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National Trail Raceway - Columbus, Ohio - August 9-11
Welcome to the premiere Mopar car show in the world! This is the 33rd Annual Nationals – Chrysler Car Club Convention. This year's event is shaping up to be outstanding, with a lot of fun for the whole family. It will feature the tribute to the Dodge and Plymouth NASCAR entries of the late 60's and early 70's; the Dodge Charger 500, Charger Daytona, and the Plymouth Superbird. These were the cars that dominated NASCAR, and were specifically built to take advantage of aerodynamic gains to out run the Ford's and Mercury's. The tribute will be located in and around the Mopar Pavilion on the East side (racing side) of the track. Make sure you stop by to take a look at the fine heritage of these NASCAR examples. Also featured this year is a tribute to the Rod Shop Dodge race cars from years past. The Rod Shop was an Ohio-based speed shop that was having a lot of success in racing by fielded some pretty awesome race cars that competed in the various classes. They joined up with Chrysler in mid-1970, to field an exclusive team of Dodges that proceeded to write history. More on that story later on in the program.
This year's show has some new features and people. Paul Jacobs will be heading up the Judging portion of the event. Paul comes from a long history with Mopar, and a restoration shop background. He knows what it takes to build a champion, and over the years he has built up his expertise on originality and execution. Keith Rohm, while leaving the top Judge spot, will still be involved in the shows production, and of course will utilize his judging expertise by helping out on the judging field. The track itself has seen some personnel changes. Mike Fornataro has been at the track for a number of years as the sales and marketing manager, and he now takes on the additional duties of track manager. This year, the Nationals will be an official MPE (MoPower events) point event for those racers competing in that series for 2013. Race participants can now receive points for the MPE series as well as the cash prizes. Speaking of racing, some ET times and distance for some classes has changed to better fit with other events, and how the cars are prepared. We have also brought back the stick shift class by popular demand. We will also be offering a gambler's race. With the success from last year, the Amsoil/Mopar Muscle Magazine Dyno Showdown will once again take place. Numbers don't lie, so let's see what your car has to offer in the way of raw horsepower and torque.
This year's show will again feature 1,500+ vendor spaces, upwards of 3,000 cars, and close to 50,000 die-hard enthusiasts for the weekend. Add to that, the Drag Racing, Judged Car Show and OE Certification, Fun Field, Manufacturer Midway, Car Corral, special guest appearances, and activities for the kids, etc. – all combine to make this a great summer weekend of everything Mopar. In addition, the Nats will feature some new night-time activities along with the cruising. Tri-County Chrysler will be holding a car show on Thursday night, as a pre-kickoff party to the Nats. Trophies, spirits, and music will be offered to those that arrive early and want to get in the Mopar spirit. This year's Friday and Saturday Night Super Cruise's will again be featured in downtown Heath, as in the past, where you can cruise or just sit back and watch all the fun. The Nats is now four action-packed days and nights of sheer Mopar Madness. Next year we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the 426 Hemi. We will be showcasing the cars, the engine, and the people behind the Legend. It will truly be memorable.
Finally, we would like to thank our sponsors! Their support enables us to bring you, the Ultimate Mopar event. Bob Malcom Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Indy Cylinder Head, Mopar Muscle Magazine, Trailer World, and Irwin's Racing engines have all team up to help support the show. Make sure you remember these companies the next time you need parts and service for your Mopar, as they are supporting you and the hobby. Of course it goes without saying; we thank you the participant and spectator for coming out to the event, with a special thank you to those that actually bring out your classic Mopar to the event and allow everyone to see the best iron in the world! Thank you for your continued support and we all sincerely hope you enjoy the 33rd Annual Nationals – the Ultimate Mopar Experience!
The Nats Directors
2013 Schedule Of Events
|Thursday, August 8, 2013 (Note: Swap Meet Field Rights available after 12 Noon Cost $25)
|No regular or show entries will be allowed on grounds during move-in
|Swap Meet Move-In (Tickets required Gate H)
|Manufacturer Mid-Way Move-In (Tickets required Gate A)
|Early Race Tech Inspection (Use Main Gate-Airport Entrance)
|Noon 5:00 PM
|NTR Gates Close
|Tri-County Mopar, Kick off Car Show
|Friday, August 9, 2013
|NTR Gates Open
|AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Dyno Showdown
|Registration & Souvenir Tents
|Swap Meet/Manufacturer Midway
|Race Tech Inspection (Use Main Gate)
|Special Vehicle Tribute & other displays
|Open Time Trials
|Show Judging (Must be pre-registered)
|Open Time Trials
|Certification Judging (Must be pre-registered)
|Exhibition Runs
|Burn-Out Contest (Registration at Mopar Nats Tent)
|NTR Gates Close
|Times Posted at Reg.Tent
|Mopar Super Cruise Heath
|Saturday, August 10, 2013
|NTR Gates Open
|AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Dyno Showdown
|Registration & Souvenir Tents
|Swap Meet/Manufacturer Midway
|Race Tech Inspection (Use Main Gate)
|Special Vehicle Tribute & other displays
|Time Trials – Trophy/Bracket Entries Only
|Certification Judging (Must be Pre-registered)
|Shoot Out Qualifying
|Noon / 3:00 PM
|Show Car Time Trials
|Model Car Contest
|Exhibition Runs
|Children's Coloring Competition (Age 9 and under)
|11:00 AM 12 Noon
|Children's match Box Drag Race (Age 9 and under)
|12 Noon – 1:00 PM
|Burn-Out Contest (Registration at Mopar Pavilion)
|Viper, Trophy Class, Stick Shift & Nostalgic Class Eliminations
|Seminars Preparing your car for Judging, Master TECH
|Times Posted at Reg.Tent
|Mopar Super Cruise – Heath & Hebron
|Sunday, August 11, 2013 (No Race entries at the Gate/No Tech)
|NTR Gates Open
|Souvenir Tents
|Swap Meet/Manufacturer Midway
|Special Vehicle Tribute & other displays
|Time Trials Bracket Race Entries Only
|9:00 AM Noon
|Award Ceremony
|Noon 1:00 PM
|Exhibition Runs
|Bracket/Shoot-Out Eliminations
|NTR Gates Close
|National Trail Raceway Admission Prices (Prices subject to change, children under 10 Free)
|Swap Meet Entry for Thursday (Gate H)
|Fri/Sat/Sunday 1 Day Admission
|Two Day Pass
|Three Day Pass
Note: Golf Carts & ATV's must have permits. Must show proof of insurance and sign release. No children under 18 driving motorized vehicles. Golf Cart/ATV Registration will be handled at the Mopar Pavilion Registration Tent. Carts/ATVs are only allowed on pit side and in swap meet area. No carts, ATV's etc., in Show/Midway areas. NO traveling from pit side to show side. Alcoholic beverages and private sales of food or drink are prohibited on race track grounds. Unauthorized (all vehicles must have proper window sticker) cars, trucks, carts, ATV's etc., are prohibited from the race track grounds. No parking in Swap Meet/Manufacturer aisles. Must park within your designated space. Violators will be towed at owner's expense.
Nationals Information Hotline 313/278-2240
National Trail Raceway 740/928-5706
The Nationals General Info
The 2013 Nationals will feature the Wing Car Tribute. We are celebrating the great heritage of the Dodge and Plymouth NASCAR special editions; The Dodge Charger 500, Charger Daytona, and Plymouth Superbird. These vehicles will be parked in the Mopar Pavilion, and at the reserved area next to the pavilion. Special cars will be picked from the pre-registered entries to be displayed in the center. All remaining tribute vehicles will be parked around the perimeter. Pre-registered participants with these vehicles will receive a unique dash plaque in their goody bag. You must send in a copy of vehicle registration and a photo when submitting your entry application. Also featured this year is the Rod Shop tribute, with some of the Dodges that wrote history at the race track. Gil Kirk and Jim Thompson, the owners of the Rod Shop, had gotten together with Chrysler in mid-1970 and worked out a deal to park their Chevys, and develop an all-Dodge team. They were very successful in a number of NHRA classes.
For racing fans, there is the time-honored Nostalgic, Pro Mods, and Super Stocks exhibitions, FAST Class competition, along with the Irwin Racing Engines "stick" class in honor of Ronnie Sox. For those interested in the car show scene, you can view the concours restorations, OEM™ Certification, Young Guns, and some of the finest and rarest Mopar show cars in the world! The 2013 Nats will feature upwards of 3,000 Chrysler vehicles from the 1920s to the present, with an example of almost every Chrysler vehicle made in attendance. Make sure you see the huge Manufacturer's Midway, featuring the latest products and accessories for Mopars. From restoration to NOS, the Nats Midway has it all!
Racing at the 33rd Annual Nationals always brings out some of the best and fastest iron that the Pentastar ever produced. With the addition of the new age Hemi, this is sure to expand the number of racers. There is a special class for these competitors running 5.7, 6.1, and 6.4 Hemis. From Max Wedges, the original Hemis, small-blocks, big-blocks, turbo-fours and V-10's, all will compete in side-by-side drag racing action. See the Nostalgic Shoot-Out, where Max Wedge and Hemi cars will compete along with the Super Pro, Pro, Street, Quick 16, and others. See the Young Guns Drag Class. A special bracket race class reserved for those age 24 and under.
The Nats features one of the largest all-Mopar midways in the world, more than 1,500 Swap Meet spaces, and a Car Corral that will surely have something for everyone! This will be a weekend to remember. The 33rd Annual Nationals is an event you just can't afford to miss! See it all, August 9-11 at National Trail Raceway, Columbus, Ohio. Often imitated … never duplicated, it's the 33rd Annual Nationals…the Ultimate Mopar Experience!
Amsoil/Mopar Muscle Dyno Showdown
Participants have a chance to compete in the Amsoil/Mopar Muscle Dyno Showdown where "Numbers do not lie." Winners for the top horsepower will be awarded and featured in Mopar Muscle Magazine. The location of the Dyno is in the Midway next to the Mopar Muscle and Amsoil booths. Who will have bragging rights for 2013??
Event Souvenirs
This year's Nats will feature a number of great collector wearables, and event souvenirs. The first 1,500 pre-registered participants will receive a goody bag with special event souvenirs. The 33rd Annual event T-shirt will feature the Wing cars and other appearing vehicles. Also available will be an event ball cap, jacket, dash plaque, series coffee mug, and event DVD. All are available for purchase at the Nationals souvenir stands. We will also be offering a special "Tribute" T-Shirt that will feature many of the highlights of the Dodge and Plymouth wing cars.
Longaberger Tour
Ladies, make sure you check out the Longaberger Basket Tour on Saturday, and get your unique 2013 Nats Wing Car Tribute Longaberger basket. The bus will leave from the NTR tower Saturday morning, and return in the late afternoon. You must be pre-registered. The deadline is July 15th. See the Nats website for additional information.
Night Time Cruising & Pre-Nats Kick-Off Show
The Nats is one of the truly unique shows in that not only does it offer participants action packed days of everything Mopar, but a huge night time atmosphere as well. On Friday and Saturday nights, participants will be cruising on Brice Road and in downtown Health on US 71. Information flyers will be in the participant goody-bags as well as our website, and at the registration/souvenir tent. This year will feature an all new Thursday night Car Show – Nats kick-off event at Tri-County Chrysler located in downtown Heath. There will be show plaques and other awards offered as well as live entertainment and food/beverages. For those arriving early to the Nats, now you have an additional event to attend.
On-site Info
If you need information about any aspect of the show, go to one of the three information centers, located at Gates A, D, and H, and at the Nats registration tent, which is located behind the main grandstands (marked by the Helium Balloon). Event flyers, schedule of events, vendor listing, and maps of the track are available, as well as personnel to answer your questions. If you need security or Lost and Found, call 740/928-5706.
Manufacturer Midway/ General Swap Meet/Car Corral
Need a part? If you are looking for those hard-to-find parts, that proper date coded part, or that last piece to finish your restoration, the 33rd Annual Nationals is the place to go! With over 1,500 all-Mopar vendor spaces, your part is sure to be there! Vendors will be saving their good stuff to bring out to this event, as it is the largest all-Mopar swap meet and manufacturer midway in the world. It's also one of the last big events of the year, so prices are set lower to broom out the merchandise before the winter sets in. Many companies use the Nats to debut their new restoration/reproduction items, and offer those bargain introductory discounts. You will find a huge variety of N.O.S., new, reproduction, and used parts, not to mention literature, memorabilia, collectibles, toys, and everything Mopar-related. It is unbelievable the number of unique parts that show up. If Mopar made it, it will be for sale at the Nats. Plan on spending a whole day just looking at all the parts. (While any part can be found at the Nats, most vendors cater to 1960 – to current year items).
Getting to the Nats
Directions to National Trail Raceway
Participants and Spectators: National Trail Raceway is about 20 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, on old US Highway 40, 1 mile north of Interstate I-70 at the Kirkersville exit.
• From the North – Take I-75 south to the State Hwy. 15 exit. Go south, and the road turns into US- 23. Continue south until you reach the I-270 Beltway that circles Columbus. Go east on I-270 until you reach I-70. Take I-70 east to exit No. 122 (Rte. 158), and then go north to US-40 (Main Street). At US-40, go east about 3 miles, and the track will be on your left side with Gate C parking on your right and Gate A parking on your left ($5/day). The spectator entrance/ ticket booths are at Gates A and D.
• From the East or West – Take I-70 to Columbus, then either take exit No. 122 (Rte.158) or exit No. 126 (Rte. 37) northbound until you reach US-40. If you get off at exit No. 122, go east on US-40 until you see the track on your left, parking on your right. If you get off on exit No. 126, take US-40 west until you see the track on the right. Parking is available at Gate A or on the other side of the street.
• From the South – Take either I-71 or US-33 to the Columbus I-270 beltway. Then take I-70 east to exit No. 122. Take this north to US-40. Travel east on US-40 until you see the track on your left side. Free parking is available in Parking Lots F & G. Paid parking is in Lots A, C, and H.
Pets & Camping – There are no pets or camping allowed on the race track grounds.
Spectator Information
Dates: August 9-11, 2013.
Location: National Trail Raceway, 2650 National Road Southwest, Hebron, Ohio, 43025-9639
Times: Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 8am – 6pm
Ticket Prices: Friday, Saturday or Sunday $20 for a day pass; – 2 Day Pass $30 – 3 Day Pass $40 (Children 10 years old and under are free with paid Adult admission) Sorry we do not accept credit card orders, but you can order your tickets ahead of time and save the wait in lines by sending a check/money order to The Nationals, P.O. Box 2303, Dearborn, MI. 48123 -2303. 313/278-2240. There is Swap Meet Field rights for the Thursday Move-In Day after 12 Noon. Cost is $25. Use the gate H entrance off refugee road.
The event takes place in August, and Ohio, has been known to be sunny and hot. So plan accordingly. Have sun block, hats and appropriate clothing. As this is a race track, shade is limited. Coolers are allowed that are 13-inches and under. The track does have the Hot Rod Grille and remote food centers located throughout the track serving food and beverages. Due to the venue (race track), action going on in the facility and sanitary reasons, no pets are allowed on the race track grounds. Make sure you purchase your event souvenirs early, as they always sell out of the popular sizes.
Participant Information
Car Participant Entry: There are three types of car entries into this year's show, along with the Manufacturer Midway, Swap Meet and Car Corral.
Regular Entry
Got a Mopar? Got $65? You're in! The cost of the regular entry is $65 (if postmarked by June 30, 2013; $80 thereafter). No mail in entries accepted after July 12. Entries are also available at the gate based on Car and Driver pricing. Pre-registration entries admit two adults and one vehicle for all three days, as well as in the Trophy Race bracket if you choose to race your car or just make time trails during the scheduled open portion of the event on Saturday. NOTE: Your vehicle must meet NHRA rules to be allowed to run down the track. There is no judging on this car entry, but you may win one of the many trophies/plaques awarded by the various magazines. These entrants must park on the east side of the track and use their designated gate. If not pre-registered, use the Gate A entrance for registration (see map). A picture is required of all pre-registered entries unless you are entering the same vehicle as last year. Note: Tribute vehicles will use the Gate A entrance off US-40 for entry into the Race side where the tribute display is located. Within this entry is another feature at the Nats is the Original Mopar Owners area. Have an old Mopar that is at least 20 years old and you are the original owner, or the car has been in your immediate family since day one? There will be a special reserved parking area for those participants to display their cars. The Nats will again make available the "Car Club Parking Area". If you're a member of a Mopar Car Club and have at least 10 members entering into the 2013 event (applications must be sent in together), then you can park together in a reserved area on the Judged Show side of the track.
Race Entry
Think you're fast? The race car entry is $100-$150 depending on the race class (if postmarked by June 30, 2013, add $15 late fee afterwards). No mail in entries accepted after July 12. Entries are also available at the gate Thursday, Friday, and Saturday based on car and driver pricing. This entry is for those participants who want to race their cars in one of the many different bracket classes or shootouts. Pre-registration entries admit two adults and the vehicle to all three days. The vehicle must pass all NHRA rules for its E.T. Cars entered will park on the east side of the track in the designated pit area. Use the Main Gate A entrance on the first day or until tech-inspected. Tech inspection will be on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; NO Sunday Tech inspections. After the vehicle passes tech inspection, park in the designated pit area and use the entrance gate on your confirmation letter to enter the grounds. This year's event will feature the Super Pro, Pro, Quick 16, Street, Stick, New Hemi, and Young Guns classes, along with the Nostalgic and Viper Shoot-outs. A picture is required for all new entries. Vehicles entered in the race entry cannot compete in the Trophy class. RACE NOTE: You must check the trailer box for a trailer permit if you will be bringing a vehicle on a trailer. Only a limited amount of space for trailers is available, and they must park in the trailer-designated areas only. No Regular ($65 entry), Trophy, or ($100) Street class entries will be allowed in on a trailer. This is reserved for the non-plated Bracket drag racers only.
Car Show Assignment and Helpful Judging Tips
Placing your vehicle in the proper class for Judging is probably the most important aspect of entering any Judged competition. It is up to the entrant to review the available classes, and decide which class their vehicle best fits. We have listed the basic classes below, with a brief description of requirements that should eliminate any potential for errors. If you are in doubt, just e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com, and we help you out. Judging is open to all Chrysler and AMC vehicles, but some classes have vehicle age requirements. The judges will be willing to discuss your deductions "briefly" after they have completed the judging of your vehicle. With the number of vehicles to be judged, unfortunately there is not enough time to do a detailed discussion on each item.
Cars are broken down into classes based on the model (body style) first, depending on the number of entries. First Place will be awarded in each class that contains a minimum of three vehicles. Five vehicles are required for a Second Place, 8 for a Third Place, and 10 for a Fourth Place. If classes have more than 12 cars, they may be divided up by year, make, or model. Competing cars will be judged on a 100-point system. First Place usually requires 90 points or more; Second Place, 80 points or more; Third and Fourth Place require at least 70 points or more. No positions are awarded to vehicles receiving less than 70 points. If there is a tie between two or more vehicles, the judging sheets are reviewed for point totals in the body exterior section, and the car with the higher point total is awarded the higher place position. The Body/Exterior section was chosen for the deciding factor, because it is one of the more important factors in the vehicles in overall appearance. Note: For a copy of your judging sheet, send a S.A.S.E. to The Nationals, P.O. Box 2303, Dearborn, MI. 48123. Please include your name, year make model of car, and which classification it was judged in.
The Nationals judging categories listed below start from a 100-percent original car, then each class listed below represents a categorization of the modifications made to the vehicle that moves it away from original. It should be noted, that the vehicle may fall in between categories, requiring the owner to pick one. If in doubt, the usual rule is to go one step closer to original. As an example, if you have a few modifications that are slight, the vehicle doesn't meet Street Class. But then again it's not original. The proper choice would be to pick the original class.
This classification is for original vehicles only that took First place at a previous Mopar Nationals. (Required if a last year winner, optional for prior years). Once an original classed vehicle is awarded a first place in their class, the next year, if the vehicle is entered into the show, it has to go into the Senior classification. This serves a number of purposes. It allows the other cars in the class the chance to move up in rankings, especially if they have corrected items that had deductions from the previous year, and it offers the winner the next level in competition. The Senior class employs a higher level of scrutiny by the judges, in regards to additional areas of the vehicle and originality of the parts. Obviously the related point totals are higher. Items that are not judged in the Original category are looked at in this classification. This adds to the time required to judge this class and thereby the increase in registration fees. This class also offers the ability of the owner to discuss with the judge all the aspects of the vehicle that lost points after the judging process is completed.
This is the easiest class for an owner to categorize their vehicle. This class is for vehicles that are 100-percent, or close to the way the car came from the factory. Everything from paint color, interior color and trim level should match the body tag. This would NOT include maintenance items like tires, battery, headlamps, belts, hoses and clamps. Obviously non-original ones will lose points, but these changes would not place the car in a modified class. The closer the vehicle is to original condition, the lesser amount of points will be deducted. Special attention is paid to components that are normally replaced due to wear or breakage. A percentage of total points for that component will be awarded as compared to the original part. For example; tires; full points are awarded for OEM tires; 75 percent for reproduction; 50 percent for reproduction non-OEM brand having correct size and whitewall/letter specifications; 25 percent for current service replacement size tires with correct whitewall width, and so on, or zero percent for all other tires. This standard is set for the engine block, battery, tires, glass, headlights, shocks, and other under hood and undercarriage components. As part of the judging process, all vehicles will go through a functional check-out procedure to see if items are functioning properly; taillights, turn signals, horn, wipers, radio and dash lights, among other things.
This category is also easy for the owner to decide on. This is a vehicle that looks 100-percent like an original car, but is not a "numbers matching" or a model matching vehicle. An example would be a Dodge Challenger 318 that has been restored into a 440 Challenger R/T. The vehicle looks identical to a production version of the car, but its VIN, body code tag, and other documentation do not support that model. Vehicle power train changes, paint color and interior color/trim level changes are allowed as sometimes those are actually required to 100-percent duplicate the model.
The Street category is taking a 100-percent original vehicle as produced from the factory, and adding "bolt on" modifications that were or are popular. This includes; mag rims, alternate tire size or manufacturer, chrome components under hood (i.e. valve covers, air cleaner, hood springs, brackets), headers and exhaust system, and/or exhaust tips. Interior changes could be tachometer on steering column, additional gauges, aftermarket radio and/or speakers, and chromed items. This just lists some of the items that would move an original vehicle into this category. Obviously having one or two of these changes is not sufficient to move from original to this category. It would be like a combination of 5 or more items. This category was formed due to the high number of vehicles that are not restored to factory appearance, but are more reflective of what the owner desires. The amount of modifications to the vehicle would increase point deductions in an Original Category to a level that would not allow a vehicle to score well within that category. Besides, there are many original vehicles that look much more "era" correct with these modifications. The addition of a hood scoop or wing would move the car out of Street and into Modified.
This category is for vehicles that have been modified beyond simple bolt-ons. They have paint color or style changes (flames, paint graphics, stripes), addition of hood scoops or spoilers, wide rim/tire combinations in the rear and skinny in front. Other mods such as engine/transmission changes, intake manifolds (tunnel rams/blowers may cause vehicle to move to Pro-Street), heads, exhaust, braided lines classify a car as modified. Points are awarded based on the execution of modifications, creativity and quality.
Pro Street
This category is for vehicles that have been modified to an extreme level. This would include widening of the rear wheel wells or tubing, frame changes, suspension changes, turboand/or super charging, tunnel rams through the hood, graphic paint schemes and paint colors, roll cage.
Street Rod
This category is self-explaining. The vehicle is an older model (1920's – 1950's) with a newer drive train. Open wheel or closed. Rat Roadsters would be classified here and depending on the number of entries might be broken out into a separate classification under this category.
Young Gun
This is a category for the young Mopar enthusiast. There is an Original and Modified category. The age group is for those 15 – 25 years old. Vehicles entered in the Original classification must be restored, and be at least 20 years old. Modified vehicles can be current or older. The restoration or modifications must have been mainly done by the "Young Gun" with only some help from the parent(s)/guardian. Note: The Original Class is for restoring a classic Mopar (20 years or older), not entering a new car. New cars must be in the modified class and as such, must be modified from stock appearance (tuner look, etc.) A special area will be reserved for these entrants.
OEM Certification™
Prior approval is required, 100-percent original vehicles only. This is the GOLD Standard of vehicle judging. The vehicle is judged against a set specific standards for all components. Vehicle documentation can add additional points. Every part of the vehicle is evaluated for originality, condition and cleanliness. Build dates of components must be in line with build date of vehicle—numbers matching. Vehicle appears like it drove off the production line. There is a common theme to "over-restore" a vehicle when completing a restoration. Surface gloss should match that of production components. Paint spray/coverage should be production level. We do not deduct points for improved paint finish on body, but will deduct points for areas painted that should not be or gloss surfaces that do not match that of original. Paint markings should be based off what is found on the vehicle during restoration and not based on other vehicles seen.
Judging Tips
Cars should be as clean as possible. Obviously a majority of the vehicles are driven to the event, so as compared to an enclosed trailered vehicle, it is hard to compete. Judges will take this into account and only deduct points where the dirt is real evident and should have been cleaned. Especially oil leaks etc.
Vehicles must have a fire extinguisher in them. They do not need to be mounted, but need to be present either in the interior or trunk. Points will be deducted if one is not present. This is done to encourage participants to carry one in case of a fire so someone has the means to put it out before the damage is extensive/expensive.
Make sure your vehicle is mechanically working. A number of mechanical checks are performed and those lost points can be the difference between 1st and 2nd place. (Wipers, turn-signals, horn, radio, heater, headlights, clock, map light, etc)
Use proper hose clamps for your Make, Model and Year if you are in an original class.
Have your hood and trunk open for the judges. This can be just popped open, does not have to be fully open. Doors are to remain closed (not locked), the judges will open to inspect the interiors. Judges will raise hoods and trunks but will not unlock hoods and trunks if closed.
Have your engine painted the correct color. There was a period in time when even Mopar was selling the wrong color paint.
Make sure you have entered your vehicle in the right class. We cannot accommodate mass changes at the event. All judging participants must sign in and pick up their Judging Packet at the Show Registration tent. Look at your Judging package you receive at registration and confirm you are placed in your entered class. See the people at Judging registration for help if you see an error.
If you must put up a small pop-up tent (10×10), it must be located behind the vehicle and MUST be staked. We cannot have the wind blowing pop up tents through the judging area.
Any specific areas you want to bring out to the Judge (especially Modified & Pro-Street entries), please supply a one sheet page laid on your driver's seat or driver's floor area of items you wish to bring to the judges attention. The Judge will read the document and note the highlighted parts of your vehicles presentation.
Concours Judged Show (Concours & OE-Certification)
Want to be professionally judged? The cost is $93, and your entry must be postmarked by June 30, 2013. No entries will be accepted after this date or at the gate. This entry is for those participants who want their cars judged and will compete for award plaques as well as bragging rights. The Nats is one of the only Mopar shows that feature a professional Judging Staff that know Mopars and can properly judge your car. Entry admits the car and two adults for all three days. Judged /Tribute entries may continue to park on the judging side all weekend long or after being Judged on Friday can park on either side in designated areas only. There are seven major categories, and all require photos to be included with the entry application so we can confirm classification of the vehicle. If in doubt, e-mail us ahead of time with pictures of the vehicle by the June 30 date so proper classification is performed. Some classes have restrictions or additional fees. Senior and OE-Certified classes require additional funds, with OE requiring prior approval as this class fills up fast. Remember to include two photos (three-quarter front and rear) with your application unless entering the same vehicle as last year. Include copies of your broadcast sheet, window sticker, and any other supporting documentation for the OE Certification and Senior classes. (NOTE: Since this judging class may be full by the time this publication is released, be sure to pre-schedule for an available '14 or '15 opening). Judged show vehicles trailered to the track must park in the approved designated trailer areas and purchase a trailer permit ($25). Show cars can compete in the Saturday Trophy Race and/or make a time trial on Saturday during the designated times. Judging takes place on Friday from 10 am to 5 pm. Winners will be announced and displayed at the Judged and Registration tents on Saturday after 3 pm.
Achieving Mopar Gold Certification
Each year, the Nationals will take up to 4 or 5 entrants into the OE Certification program. This is a program that was designed and debuted some 25 years ago at the Mopar Nationals. It was created by known experts in the field who had/have the knowledge of how the vehicles were built, using drawings, graphics, and many years of experience in restorations and reviewing survivor cars to create a set of standards that all aspects of the vehicle are compared against. Each part of the vehicle is judged against how the vehicle came from the factory. This year, the judging program will be handled by Paul Jacobs of Jacobs Restorations. He has retired from the car restoration business, and has graciously agreed to head up the OE and Concours Judging at the Nats. Outgoing head Judge Keith Rohm while retiring from his position, has agreed to still judge and serve on the Nats advisory board.
Obviously this is no easy task, as the judges must spend an enormous amount of time researching the vehicle year, make and model beforehand, so when the vehicle is judged at the event, they already know a great deal of what the vehicle should look like and how it should be equipped. The vehicle receives points in areas of the restoration. The process takes up to four hours or more to complete, which is why the number of vehicles allowed entry each year is limited.
The OE Certification program last year saw not one, but three Daytona's entered. All of them took home Gold. It is ironic that this year we are celebrating the tribute to Chrysler's NASCAR offerings, the Dodge Charger 500, Charger Daytona, and Plymouth Superbird. Hopefully these cars come back to be on display for the Tribute. To achieve Gold Certification, the required points achieved for the vehicle must be at least 95-percent of the total possible points. It takes 90-percent to achieve a Silver, and 85-percent for Bronze. Point totals below 85-percent are not awarded a certificate. Last year's entries into the OE Certification program were truly outstanding, and represented some of the best works to date, a "Gold Bar" that has been set. The Nationals does not cut corners, or reduce the requirements for what it takes to achieve gold, as a matter of fact, with the growing knowledge over time, and the years of reviewing unrestored vehicles and consulting with the true experts in the field, it's probably even a little harder to score now, then ever before.
Manufacturer Midway/ General Swap Meet/Car Corral
Manufacturer Midway – Making New Restoration Parts? If you own a Mopar Parts or Service business, you need to be at the Nats! Where else can more than 50,000 die-hard Mopar enthusiasts see your products up close and first hand? This translates into instant sales, just ask the vendors that attend. All the big name manufacturers are there, so why shouldn't you? Space prices are based on the amount rented, with discounts increasing on larger space requirements. Space sizes come in 20×20 increments. Remember your transportation vehicle must fit within your vendor space size or you must park in the vendor lot. The Midway is located up front near the starting line where all the action is, guaranteeing your company the best possible exposure. You can download the Midway application off our web site (www.thenats.com) or just send a S.A.S.E. to us for all the information you need.
General Swap Meet
Want to sell those used parts? If you have parts to sell, the 33rd Annual Nationals general swap meet area is the place for you. Spaces are 10 feet by 25 feet. Cost is $95 each. You must be able to park your vehicle within the size of your space, or you will have to park in the vendor parking lot in Lot H. Make sure you purchase enough space for your parts and vehicle. Additional space is available in 10-foot increments at $95 each (Pre-registration fee – prices higher at gate). The swap meet area will be located in the northeast corner of the track in back-to-back rows. Even though this area is huge, we sell out every year. We recommend pre-registering to guarantee your spaces or you can purchase spaces at the NTR gate between 12 noon and 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 8th or Friday & Saturday mornings. All vendors will set up Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday move-in is possible on special request. If you plan to purchase a swap meet space on Thursday/Friday, use the Gate H entrance off Refugee Road (CR 30) and proceed to the registration tent by the gate entrance.
Car Corral
Selling your Mopar? There is no better place than the Nats Car Corral. Last year's event saw an over 60-percent sales rate. For just a $95 pre-registration fee, your car entry and one weekend admission pass is provided. If you're looking for a classic or high performance Mopar, make sure you check out the car corral this year as a lot of great buys will be available. Non running vehicles can remain on the trailer, but the tow vehicle must be parked in the vendor lot. Tow vehicle/trailer parking is available in the vendor lot. Notary Services if needed are available on grounds.
The deadline for the Judged Show entry ($93) is June 30, 2013. There is no Judged show registration after this date. Regular and Race entry mail in deadline is July 12, but are also available at the gate. Call the Nationals Hotline at 313/278-2240 for the latest entry information or visit our website at www.thenats.com. Remember, pre-registration will guarantee a space and help speed up your entry into the grounds. Swap Meet and Midway vendor entries will be accepted until 12 Noon on Saturday, August 10th space permitting. For event information, including applications, maps, schedule of events and motel listings, send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to The Nationals, P.O. Box 2303, Dearborn, MI 48123-2303 or visit our Web site at www.thenats.com.
Entering the Track (participants)
Pre-registered Participants: To alleviate traffic jams and ensure a smooth entry into the racetrack grounds, all pre-registered participants must follow the entry instructions included with your confirmation package. Your entry number will identify which gate you should use and will give you the proper directions to get to that gate. Gates A, D, and H, are for participants. Gates A and D are off of US-40, Gate H is off Refugee Road (CR 30). Judged Show, Car Club, Young Guns will have reserved parking and must be pre-registered. They will use the Gate D entrance.
Non-registered Participants (regular and race entries only): For those who have not pre-registered for the event and would like to enter at the gate, follow the above directions to the track and go to the Gate A entrance off U.S. 40 for registration. Show field parking areas will be on the provided map. Drag race entrants also follow the directions to Gate A for registration. After registration, you must be tech-inspected. Tech inspection is located next to the quarter-mile track near the finish line. Drag race entry is available only on Friday and Saturday. There will be NO Sunday drag race registration or tech inspection.
Trailered Vehicles (non-race): Due to space limitations, no show vehicles on trailers will be allowed entry into the pit side show grounds. There will be trailer parking available in the south lot for Judged Show entries. Judged Show participants can purchase a trailer permit for parking on the west side judging field by sending in the $25 fee with their entry. There is a limited amount of space with Lot C being the overflow lot.
Trailered Vehicles (Race): Trailer parking is allowed for those vehicles that have entered the Bracket/Shootout-style classes and circled the trailer required. A tow vehicle permit will be issued with your pre-registered entry. Vehicles racing in the street bracket or the trophy class are not allowed on-grounds trailer parking. Leave the trailer at the motel or in the general parking area. NOTE: There is trailer parking at the Gate H and Gate A lots for participants. Open race car parking is clearly marked on the map and must be adhered to. Trailered race car entries must use the main Gate A before they have been tech-inspected. Once tech-inspected, you may use either Gates A or H, depending on your entry number.
Confirmation Letter and Admission Credentials
All pre-registered participants (Regular, Race, Judge, Car Corral and Vendor) will receive a confirmation package in late July with their admission passes and vehicle window entry sticker. Additional weekend passes are $40 each. Maps and the latest schedule of events will be included. NOTE: Motel reservations for this weekend should be made as early as possible since the Columbus-area facilities tend to fill up fast. As mentioned, all entries require a photo, unless you are entering the same vehicle as last year. Entry is restricted to Chrysler/AMC Bodied & Powered vehicles, and the vehicle must meet the classic/show requirements. No everyday rides or Brand X will be allowed entry regardless of entry credentials received. There are NO PETS or CAMPING ALLOWED ON THE RACE TRACK GROUNDS. The first 1,500 Pre-registered car entry participants must present their confirmation letter at the Mopar Pavilion registration tent (marked by the Helium Balloon), behind the main grandstands to receive their goody bag and event souvenirs.
Mopar Model Car Nationals Contest
The little cars can be as fun as the big ones! AutoKnow of Utica, Michigan, will sponsor the 25th Annual Mopar Model Car Contest. Stop by the AutoKnow tent in the Manufacturer Midway (Space O3 & O4) and view the models for yourself. The amount of work and attention to detail these skilled model makers devote to these cars is unbelievable! Participants, ranging from young children to seasoned adults, may enter single or multiple cars, from complete scenes (dioramas) at racetracks to cars rusting away in a remote field.
Entry is very simple; the model only needs to be a Mopar/AMC product. Register your model at the AutoKnow tent on Saturday, August10th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Models will be judged in different classes with results posted at 4 p.m. Participants should pick up their models by 5 p.m. Participants are divided into three age groups; 11 and under, 12 through 17 and 18 and over, with each group divided into stock and modified classes. There will also be a class for the diorama entries. Depending on the number of entries per class, First through Third Place trophies will be awarded. If you are into the hobby of building car models, come and compete with some of the best. If you just want to look at the true craftsmanship in these works of art, stop by during your visit to the Mopar Manufacturer Midway.
Mopar Kids (Matchbox Race & Coloring Contest)
The Nationals has something for everyone. The Children's coloring contest has two age groups; 6 and under, and 7-9. The Nationals T-shirt artwork is supplied in black and white, and the kids get to be creative and color the cars in. Winners receive 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place plaques. Children's coloring contest starts at 11am, and runs to 12/noon on Saturday at the Nats Registration area.
The Mopar Matchbox Drag Race is for kids nine (9) and under. Sign your kid up (boys and girls) to compete in the ladder style bracket race elimination. The event takes place on Saturday, at approximately 12 Noon at the Nationals Registration area. Each participant will pick one car from the supply of Matchbox cars supplied by the Nats (no bringing your own) to race. The winner and runner up will be awarded a plaque, plus everyone gets to keep their car.
2013 Nats Drag Racing Program
The 2013 Nationals Drag Racing Program has incorporated some changes that we hope will improve the racing experience at the Nats. In addition, the main classes will be awarding points to the winners at the Nats for the MoPower (MPE) racing series. Basic race rules; Vehicles must pass NHRA rules for the ET the vehicle runs. Helmets are required for cars running faster than 13.99. If you have any questions about NHRA rules or your vehicle, contact NHRA or NTR at 740/928-5706. All race type entries can compete in up to two (2) of the classes below. More than one class requires additional fee for the second class. Only one entry allowed per class. Once a car is entered into a selected class, it must remain in that class, unless it is one of the classes that require qualifying. If the vehicle fails to qualify in that class, it can be entered into one of the other bracket classes. Only one driver per car, unless two entries have been purchased under the same car. The following classes are available along with the tentative payouts. Payouts may be reduced based on the number of entries per class. The Quick 16 class will be divided into 8 door slammers and 8 open wheel cars (if the qualifying numbers are met) and run 1/8 mile. Each class will run off against one another until the finals. All classes are bracket style except the shootouts, which are heads up. There is an overlap on the Super-Pro and Pro classes based on if the vehicle is running electronics. No Throttle Stop or Delay boxes are allowed in Pro, Super-Pro allows all electronics. As in years past, we will continue the drag race activities with two main categories. Those that compete for money, and those that go for plaques. Vehicles entered in the Trophy class are limited to street tires (DOT approved) & mufflers.
Tentative Drag Race Categories
- Super-Pro (0-11:99)
- Pro (9:50 – 13:99)
- Sportsman (11:50–up)
- Quick 16 – 1/8 mile (8/8)
- Mopar Muscle Young Guns (24 year olds and under)
- Hemi Challenge (5.7L, 6.1L, 6.4L)
- Irwin Race Engines "Stick Shift Class"
- *Indy Cylinder Head Nostalgic Shoot-Out
- Viper Shoot-Out ($150 Low ET, $100 Low ET on OEM Tires)
- **Trophy Class – Regular ($65 entries only)
- FAST Class
Payouts based on the number of entries as of 7-10-13. * Heads up start ** DOT tires and mufflers required.
Irwin Racing Engines "Stick Shift Class"; a tribute to Ronnie Sox. Rules are: Bracket class with .500 tree. Car must have a manual transmission, no electronics (shifting etc.,) and no Lencos, no delay boxes, no air shifters, no clutch pedal magnets, no hydraulic clutch fluid-lock system, aftermarket manual transmissions okay. Front wheel line locks and rev limiters are allowed. Time trials ran on Friday and Saturday morning. Eliminations will take place Saturday afternoon.
Hemi Challenge Rules:
Body: Must retain factory steel built Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth. Fiberglass hoods and body ground effect kits are allowed. Interior must be stock. Dash must remain stock, aftermarket gauges and seats (Must be SFI approved) are allowed. Glass must be DOT approved. Engine/Trans: Must be Chrysler built 5.7L, 6.1 or 6.4L 8 cylinder. Must be RWD/AWD. Turbo, Supercharger and Nitrous are allowed. Fuel Injection or Carbs are allowed. Inspection: Cars must be street legal for the state in which they are registered and pass NHRA safety inspection.
Indy Cylinder Head Nostalgia Super Stock 2013 Rules
Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler body and engines; Bolt on aftermarket parts open, i.e. blocks, heads, intakes (cast or aluminum) and other common speed equipment from era. Operational head lights, taillights, turn signals and horn. Stock appearing for body use. Stock appearing rear wheel wells, No SS/A style qtrs., Inner tubs allowed. No Electronics, Trans Brakes.
TIRES (FX CLASSES, A/NSS, B/NSS): Street type or drag slick tires permitted. Maximum rear tire designation of 10.5Wx33-inch permitted. The front tires are limited to 4.5-inch minimum tread width. The tread of the tires is not allowed to protrude outside the exterior bodyline at the top of the tire. TIRES (ALL OTHER NSS CLASSES): Street type or drag slick tires permitted. Maximum rear tire designation of 10.5Wx31-inch permitted. The front tires are limited to 4.5-inch minimum tread width. Tire tread may not extend outside fenders.
INTERIOR (NSS CLASSES): Must have full factory seating, upholstery, and carpeting. Aftermarket upholstered bucket seats permitted. Full dashboard mandatory. Aftermarket gauges permitted. Rear seat may be removed when roll bar/cage is installed. Area must be carpeted or upholstered equivalent to factory specifications (no bare paneling).
INTERIOR (FX CLASSES): Full removal of interior allowed.
BODY NSS CLASSES: Topless cars prohibited. Lightweight replacement parts permitted for fenders, hood, doors, deck lid, and bumpers. External modification of any body panel that will alter the stock bodyline is prohibited. The body must be finished & painted.
FX CLASSES: Topless cars prohibited. Lightweight replacement parts permitted for fenders, hood, doors, deck lid, and bumpers. External modification of any body panel that will alter the stock bodyline is prohibited. Hoods are optional. The body must be finished & painted.
HOOD/SCOOP (NSS CLASSES): Hood scoops limited to OEM equipment or period style. Hood/scoop may be no higher than 5 inches. Pro stock-style scoops prohibited. The entire induction system must be completely covered by hood or scoop, which must be part of the vehicle hood.
HOOD/SCOOP (FX CLASSES): Not required.
Class Designations and Index
Qualifying Info: Ladder Type, & Tree All Run, NHRA Sportsman Ladder, .500 Full Tree, Handicap Start.
ELIGIBLE YEAR MODELS AND BODY STYLES: The following is a list of cars/engines, which are allowed to compete in the Nostalgia Super Stock class:
•Dodge/Plymouth Full Bodied: 1960-67; 383-440 wedge
•Dodge/Plymouth Full Bodied: 1964-67; Hemi
•Dart/Barracuda: 1967-69; 383-440
•Dart/Barracuda: 1968; 426 Hemi
Fast Class Rules
Check out their website www.fastraces.org
Trailer Parking: Trailer Parking allowed for those vehicles that have entered the Bracket/Shoot-Out Style Race classes. Vehicles racing in the Street bracket or the trophy class are not allowed on-grounds trailer parking. Leave the trailer at the Motel or in the general parking area. An additional $25 fee is required for trailer parking if in the Street or Trophy brackets. Note: There is also trailer parking at the Gate H lot in the North East Corner of the track. Open Race Car parking is clearly marked on MAP and must be adhered too.
Tech Inspection:
All cars that entered into the Drag Racing Program or plan to make a pass down the track must be TECH inspected. TECH is available on Thursday August 8th from 12 Noon to 5PM. Tech will be open Friday and Saturday from 9AM – 5PM. There will be no TECH inspection on Sunday. TECH is located at the finish line of the quarter mile on the East side of the track, right across from the on-site convenience store. Your confirmation package will contain a TECH CARD Ticket that has your name and class you have chosen to run. Please exchange this for your TECH Card at the Gate A Main Entrance when you enter the grounds for the first time. TECH Inspection will handle all the rest. If you fail TECH inspection, refunds will only be paid on remaining days left on ticket(s). All NHRA rules apply.
Camping: There is NO OVERNIGHT camping or staying on the race track grounds. There is a campground next to the track that you can stay at. Call for reservations: 740/928-0335.
Wingin' It
Chrysler had enjoyed success with their NASCAR program from the very beginning. But, as the late 60's came around, the competition seemed to be catching up and actually winning. While the early Charger proved adequate on the high banked super speedways along with the Dodge Coronets and Plymouth Belvederes, it was the Hemi engine that was the dominant force pushing them into the winner's circle. When 1968 came around, it was thought that the new Dodge Charger would be a real contender with its sleeker shape, but in fact it was realized that the car needed to be aerodynamically sorted out. The engineers felt that they had taken horsepower about as far as they could, and if they wanted to increase top speed, they needed to do it aerodynamically. Testing at the Chelsea Proving Grounds showed promising results, but when they got to Daytona, the cars were only running 184 mph–about 3 mph faster than previous models. The competition though was running 187 and 189 mph, so they knew they had to make changes to stay competitive. One of the individuals involved was the supervisor of the Special Vehicles Group, Larry Rathgeb. Larry was able to put his finger on the problem right away. The cars had too much front end lift. The Charger especially, had severe front lift due to its deeply recessed grille area, and a huge amount of turbulence in the rear window area between the rear roof pillars. All this translated into drag, making the car run slower than the competition. One of the Chrysler test engineers, John Pointer saw that even with additional power from the Hemi engine, it would not guarantee the car to be any faster.
The decision was made to go "aero", and thus, development work started on the Charger 500. They knew they could not race just what they built, so they had to build what they wanted to race. To really define which changes were going to be beneficial for the 1968 Charger, wind tunnel tests had to be conducted. While this was done with aircraft at the time, it rarely happened with cars. Chrysler had no facility, so it was decided to go with the Wichita State University 3/8-scale wind tunnel. Testing supported what the Chrysler engineers thought was happening. They had to convert the surface area into a fastback to smooth out the turbulent air on the rear, and bring the grille flush with the front end to reduce lift. It was felt that these changes would boost the top speed by 5 mph. VP of Dodge Marketing at the time was Bob McCurry. He didn't like losing, and he quickly made the call for these changes to occur. The task to mock something up went out to the Woodward Avenue garage. It was determined that some "off the shelf" parts could work just fine. Hence, the Coronet grille was utilized, a flush backlight plug and smaller glass was designed that flowed from the roof line, back to the middle of the trunk to get that fastback shape. This required the trunk lid to be shortened. The test mule was taken to the Chelsea Proving Grounds for testing. Bill McNulty, the test supervisor at the grounds confirmed that the car was indeed faster by a few miles per hour. Of course NASCAR regulations required that you had to build at least 500 production units of a given body type in order to race it. Dale Reeker was the product planner, but since he came from the race group, he had contacts in the sanctioning bodies, and knew how they operated. Since such a limited run of cars had to be made, making the modifications on the assembly line wouldn't work. Creative Industries, basically a retired Chrysler employee owned shop where Vern Kopin, Charles Shell, and Lou Wiser spent their days, were given the task by Reeker to handle the work. The NASCAR homologation minimum gave the car its name "500" even though that number was not achieved. Only 392 Charger 500's were built. So, to quickly sell the cars, Dodge cranked out a promotion announcing the new car in a small brochure that stated a new Charger was available that was even "sleeker" and faster than the R/T. "The Charger 500 is offered specifically for the high performance race track. It is available only to qualified performance participants and is being built to special order on a limited production basis." Who wouldn't want one after reading that? Offered at $3,843, it was $300 more than the price of the Charger R/T. Popular Hot Rodding tested both the auto and manual-shifted 426 Hemi versions, reporting quarter mile times of 14.01at 100 mph, and 13.60at 107.44 mph respectively. For a car weighing 4,100 pounds, those times weren't bad. Obviously drag racing the new Charger missed the whole point of the car. The Charger 500 debuted in January 1969, at Riverside Raceway with Al Unser behind the wheel. The competition realized what was happening and rushed with their "Aero" versions. Ford announced their Talladega, and Mercury their Cyclone Spoiler versions to compete with the Dodges later in the year. Of course Chrysler was not sitting on their haunches. They were developing another much improved version, to be known as the Charger Daytona. The data gained from the 500, and testing at the new Lockheed-Georgia wind tunnel, proved to be quite beneficial. The NASA Apollo program had wound down, so Chrysler's space division was available for testing. John Vaughn, an aerodynamics engineer at Chrysler's Huntsville, Alabama, facility was tasked with the studies.
Chrysler was the first vehicle manufacturer to go into the Lockheed tunnel, up to this point, tests were never run on a car. They had to find a way to bolt the car down to the floor. Gary Rathgeb was in charge, and he directed Bob Marcel and others to come up with sketches based on specific lift and drag figures. It turns out that the sketches from the different engineers were all close to one another, and just in time for Christmas of 1968. They basically took the 1970 Charger's front bumper off, and replaced it with a streamlined fairing. At this time in the development cycle, there was no rear spoiler. Wanting to make sure to get the program approved, Rathgeb and Reeker met with Bob Rodger the Chief Engineer of Chrysler Product Planning. Bob had played a large role in the introduction of the famed Chrysler 300 and other performance models. After seeing the sketches he said , "Hey, if you can sell it to one of the divisions, go for it". The Plymouth guys didn't want it (Petty was still at Ford), but the Dodge boys did! The Daytona was treated as a public relations project with one objective, beat Ford. Chrysler went back to the wind tunnels with the goal of a 15-percent drag reduction over the Charger 500. A new, highly detailed 3/8-scale model was built for testing, with special attention focused on the underbody features, as well as the engine compartment, radiator and even the cooling fan. While testing was going on in the wind tunnels, Chelsea was using the Charger raced by Bobby Isaac in the 1968 Firecracker 400 as its development property. Since the vehicle has been chopped and channeled and deemed illegal by NASCAR, it would serve as the perfect test mule. Work on the all-new nose began in January 1969, by the time the Daytona 500 race was getting close, the first prototype was completed. Pointer snapped a Polaroid of the car and gave it to Reeker to take to Daytona. Reeker sold the project to McCurry on the way back from the race, where Chrysler got tromped by the Ford guys. McCurry was so pissed, that anything to make the Dodges more competitive would have been approved. So the testing at Chelsea showed that with the all-new front end, the rear balance of the car was all messed up. They played with deck spoilers but they would have to be too large, which would induce even more drag. It was deemed they needed an inverted airfoil on struts, which would also be adjustable. Gary Romberg joined Marcel in wind tunnel testing, and even wrote an SAE paper on their work. Whatever looked good in the tunnel could be confirmed at the track. The cars drag coefficient depended on the angle of the rear wing. As the wing was pitched, it changed the induced drag and the rear lift, and that changed the drag on the entire car. Initially, two nose cones were developed, one was 9-inches, and the other was 18-inches long. Three different versions of a front spoiler were also tested. Testing showed that the 18-inch nose with front spoiler having a 5-inch chord, mounted 13 inches back from the tip gave the best results. The decision on the rear spoiler was to use a Clark Y inverted airfoil. It was adjustable from plus to minus 10 degrees, and had a 7-1/2-inch chord. It was mounted 23-1/2 inches above the rear deck on vertical stabilizers, having an NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) 0012 symmetrical airfoil section. The horizontal wing could have been lower, but as was found out by Reeker, the trunk lid did have to open far enough to be usable for production cars. A lot of work went into the front air intake for maximum cooling abilities, and still maintain the aerodynamic improvements. Testing showed that 40 square-inches of air space were needed. One more detail was found in the tunnel, and that was that adding wind deflectors to the A-pillars would stop the turbulence coming off them. The design of the reverse facing scoops on the front fenders was thought by many to be for pressure relief in the wheel wells or to cool the brakes. It was actually needed for tire clearance due to the car's attitude with the front end dropped down. It was tested to make sure it did not aerodynamically affect anything. Originally conceived as a 1970 model, Dodge didn't want to wait, and in mid-March 1969, it was decided it would debut at Talladega. What better place to beat the Fords than at the inaugural race at Talladega in September. The car won the race its first time out. To qualify the car as 1969 models, it meant production would have to start by June 10th, and all 500 cars had to be built and delivered by September. The burden of meeting this shortened schedule fell on Reeker. He had to coordinate the design, engineering, and manufacture of all the unique parts. Besides the nose cone, there were the retractable headlights, the rear aluminum stabilizers and horizontal airfoil had to be cast and extruded, not to mention the side marker lamps, scissors jack etc.
When it came time to test the Daytona at race speeds, the Chelsea proving grounds was selected. With a corporate rule of not exceeding 120 mph for safety, test speeds were limited. So on a certain Sunday in July of 1969, the Proving Grounds staff checked the track to make sure everything was clean and free of any debris. Nichol's Engineering brought up one of their Charger 500's to see the differences between the two cars. People were stationed around the track, and an ambulance and fire equipment stood by. With Charlie Glotzbach at the wheel, the Daytona went significantly faster than the 500, hitting 194 miles per hour. It didn't break the 200 mph barrier due to engine issues. That was Sunday July 20, 1969 the same day the astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. The following Sunday, with engine problems fixed, Glotzbach lapped the track at 204 mph.
The 1969 Charger Daytona was introduced with a MSRP of $3,993. Production Charger R/T's were shipped to Creative Industries for the conversion process at the rate of 7 a day. Car number one went to Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on June 27th, 1969, and the 500th was shipped to Lafayette Dodge in Indiana, on September 8th. It is documented that 503 Daytona's were built by Creative, of which only 70 were 426 Hemi's. While the cars were crowd pleasers, they had to be sorted out by the race teams and there weren't many 1969 races left. The cars offered to the public came with either a 440 or 426 Hemi engine. Auto or manual transmissions were offered. Production versions were available in all colors.
For the 1970 season, the Daytona's had a lot more testing and tweaking done to them. Petty left Plymouth in 1969 to drive the aerodynamically superior Ford Talladega, so they only got two wins for all of the 1969 season. As a way to lure Petty back, Plymouth got to work on their version of the Daytona. Done exclusively in the wind tunnel, the car had its own host of development issues. The front fenders of the Belvedere/Road Runners were not suited to accept a nose cone like the Charger was. Plymouth looked in the parts bin and used the Coronet fenders. With the nose cone designed and the Coronet fenders creating a mismatch with the hood, a plug had to be designed to provide a smooth transition. The rear glass also required a special plug and backlight. To cut costs on production cars, they came with a mandatory vinyl top. This alleviated have to do all the body work that was done on the Chargers rear window plug. Colors were limited to Alpine white, Vitamin C Orange, Lemon Twist, Lime Light, Fire Metallic, Tor-Red, and Corporate blue. Three engines were available, the 440 four and Six Barrel, and the 426 Hemi. Wind tunnel work gave the Superbird some unique features over the Daytona. The air inlet was lower and larger, and the rear vertical stabilizers had greater area and were more swept back. Creative Industries performed the work, but now NASCAR required 2,000 units to be built to qualify for racing. Also, the cars had to be built by January 1, 1970, there was new Federal lighting laws coming out, so the work had to be done quickly to meet all the deadlines. You know the history, 1,971 cars were completed, not 2,000, and King Richard came back and took 18 wins, 27 top 5s, and 9 poles. The Dodges were very successful too. On March 24, 1970 Buddy Baker was the first driver to average over 200 mph in a Grand National Race, and he did it at Talladega in a Daytona. The K&K Insurance Daytona driven by Bobby Isaac, entered 47 of 48 NASCAR races (Grand National and short track), and won 11 of them. Oh yeah, he also won the Championship. Isaac went on to beat Buddy's top speed record at Talladega, establishing the world's closed-course speed record of 201.104 miles per hour. Plymouth took the checkered flag 21 times. Of the eight superspeedway wins by Superbirds, Petty won 5 of them. The Daytonas won 17 Grand National races, and at the Darlington Southern 500 took a 1-2-3 sweep with Buddy Baker in first , Isaac second, and Pete Hamilton third in his Superbird. For the 1970 season, Ford only won six times, and Mercury four. Combined, Dodge and Plymouth won 38 NASCAR events in 1970, the most successful season in Chrysler's history.
The Rod Shop Tribute
The Rod Shop, based out of Columbus, Ohio, started out simply as an engine rebuilding shop. With a lack of high-performance parts being warehoused in the Midwest, Gil Kirk thought it would be a great idea to start ordering the most popular high-performance parts, and having them on the shelf for performance enthusiasts in the area. Until then, people had to order parts from California and wait 4-5 days to receive them. Gil Kirk and Jim Thompson were the owners of the Rod Shop, and they sponsored and raced GM products until mid-1970, when they were approached by Chrysler Corporation to develop an all-Dodge team.
While almost standard practice these days, this was a new concept to the sport of drag racing in 1970. This new team would be outfitted in and all-new slick, All-American paint schemes of red, white, and blue. Initially, it would consist of eight cars, the flagship being a trick new Dodge Challenger, driven by Detroit's Mike Fons. Fons was a well-known Detroit-area racer, who had built his reputation winning with big block Chevrolets. Chrysler and the Rod Shop wanted good drivers to field the team, so everyone worked together to bring successful racers together.
Bob Riffle, who was already a Chrysler racer and Ohio gasser favorite, was provided a Dodge Demon to run NHRA's B/Gas class. This car would have the ability to double as a Pro Stocker at selected events. There was an SS/DA Hemi Challenger to be driven by Dave Conner, and a Charger for Bill McGraw. McGraw had made quite a reputation, locally in Ohio, with the "Batcar" Camaro convertibles. There were also a couple of 383 cars, a Charger for well-known Michigan racer Dave Boertman, and a Coronet wagon for his wife, Judy. These cars would go on to great success in Stock Eliminator, even meeting each other for Stock Eliminator at the 1971 NHRA Summer Nationals in Englishtown, New Jersey. Of course Dave wisely red lighted to give his wife Judy the win, or so the story goes. In addition, Thompson's flip-top Cuda was converted to a Challenger for B/A class, and run by Eckard and Kirk.
By far the most unique and memorable Rod Shop entry was the Stickel and Noltemeyer Dodge Colt station wagon that competed in C/A Class. On top of being a wagon, the unique part of the car was the power plant. It was a spin-off of a short-lived Chrysler Indianapolis Champ car program. It had some trick parts like a Guerney Weslake overhead cam, and cylinder heads designed in England. They were mounted on a Chrysler small block, and the car ran pretty good, gathering a few NHRA class wins. The high winding Indy motor in the small Colt wagon turned out to be a real crowd pleaser. The downfall though was parts availability, and the sheer complexity of the design as it took its toll. Eventually, the trick stuff was eventually shelved, and the car was run with a tunnel ram small block, which was not nearly as competitive. It was barely competitive in D/Altered.
This was the opening lineup for the Rod Shop's newly formed team, and it turned out to be extremely successful. Mike Fons won the Pro Stock World Championship in 1971 with his Challenger. NHRA Professional racing, at that time, was not decided by cumulative point totals, but by the person that won the NHRA World Finals located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at that time. This marked the first of many successes the Rod Shop enjoyed. It would become one of the most recognizable teams in the history of the sport, and would be responsible for launching the careers of some of drag racing's most recognizable stars. Some of the Rod Shop drivers, crew members, and former employees were; Arlen Vanke, Bob Riffle, Bill McGraw, Mike Fons, Bruce Meihls, John Staley, Tony Capuano, Dick Hickernel, Rick Stickel, Ray Noltemeyer, Tom Schumacher, Gordon Collett, Lance Boyer, Ed Eckard, Carl Kirk, Cliff Ghetti, Bob Bond, Steve "Moocher" Thomas, Mike Fowler, Dave Boertman, Yvette and Dawn Meihls, and Carroll Fink
This year's Mopar Nationals will feature a few of the famous Rod Shop cars along with some of the drivers and team members. It's amazing just how many of the cars have survived to this day and have been restored to period-correct stature.
2012 Nats Results
|46,631(Over 3 days)
Best of Show
Gene Lewis, Union, MO. '69 Daytona
Joanna Bartosh, Webster, WI. '58 W100
Young Guns
Stephen Sigel, Columbia, PA. '71 Charger
Truck & Van Tribute
Lowell Eggleston, Connersville, IN. 01 Dodge Ram
Judged Show Entries
A-Body Original
1st Frank Hall II, Columbus, OH. 72 Plymouth Duster
2nd Ron Davis
A-Body Modified
1st Brian Shackelford, Cincinnati, OH. 68 Dodge Dart
2nd Stephanie Striggon, Park Forrest, IL. 71 Plymouth Duster
A-Body Modified
1st Floyd Furr, Nokesville, VA. 72 Plymouth Duster
2nd Greg Sutherland, Church Hill, TN 71 Plymouth Duster
3rd Jesse Furr, Nokesville, VA. 72 Plymouth Duster
4th Brad Krstic, Aledo, IL. 71 Dodge Demon
1st Ken Mosier, Danville, IN. 68 Dodge Charger
B-Body Original 68-70
1st Scott Davis
2nd Richard Warner, Arlington, TX. 66 Dodge Charger
3rd Joseph DiPietro, Niagara Falls, NY. 70 Dodge Charger
4th Mark Stiegman, Thawville, IL. 69.5 Dodge SuperBee
B-Body Original 68-70
1st Robert Hunsel, St. Charles, MO. 69 Plymouth Road Runner
2nd Leonard Ferrari, Newton, NJ. 68 Plymouth GTX
B-Body Original 71 –Up
1st Joel Johnson, Delta, PA. 71 Dodge Charger SE
2nd John Rockovich, Scenery Hill, PA. 74 Plymouth RR GTX
C-Body Original
1st Warren Iverson, Brooklyn Park, MN. 67 Plymouth Fury I
C-Body Modified
1st Joseph Warner, Bethesda, OH. 68 Plymouth Fury III
B-Body Modified 62-67
1st Todd Sutherland, Churchill, TN. 67 Dodge Coronet R/T
2nd Becky Orr, Hamlet, IN. 67 Dodge Coronet 440
B-Body Modified 68 – 70
1st Robert Frost, Ridgeway, CO. 68 Dodge Charger R/T
2nd Edward Perz, Medina, OH. 69 Plymouth GTX
3rd Michael Holton, Hillard, OH. 69 Dodge Charger R/T
4th Steve Wisemann, Sparta, MO. 70 Plymouth Road Runner
B-Body Original 71 – Up
1st Mick Gottman, Evansville, IN. 72 Dodge Charger
2nd Pam Gabel, Wauseon, OH. 71 Dodge SuperBee
E-Body Original
1st James Smith, Gordonsville, VA. 70 Plymouth AAR
2nd Kirwin Darney Jr. Cary, NC. 70 Plymouth Cuda
E-Body Modified
1st John Morris,Romulus, MI. 71 Dodge Challenger
2nd David Shutt, Sugarcreek, OH. 72 Dodge Challenger
3rd Stephen Rosepilar, Marysville, OH. 73 Dodge Chalenger
Modern Muscle Original
1st Thomas Stevens, Grove City, OH 09 Dodge Challenger Saleen
2nd Sandy McDonald, Ripon, WI. 09 Dodge Charger
3rd Jerald Thur, Morrisonville, WI. 10 Dodge Challenger
Modern Muscle Modified
1st Jamie Thompson, Jacksonville, NC. 09 Dodge Challenger SRT
2nd George Gawadzyn, Amherstburg, Ontario 10 Dodge Challenger RT
3rd Barbara McCormick, Evansville, IN. 10 Dodge Challenger
4th Eddie Streeter, Crestwood, KY. 07 Chrysler 300 SRT
Truck/Van Original
1st Joanna Bartosh, Webster, WI. 58 Dodge Power Giant
2nd Rick Shields, Lima, OH. 01 Dodge Dakota RT
3rd Mark Pavich, Columbus, OH. 76 Dodge Tradesman 200
Truck/Van Modified
1st Bruce Chargo, Clio, MI. 58 Dodge Power Wagon
2nd Staci Adams, Washington, PA. 79 Dodge Power Wagon
3rd Thomas Reed, Fetus, MO. 04 Dodge Ram
Dakota Modified
1st Ron Nartowicz,Springfield, OH. 99 Dodge Dakota
2nd Leonard Stonestreet,Bridgeport,WV 92 Dodge Dakota
3rd Joshua Brack, Ozark, MO. 00 Dodge Dakota RT
1st Richard Gottlieb, Vermilion, OH. 62 Dodge Dart
2nd Reginald Kelly, Shelby Twp., MI. 68 Dodge Charger
1st Stephen Rankin, Mishawaka, IN. 82 Chrysler LeBaron Cvt.
Pro Street
1st Jospeh Mazzola, Ravenna, OH. 70 Plymouth Cuda
2nd Ed Bessinger, Union, MI. 65 Dodge Coronet
3rd Sherwin Kiesshauer, FT. Lauderdale, FL. 65 Dodge Coronet
Young Guns Original
1st Kyle Aucoin, Lynn Haven, FL. 72 Plymouth Scamp
2nd Stephen Blackmore, Bensalem, PA. 68 Dodge Coronet 500
3rd Kole Berndt, Knox, IN. 68 Dodge Charger
Young Guns Modified
1st Stephen Sigel, Columbus, PA. 71 Dodge Super Bee
2nd Julia Work, McConnelsville, OH. 10 Dodge Charger
3rd Raschel Culp Adams, Benton, KY. 67 Plymouth Cuda
4th Morgan Campbell, Lebanon, OH. 73 Dodge Coronet
Young Guns Modified Truck
1st Matt Youdbulis, Plymouth, IN. 91 Dodge W250
2nd Adam Sobieck,Culver, IN. 88 Dodge Dakota Express
Mopar Nats OECERTIFIED (Original Equipment)
(Gold/Silver/Bronze Certified based on Mopar Nats'OE' Standards)
Gold Gene Lewis, Union, MO. 69 Daytona
Gold John Antonelli, Nanuet, NY. 69 Daytona
Gold Tony D'Agostino 69 Daytona
Gold Vernon Smith, Gobies NF 70 Cuda
Silver Randy Browning, Hebron, KY 67 GTX
"BurnOut Contest Winners"
1st Mike Kollatz, Monroe, WI. 89 Dakota
2nd Charles Wittenmyer, Defiance, OH. 73 Charger
3rd Roger Critchley, Victor WV. 71 Cuda
1st Mike Drone, Columbus, OH. 72 Dodge Monaco
2nd Ben Winland, Frazeysburg OH. 84 Dodge D150
3rd Rick Eckel, Rushville, IN. 82 Dodge D150
John Babitch, Grass Lake, MI. 72 Duster
Mopar Nats Kids Coloring Contest- 25 Entries
Winner – Galvin Long, Sabina, OH. (age 5)
Runner Up – Seth Striggow, Monteno, IL. (age 3)
Winner – Lynnlee Voge, West Alexandria, OH (age 8)
Runner-Up – Isabelle Leonard, Addision, MI. (age 7)
Mopar Nats Match Box Drag Race – 20 Entries
Winner – Madelyn
Runner Up – Chloe
Drag Racing Results
Viper Shootout
W David Rauske, Rockey River, OH. 94 RT
R/U Scott Beard, Valley City, OH. 06 Viper GTS
Mopar Nats Trophy Class
W Bobby Slatzer, Newark, OH., 67 Coronet firstname.lastname@example.com
R/U Dave Schultz, Whitelaw, WI. 73 Dart, email@example.com
Throttle TV Quick 16 Class
W Rick Allison, Camby, IN. 93 Daytona, firstname.lastname@example.com
R/U Chuck Anderson, Mason, WI. 07 Miller, email@example.com
Throttle TV Super Pro Class
W Dave Dermotta, Rillton, PA. 70 Super Bee, firstname.lastname@example.com
R/U Carl James, Thornville, OH. 72 Duster email@example.com
Mopar Nats Pro Class
W Dehner Maurer, Brownsburg, IN. 73 Duster, firstname.lastname@example.com
R/U Kara Jo Bowman, Export, PA. 67 Coroent firstname.lastname@example.com
Mopar Nats Street Class
W Tyler Anderson, Uniontown, OH. 66 Coronet firstname.lastname@example.com
R/U Dustin Goodin, Newark, OH. 73 Dart Spt email@example.com
Mopar Muscle Young Guns Class
W Woody Kilgore, Columbus, OH. 85 Daytona, email@example.com
R/U T.J. Kost, Atwater, OH. 71 Charger email@example.com
Indy Cylinder Head Nostalgia Shoot-Out
W Jim Guy, Hilliard, OH. 64 Savoy firstname.lastname@example.com
R/U Bill Horn, Caldwell, OH. 64 Spt Fury firstname.lastname@example.com
Mopar Nats Hemi Challenge
W Marc McCarter, Mansfield, OH. 04 Ram RT email@example.com
R/U Jon Brooks, Zanesville, OH. 08 Super Bee, firstname.lastname@example.com
W Dave Dudek, Roseville, MI. 68 Superbee
R/U Tom Cannon, Glendale, PA. 71 Superbee
Mopar Nationals 2012 Model Car Contest
Sponsored by Auto Know Literature & Collectibles
Junior Stock (Age 12 and Under)
1st Alex Skrzypek, Age 11, Palm Coast, FL, 1969 Charger R/T
2nd Jacob Fumich, Age 12, Ravenna, OH, 1971 'Cuda
3rd Jacob Fumich, Age 12, Ravenna, OH. 1969 Super Bee
Junior Modified (Age 12 and Under)
1st Alex Skrzypek, Age 11, Palm Coast, FL, 1970 Charger
2nd Patrick Wethington, Age 10, Batavia, OH, Dodge Zinger Van
3rd Jacob Fumich, Age 12, Ravenna, OH, 1967 GTX
Senior Stock (Age 13-17)
1st Mark Tovell, Age 15, Ontario, Canada, 1970 Roadrunner
2nd Derrick Wyche, Age 17, Lewis Center, OH, 1969 Charger R/T
3rd Sean Furman, Age 17, Vernon, NY, 1970 Challenger T/A
Senior Modified (Age 13-17)
1st Derrick Wyche, Age 14, Lewis Center, OH, 1969 Super Bee
2nd Donald Spergin, Age 16, Columbus, OH, 1970 Superbird
3rd Billy Terrell, Age 15, Sherrill, NY, Hemi Under Glass
Adult Stock
1st Wayne Puffer, Germantown, WI, 1970 Challenger R/T
3rd Kevin Wallenhorst, North Royalton, OH, 1968 Charger R/T
3rd Michael Schmauder, Broadview Hgts, OH, 1969 Roadrunner
Adult Modified
1st Steve Wiggins, Taylor, MI, 1969.5 Roadrunner
2nd Kevin Cates, Chesening, MI, Pro Mod Dodge
3rd Bill Thomas, Charleston, WV, 1968 Dart
Misc. Class
1st Kevin Cates, Chesening, MI, Dodge Pulling Truck
2nd Sean Svendsen, Columbus, OH, Plum Crazy Collection
3rd Dave Richey, Heath, OH, 1978 Dodge Lowrider Truck
Diorama Class
1st Rob Russell, Ontario, Canada, Challenger T/A in a field
2nd Rachel Wethington, Cincinnati, OH, Rescue 911 display
3rd Rob Russell, Ontario, Canada, Dodge Ram Tow truck
Special Awards
Auto Know Pick of the Show: James Testor, Elyria, OH, 1971 Charger RT
Nancy Adams Memorial Award: Rob Russell, Ontario, Hang Ten Dart
MCG Magazine Pick: Sean Svendsen, Columbus, OH, Pro Touring Volare
THE AMSOIL /Mopar Muscle Dyno Showdown
As if there isn't enough going on at The Nats, we want you to come be a part of the event! Make your plans to stop at the Midway area at the starting line to be a part of the AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Dyno Showdown. Stop by early to get a good spot. The event is going on Friday and Saturday, and everyone is welcome.
You'll see trucks, classic cars, and late-models screaming as they hit unimaginable rpm in hopes of becoming this year's AMSOIL/Mopar Muscle Dyno Showdown Winner.


text:
Jazmin Ramirez
Below is a list of online inventory by Jazmin Ramirez. More pieces may be available in our Santa Fe gallery. If you are interested in a piece or wish to learn more about other pieces in our gallery please E-mail us or call us at 505-986-1234.
For information about the process of making pottery.
|Artist: Jazmin Ramirez
Pueblo: Mata Ortiz and Casas Grandes
Item Number: xxcgb9252
Price: $ 95
Dimensions: 2 1/4 in H by 3 3/4 in Dia Measurement includes stand
More Information
Copyright © 1998-2019 by
Andrea Fisher Fine PotteryAll Rights Reserved
100 W. San Francisco St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Santa Fe, NM 87501

subset: commoncrawl


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Cranberry plants
Johns Market Garden Cranberry plants are pot grown. Cranberry plants establish much better when bought as a container plant. A Cranberry plant or Cranberry bush whichever terminology you prefer is closely allied to the Blueberry. But a Cranberry plant will look nothing like it but prefers the same coniditons. Acid/ericaceous soil, nice and peaty. Cranberry bushes are low evergreens with glossy leaves and pretty pink bell flowers. Cranberry plants will grow in the shade, or in a 12 pot, as long as the soil is right. Cranberry plants are perfectly hardy and only grow to around 15. Some varieties of Cranberry have a trailing habit, such as the species Oxycoccos and others are more conservative like the hybrid Cranberry bush Pilgrim. All Cranberry plant varieties are partly self fertile but grow two for the best crop. The plum brilliant red berries cover the Cranberry plants and ripen in October. Very easily made into Cranberry jelly, juiced, or added to fruit stews and compotes! A Cranberry plant is a a different and welcome addition to the fruit growing area or patio.
Cranberry plants Catalogue


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- Amarnath N
Tuticorin Airport - Tiruchendur, One Way
18th Nov 2019
- Ramamurthy Munirathinam
Tiruchendur - Kanyakumari, One Way
11th Nov 2019
- Mr Gokul
Tiruchendur - Tirunelveli - Tenkasi - Kanyakumari, Round Trip/Multi City
1st Nov 2019
- sudhindra p
Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur - Tenkasi - Tirunelveli - Tirunelveli, Round Trip/Multi City
30th Sep 2019
- T K Gurunathan
Tiruchendur - Madurai, One Way
16th Jul 2019
- Mr Vsshriram
Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur - Tirunelveli, Round Trip/Multi City
15th Jul 2019
|Vehicle Type
|Model Type
|Passenger Capacity
|Luggage Capacity
|Dzire, Toyota Etios, Tata Indigo or equivalent
|4passengers and driver
|2 big 1 small
|Indica, Swift, Alto, Ford Figo or equivalent
|4passengers and driver
|2 small
|Ertiga, Mahindra Xylo or equivalent
|6passengers and driver
|3 big 2 small
Gozo is continuously focused on being and staying as India's best taxi service for inter-city or outstation car hire with a driver.
Gozo cabs is the best cab service for car hire from Tirunelveli to Munnar. Gozo is generally the cheapest in most regions as we keep our margins low and we keep our quality high by ensure that our cabs and providers are inspected regularly. At the time of onboarding, the taxi operators are whetted for proper licenses and their ability to meet our quality bar. We also provide ongoing training to our drivers. But most importantly Gozo strives to be the best with our support and customer service. Gozo has great reviews on Google & TripAdvisor.
Gozo was started with the focus of simplifying car hire for outstation trips and we specialize in one way cabs, round trip journeys and even multi city trips. Car rentals in Tirunelveli or Car rentals in Munnar are also provided. We offer daily car rentals and also airport transfers in most cities across India.


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The battle lines have once again been drawn between Apple and Samsung.
This time, it's tablets that are the weapons of choice – specifically, the feather-light iPad Air and Samsung's 2014 refresh of its Galaxy Note 10.1. Both are flagship slates for their parent companies, and both have their own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Now that we've had the chance to review both, let's see how they shape up against each other.
READ MORE: Apple iPad Air review
READ MORE: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) review
Metal vs pleather
Both tablets borrow design cues from elsewhere in their respective ranges; in the case of the iPad Air, that means iPad Mini-style lines, complete with slimmed-down screen bezel. The Note, meanwhile, draws on the Galaxy Note 3's pleather-and-plastic design, complete with fake stitching on the back.
Of the two, the iPad Air's the standout in terms of design; it's a mere 7.5mm thin, with no give in it. And it's light, too – 469g or 478g, depending on whether you opt for the Wi-Fi only or cellular version. Beware, though: all that Space Grey aluminium will scratch easily.
The Note's well put-together – there's little to no flex in it, and the manufacturing is seamless. However, its symphony of plastic and faux-leather just looks plain tacky on a device this size – and the pleather doesn't have the grippy, soft-touch feel of the Galaxy Note 3's similar back to recommend it.
That metal-effect plastic edging is pretty unimpressive next to the iPad's metal-and glass build, too – and it doesn't yield a weight saving, with the Note coming in at around 540g depending on which version you pick up. That said, the Note feels solid in the hand, and has a pleasing heft to it. But in terms of looks, there's no contest – the iPad Air walks away with it.
Winner: iPad Air
The Note 10.1's screen is glorious – "one of the best we've ever seen on a 10in tablet," as Stuff's own Sophie Charara puts it. Its 2560 x 1600 screen bests the iPad Air's 2048 x 1536, 9.7in screen in terms of raw numbers, offering up 299ppi against the Air's 264ppi. Fonts are crisp, and it delivers wide viewing angles. And with multiple screen mode options, it's versatile, too.
Although the Air's Retina display may not match up in terms of pixel count, it's plenty sharp enough, though – and it has the edge over the Note when watching video, with true-to-life colours and dynamic imagery. "No matter what you chuck at it, the Retina does the job brilliantly," we said. And there's plenty to show off on it, with an App Store crammed with Retina-resolution software and games.
Winner: iPad Air
READ MORE: iCheapskate: 25 amazing free games for iPad and iPhone
OS and apps
And so we come to the thorny issue of your OS of choice. Samsung's packed its Magazine UX (running on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean) with widgets, including a specially-modified version of Twitter, the digital edition of Bloomberg's Businessweek+ and an impressive version of Flipboard.
The star attraction, though, is Samsung's Multi Window, letting you run Samsung and Google apps side by side. It's not new, but our review points out that it "works much better this time around" thanks to the new Note's beefed-up silicon.
That Note name means that you also get Samsung's S Pen stylus, which comes with plenty of new tricks. Air Command menus "can be a bit confusing at first, but stick with the S Pen and the rewards are vast" – you can scribble notes, circle details and add them to contacts, or pull up an address in Google Maps. You can even search your handwritten notes in the Note 10.1's universal search.
However, all of the Note's widgets and duplicated apps do tend to clutter up the screen somewhat, in marked contrast to the slicker, cleaner iOS 7. Yes, Android fans will doubtless carp that features like the Control Centre appear suspiciously familiar, but Apple's done a great job of presenting those features. The UI design is slick and stripped-back, and the controls are intuitive – although Apple's continuing refusal to add homescreen widgets and customisation options remains a point of contention.
Apple's not-so-secret weapons are, of course, iTunes and the App Store – "the biggest and best-curated digital shops available, despite fierce competition from Google Play." 10in Android tablets still lag behind in terms of essential apps, though the number is gradually increasing. There are no official Twitter or Facebook apps available for 10in 'droids, for instance, and while the BBC iPlayer has finally made its way onto larger Android tablets, the Note 10.1 doesn't yet support programme downloads.
Which operating system you pick largely comes down to your own preferences and priorities. With the Note, you get Android's more open platform (complete with a proper file and folder structure), plus more options for customisation and homescreen widgets. The iPad Air gets you Apple's cleaner, simpler design and the vast riches of its App Store. Both have their advantages and disadvantages; we'll call it a draw.
Winner: Draw
Samsung and Apple have produced a pair of top-quality tablets in the Note 10.1 and the iPad Air. They're directly competing on price, with both slates starting at £400 for a Wi-Fi only, 16GB version. So which comes out on top?
The iPad Air offers gorgeous design, an impressive screen and a shedload of apps thanks to Apple's App Store. The Note 10.1 delivers plenty of grunt with its 3GB RAM, 1.9GHz processor and 299ppi screen – and its S Pen stylus is genuinely useful once you've got the hang of it. But Samsung's slate is hamstrung by the limited availability of 10in Android tablet apps, and an overly fussy design.
If and when the app situation improves, Samsung may gain the edge over Apple – but for the time being, the iPad Air rightly dominates the large tablet market. And that's why it's number one on Stuff's Top 10 tablet list.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Tablets in the World right now


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I remember reading this book as a boy and found it to be one of the best novels on the Civil War alongside Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage. Since then, I have read the counter-factual Civil War trilogy by Newt Gingrich, which I highly recommend. I do encourage parents and teachers to have kids read Rifles for Watie, as it is a great book dealing with an often forgotten area of the war, the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
The book by Harold Keith focuses on the story of Jefferson Davis Bussey (memory escapes me how he got the name in the book), who lives in Linn County, Kansas and decides to join the Union Army in 1861. Bussey goes on a journey through the war in the far West that encompasses a couple of actual battles and actual historical figures (Watie and Union General James G. Blunt) associated with the war in that area.
One of the early experiences that Bussey takes part in is the Union defeat at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in southwestern Missouri. Bussey also participates in the Battle of Prairie Grove in Arkansas. In addition to these battles, Bussey participates in many interesting adventures, both large and small, as he journeys through Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) with the Union Army. While venturing across the territory, Bussey encounters the beautiful Cherokee girl Lucy Washbourne, who is the brother of a Confederate soldier, whom Bussey takes a liking to.
One of the better aspects to the novel is Bussey's secret mission infiltrating the Confederate Army in the area, commanded by Stand Watie. The reader experiences Bussey's harrowing time serving with Watie's men, as he attempts to find out about someone providing arms to the rebels. Ultimately, Bussey succeeds in his mission and helps the Union in the Indian Territory. He returns to Kansas, much older, wiser, and with three stripes of a sergeant on his sleeve.
The book illustrates how one young man goes off to war seeking glory and adventure only to find that war is cruel and destructive. This is a great first book for kids to read about the war and I highly recommend it for parents who have a child interested in the war.


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On the streets of Lahore, the election campaign is in crescendo. A crowd surges through narrow streets, leaving party flags as a man with a megaphone cries: "The blood of Bhutto will bring a revolution."
Technically, this rally is for Jehangir Bader, one of the Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) top candidates. But even for Mr. Bader, Bhutto is the only name in this campaign: "This is all her support on which we are capitalizing."
For the PPP, the Feb. 18 parliamentary election is about their slain leader – her name in every slogan, her face on every billboard – and in death, she could push her party to victory, with one poll suggesting that half the nation supports her party.
"You don't know why we have committed our vote to PPP?" asks Mohammed Suleiman, a shopkeeper who says he has always voted for the PPP's major opponents. "Benazir Bhutto has sacrificed her life."
As the party most clearly aligned with US interests, including a desire to fight terrorists and willingness to work with President Pervez Musharraf, the rise of the PPP could herald a revival of the partnership that the US has long sought – lending the democratic legitimacy of Ms. Bhutto's party to Mr. Musharraf's pro-US policies.
Yet everything hinges on election day. PPP officials say they expect to win a majority of seats in the National Assembly. Analysts and pollsters don't make such a bold prediction, but they agree the PPP is ascendant.
If results don't bear this out, and there is suspicion of tampering to help Musharraf's political allies, Bhutto's husband and current party leader, Asif Zardari, has forecast violence, implying that the PPP will take to the streets.
Still, it increasingly appears that the PPP will benefit as many seek to honor Bhutto's sacrifice. "It is the sympathy vote, nothing else," says Shafqat Mahmood, a columnist for The News, a national newspaper.
The PPP is planning to hold a massive rally in Faisalabad today to build on its momentum. Recent polls have underlined the commanding lead that the PPP has taken ahead of Monday's election. The largest poll yet conducted about the upcoming Pakistani elections, by the International Republican Institute (IRI), found that half of Pakistanis say they prefer the PPP.
A second, by Terror Free Tomorrow, suggests that 36.7 percent of Pakistanis favor the PPP, with its nearest competition 11 percentage points behind. Both organizations are based in the US and have conducted several surveys in Pakistan ahead of the election.
Along the route of Bader's rally through Lahore, Mumtaz Ali Khan stands outside his necktie shop in Anar Kali market, awaiting Bader's arrival with a PPP pin and a broad smile.
He says he has always supported former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League. But this time he will vote for the PPP to honor "not only Benazir but her whole family," noting how her father, also a former prime minister, was executed by a military dictator on what most Pakistanis say were unjust charges.
In Pakistan, where corruption is a common charge for politicians, including Bhutto, the family's sacrifice has atoned for her missteps. Says longtime PML-N supporter, Sajjab Khalid: "She gave her life for the country."
Bhutto had laid out a platform that found considerable agreement with US foreign policy aims – even when it was questioned by members of her party. She insisted terrorism was a serious threat to Pakistan, even though it made her a target. And despite considerable personal animosity, she was willing to work with Musharraf to maintain national stability.
Mr. Zardari has insisted he will stick to Bhutto's policy. Bader says he will consider nothing else. "I look at her mission, her thoughts, her struggle for inspiration," he says.
Both policies will be tested in coming months if the PPP finds itself in a leadership role. The IRI roll put Musharraf's approval rating at 15 percent. Cooperating with him could alienate many who voted for the PPP – especially since 62 percent of Pakistanis believe Musharraf's government was behind Bhutto's assassination, says the IRI poll.
It leaves Zardari in a difficult situation – attempting to follow Bhutto's will without her charisma or popularity. "It's not going to be easy to work with Musharraf because of this history," says Mr. Mahmood, the columnist. "The question is whether Zardari wants to upset the apple cart immediately," he adds.
For Zardari, who was widely seen as being corrupt during his wife's two terms as prime minister, it will be an early test of his leadership. For the moment, however, the party is firmly behind him. "To lead such a big party is difficult," says Bader. But Zardari is Bhutto's widower, and "there would not be so much consensus about any other leader," he adds.


text:
Gangs of Polish football hooligans organised violence
Gangs of "professional" Polish football hooligans have been blamed for organising the violent battles on the streets of Belfast at the weekend.
The violence, which saw 11 police officers injured, had been in the planning for several weeks by gangs of Polish thugs mainly based in Dublin and Scotland.
Police have stressed that members of the Polish community living in Northern Ireland had not been involved in the violence.
Around 800 Polish nationals travelled to Northern Ireland without tickets for the game. It is understood that around 50 were involved in the organisation of the violence which flared before and after the match.
"We believe there was a hard core of Polish nationals who came to the game without tickets but with a very clear intent to cause trouble and disruption to genuine supporters and local residents," PSNI Superintendent Chris Noble said.
"We believe these troublemakers are not local, they had travelled to Northern Ireland with the express purpose of causing trouble. Unfortunately their actions may well have put the safety of law-abiding and local Polish residents in jeopardy.
"I would appeal to all right minded people to assist these neighbours and unite with them to condemn this type of behaviour and isolate the perpetrators of this type of criminality."
A security source told the Belfast Telegraph that those behind the violence regularly organise clashes at football matches.
"This was well organised and they will have been planning this for several weeks. Those behind the organisation of this travelled mostly from Dublin and Scotland. This type of violence is now commonplace in Polish football," the source said.
The PSNI would not say if officers had been expecting trouble as it was "a matter of intelligence".
Sports Minister Gregory Campbell said that the confrontation began after some Polish supporters unfurled a republican flag.
"There were some Polish fans who introduced one of the Irish republican flags, that are supportive of the group that killed the soldiers and the policeman a few weeks ago, which obviously then led to even more tension," he added.
Belfast Telegraph
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