Getting ready for the Mopar Nats in Columbus, Ohio at the National Trailways Drag Strip. Anyone going this year? We will be in the SWAP Area with

66-67 B -Body Stuff, 67 Coronet R/T, Row N, 27,28,29,30. Hope to see you there. THANKS for the post MOPARTS!!!

We'll be there, I mailed in the entry form with the check about a week and a half ago.

went last year. Missed two or three years before that, was shocked at how much was not there. I'm leaning towards passing this year.

The Mopar Nationals has definitely gotten smaller, especially the vendors midway.

I think Roadkill Nights going on at the same time has contributed to that.

We still have a good time at the Nats anyway.

Going with the 64 friend is taking his 70 challenger hope for some good racing.

I can already smell the outhouses and hear the golf carts.

I'll be there in "Race Control". Stop up and say "hi"

I'll be there.

It has definitely gotten smaller but I still plan to go this year.

It sure has shrunk alot since my formative years in the hobby.
Decal is from '89.

I remember there being no chance whatsoever of seeing everything in three days.

Now? No problem.

Told my bandleader not to book any gigs that weekend, am planning on attending.

I won't be going. First year there was 1985 ( my good friend Mike won the '69 Road Runner that year)... last time was 2009. The golf cart issues, overflowing stinky porta john's, overflowing garbage, lack of organization ( thanks to Jim B. )... and other things, just don't make it worthwhile anymore. Carlisle is so much better.

Yet I myself have no interest at all of going to Carlisle.

The biggest problem with the golf carts at the Nats is people letting their underage kids drive them and second is that they think that they have the right of way because they're on a golf cart.

Why not? Have you ever tried it? I'm just curious. No hard feelings either way

Ed B

Almost twice as far to drive (for me), and no drag strip are the main reasons.

I'm no racer myself, but I enjoy watching and listening to them run down the track a lot more than sitting still....

If I was closer I'd be there for sure, but that's a long way to drive for all show but no go.

Exactly, I'm in Missouri like Wingman so it's a loong way to go to see cars lined up by make and model.
I'd rather park by my buddies that have all different Mopars that are modified.
Bone stock cars pretty much look all the same so I can see ones that pretty much look the same around here or at the Mopar Nats or the Holley Moparty which both have racing.

No drag racing is a big reason, I'd rather do or watch drag racing that stare at stock restoration car show cars.

As far as the swap meet, I can usually find whatever parts I need without drive across half the continent.

I'd rather see cars that are customized and actually driven (even late model) rather than spend all their lives these days in a climate controlled garage.

Locally I go to cruises rather than car shows, I quit caring about getting show trophies 15+ years ago.

I've been going to the Mopar Nats every year since 1984, if I didn't go it will be to go to Woodward for Roadkill Nights.

Personally I think that's why they do it the exact same weekend.
The Woodward Dream cruise is always the weekend AFTER the Mopar Nats, Dodge took it upon themselves to make their event the exact same weekend as the Mopar Nats.

My friends and I loved going to the Mopar Nats in the early days... don't get me wrong. The drag racing and time trials are great. (I worked at a local drag strip near me for 10+years)... but as I mentioned, the overflowing garbage and dirty toilets gets old fast, it takes me about 4 hours one way to get to National Trail...so for me personally, if I'm going to take the time to travel there with all the expenses, I expect to not have to put up with the literal garbage. The golf carts are just one problem. I'm not trying to tell someone not to go there, but it's just not for me anymore.

Those are very fair answers and I appreciate the honesty. But have you ever actually been to Carlisle for the Chrysler Nationals? I ask because while we don't have on site drag racing, there IS Mopar only drag racing on Friday afternoon/evening at South Mountain about 15 minutes away. We also have onsite autocross and Dodge is typically in attendance doing Hellcat Thrill Rides. So it's not totally static.

I have toyed with the idea of getting rid of the class parking and the participant ballot judging, but there are still a lot of people who appreciate the organization of the layout by class.

The large majority of cars at Carlisle are NOT perfectly restored OE trailer queens. Yes, we get some. Most of them go in one of the special display buildings. We get A LOT of driver quality cars. I personally don't think there is any shortage of anything at Carlisle...other than maybe cars earlier than the Forward Look era.

For what it's worth, I go to The Nats every year and I always enjoy it! What's not to like? It's a show of nothing but Mopars!! I've been going since the '80s. I try to support ALL of the Mopar shows. We are all in this together. I try to work with all other show promoters and help if I can.

I do NOT want this to turn into a Carlisle vs The Nats thread. I really just wanted to ask my question. I can't please everyone but I always want to hear feedback from people. If there is something I can do, I'm always willing to try.

I know Carlisle is a hike for you guys, but you should really give it a try sometime. It might not be as bad as you think it is.

Thanks for listening!

Ed B

I have friends that go to Carlisle, one would drive any distance to go to a Mopar show.
In his case it's as much about the drive there as the actual event he going to.
That's why his Challenger convertible has 630K miles on it.

It would be a 12+ hour drive for us to attend.

One afternoon of racing at a different location isn't the same as racing during the whole event.

Each show has it place yet people are always comparing them, to me comparing them is an apples and oranges thing.
Two different types of shows.

I get it that car show only people don't care about racing.
The local Mopar Event "The Mopar Blast" at Gateway aka World Wide Technology Raceway the car show people whine constantly about the noise from the racecars going down the track.

It's to loud/noisy for them.

Well, they are at a car show at a race track.

Plus the Cruise used to be a Big part of The Nats. Lond dead. I used to spend two full days in the swap meet. Last year I went thru it twice in a few hours.