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Mopar Nats Columbus Oh

KB9GIB

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Any suggestions on motels for the Columbus OH show I will be coming from Illinois any knowledge would be appreciate. Thanks KB9GIB
 
You are going to want to search hotels in the Newark area. Try the Heath area next.
 
Went to the nats some 20 years ago and always wanted to get back there. It was just fantastic for us mopar folks. Well each year I somehow forget and likely can't do this year finding lodging. Dammit anyway. For those of you going have fun; I envy yaz.
 
Any suggestions on motels for the Columbus OH show I will be coming from Illinois any knowledge would be appreciate. Thanks KB9GIB

Try Huber Heights or Springfield !
Gee, I went every year when I lived in Dayton, it's not that far to drive
 
Try Huber Heights or Springfield !
Gee, I went every year when I lived in Dayton, it's not that far to drive
I remember the drive-thru liquor stores and got a kick outa driving my rental mini-van right in the store getting a six-pack. Had to do that just for the novelty of it while my wife wasn't as thrilled. Don't know if those are still around as it's been like 20 years...
 
Good are bad I got a room for my son and I at the Red Roof inn 8 minutes to the track. Thanks KB9GIB southern Illinois
 
Here is the sad news about the Mopar Nationals....
The show has really gone down and down through the years.... I did the show for 21 straight years -- and this will be my 4th consecutive year blowing it off.
The car show is puny... 20 - 30 cars, total, that's all.
The swap meet keeps getting smaller and smaller --
It is a shame.... But, of course, vendors don't make money, they don't come back -- it is not rocket science.
The admission charge is too much, the last few years now, they charge for parking...
Truthfully, you would be better off at Chryslers at Carlisle July 11th - to July 14th, which has become the number 1 Mopar event in the planet........
 
Is there still Mopar show at the same track in May ? I went a few years ago and it had shrunk from previous years.
 
Are you kidding 20-30 cars total? I would love to go to Carlyle but it’s right at 850 miles one way. But if Columbus is that bad maybe I should rethink going there. I know what you mean on the shows and vendors. I live close to where they have the Street machine nationals and the vendors is almost non existent there as well. you think you was at a fair/car show (funnel cakes & Cotton candy) but I do support it because it’s close by. Thanks for your information. KB9GIB
 
Carlisle is a PITA. Too far, tolls suck, it's always 90 degrees/90% humidity, show is on the side of a small mtn, hotels are too far away, no good eateries that are close......
At the NATS, Visit the large tent by the staging lanes. Plenty of beautiful and historic show cars to be seen. Great bunch of guys, too.
 
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I think he meant 2,000/3,000 cars

Far cry from the 4,000/4,500 or more back in the day

Yes , a lot of vendors have packed there bags

The days of Brice Road are long gone

I always used to Love getting there early on Friday morning - Free parking next to the river

Walk down the road and enter into the judged section show cars and just take it all in - Man it was an Awesome Sight , then add the drag strip and the sound

Three 8 to 10 hour days of straight walking in the 90/95 degree weather

Then head to Brice Road all night and watch all the crazy ****

It is much much different today

Have not been back in five years after twenty years straight going back to the Indy Years in 1996/97
 
I did the Mopar Nats for 21 years in a row -- I loved the show for the first 15 years when it was worth my while to drive 14 - 15 hours to get out there -- and there were MOPARS all over the place -- they took over the area!!!!
And there were 600 or so cars in the car show, not to mention the parking lot, and next doors camping area.
The swap meet extended to the parking area....
The last six years, it got progressively worse (and the heat of August was no different, really than July).
But while Pennsylvania tolls are way too much, Carlisle has become the # 1 Mopar event in the universe.... 2700 + cars every year, nice flat land
(There's one hill -- and that's where the Omnis and P T Cruisers are put).
Hotels at Carlisle --- 15 mins. away -- there are dozens of 'em on the Harrisburg strip.
Something to consider??? And how.... When I first started doing the Nats, the Nats WAS BETTER than Carlisle ,---- Carlisle is now 10 times better than the Nats......been to the Nats 21 times, and Carlisle ALL
31 times.....
Yours, Craig......
 
I go to the Mopar Nats every year and have a great time see some great friends and make new ones its what you make of it
 
Sad to hear about the nat's; it was great when I went nearly 20 years ago, like a city of mopars, vendors, races, etc. It's around a 7 hour drive I won't make..
 
Mr.B,
You are so right --- you will still meet --- some --- great people -- and a show is what you make of it....
When you walk through the swap meet area , you can really look at what is there for you, or you can stumble through while you're stuffing your face with a $9.00 bucket of French fries and say that you "did" the swap meet in 20 minutes.....
I had a great time at the Nats when it was a great show..... Just that it's best days are 8 - 9 years ago and before that....
Meanwhile, Carlisle , shall we say, "lucked into" having a better and better show, but HAVE run with it. A different spotlight car every year, awesome guests through the years (Richard Petty, Mr. Norm, Virgil Exner Jr., Herb McCandless, Catherine Bach, the Christine cast and crew, the Dukes of Hazzard cast and crew, etc., etc.)
A sold out swap meet, 2700 + cars, Daisy Duke contest, burn out contest, seminars, and a whole lot more, and a lot more great friends to meet!!!!!!!
If you had unlimited time and money, I would still say to do both ---- but for me ----
A 15 hour drive to the Nats
A 5 1/2 hour drive to Carlisle.....
I will only be at Carlisle again this year.....
H107 - H108 , right by the bathrooms, 4 rows down from the center of the food court,. Come check out an awesome spread of MOPAR parts and say HI..... Yours, Craig......
 
By the way, mmissile, from Detroit, your long drive would be to Carlisle, of course, but no eateries near by??? It is a full town!!!!!
A TGiF, an Applebee's, a Cracker barrel, the Awesome Middlesex diner, Hoss' steak house, the Iron Skillet, in town bars and sports bars -- all within 10 - 15 minutes away!!!!!
Not to mention -- Wendy's, Arby's, McDonald's, When you don't feel like leaving a tip, and Waffle House, Route 11 diner, the Carlisle Fairgrounds Diner, and a whole lot more.....
And a Food Court, and food stands all throughout Carlisle, if you must eat at Carlisle, itself.
I guarantee -- to anyone -- you go to Carlisle for at least a full day or two -- you will have a great time --
July 11th - to - July 14th......
 
Is there still Mopar show at the same track in May ? I went a few years ago and it had shrunk from previous years.
Yea Jeff Johnson has a show there in May. That show is nothing like it used to be. It’s all about the racers now. Not much swap meet or car show anymore. The Nats still has 2000-3000 cars, but maybe only 100 judged show cars. Let me know if your coming Garry. I’m living near there in Springfield now.
 
both are about 3 and a half hours from me drag racing burn out contest swap meet every thing in one spot i like them both i prefer the mopar nats
 
I was surprised that we got a room that close to the show they actually showed they still had a few rooms left I talked to a guy that goes every year and stays at that motel and he was surprised also they had rooms left hopefully we won’t have rain.
 
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