what is the ultimate mopar car show each year?

[runninhorn]

would like to go to the ultimate mopar show each year. havent been out of texas to go to one, just wondering which show you think i should go to?

[71ChallengeHer]

Chryslers At Carlisle is great. I wouldn't miss it for anything.

[72chargerSE]

 

I quit going to the Nats 5 plus years ago, Carlisle is A1!! This year will be my 14th straight at Carlisle!

[runninhorn]

cool, so carlisle is the one to go to?

[71ChallengeHer]

Yep, over 2200 cars in the show field last year. This will be my 17th year. I was at the very 1st, 17 years ago.

[Charger-Bodie]

ive been to the mopar nationals in columbus and indy back when it was there and it was a great time but everyone tells me that carlisle is FAR better but ive never been there YET

[71ChallengeHer]

The people make the show. 

[moparjohn]

Runnin, have you considered the TDC meet in Boerne? June 2-3 in Borene Texas. 2005 saw 110+ Chargers, great cars great people. Very relaxed, a cruise , informal swap meet (what's in your trunk?) Im driving all the way from Jersey! Must be pretty good right? John

[runninhorn]

Runnin, have you considered the TDC meet in Boerne? June 2-3 in Borene Texas. 2005 saw 110+ Chargers, great cars great people. Very relaxed, a cruise , informal swap meet (what's in your trunk?) Im driving all the way from Jersey! Must be pretty good right? John

hey john, just moved to Dallas, Tx so it appears that TDC is in my backyard. What time of year does it take place?

[TripleBlackGator]

The Nationals in Ohio although the layout sucks. Don't forget Brice Road each night. Carlisle is smaller but better organized in my opinion and to my knowledge, no cruise. They have been siphoning cars away from the event to go to the old York US30 Dragway for the past few years and some may call it a cruise but I call it thinning the herd for a good amount of time on Saturday.

[NHCharger]

Carlisle. I've made 8 shows in the last 11 years. It's really grown since I started going in 96.
Never been to the Nats but from what I have heard is that Carlisle is much more organized, much cleaner, and plenty of CLEAN restrooms and port-a-potties so you don't have to wait until you get back to your hotel room to take a dump.

[bpj]

I've been to Carlisle and the Nat's for many years now. Carlisle is the better of the two.
But, my new favorite show, is Mopars At The Strip..... by far!
Cruising the cars through the desert, the race-track as a facility, the host hotel (The Cannery Casino).
I think it's the most fun for sure....

[71ChallengeHer]

The Nationals in Ohio although the layout sucks. Don't forget Brice Road each night. Carlisle is smaller but better organized in my opinion and to my knowledge, no cruise. They have been siphoning cars away from the event to go to the old York US30 Dragway for the past few years and some may call it a cruise but I call it thinning the herd for a good amount of time on Saturday.

The US30 Show is July13-14th this year.

[TripleBlackGator]

The Nationals in Ohio although the layout sucks. Don't forget Brice Road each night. Carlisle is smaller but better organized in my opinion and to my knowledge, no cruise. They have been siphoning cars away from the event to go to the old York US30 Dragway for the past few years and some may call it a cruise but I call it thinning the herd for a good amount of time on Saturday.

The US30 Show is July13-14th this year.

Good. That way more cars will stay at Carlisle and you'll have a separate meet the following weekend. 

[71ChallengeHer]

The Nationals in Ohio although the layout sucks. Don't forget Brice Road each night. Carlisle is smaller but better organized in my opinion and to my knowledge, no cruise. They have been siphoning cars away from the event to go to the old York US30 Dragway for the past few years and some may call it a cruise but I call it thinning the herd for a good amount of time on Saturday.

The US30 Show is July13-14th this year.

Good. That way more cars will stay at Carlisle and you'll have a separate meet the following weekend. 

I agree. It's about time they changed that.

[WheresMyCharger]

I've been going to the Nats for many years and trailering my car there. The Nats are non-stop Mopar fun, with no time to sleep or eat. You're at the track at 7am to beat the rush and get a good spot, then rush back to Brice Rd to get a good spot. Last few years have been heading to Hebron for the Saturday nite cruise.
I 've only been to Carlisle once and that time I left the car home and took a motorhome and camped right outside gate 6. Never had to move and everything you needed was a short walk away. It was very laid back compared to the Nats and didn't need an extra day off when I got home.You do see alot of the same cars at both shows.

The Mopars at the Strip has become a getaway from the cold and has many cars that you haven't seen before. (if you're from the east)You can't beat the entertainment in Vegas and the Cannery is a must.

I like all 3 and they each have something different to offer.

[moparjohn]

Runnin, The TDC meet in Boerne is June 2-3 2007.  The registry has a web site, informantional only: www.dodgechargerregistry.com . There are alot of meets this year you can see all and register(if you want) on the site.  Hope to see you there

[Stentboy]

Speaking of Texas and car shows, there is an all Mopar show this Saturday at Huffines Chrysler here in the Dallas Area. The show is a tribute to Ronnie Soxs, and his widow and others will be present; it is put on by the Cowtown Mopar club.

[Bob]

Carlisle, Pa.

[hemigeno]

As far as the major/national events go, I've been to Carlisle a couple of times and the Nat's once. 

Carlisle is well organized, and they take the car show side of things VERY seriously.  Park in the wrong spot, and you'll hear about it from the staff.  As far as car shows goes, Carlisle is the epitome of how a car show should be run, and with its size that makes it a premiere event in my book.  It takes a few years of going to get the hang of what to do and what not to do, but it's a great event.

The Nats is an experience too, and in some respects it offers more with on-site Drag Racing and the "after hours" events at Brice Road and/or Heath.  From a car show standpoint however, it is a disorganized mess.  Their focus is weighted heavily towards the drag racing side of things, and the promoters sorta let the car show (especially the Fun Field) fend for itself.  I have heard that the judged side of the car show is run a little better than the Fun Field, but I don't know that from personal experience.

It depends on what your threshhold of pain is.  If you were going to have a car seriously judged and critiqued, I think Carlisle would be a better experience just because it is run smoother.  If you were just cruising out for a car show and didn't care if a minivan and a late-model dually pickup truck were parked next to you in the Fun Field, then the Nats can be a very fun event as well.

There are some other very neat regional events as well.  MATS is an up-and-coming spring event, and the MonsterMoparWeekend in St. Louis is a must-attend for a lot of Midwesterners in late summer.

How far did you want to travel?

[Stentboy]

I have been to the Nats 3 times, but this year will be my first time to attend Carlisle. I'm really looking forward to it.

[cool440]

Never been to Carlisle, but have heard only great things from it. 

But if you like Las Vegas then Mopars on the Strip is great.  You can even drag your car on the Vegas Speedway.  It is huge and the atmosphere is great!

Although I prefer the coze confines of a park and the Spring Fling in Van Nuys is always worthy of a trip.

Come to think about it.....IS THERE SUCH THING AS A BAD MOPAR SHOW? NOPE!

[dodgecharger-fan]

I loved Carlisle and I didn't even get the entire experience - I spent 2 solid days in the swap meet.
I've only made it there once though. I'd definitely go again..

The big one for me is MOPARFest in New Hamburg, ON Canada... Mainly because it's less than two hours away and a lot of the big vendors make it there. So, I can pick stuff up instead of having it shipped and dealing with customs....

I might acutally have a car in the show this year.... yeah, the one I wanted to have in last year should be done. 

[deputycrawford]

When is the Carlisle Show?

[Stentboy]

July 6-8.

[chargerboy69]

I have been to Nationals the last 10 years, and it is always a good time. The after the show night events is what make Nationals such a good time. The night cruise at Heath is a blast. And Brice Rd. is a good time as well.

[AKcharger]

If you got to Carlisle don;t forget to say your car club is DODGECHARGER.com...we're getting a tent this year!

[Bob]

If you got to Carlisle don;t forget to say your car club is DODGECHARGER.com...we're getting a tent this year!

I guess I'm half blind or to busy looking for the that deal of a lifetime but, I look every year and can't find the rally area. When you get the location can you post it here. Much appreciated.
Thanks
Bob

[Ghoste]

The Nats have been the highlight of my summer since the first one in 1981.

[Chris G.]

Carlisle is the place to be. I need to make it to The Nats this year or next. Mopars at the Strip is another one I want to go to and also MoparFest in Canada.

[dukeboy_318]

I may have over looked it, but does anyone know the dates/events for the NATs this year, ive never been but I might have the chance to go this year.

[TripleBlackGator]

I may have over looked it, but does anyone know the dates/events for the NATs this year, ive never been but I might have the chance to go this year.

August 10-11-12.
http://www.moparnats.org/

[bill440rt]

I've been going to the Carlisle Mopar show since it's inception, & I've been to the Nat's once. Hemigeno has summed it up very nicely.

Carlisle is BY FAR the better of the two, if the show & swap meet is your thing. If you like drags & cruises, then the Nat's has that part covered. Personally, I'm more into the show/swap thing. The Nat's is very unorganized.

The only thing Carlisle is missing is OE-Certification type judging. They only have the SME judged class, & then the Fun Field. The SME is just a classification conjured up by Totally Auto. It's not a "real" form of originality judging, it's mainly for modified or over-restored cars. If Carlisle put into an expanded judged field or OE judging class, it would by far blow away the Nats, car show-wise.

[Stentboy]

I've been going to the Carlisle Mopar show since it's inception, & I've been to the Nat's once. Hemigeno has summed it up very nicely.

Carlisle is BY FAR the better of the two, if the show & swap meet is your thing. If you like drags & cruises, then the Nat's has that part covered. Personally, I'm more into the show/swap thing. The Nat's is very unorganized.

The only thing Carlisle is missing is OE-Certification type judging. They only have the SME judged class, & then the Fun Field. The SME is just a classification conjured up by Totally Auto. It's not a "real" form of originality judging, it's mainly for modified or over-restored cars. If Carlisle put into an expanded judged field or OE judging class, it would by far blow away the Nats, car show-wise.

I'm entering my very stock Challenger RTSE in SME this year,and I hope the standard  it is judged by is OEM and not a Restomod standard.

[hemi-hampton]

Woodward Dream Cruise. 15 miles long of Cars. LEON.

[TripleBlackGator]

I'm entering my very stock Challenger RTSE in SME this year,and I hope the standard  it is judged by is OEM and not a Restomod standard.

Maybe you've seen this already Stentboy but if not, take a look.
http://www.totallyautoinc.com/smejudging.html

[bill440rt]

I'm entering my very stock Challenger RTSE in SME this year,and I hope the standard  it is judged by is OEM and not a Restomod standard.

Maybe you've seen this already Stentboy but if not, take a look.
http://www.totallyautoinc.com/smejudging.html

Thanks, Gator! You saved me a lot of typing! 

Stentboy, best of luck to you in this year's SME. I hope you don't think I was bashing it, that was not the point. I personally have entered in both the SME & the OE, & I can say from personal experience they are VERY different. The SME is a 100-point system designed by Totally Auto for modified & over-restored cars. The OE-Certified is based on a 2000-point system for correctness in appearance as it left the factory as per the fender tag & build sheet.
The only problem with the Carlisle car show, if there is one, is that the SME is the ONLY judged portion of the car show there. The Fun Field is participant's choice.