11th Norwalk Chrysler Classic
The MOPAR World Finals
Norwalk, Ohio

ANTICIPATION

MCG Mopar World Finals Champion Stock / Restored to Stock
Jason King’s 1969 Plymouth Road Runner

MCG Mopar World Finals Champion Non Stock Truck
Dennis Day’s 1995 Dodge Ram

MCG Mopar World Finals Champion Modified/Over Restored
Bob Motz’s 1970 Challenger

MCG Mopar World Finals Champion Non Stock Modern Muscle
Marty Pittman Sr.’s 2002 PT Cruiser

They say you only get one chance to make a good first impression. So we knew that if we wanted the Mopar World Finals to set new standards in the judging arena, make positive impressions, and satisfy the expectations of participants, this was our one chance. In order for our competitors, supporters, and the Mopar community to see the dedication and commitment of the Chrysler Classic events team, we had to swing for the wall and hit a homerun.

The other aspects of the show were in place. The Blankenship family had the drag racing dialed in with more than 600 Mopar competitors on their way to Norwalk. Mopar Alley Fun Field, the swap meet, and the manufacturers’ midway were all looking good. The MCG Mopar World Finals judged show competition had sixty-two qualified competitors, and forty confirmed their participation. We knew it was the judging team that would make this a quality program. The groundwork was laid throughout the season by conversations with Dave Wise of the ICCA. We worked with Dave to put together a top notch judging program and to secure a team of qualified judges. We were on the right track.

All judges for the Mopar World Finals were selected for their proven knowledge and dedication to the hobby. David Wise and the ICCA team provided guidance and offered assistance with the judging process. Great care was taken to ensure that all judges were given proper training and guidance in how to execute the judging process. The initial judges training session was held Friday evening followed by a quick refresher course Saturday morning immediately prior to judging. This was the first major Mopar event in which a detailed judging manual was utilized as a guide in the assessment of the show vehicles. This guidance allowed for a more consistent judging approach and non biased evaluation while scoring of the cars.

The judges were prepared; the competitors were given their judging schedule; and by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 15 th judging for the first MCG Mopar World Finals was underway. Competitors were parked in their assigned spots, and the judges moved onto the field to review the engine and hot components. A function check was then performed and the vehicle was advanced to the judging tent for final inspection. The Norwalk competition was escalated the to a higher level. Once qualified at the preliminary events, the competitors knew the Mopar World Finals would step it up. The undercarriage inspection and function checks were not part of the pre qualifying competitions, but it became a very big part of the finals. After leaving the judging tent, all the vehicles were required to stay on the show field until 5:00 p.m. This allowed the judging team the ability to go back to any vehicle where a question may have arose during the tallying of the judging sheets.

Only one competitor in each of the four categories was awarded the title of MCG Mopar World Finals Champion. The categories of competition included: Stock/Restored to Stock, Modified/Over Restored, Non Stock Trucks, and Non Stock Modern Muscle. In order to maintain consistency, each judge was assigned a specific area of the vehicle, and that judge scored that area on all the vehicles in the category. The judging teams also selected the vehicles that would receive the judges’ choice awards. Awards were presented in the stock and multiple modified categories for the following areas: Outstanding Paint, Outstanding Interior, and Outstanding Undercarriage.

By utilizing the ICCA’s guidelines and judging procedures, Chrysler Classic Events feels we are offering a level of competition that will set the standards in the Mopar arena. In the future, winning the MCG Chrysler Classic Mopar World Finals event will bring national recognition and will demonstrate that a high level of excellence has been achieved. The intention of the Chrysler Classic Events team is to make the MCG Mopar World Finals the premier Mopar car show events for years to come.

Make no mistake - we realize that no system is perfect. In order for us to win the thumbs up from the Mopar world, we will need to continually fine tune, take input and make changes. One area that we know needs some fine tuning for the 2008 season is the categories offered. It has become apparent that there is a need to separate the highly modified and custom vehicles from the moderately modified non stock vehicles. Because one of the goals of the Mopar World Finals to bring recognition to the top Mopars in the country from bone stock restorations to highly modified customs, early vintage to late model modified cars and trucks, we want to offer a fair playing field to all who compete. We want to offer a consistent judging system in an arena that competitors can be proud to be part of.

We realize that not all vehicles can compete at this level. The Mopar Alley Fun Field is offered for those owners that don’t care to compete or for vehicles that spend more time on the road then in their cozy garage. Participant ballot awards are offered to the Mopar Alley competitors. Designated areas for club gatherings can be pre-reserved if a club wants to get together at one of our events. At Norwalk four groups were in attendance, the A 100s, MoParts.com, Mid Ohio Mopars and the Buckeye Chapter of the SDAC. The classes in Mopar Alley range from pre 1962 vintage all the way through to the new Dodge and Chrysler models. All are welcome to participate in the Chrysler Classic Events.

You can find more details regarding the competition cars in the pages of Mopar Collectors Guide Magazine. The 2008 schedule has been set, so start making plans to participate at one or more of the CCE events. We wish to thank each competitor for their support and input. Additional thanks to the companies that supported our 2007 show season: The Right Stuff, Tony’s Parts, Herb’s Parts and Jax Wax.

Winners of Cool Mopar Stuff were:
Paul Haas, Herb’s Parts www.herbsparts.com
John Sanna, Rochester, NY, The Right Stuff www.rightstuffdetailing.com
Dwight Hankins, Sterling, Mi Tony’s Parts www.tonysparts.com
Daniel Landes, Albian, IN, Jax Wax www.jaxwax.com

Judges Pick for:

Stock Most Outstanding Undercarriage, Ray Vansickles’, 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A

Stock Most Outstanding Paint, Kerry Holmes’ 1967 Plymouth GTX

Stock Most Outstanding Interior, Alesia Krueger’s 1984 Plymouth GTX

Modified Most Outstanding Undercarriage, Larry King’s 1967 Plymouth Barracuda

Modified Most Outstanding Paint, Joe DiPietro’s 1970 Dodge Charger

Modified Most Outstanding Interior, Vincent Brentzel’s 1953 Plymouth

Mopar Alley
Best In Class Winners
Determined By PARTICIPANT Vote