We live a little over an hour south of Ocala, decided to check out the Mopars with Big Daddy show which he hosts at the museum every year. It is a 3 day event, we went Saturday, seemed to be a decent turnout, I'm not sure what previous years have been like, but good amount of cars. I was happy to see more old stuff than new stuff. Got to talk with Don Garlits for a few minutes, get a picture, and an autograph. I heard him tell someone he's 88, still gets around pretty good.

A few more pics

And a few more..

Damn ... missed another year !

So it’s moved to Bigs place now permanently?

Thanks for posting pics.

A buddy of mine that drove in from Huntsville Alabama said turnout was weak and that the event felt like a money grab at every turn. $20 to enter the museum? Really?

I've been there, and it's well worth 20.00! All of the cars he's acquired for his museum didn't come for free.

I'm in my early 30's haven't been to the museum since I was a kid, and we didn't go while at the show on Saturday (going to go back with my dad next year and do it again). Honestly, not sure what previous years looked like as far as attendance, obviously no where near the scale of Carlisle, or the Nats, but it only cost me $5 to park my car in the spectator lot (grass field), and that got everyone in the car in, so I didn't feel like that was a money grab. The poster you see me holding in the first picture in the first post, it ran me $20, Don had a container on the table for "donations" and he signed it as part of that $20. I figured the guy is in his 80's, like the rest of us, tomorrow isn't guaranteed, so I figured I might as well get something while I have the chance. I'll go back next year, hopefully we are post COVID at that time and even more people will show up.

I can understand spending a few bucks to have a good time. It is annoying though to have them seclude certain things from the show and put an additional price on them. Years ago, there was some show where they charged extra to see the actors from the Christine movie, autographs were extra, pictures were extra, They may have even charged extra to momentarily glance their way.

I was there Sat.The show was a little weak but flee mkt. was pretty good.All day Mopar entertainment for $5.00.Sounds like a bargain to me.

I was swapping parts, $60 for the weekend, didn't get there until Saturday morning, which was a good day, Sunday sucked. I never did get out to see the cars as it was that busy in the swap. I left my truck and trailer and parts down there for the next Mopar show and swap next weekend, hope to sell more then head back to Illinoise and the start of the wonderful winter...LOL

and it's not like anyone that was in that movie was a mega star.

Nope - seems that Big decided to start them up again on his own property - his web site says his event has nothing to do with the group hosting the show that used to be there, and that moved to the horse farm. That one is still going on, too, IIRC the w/e of the 14th, but at $10 to park at the horse farm, I'll stick to the show at Big's this and next year...

Many years ago my wife was at Disney for a seminar i flew down to meet her and we rented a car just to go to Bigs Museum and it happened to be the same weekend as the Annual Mopar show, the show was good the museum was really cool , so much history. Big has come to my local home track a few times as part of their Anniversary shows as its where he first went 200 mph. Its great to see him and he always is gracious , sure he charges for a few things but he's worked hard and is entitled to make some money for his efforts.

I've been around Garlits a lot over the years, he was at my dinner table for his induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame, shared some good times and business dealings. Don actually signed me up for my NRA membership, but that is a whole other story. Good guy that is not all wound up in his own celebrity, I have a few Garlits stories, I'll share this one:
I was at the Las Vegas Super Chevy Show and Don had a display on the midway. The live radio show "Speed Freaks" was being broadcast from the event and the host, Kenny Sargent, asked if I could arrange for him to interview Don. I told him that I do not make obligations for Mr Garlits but that I would ask him. Well Don said yes so I gave him a ride on my golf car to the interview. Kenny gets the show rolling and asks Don: "So you were match racing all over the country back when drag racing was a cultural phenomenon, city -to - city, with other racers and surrounded by adoring fans. I gotta ask you: Who was getting the most poontang?" Now Don has been known to be a Christian guy and often pretty conservative. He replied without hesitation: "Chris Karamisines. Damn good looking man and hung like a horse!" I laughed until I had tears, one of the funniest things I've heard on live radio.
I will save my many other DG stories for another time. Here's a shot of Don's signature on the dash of my '56

When I sold my 69 D200 that I pushed the Swamp Rat with a few times and had Don sign my glove box door, I really thought about keeping the door. The truck went to a Moparts member and a he is a good guy I have known for a long time, so I couldn't do it. I have my own Garlits stories good and bad, but overall they are good. The best one was advice that Pat Garlits gave my wife while sitting in my truck waiting to push Don at the Holley Hot Rod Reunion, thanks again and RIP Pat...

I attended the show this year and had a great time. I took the "Comeback Cuda" my 1970 Hemi Cuda convertible 4 speed tribute car. Had a great time. Everything was organized well and on Saturday the spectator parking area was packed. I was in the Stock Plymouth E-body class and there were 7 cars being judged. 5 of the 7 were Cuda convertibles. 4- 1971 cars and my 1970. I have never seen that at any show. I helped them judge and everyone was having a great time. Went from Ocala over to Panama City Beach for the Wednesday through Saturday Emerald Coast Cruise In. Again had a blast. The best weather ever. 80, slight breeze, and not a cloud in the sky. I thought about driving back for the Horse barn show but family was loving PCB way too much.

The BESTest weather is yet to come !!

Horse park show was half what it was last year, probably a good thing you didn't go. I think the Garlits show took most of the cars and vendors. I really hope ego's go away and the two shows combine to one again...

I have to agree with you Rhinodart. Having two separate Mopar shows in the same area one week-end apart hurts both shows and is bad for the hobby.