Chrysler (Mopar) Nat's Check-In

-
I just mentioned this in another thread, but I'll post here as well.

On the Mopar Nationals FB page there is a write up about the new Mayor of Health being pro-active towards the tire burning crowd. He's worried about spectators being hurt, for example if someones throttle stuck open while doing a burnout. So this year they are choking the cruise down to one lane in each direction and ONLY tickets being written, NO warnings.
I was looking forward to doing the cruise at least one night, not sure if I will bother now. its not the burnouts and tickets that bug me, it's the single lane deal that's going to have traffic at a stand still,,,lame.
 
Usually it is a family affair, but wifey staying home with our 8 mo old daughter, oldest son has to work, so this year it will be me and my youngest son. Maybe looking for a car for him. The Demon sits at home and is in the process of some interior upgrades. Looking forward to meeting some of the members here.
 
I just mentioned this in another thread, but I'll post here as well.

On the Mopar Nationals FB page there is a write up about the new Mayor of Health being pro-active towards the tire burning crowd. He's worried about spectators being hurt, for example if someones throttle stuck open while doing a burnout. So this year they are choking the cruise down to one lane in each direction and ONLY tickets being written, NO warnings.
I was looking forward to doing the cruise at least one night, not sure if I will bother now. its not the burnouts and tickets that bug me, it's the single lane deal that's going to have traffic at a stand still,,,lame.

The local clowns with their Honda's and their 4wd pick up's are who causes the problems. I've seen it year after year.
 
I just mentioned this in another thread, but I'll post here as well.

On the Mopar Nationals FB page there is a write up about the new Mayor of Health being pro-active towards the tire burning crowd. He's worried about spectators being hurt, for example if someones throttle stuck open while doing a burnout. So this year they are choking the cruise down to one lane in each direction and ONLY tickets being written, NO warnings.
I was looking forward to doing the cruise at least one night, not sure if I will bother now. its not the burnouts and tickets that bug me, it's the single lane deal that's going to have traffic at a stand still,,,lame.

Sounds like ... Brice Road / part2

Heath he was a blast several years ago. Last time the boys and I checked it out it was a zoo.

The most fun was about 10 years ago at the Dodge dealership that had a controlled area .....with bleachers, DJ, and starting light....burnout contest.

I heard it is back??..anybody know?
 
Other than the members who have signed up to be "under the tent"

Who plans on parking in the FABO area adjacent to the tent?
Be nice to have some idea of a head count.

I will go down Tuesday and try to caution tape off the area....but I have NO IDEA how much room is needed.

Last year....there was all kinds of room.....but less than five A bodies showed up. I felt like I was being a bit hoggish with the generous PRIMO space allocated to us (FABO) by the Nats officials .....so the area was opened up to anyone.
 
I'll be there by myself. I am debating driving the dart. Wolnt be in the show but it will be cruising. I'll stop by the tent, I meet keagan and Gunbunny at mmw. Looking forward to meet others.
 
I'll be there with my wife and little girl. Leaving very early Thurs a.m. and staying till Sunday. Will be selling lots of parts! Come by and say hi. See you all soon!
 
I am a local around here and this is the latest article in the local newspaper. Feel free to voice your opinion to them lol. From the sounds of it the new chief of police wants to show everyone whos boss and guess loose a lot of business for city of Heath unfortunately. If you head south on 79 towards Buckeye Lake theres nice brewery and few other restaurants on the lake that all have great food. Also some nice country roads to cruise on. If anyone needs suggestions just pm me id be glad to help or even set up a cruise for us all to drive and have dinner.



HEATH – Spectators attending the annual Super Cruise will be kept a safe distance away from Mopar cars parading down Hebron Road next weekend.

Heath Mayor Mark Johns and Police Chief John Mason said they had to take action to rein in what has become an out-of-control event following Mopar Nationals at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.

City officials, frustrated with the behavior of Super Cruise spectators and some motorists, will limit traffic Aug. 8 and 9 to one lane in each direction between Hopewell Drive and Andover Road.

A young woman struck by a Chevrolet pickup at the 2012 Super Cruise was not seriously hurt, but the mayor said he worries a tragedy will occur.

"We have to try something to make this event safer," Johns said. "My fear is a car gets the throttle stuck doing burnouts and peeling out into people watching the event.

"I don't believe it's a question of if, but a question of when. We're creating a buffer between the crowd and traffic."

The right lane of southbound Hebron Road will be closed from just south of Hopewell to just north of Andover Road/Oberlin Drive, at the end of the Econo Lodge property.

Northbound traffic will be limited to one lane from north of Oberlin to near Papa Johns Pizza, where turn lanes begin. An alternate route is Hopewell Drive to Ohio 13 to Irving Wick Drive, the mayor said.

"This is the stretch of road with the highest concentration of spectators and greater number of burnouts taking place and spectators can be very close to the roadway," Johns said.

The event, anticipated only for Saturday night, expanded to Friday night a few years ago. The crowd, estimated to consist of at least 8,000 spectators and up to 3,000 Mopar cars last year, takes over the business district, creating gridlock.

Mason replaced Chief Tony Shepherd, a race car driver in his leisure time, in April.

"I feel we've been a little too lenient in the past," Mason said. "Appropriate enforcement action will be taken this year.

"Last year started with two (lanes) and we knocked it down to one lane because it got so bad, so quickly. We were in a reactive mode."

The new chief said he has a different view on some things than his predecessor, but changes to the Super Cruise also had been contemplated by Shepherd.

"I will readily admit his philosophy and mine are not the same, but he agrees this event is not what it was meant to be," Mason said.

"Local enthusiasts chose to become part of the problem. It's becoming dangerous. We'll take some steps to let people know that activity will not go on."

Police issued 30 verbal warnings and 23 citations for the two nights last year. The citations included drunken driving, street racing and failure to maintain assured clear distance. Police also have cited drivers doing burnouts.

Citations also could be distributed for throwing water on the road, encouraging burnouts, consumption of alcohol in parking lots open to the public, hood engines obscuring the view of drivers, missing hoods or bumpers, or no tread on tires.

"Officers have been met with outright aggression, bottles and rocks thrown at them and (police) cars damaged," Mason said. "It's gotten to the point my officers don't feel safe."

If the lane restrictions don't improve safety, additional steps could be taken in the future, the chief said.

"We've discussed temporary fences," Mason said. "Lots of things have been discussed, but they're drastic and not what we want to employ."

The massive crowds don't necessarily translate into increased business, officials said.

One year, Mason said, Ruby Tuesday employees were outside the restaurant during the cruise because customers could not reach the restaurant through packed streets and parking lots. The restaurant eventually closed early that night, he said.

Giant Eagle hired a firm last year to make sure only its customers parked in the lot, Mason said.

When the hotel, Econo Lodge, closed, drivers did burnouts in the walkway between buildings, spewing debris and and damaging the roof.

"We've got to clean it up and make it more safe," Mason said. "They've proven to us they can't do it on their own. Businesses we've contacted don't want (people who aren't customers) on their lots."

National Trail Raceway Manager John Fornataro said the Super Cruise has changed dramatically from what it started out as about a decade ago.

"I share the mayor's concern, and that's safety," Fornataro said. "Mopar Nationals is what we do at National Trail Raceway, and this (Super Cruise) is something else.

"There's a strong sense of community among Mopar enthusiasts. The Licking County community has embraced them."

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8545

Twitter: @kmallett1958
 
I posted that in another Nats thread. Some people are moving north into Newark on north 21st.

Hey guys, consider this: we all cruised Brice and when that got to be no fun we largely moved to Heath. Initially Rt. 79 in Heath was very low key, fun and mostly Mopars. Now that the locals have jacked that up, all we have to do is move again- and we don't have to go far. N.21st street in Newark is the equivalent to Rt 79 in Heath-4 lanes, restaurants, parking lots, etc. Clean & safe area. Only maybe 3 miles from Rt. 79 (Newark & Heath are basically the same town). Either go north on Parkview or 30th from Rt. 79 in Heath (if you take 30th, turn right on Main, left on 21st.) OR from Rt. 16 Newark take the 21st Street exit and turn north. Let the locals have Rt. 79. We've done this before. We can do it again.
See you on N. 21st.
 
The only bad with 21st is it's always busy and twice as many lights as heath is all. I just read that article and wanted to try to help warn fellow Moparers
 
My foot will be down and smoke will be rolling through Heath. I'll pay the new chief with Monopoly money.

Honestly though the cruising is the best part of the weekend. You don't see anything like it at other car shows.
 
coming from Connecticut with pick up truck. some parts to sell but buying parts for Canadian Darts. Bringing my 70 Dart on trailer to MoparFest next week.
 
We will be there Saturday. The last 8 years I have been going alone but this year my wife and 8 year old son say they are ready to come along. Going with another friend and his family. We are just trying to figure out where we want to stay. Maybe we should stay in Newark if we can this year? Trying to find a trailer to pull the Barracuda as we need to take my wife's Yukon to fit everybody.
 
Changed my plans I'm heading over for the whole weekend, hopefully I'll get to cruise Saturday (even if not on Heath.)
 
I have to agree that the Heath cruise has been getting a bit out of hand, mostly the non Mopar locals from what I can see. We also got scolded by the local officers about walking around the parking lot of the hotel with a open beer. I don't consider a hotel parking lot as a public area especially because I am staying there. I'd have to see the law books on that one. No since in getting arrested though. We just went inside and enjoyed the show. tmm
 
I'll be there with my wife and 2 yr old son on Saturday as a spectator. Might get a thing or two from the swap meet, but mostly going just to watch some racing with them. I'm only about an hour and a half south of NTR.
 
HemiDenny's tent has been set up with FABO member parking cordoned off
on both sides. The member parking is "expandable" if enough people show up.

Easy to find if you imagine that you are standing on the Drag Strip's starting line
and just look to the right.

Denny made the trip to Columbus today to check out that the larger 40' x 60' tent
was placed and set up per his instructions to make it a little more user friendly than
last year. He also took a lawn mower down and mowed the entire area inside and
outside of the tent for a nice manicured appearance.

Kudos from local Flower and Garden Club are only a rumor.




 
If the weather reports clear we might be down for the weekend racing the Lil Red Express. I will look for the tent and slip in for sure.

I'm trying to confirm if they are indeed going to be having a gamblers race on the Friday and Saturday night. There's a note in the banner on the racing page of the website but nothing in the schedule for the weekend. I'm not sure if they are going to do it after 6pm or it all needs to be done by 6pm as usual. A gamblers would be great since this event has been pretty boring with only one race on Sunday.

Can anyone confirm for me?
 
Sucks, I can't go but we've got to take my father in law to a doctor appointment on Friday to get the results from his cancer tests. Hoping for the best. You all have fun and I can't wait to see pics
 
Other than the members who have signed up to be "under the tent"

Who plans on parking in the FABO area adjacent to the tent?
Be nice to have some idea of a head count.

I will go down Tuesday and try to caution tape off the area....but I have NO IDEA how much room is needed.

Last year....there was all kinds of room.....but less than five A bodies showed up. I felt like I was being a bit hoggish with the generous PRIMO space allocated to us (FABO) by the Nats officials .....so the area was opened up to anyone.

I am trying to bring my Barracuda (finally after 10 years). I need to trailer it as we are bringing our family and another. I can't find any trailers other than Uhaul. Anybody have experience with them? I looked it over tonight and it sure looks sketchy compared to car haulers I used in the past.
I would plan to park in the FABO area.
 
I am using a u-hual special to bring the HDK mule.
 
I am trying to bring my Barracuda (finally after 10 years). I need to trailer it as we are bringing our family and another. I can't find any trailers other than Uhaul. Anybody have experience with them? I looked it over tonight and it sure looks sketchy compared to car haulers I used in the past.
I would plan to park in the FABO area.

I used one once for my 70 RR. It did the trick. Yes not as good as a real car hauler but you do what you have to do.
 
-
Back
Top