majority sponsorship of the NuFormz Racing Team which competes in the Formula Drift (FD). The sponsorship will be terminated after this coming weekends (June 5-6) Formula Drift Event at Wall Speedway in N.J.

"As part of Chrysler's comprehensive restrucuring plan to revitalize our business and succeed as a car company, were rigorously reveiwing all expenditures and making tough decisions." Stated Mike Accavitti, Chryslers Director of Brand Marketing and Strategy. " The decision to end Team Mopar's sponsorship of NuFormz Racing was difficult because of our long term relationship with the team and all the success we've enjoyed competing in Formula Drift."

NuFormz Racing Team Owner Shaun Carlson and driver Samuel Hubinette teamed up in 2004 and enjoyed immediate success. They won three of four Formulsa Drift rasces and took the Inaugural Title in the Series. they also won the 2006 Title and runner-upped in 2005 and last Season. "I had a great eight year run as a member of the Team Mopar Family, and want to thank the company for all the great memories I am taking away." Carlson stated."It's a tough decision, but given the current economic enviroment inside and outside of racing, I certainly understand it."
Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

LARRY MORGAN TO MOVE TO FORD

2009-05-28T03:49:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:

Long time Mopar racer and engine builder Larry Morgan will change cars and move to a Ford Mustang very soon according to sources close to Morgan's Pro Stock Team. Morgan has ran a Dodge on the NHRA trail for ten years with support from Mopar. According to those sources, Morgan is working on a program that will have a Ford engine ready to test by Indy.

The Newark Ohio native has claimed 16 NHRA wins over his long and colorful career in racing. Nine of those victory's have come in the Pro Stock Ranks. Many remember Morgan when he ran a Dodge Challenger for the famed "Rod Shop" Team out of Columbus Ohio. Morgan is currently tied for tenth in the NHRA Pro Stock points Standings

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail Web Editor Paul Wilson

breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

HEMI CHALLENGE AT BOWLING GREEN CANCELLED

2009-05-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Don Bales:

Written by Paul Wilson:

According to sources with-in the NHRA , the Mopar Hemi Challenge at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green KY. set for June has been cancelled due to the uncertainty of the bankruptcy filing of Chrysler which in turn has affected the Sponsorship of the Shoot-Out series by Mopar.

The NHRA Hot Rod Reunion will go on as scheduled, just not with a Hemi Shoot-Out.

Early in the season it was annouced that Mopar Sponsorship of the Hemi Shoot-Out schedule would be limited to include only three races , Bowling Green, Indy and Columbus Ohio.

No word has been given on the fate of Indy and Columbus at this time.

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

MCG CHRYSLER CLASSIC COLUMBUS RESULTS

2009-05-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:

Despite it's best effort , the rain and stormy weather did not get the best of the MCG Chrysler Classic in Columbus Ohio this week-end! Race and Show car results are as follows:
SHOW CAR RESULTS:
Modified: Joe DiPietro ~1962 Dodge
Extreme Modified: Tony Harlin~ 1968 Dart GTS convertible
Modern Muscle: Gary &Mindy Sheldon ~ 2008 Dodge Challenger
Semi-Stock: Ed Perz ~1969 Plymouth GTX
Pure Stock: Robert Conca~ 1970 Plymouth Cuda
Finer Details Best Of Show: Glen & Charlotte Bridges 1970 Dodge Challenger Convertible

Race Winners:

Sat. Results:
A&A Super Pro: Jeff Johnson over Mike Cocktrell
Pro: Rob Lawson over John Lawson
Steer & Gear Sportsman: Carl Holl over Brian Hendrickson
TTI Max Wedge: Jeff Day over Jim Guy
Mancini Hemi : Gary Murphy over Tony Zarb

Sun. Results:
Indy Cylinder Head Quick 16: Chris Wheatcraft over David Orr Jr.
A&A Trans Super Pro: Lonnie Smith over Jeff Spring
Pro: Jenni Vernon over Mike Moreck
TTI MAX Wedge: Jeff Day over Mike DeChicco
Mancini Hemi: John Roudes over Ken Kreici
CRT 10~0 Shoot-Out: Lonnie Smith over Bob Frazee
Juinior Dragster: Joey Cameron over Bethany Crick:

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson
breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

It’s the end of the world as we know it . . . Chrysler anyway . . .

2009-05-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Randy Holden:

Chrysler, as we knew it, has ceased to exist. Proof of this was made vividly apparent today, May 14, 2009, as Chrysler forced 789 of its loyal dealerships into nonexistence. As part of their federal government bankruptcy reorganization, overseen by Obama’s administration and car czar, there are 789 fewer Chrysler dealerships today than there were yesterday. And the dealerships had no say in their fate whatsoever. That’s tens of thousands of jobs gone, and the outlets for Chrysler products has been cut by almost a full third. Among the dealerships closed down, you’ll find some longtime icons like both of the Painters’ brothers dealerships in Utah, both of Donald Palmer’s dealerships in Indiana, and countless others. The size, age, and location of the dealerships doesn’t seem to have come into play.

For a complete list of the dealerships closed down by Chrysler, check out the link below: http://download.gannett.edgesuite.net/detnews/2009/pdf/0514listofchryslerdealers.pdf

Got breaking Mopar news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson
breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

ARSON FIRE DESTROYS 28 RARE MOPARS

2009-05-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:
A horrifying arson fire in Harnettsburgh KY. devastated the Thunder Road restoration shop and destroyed 28 rare and precious Mopar's in the blaze. While information and details are not being released at this time, due to the on-going criminal investigation, it has been determined that arson was no doubt the cause of this horrific fire. The ATF as well as the FBI are launching a full investigation in to this crime.THe 55000 sq. ft. shop was a total loss as were all of the contents.
Cars lost in this blaze include a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, a 1 of 2 heavily optioned 1969 Charger RT/SE, three GTX convertible's, a 1963 Max Wedge Plymouth with only 3700 miles, a 1970 Road Runner Convertible, a Lil Red Express as well as numerous 6 pack and other rare Mopar cars.
While none of the cars were customer cars, three were owned by Thunder Road's owner Mike French and the other 25 cars belonged to his partner's Todd Reiter and Dolf Keller.
As more information is released on this un-thinkable crime, we will keep you posted here. Watch for more details and a full story in the up-coming issue of Mopar Collectors Guide.
Got breaking Mopar news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson
breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

RACE FOR THE RING KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND!

2009-05-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Paul Wilson:

The 2009 Mopar Collectors Guide Chrysler Classic Event Series kicks off this coming weekend (May 15-17) and begins a whole new chapter as this season opens at National Trails Raceway in Columbus Ohio.

New for the Classic Events racers will be "The Race for the Ring!"

Championship rings in each class will be awarded at seasons end to the points champion in that class. This is a huge step foward in giving prestige and acknowledging the Champs who are such a big part in the only All - Mopar Racing series.

Not only will ther ace for the ring create a huge buzz for the series , but also new for 2009 in the show car division is the announcement of a 250 dollar cash award at each event for the best of show, presented by The Finer Details restoration shop out of Danville Indiana.

Mopar Collectors Guide is once again the presenting sponsor of the Series.

The MCG Classic Events Series consist's of four events this season with six races!. Columbus Ohio kicks it off with a double race weekend. On June 19-21 it will be at Pittsburgh Raceway Park for the Curt George Memorial for another double points race weekend. July will find the series in Michigan at US 131 Dragway on the 18th and 19 and the Season closes out with the Worlds Largest All-Mopar Drag race in Norwalk Ohio on September 18th-20.

Got breaking news? Let the World Know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson

breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

CHRYSLER TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY

2009-04-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Submitted By Paul Wilson:

Chrysler will file for bankruptcy after talks with a group of creditors collapsed just one day before the deadline set by the goverment for a restructuring plan.

The hold out group refused to budge on proposals to reduce Chryler's 6.9 billion in secured debt.

This bankruptcy filing does not spell the end for the nations third largest auto maker.

Chrysler is still expected to sign a deal to partner with Italian company Fiat as part of it's restructuring proposal.

A Chapter 11 filing would allow a judge decide what Chrysler's creditors would be payed back.

While in bankruptcy, Chrysler will still continue to operate.

Got breaking news? Let the world know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson ~ breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

2009-04-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

SUPER STOCK A/H INVADE INDY THIS WEEKEND

SUBMITTED BY :Paul Wilson

This up-coming weekend, OReilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis will be hosting the NHRA Division 3 racers and we should see an onslaught of Hemi S/S A/H race cars in action.

These drivers will be in racing in the quest for grade points and an invite to the "Big Daddy" of all drag races the U.S. Nationals , including the "Hemi Shoot-Out"held at Indy every Labor Day weekend.

As many as twelve Super Stock A/H cars could see track time at Indy and it will be interesting to see some of these combinations at work for the first time in 2009.

Top contenders like the "Warfish" father and son team of Charlie Wescott Jr. and Sr. are expected to participate as well as Jim Pancake and a host of others.

The Indianapolis forecast looks to be very good with sunshine and temps in the 70s for the weekend.

Will Wescott bump up his current National record?...Will some one else lay down an astounding number?.....

It will be interesting to see what happens at Indy, as it may tell the story of how this season will unfold in Super Stock A/H.

Got breaking news?Let the World know! Email web editor Paul Wilson at breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

Gulf Coast & West Coast Mopar Meets

2009-04-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

Submitted by: Randy Holden

The spring show season heats up this weekend with two world-class Mopar events. April 25, will see the 14^th Annual Mopars at the Battleship Show & Swap Meet at the famous USS Alabama facility in Mobile, Alabama. This is the largest all-Mopar event on the Gulf Coast and always a favorite event for hobbyists in the deep south. Mopar Collector’s Guide will have a booth set up at the event, so stop in, say hi, and check out the new shirts. For information on the show, contact Larry at 251-653-5154 or checkout www.southernmopar.org.

Out west, we have the oldest west coast Mopar event rolling, the always fantastic Spring Fling in Van Nuys, California. April 25-26 brings Spring Fling XXIII to Woodley Park, and there will be a cruise, the car show, and, of course, the Spring Fling Speed Festival held on the 23^rd at Willow Springs Raceway, which is the largest all-Mopar road course event we know of. This show gets better every year, and Chrysler Performance West’s Spring Fling never fails to bring out cars you don’t see east of the San Andreas Fault line. Look for MCG’s booth at the Spring Fling, and Rob Wolf will be there scouting for feature cars as well. For more info, check out their website, www.cpwclub.com.

If you don’t have plans this coming weekend, either one of these events is well worth the travel time and elbow wax. See ya’ll this weekend!

Got breaking Mopar news? Let the World know! E-mail Web editor Paul Wilson ~ breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

MID-OHIO MOPAR SWAP MEET

2009-04-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

Submitted by: Paul Wilson
The 2009 Mopar Show/Swap Meet season is kicking off and this week-end April 18~19, the place for the Mopar set to be is in Dalton Ohio, where Mid-Ohio Mopar Club will present it's 19th Annual Swap Meet.
The Show will be held at the Buckeye Events Center in Dalton Ohio.
The Club will also allow for set-up from Noon until 6 P.M. on Fri. and the Swap Meet will continue on Sat. and Sun. It is also an inside Swap Meet in a heated building..( A good idea in April) For a map or more information call Bob @ 330-464-9414 or go to
http://www.midohiomopars.org/
Be sure to stop by the Mopar Collectors Guide booth and say hello, and check out our new T-shirts for 2009. While you are there be sure to renew your subscription or sign up with us if you have yet to do so. See you at the show!
Got breaking Mopar news? Let the World know! E-mail Web editor Paul Wilson ~ breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

NHRA Photographer Bob Hesser Passes away

2009-04-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

Submitted by : Don Bales

Written by: Paul Wilson

Most Mopar Division 3 NHRA racers will remember photographer Bob Hesser from his work with Auto Imagery and his contributions to NHRA.com as well as the National DRAGSTER. It is with deep regret that we report that after falling very ill over the past week-end that Bob Hesser passed away on Tues. morning. He was 46 years old. Bob was a fixture on the Division 3 trail and was a great friend to all that he encountered. He will be sorely missed.

Got breaking news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson~ breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

MOPARS AT THE ROCK

2009-04-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

Submitted by: Paul Wilson

The place to be this coming week-end is at Rockingham N.C. for the All- Mopar show at Rockingham Dragway.

The 18th annual Mopars at the rock show will feature a Hemi S/S shoot-out as well as all Mopar drag racing and car show on Sat. April 11th.

Dean Sox , the son of the late Mopar racing legend Ronnie Sox will also be on hand making an appearance in a Sox and Martin Duster.

There is also a Swap Meet where you will find MCG and can sign up or renew your subscription and pick up our latest new T-shirt .

For more info on this Mopar show call Rockingham Dragway at 910-582-3400.

Got breaking news ? Let the World know ! Email web editor Paul Wilson breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

WESCOTT JR. WINS BIG IN VEGAS

2009-03-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

submitted by:Paul Wilson
Well know engine builder Charlie Wescott Jr. from Parma MI. once again ruled at the Hemi Shoot-Out Super Stock event at Mopars At The Strip in Las Vegas NV. Wescott Jr. and his Father Charlie Jr. ruled the weekend by setting the top times over the course of the event and Jr. took top qualifing spot with an astounding 8.75 in the Vegas altitude.
For the final, Wescott Jr. in his "Warfish" Barracuda faced off with one of his customers, Santa Paula CA. native John Rains in his flamed 1968 Dodge Dart. It was close at the tree , with Rains getting a slight advantage off the tree (.016 to .020) but at the stripe Wescott Jr. edged Rains by running an 8.67 to an 8.76. It was the second straight Mopars At The Strip win for Wescott Jr. in the Hemi Shoot-out.
Got breaking Mopar news? Let the World know! E-mail web editor Paul Wilson -breakingnews@moparcollectorsguide.com

2009 MOPOWERED TOUR

2009-03-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Rob Wolf

All Mopowered up and ready to roll . . .

So here’s the deal - you can sit in your Lazyboy and let the nightly news bring you down, or you can get out in the real world and hit the road with thousands of like-minded gear heads. Gas is cheap, perhaps the cheapest it will be for quite some time, so rip that cover off your old Mopar and get ‘er tuned up for the ultimate pentastar road trip - The Mopowered Tour.

For those of you who’ve been living under a rock, five years ago MCG and Totally Auto got together and crashed the Chevrolet-sponsored Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour . . . inviting all the pentastar proud to roll with us to many Mopar hot spots along the way. Over the years, the Mopowered Tour has taken on a life of its own.

This year, the Hot Rod Power Tour begins in Madison, Wisconsin, and then heads to Racine, on to Chicago, then South Bend, Indiana. Next comes the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan, Dayton, Ohio, and Somerset, Kentucky; it all wraps up at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Unlike the Power Tour, the Mopowered Tour is not an official function. We charge no money and have no rules, other than your ride must be a Mopar to hang with us. Rent one, steal one, or take your neighbor’s, we don’t really care - as long as you’re brand loyal, you’re a part of the Mopowered Tour. While the Mopowered Tour costs nothing, we do follow the same route and stop at some of the same venues that the Hot Rod Power Tour does, so we suggest you sign up with the Power Tour folks so you have full access to the fun. New this year, we’ll be announcing morning leave locations each day, so any local Mopar motor heads that aren’t part of the official Hot Rod tour can cruise with us for a while too.

Last year, with the help of our friends at Mopar Performance, Raleigh Motorsports, Kicker Audio, and the like, Totally Auto created a purpose-built ‘67 Barracuda with all the new-age parts you could throw at an old muscle car; a tubular front end, a stroked 5.7 Hemi, bolstered seats, an electric moon roof, and enough sound to keep our ears ringing for days after we finished the trip. The plan was to use the little A-body for years to come as the Mopowered Tour lead vehicle, but as those of you who read MCG already know, the Barracuda was stolen several months ago. So, that lead us to Plan B, or perhaps I should say, Plan E-body.

Sitting in the corner of Dave’s garage was the very same bright Go-Mango orange ‘70 Challenger R/T SE that started this craziness five years ago. Now there are a dozen ways we could’ve approached the build of the 2009 Mopowered Tour Challenger, but why buck what we know to be tried and true? Over the years, we’ve learned what works on the road, and the Challenger will be updated with all the tricks we’ve learned. The first call we made was to our friends at Indy Cylinder Heads to get a 500" stroker wedge. Raleigh sent us their newest tubular front end setup with rack and pinion steering, and because Dave’s not one to take it easy, we opted for speed rated 17s and plan on mounting them on Magnum wheels to keep a relatively stock outward appearance. Inside, updated seats will cushion the ride, and on this one, an anti-theft system for sure!

I could go on and on about the cool add-ons to the Challenger, and I will in a future issue, but for now, the important thing is - it’s decision time. Is this the year you join us for America’s greatest road trip, or are you going to compress that Lazyboy cushion a little more?

For more information on the Mopowered Tour, check out moparcollectorsguide.com and click on the MoPowered Tour link at the bottom of the frist page and stay tuned to MCG for coverage of all the on-the-road mayhem.

Got breaking News? Let the world know! Email web editor Paul Wilson - breakingnews@moparcollecotrsguide.com

RUN FOR THE RING ANNOUNCED!

2009-03-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Rob Wolf

The race for the ring is on! Mopar Collector's Guide points racing has never been about the money, it's always been about the pride of knowing you took on the nation's best Mopar racers and came out first among your peers. The road to a championship is long and hard and not without sacrifice, and of course, a little luck doesn't hurt either. Up until now, the only way anyone knew of your accomplishment was through the pages of MCG, or from your boasting over a beer at your local tavern. Well, not any more my friends! For 2009, Mopar Collector's Guide is proud to up the ante on the points chase by presenting a specially designed champion ring to the winner of each MCG points racing class, to forever prove your accomplishment. As an added bonus, if you're a recpient of one of these rings, if any Chevy guys start talking smack, you can leave lasting proof of your accomplishment on their face! So, forget about another trophy to clutter up your bookshelves. In 2009, run for the ring.... only at the Classic Events/MCG Points Series races!

Got breaking News? Let the world know! Email web editor Paul Wilson - breakingnews@moparcollecotrsguide.com