Here's my personal ratings for some of the East Coast Mopar shows on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. I'm taking into consideration the location, the actual venue, sales, and overall quality of the show. I will probably adjust this guide over time.

 

Chryslers at Carlisle PA - 10 

    You just cannot beat Carlisle Productions for putting on any type of automotive event. Top notch crew. There is no better in all the land. The best of the best show cars, attractions, and the most vendors, and biggest attendance by spectators. They really take care of the vendors. The facilities are great. Many rest rooms, private showers, and lots of choices for food right in the fairgrounds.

 

Mopar Nats Columbus OH - 6

    This has the potential to be a really great show, but it is at a race track where they refuse to open the gates before 12 NOON on vendor set-up day. They also chase you out around 6PM every night so you are basically forced to get a hotel room or camp out somewhere other than your swap meet spot. The quality of the show cars is probably pretty close to Carlisle, but the other attractions can't come close.

 

Mopars at the Rock Rockingham NC - 6

   Extremely nice show, for a one day race track show. Nice attendance, with nice people. The drawback is, it is not conveniently located for ones traveling a long distance.

 

   Excellent attendance, beautiful location, nice show cars, large vendor area, one day show.

Nicely run by the car club, and the dragway doesn't seem to get in the way to mess things up.

 

  Another well run swap meet where the race track doesn't try to be a "big shot" and run the show. Swap meet space are a little too close to the track. You'll say "what? huh? wha'd ya say?" more times here, than just about anywhere else? Even though it's close to the track it's easy to get around. Basically one long line of parts on both sides of you about the length of the track.

 

  6 is stretching it a little. Since 2006 was the first year for the show I'm giving them a little room for improvement which the car club seemed very interested in. They actually wanted to hear from people about what they thought and what they could do for improvement. Fair swap/show/race set up. It really need to be rearranged. The race cars had about 80 percent of the space taken up while the show and swap was kind of crammed together. One bad point for vendors is they charged a spectator fee even if you paid for spaces. Probably should have been a one day show. The 3 days will be OK, if it really does become "The Mopar Southern Nationals" like they call it.

  This show has real potential. I hope they get it together.

 

   Very poorly run show. They changed the dates again to be sometime in September. The only thing they've done right with this show in the last 10 years or so was have it at the same time as Dukesfest in 2005. The swap meet area changes EVERY YEAR, horrible race track food, very slim car show, and not a big attendance. I personally enjoy this small show, but it really does not live up to what it could be. I believe the track itself tries to get too much of the action instead of having a car club run it. They even charged admission fees to vendors who paid for swap meet spaces one or two years. Not sure if they're still doing it.

 

  I'd like to rate this one higher, but it's just too small of a show. For now....

     Good swap meet set up. Inexpensive spaces. Real nice show cars. One day show. Run by a nice car club.

   Too many times it had the same dates as other cars shows in the south and probably suffered earlier for that reason. Since Bristol is now moved to September, and the Reynolds GA show is no more, it should be able to thrive. Look for this one to get a little bigger.

 

  Another very small show, but unbelievable quality in the show cars and the people involved. Very small swap meet and not a ton of shoppers. Home made food for sale at very reasonable prices. Just an all around great little show. The scenery is not to be beat by any show I've ever been to. You're at a pretty high elevation and you have a great view of the lake and the mountains behind it.

 

Thanks for reading my guide. If this was helpful please vote below. Thanks, Rich

 

 

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