1998 Mopar Nationals - Car Craft Magazine

hen it comes to way-mint resto rigs, the the MoNats has plenty to keep you gawking. Factory-offered Air Grabber vacuum-operated pop-up hoodscoops ('60s ChryCo sales code N96) still leave CC staffers slack-jawed.

hen it comes to way-mint resto rigs, the the MoNats has plenty to keep you gawking. Factor

We're trying hard to extend our boundaries. Sure, we've been called Camaro Craft, but we're working feverishly to dispel the nasty notion that we love Chevys and only Chevys.

Don't believe us? Consider this: In 1998 alone we had both a Mopar engine and a project Duster on the cover. There were also three Buicks and two Fords on the cover, plus an Olds engine. Who knows what 1999 will hold?

Watching the Super Pro cars hustle down the 1,320 was sheer merriment. After a belching burnout, fans were treated to wicked wheelstands and stellar 9-second e.t's. The only way life could have been better is if we could have finagled a free ride, but we were denied such passage.

Watching the Super Pro cars hustle down the 1,320 was sheer merriment. After a belching bu

The bottom line is that we're working hard to bring you more of what you want to see. Our recent coverage of the '98 Buick GS Nationals sent readers gonzo, so when we heard that the 18th annual Mopar Nationals was returning to its roots at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio, we were there. The MoNats had a several-year hiatus in Indy, but fans demanded the nighttime action that could only be had on Brice Road. We were wow'd, so here are five lip-smacking-good pages of '98 Mopar Nationals coverage for you to ogle. It was double-boffo bitchin'. If you're digging this type of rarely seen coverage, then let us know. Who knows where it may lead-maybe even editorial on an AMC gathering! Somebody stop us before we hurt ourselves.

If your Mopar is hurting for parts, this mombo-sized swap meet is pretty tasty. We were salivating big-time for this race-Hemi, four-barrel "bathtub" NASCAR intake, but the $970 asking price outweighed the spare change jingling in our pockets.
If your Mopar is hurting for parts, this mombo-sized swap meet is pretty tasty. We were sa
Is it gen-yoo-ine? Probably not, but it sure does look sweet and evoke fond memories. Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin are still in the racing scene as they recently built a Pro Stock Truck to compete in NHRA competition. Sure would be cool to see them race it at next year's MoNats...hint, hint.
Is it gen-yoo-ine? Probably not, but it sure does look sweet and evoke fond memories. Ronn
Never ever did any current CC staffer have a driver's ed car anywhere near this cool. However, word has it that Editor Freiburger learned how to drive behind the wheel of a Dodge Aspen, which explains his current mental condition.
Never ever did any current CC staffer have a driver's ed car anywhere near this cool. Howe

If you dig Mopars, then mark your '99 calendar for vacation time between August 13-15. Sure the kids will want to frolic at Disney World, but assure them that the MoNats' 3,000 cars, drags, and burnout contests are way cooler than a big mouse in suspenders.
If you dig Mopars, then mark your '99 calendar for vacation time between August 13-15. Sur
Nice decal, eh? It's cool inkwork but not nearly as nice as the "Turbo 6" tattoo some guy was sporting at the '98 Buick GS Nationals. Sorry, pal.
Nice decal, eh? It's cool inkwork but not nearly as nice as the "Turbo 6" tattoo some guy
Cruising Brice Road
After hours, the streets of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, were swinging with styling street machines. These dudes opted to consolodate their cash for cruising gas rather than buy T-shirts. As long as you were cruising Mopar or AMC rides, you were cool at Brice Road. However, at 9:50 p.m. a Vette cruising Brice was met by a tough crowd of sidewalk dwellers yelling, "No plastic! Take your Tupperware home!"
Cruising Brice Road After hours, the streets of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, were swinging with s

The rules were simple for cruising Brice Road: Do a burnout, get a ticket. Bark the tires, get a ticket. Drink and drive, get a ticket. Drive a Volare, get a ticket.
The rules were simple for cruising Brice Road: Do a burnout, get a ticket. Bark the tires,
Fact: It's illegal to cruise Brice Road with slicks and/or open headers. Loophole: Nobody said that you couldn't put your car with slicks and open headers on a trailer and tow it down Brice. Evidence: This dude made numerous passes each night and entertained the crowd with blaring exhaust. The smokies were not amused, but did not ticket said "cruiser."
Fact: It's illegal to cruise Brice Road with slicks and/or open headers. Loophole: Nobody
There was plenty of acreage located alongside the MoNats to pitch a tent and camp out with fellow gearheads. It was utopia: Watch smoky burnouts all day and then stroll to your campsite for some smoky burger action.
There was plenty of acreage located alongside the MoNats to pitch a tent and camp out with

Geriatric Dodge on Viagra
Pat and Donna Fletcher wheeled in their super-sano '55 Dodge Custom Royal convert. Although it looked mostly resto on the outside, it wasn't under the sheetmetal. Up front is a complete torsion bar suspension from a '79 Volare, in the middle there's a modern-tech A-518 four-speed overdrive tranny, and 3.55:1 cogs reside in the 8 3/4 out back.
Geriatric Dodge on Viagra Pat and Donna Fletcher wheeled in their super-sano '55 Dodge C
Under the Custom Royal's PPG "Hot Licks" hued hood is a fuel injected, computer-controlled 360 Magnum V-8 swiped from a '96 Dodge truck. Sweeeeeet!
Under the Custom Royal's PPG "Hot Licks" hued hood is a fuel injected, computer-controlled
What better way to dodge the sunrays than to hunker under your Mopar? Fragged framework and ruptured rears only stalled a few racers; most were die-hards that weren't shy about fixing the foul-ups.
What better way to dodge the sunrays than to hunker under your Mopar? Fragged framework an

Since when do these two guys get along? Finally, Wile E. Coyote gets to watch something blow up beside himself-namely a pair of Acme 15-inch rear tires.
Since when do these two guys get along? Finally, Wile E. Coyote gets to watch something bl
Throughout the Nationals this dude would cackle-off his race Hemi for gaggles of giddy gearheads. Crowds of onlookers would gape in awe as the Hemi was revved to the moon only to belch out its irritating echoes of misfire. Hey buddy, next time toss in a fresh set of plugs before you have a rev-fest.
Throughout the Nationals this dude would cackle-off his race Hemi for gaggles of giddy gea
It's blown, it guzzles alcohol, and it runs 7.90s! There's just something cool about seeing a brick-like '65 Dodge Coronet 500 run 175 mph and then hang out the laundry to haul it to a hault.
It's blown, it guzzles alcohol, and it runs 7.90s! There's just something cool about seein

EFI Hemi
Underbonnet resides a 528-cube Hemi topped with hogged-out aluminum heads trimmed with DLI stainless rockers and garnished with MSD Ignition goodies. Fuel is fogged via a custom Race Fuel Injection setup fitted with a 1000-cfm throttle-body and 36 lb-hr injectors. Yummy!
EFI Hemi Underbonnet resides a 528-cube Hemi topped with hogged-out aluminum heads trimm
Aside from a styling set of Center Line rims, Matt Delaney's '70 'Cuda was stock looking. Well, maybe not: It has four-wheel disc brakes, custom tubular upper A-arms, tree-like antiroll bars, and a kicking Alpine 160-watt tunes chamber.
Aside from a styling set of Center Line rims, Matt Delaney's '70 'Cuda was stock looking.
We were digging watching the Bob Caldwell Dodge Country jet truck nuke the paint off of the National Trail Raceway's tower suites and nearly pop out the tower's glass during thrust-checks. Neato!
We were digging watching the Bob Caldwell Dodge Country jet truck nuke the paint off of th

Mondo Mope
You'll need a crane to hoist the heavy hood but it's worth it to spy Steve's handiwork. Power comes by way of 440 cubes of RB shortblock, a 0.590-inch lift cam, cleaned-up "906" heads, and triple two-suckers.
Mondo Mope You'll need a crane to hoist the heavy hood but it's worth it to spy Steve's
We dig Steve Shubert's barge-like '68 Chrysler 300. The acres of sweet black paint are nice and the Weld wheels add flash, but we like how the USS Shubert launches! Wearing M&H 275/60-15 DOT-legal rear treads, the 4,700 pound 300 hustles to 12.60s at 105 mph. Steve drives this rig on the streets of Pittsburg every day.
We dig Steve Shubert's barge-like '68 Chrysler 300. The acres of sweet black paint are nic
It ain't sweet, but it torches the treads triumphantly. Dan Tekulve's '71 Chrysler Newport was the burn-out contest winner on Friday and Saturday. Tasteful upgrades, such as four mismatched tires, a rusty trailer hitch out back, and witty wordage on the rear glass helped Dan win crowd approval.
It ain't sweet, but it torches the treads triumphantly. Dan Tekulve's '71 Chrysler Newport

What Mopar meet would be complete without a wheels-up pass by Bill "Maverick" Golden in his famed Little Red Wagon. Being that the front tires rarely get used (hence never get worn down), ya wonder if they're the original skins from the '60s? Nope-this truck's a repop.
What Mopar meet would be complete without a wheels-up pass by Bill "Maverick" Golden in hi
Shelia Bowman (yes, a girl!) frequently shows guys who's boss at the digs. Shelia drove her big-block powered '73 'Cuda to the final-round win in "King of the Street" with a 9.01 at 151.02 mph to beat out Ed Giammaria's '72 Duster.
Shelia Bowman (yes, a girl!) frequently shows guys who's boss at the digs. Shelia drove he
We darn near shot a feature on this delightfully devilish Duster, but we just couldn't get over the honkin' hoodscoop and the racer-type interior. But this thing sure hustled with its laughing-gas-sprayed small-block that motivated the A-body to 8.80s at 151 mph-and into the final round in King of the Street.
We darn near shot a feature on this delightfully devilish Duster, but we just couldn't get

Just like in Hazzard County, a "Jumping General Lee" was frequently seen at the MoNats, stretching the sidewalls and baking the bias-ply treads. We still don't quite understand how the original General Lee could screech the tires as it slid across dirt roads.
Just like in Hazzard County, a "Jumping General Lee" was frequently seen at the MoNats, st
Boffo Burnouts
Here's CC's recipe for getting chicks: 1. Buy a Dodge Viper; 2. Wear gold chains and cool-dude sunglasses; 3. Undo top two buttons on silk shirt; 4. Do big smoky burnouts while listening to "light jazz" on Viper's 6-speaker turbo sound system; 5. Use phrases like, "If I was worried about the cost of new 335 rears, I wouldn't be good enough for you, baby."
Boffo Burnouts Here's CC's recipe for getting chicks: 1. Buy a Dodge Viper; 2. Wear gold
"It's got a cop motor. A 440ci powerplant. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, and cop shocks. It's a model built before catalytic converts, so it'll run good on regular gas." Forget about cheezy Elvis sightings; the MoNats had the bogus Blues Brothers. This Dodge Monaco, complete with Blues Brothers-like occupants, frequently melted its rear meats, cruised Brice Road, and continually blared Respect from its roof-mounted speakers.
"It's got a cop motor. A 440ci powerplant. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, and cop sho