I haven't been to the Mopar Nats in 20 years, but the 15 years before that I didn't miss. The reasons I quit going had little to do with the show itself (except for maybe the overflowing trach cans, and the port a pots that hadn't been emptied all weekend). The reason we quit going was because of the mess that happened outside of the show. The very stuff most of you guys still seem to enjoy was not something I wanted to deal with when I had 2 small children along. We couldn't get back to the motel without drunks grabbing the door handles and insisting on me doing burnouts with another car 20' in front of me.

That said, lets look at the cars for a few minutes. Most of the cars we love were popular right off the show room floor, and grew more popular as they aged 5-6 years. I graduated high school in 1974, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a 68- 70 Road Runner. At that time, the new models of the cars we loved changed body styles every 2-3 years. We tend to love a body style that had a limited production run.

The early versions of the modern Challengers are 13 years old. I think the biggest problem with our generation not wanting to accepting them is the simple fact that the brand new off the show room floor versions still look like the 13 year old versions. Now, I'm sure those guys that have the early versions can point out several things that were different between the 2009 models and the 2021 models. How many here would be willing to argue the differences between a 68 Road Runner and a 69 Road Runner, or the difference between the 67 GTS Dart and a 68 GTS Dart? The point is, back in the 70s we were drooling over a 10 year old car, but we refuse to accept a 10 year old car now as show worthy.

I must confess, I seldom go to a car show and look at a restored car of any make, or year (unless it is a seldom seen vehicle). I'm drawn to those that have been personalized. The modern Challengers all (unfortunately for me) fall into the same category. I'm not much interested in stock looking cars or trucks, give me something different to look at, something that will catch my eye, or I'll probably walk right by. It takes a great deal of effort to make a modern Challenger stand out, and the "special version" stickers don't do it for me.

Our family will be enjoying the Mopars on the Mississippi this coming weekend. (They really need to correct the name. LOL!) There too, the modern vehicles will probably outnumber the vintage vehicles, but I fully understand that without the modern stuff, the show would have failed several years ago. I for one am pretty happy to see a show full of cars. It enables me to see the ones I really like, but don't get much chance to see in the real world very much these days. I'm going to walk through all those modern cars and trucks, because there are always a few guys the come up with some cool ways to make their ride stand out.

I'll be driving my just made road worthy, beat up old truck that looks pretty stock, until you look at it a bit. Gene

I haven't been there in about 12 years. Like said just above, is there a "brice road" area now? Or is all of the cruising spots, Heath, Brice, Buckeye.. all done. I can remember the redroof Inn on Brice to look like a riot zone later on Saturday nights. Sketchy, but what a time.

That mix of new/old cars has been going on around here at local shows for years. Back when the Vipers first came out A fella here local was taking his to car shows and entering in Mopar Muscle classes. I haven't shown for years but I had my original 1970 6 barrel Roadrunner in a show with his Viper and the judges did wonder what to do about that at first. They decided I would win the class that day and the Viper guy was basically outraged. Got all over the poor judges about it. Burned the hides on that Viper and almost wrecked it leaving the show. Pretty comical. This was back in the early 90's, I believe.

I went to the Nats back in 1992 and swore to never go again and I haven't back then the racers appeared to be an after thought with the most emphasis on the car show and swap meet. Most Mopar racers I know who have attended feel the same way. I have a Viper story also: a few years ago there was a car show at a local ( now gone ) Dodge dealer since it was only three miles from my house I decided to take my Dart race car I parked my trailer across the street and pulled in to park the Dart a guy with a Viper comes running over and says " you can't park here this is millionaires row for Vipers only " there were no signs stating that . I proceeded to drive back across the street loaded my car in trailer and went to Test and tune at my home track instead. I have however been taking my D150 to a few shows and cruise nights lately and have won a few awards and the experience has been mostly positive with not to many negatives except the one couple at a local cruise that ask way to many personal questions, they don't have a cruise / show car and I am tired of hearing how he sent money to Chevy for a catalog and t shirt and never got the t shirt.

Cops didn't like Brice Road back then the same way they don't like the newer meets with burnouts and donuts. Same concept different times. I don't mind the newer stuff at car shows as the new stuff is being modified to the owners taste like our cars when they were 5 or 10 years old. Support is support in any form. If I was just starting out and had 20k to burn I doubt I'd buy a rusty project when I could just plop it down on a Scat Pack and preserve my weekends.

I’ve been going to the mall for national since 1988 every other year mostly as a spectator ,Show is definitely gotten smaller over the years.
I’m sure there’s multiple reasons why, but I know one is the constant bitching and whining from half the Mopar guys.
It’s too expensive, they don’t pay enough in the dragracing, disorganized, not enough vendors, I didn’t win a trophy , they pay more at my local track. No more real cruising. I truly miss that myself,
It’s pretty much the only show left were Mopar guy can live in breathe Mopar’s and watch them race. And despite its problems you should support it. Went to the Mopar’s at Englishtown every other year.😩
Carlisle‘s nice but no racing, these cars are more beautiful moving than they are sitting still.
I suppose most of you guys rather go to a car show where 99% of the cars are 69 Chevrolet Camaros.
When this show goes away it’ll give you one more thing to [censored] about.
Jim F

Carlisle has racing at South Mountain Raceway a few miles south of the fairgrounds on the Friday evening of Chryslers at Carlisle I go every year to race but very few other people do.I don't understand it almost 3,000 vehicles at Carlisle and only about twenty or so show up to race along with a few spectators. I guess hanging in hotel parking lots is more fun than racing.

To someone like me , yes . I dont have a desire for racing, My personal view is , I dont what to throw away money to go a quarter mile, not for me .. Maybe for someone else... I enjoy the cruise and the hanging out...

Totally agree. I loved the Brice scene. The Red Roof parking lot was ground zero, what a blast. It's all over and it will never happen again. Even after the Brice Rd. fun was taken away I returned to the Nats another year. The night scene was a dud no matter where people claimed 'the action' was at. I had considered attending this year but didn't get a hotel room in time. Judging the comments already posted that may have been a blessing. Seems the Nats will no longer be worth the two 7 hr. drives, or fuel and motel costs just to chase parts and look at cars that i can view online.

I'm wondering if the Indy swap meet will happen in 2022 since Indy has been sold off...????

Yep. People bitched every year about the show in May at NTR, as well. Now there isn't one that is all Chrysler.

The new owners of Indy had it this last year. They owned it at that time.

I heard a rumor over the weekend that the National Trails facility doesnt want the nats back there next year ?

Supposedly they are putting in a drifting track where the swap meet is now located. This would seriously limit the facilities capabilities for a non NHRA event



Anyone heard anything able to verify or dispute ????

I have no idea about that, but they were installing the bases for putting lighting (the 100 foot tall style) in the fun field and swap area at certain locations of the fields.

There has to be a reason why they would install the infrastructure for lighting back there.

It wouldn't surprise me at all. Jeff Johnson told me at the May Double Douche Nationals that NTR didn't want any single marque shows except for the big money events like the Nats. So if they decided they could replace it with the drift crowd and bring younger blood that doesn't complain as much, I wouldn't be shocked.
However, does the younger crowd bring crap like happened up at 42 instead of complaining ?