Mopar Nationals Rant

[flyinlow]

Just got back from the Newark-Heath Rt79 cruise. Three nights of perfect weather. Thursday night was good ,Friday was great, Saturday was grid locked. If you want to be part of the cruise, GET A MOPAR! Please park you Kia's, mini vans and off brand pickups. When its Ford weekend at National Trails I don't think its cool to crash their party. I left early.

[Troy]

Hmmm, well, I have to point out that a) the show/cruise doesn't own the town and b) other people have to get around on a weekend night. It's the attitude that nothing else is allowed on the road that turned me off to Brice. I once drove my Celica to the Nats (didn't have any Mopars that were roadworthy) and was following Dave in his 70 Cuda vert back to the hotel when I had people all up in my window telling me to get my foreign POS off the road. It's a public road!!! And a major one at that! What if I was on my way home from work - or going to work to serve those idiots? You have to realize that you're coming into someone else's town for 3 days of the year and - even if you're invited - you need to show respect. Insults thrown at locals are sure to be heard by the ones in charge and they may just decide it isn't worth inviting the outsiders next time. Not saying you personally insulted anyone but it does happen.

Now, *IF* there were a "Mopar Only" cruise/show I'd feel different but once you leave the gates at National Trails you aren't any different/better than any other car on the road. Just for fun, might I suggest walking through the pits at the Nats before slamming "off brand" vehicles? I bet over half of the tow vehicles are Fords (at least they were the last time I counted). The swap meet is much heavier on Mopar branded vehicles but not 100%. The spectator parking lot certainly doesn't heavily favor Chrysler either. Not every kid (or adult) who enjoys Mopars can afford one - or feels like they need to drive one every day. A little friendliness, leniency, and encouragement will go a lot farther towards getting new people interested in Mopars than a "better than thou" attitude. This is the primary reason why I don't go to shows or join clubs and why I cringe when a "Mopar guy" spots me at a cruise and interrupts.

Just my perspective of course.

Troy

[flyinlow]

Just frustrated I guess. I am a local. I drive the Charger down RT 79 year round to go to dinner or a movie. I Show or talk to people about the car if they are interested. I have taken spectators for rides up and down Rt 79. I don't care what kind of car you drive, but it was billed as a Mopar super cruise 7-11 pm. and the traffic was so bad that all we did was to test our cooling systems.

[Troy]

Then that's the organizer's fault. Every once in a while here a town will block off all the main roads and only shows cars are allowed in to the "cruise". You still need somewhere for the spectators to park though. There will be a lot more of them than the show/cruise cars.

Troy

[stripedelete]

How about this?   

Put your cig out and get your fat, lazy,ass, off your golf cart and walk.  If you want to ride a cart, go golfing!

I was there on Saturday and it was like walking down the middle of the street! 

Oh and BTW, you have no right of way over a pedestrian!   You are a fat, lazy, AND stupid if you believe differently.   

You probably drove home from the show in the left lane with no regard for anyone except yourself.

I'll give you a pass if your 80+.   Otherwise, I don't want to hear about your health problems- you gott'em because of your effin' cart and or the effin' cig in your hand!!

Okay, I'm done.   

[Troy]

The golf carts are always a source of frustration. I was entering the swap to pick up some parts and a couple came up on my left side in a golf cart and proceeded to hang a hard right into the first aisle. She stuck out her arm a bit to show their intentions but if I had been in a hurry or intent on getting up the road I'd have squashed them. And, it's not like I was inconspicuous. I was in the Power Wagon with 440, headers, 18" Cherry Bombs, and side exit exhaust! People 100 yards ahead of me knew I was coming through. I only had a couple of instances as a pedestrian this year but I was also only there Friday when it's a lot less busy.

Troy

[resq302]

I agree the golf carts are a pain in the ass however, if you have one, you should have legitimate reason.  Examples.... handicap and can not walk due to mobility issues, vendors who are moving large pieces or parts, officials for the event, EMS units, etc.  The simple reason of having one so you don't have to walk from point a to point b is complete and total b/s!

[RallyeMike]

Why would anyone want to putter along from light to light anyway? An open highway is a lot more fun.

[Benji]

I was there Saturday.  If you love Dusters this was the year to be there, otherwise the amount of cars was rather pitiful.  I'm guessing there were about 1/2 the cars there this year when compared to two years ago.  It was VERY light on Chargers.  I didn't see even one Charger 500, I did see two Daytonas though!

Ben

[DC_1]

I was there Saturday.  If you love Dusters this was the year to be there, otherwise the amount of cars was rather pitiful.  I'm guessing there were about 1/2 the cars there this year when compared to two years ago.  It was VERY light on Chargers.  I didn't see even one Charger 500, I did see two Daytonas though!

Ben

There were a couple 500s, in fact a green one was in the car coral.

There were a lot of nice Mopars in Heath both nights. Unfortunately most were in parking lots it seemed and not cruising.

[bakerhillpins]

How about this?   

Put your cig out and get your fat, lazy,ass, off your golf cart and walk.  If you want to ride a cart, go golfing!

I was there on Saturday and it was like walking down the middle of the street! 

Oh and BTW, you have no right of way over a pedestrian!   You are a fat, lazy, AND stupid if you believe differently.   

You probably drove home from the show in the left lane with no regard for anyone except yourself.

I'll give you a pass if your 80+.   Otherwise, I don't want to hear about your health problems- you gott'em because of your effin' cart and or the effin' cig in your hand!!

Okay, I'm done.   

   No seriously, tell us how you really feel. 

[flyinlow]

If they where Hemi powered golf carts and had Hooters Girls driving them they would be easier to take. 

[riggs626]

WE went Saturday to the mapar nats I agree alot of dusters didnt seem to be alot of vendors this year or show cars for that matter but it was different cars from years past, Still dissapointed in the swap meet the peoples prices where just way to high, for instance had a guy who had an edlerbrock intake in ok shape but was asking 30 lower than the price of new. Yes We were in a golf cart but it was necessary with one of are party having a broken foot. But lots of other people who could have just walked around but had fun over all cant wait to get me charger done

[mpdlawdog]

I had a great time and found some parts I needed.  The prices were a bit crazy.   I have to agree the golf cart thing was annoying. I heard a few people got hit. 

[BrianShaughnessy]

How about this?   

Put your cig out and get your fat, lazy,ass, off your golf cart and walk.  If you want to ride a cart, go golfing!

I was there on Saturday and it was like walking down the middle of the street! 

Oh and BTW, you have no right of way over a pedestrian!   You are a fat, lazy, AND stupid if you believe differently.   

You probably drove home from the show in the left lane with no regard for anyone except yourself.

I'll give you a pass if your 80+.   Otherwise, I don't want to hear about your health problems- you gott'em because of your effin' cart and or the effin' cig in your hand!!

Okay, I'm done.   

            I quit smoking 7 years ago and now I'm fat...  and I was working the whole F'ing show and I got exactly 1 hour on Saturday afternoon to "see" the show.   So I took the F'ing golf cart with the F'ing copy of Mopar Action taped to the front... if you saw me with my black hat  and a MA shirt on after 2pm Sat afternoon and I annoyed you... TOO F'ing BAD.      
    Yes, I drove home in the left lane... doing 80+    

    For those that don't know... it's dang near $300 for a golf cart for the weekend.   And in spite of what I may or may not think about the size or quality of the Nats... it's almost like a golf course in the way a lot of business schmoozing is going on behind the scenes.   

    Otherwise... it was the same as the last years for me.   Thanks for Troy,  Flyinlow, Spike and PADodger for stopping by to say hi.   Sorry I was busy working...  if anybody else stopped by,  I don't know for sure.   I'm not that good with peoples names most of the time.     

    Maybe once I'd actually like to see the show but I figure it'll never happen as long as I go on somebody elses dime.   I also got to say hello to Steve Juliano and Doctor Diff and some other advertisers that came through the Schlock Shack.

[PA Dodger]

Yep, same complaint as last year. Get off the forkin golf cart and walk. The Mopar Nats website says where all your golf cart isn't supposed to be. I think I'm gonna be tazering dumbasses next year. On the other hand, if I rent a golf cart next year I can Mother F*** all the morons that wont move out of my way! If you can't beat 'em, Join 'em.

On a positive note, I had a chance to talk to a lot of great people. Had a good time hangin' out on Rt 79 with a bunch of guys from Manitoba Canada. That's why I go.