First EuroNats 9-7-94

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 30, 08 4:44 pm

I do remember the first time I met Chris Leslie.

Rich had phoned me to say that there was a guy up our way who wanted to come to the Nats and was really into MoPars and he (Rich'n'Deb) had passed my name on for a lift down.

Come the Friday, picked Chris up in Glasgow and we hurtled down to Avon Park (when were the Avon Park Nats years again ? ). Got there and woke the girl in the kiosk. Paid and pulled in, and the place was empty. Nobody there at all. I seriously doubted that I had the right weekend, and then the same red Barracuda as in the photo above rolled in towing a caravan. For a couple of hours, it was a lonely windy place.

Must have photos somewhere of Nats past.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Wed Jan 30, 08 4:54 pm

The first Mopar Nat's seems so long ago - only 14 years, so the 15th event is this year. I remember Santa Pod didn't believe anyone would turn up and it would be a waste of time. I reckon it is now the best event of the year - bar none.

Some of the photo's posted here are not from the first Nat's:

The 70 Coronet R/T ex Stuart Keen, now Adam Ford, belonged to me back in 1989/90/91 i sold it to Jeremy Lancaster, he drove it to the first Nat's, it was still painted Orange. I bought the car back from Jeremy soon after the first Nat's then sold it to Stuart in 1996? (phew!). Stuart painted it green later.

My Hemi Road Runner (TOR 34G) was repainted B5 blue in 1995 or 1996 I can't remember which. I drove it to the 1996 Nat's.

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Wed Jan 30, 08 5:22 pm

Kev wrote:Was that when it was purple?

when grouch bought it yes it was purple, but he had it sprayed sox n martin color so it then become groucho,s rather than timothy holmes,
gaymond raymond wants to get it painted he hates the color scheme and thinks its a joke grouch chose to have it painted in whats basicaly a plymouth color scheme,

but ray is to tight to pay out,

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Wed Jan 30, 08 5:30 pm

You can't tell me that Ray doesn't know where to get a quick blow....

...over!

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Wed Jan 30, 08 6:17 pm

Ivor wrote:You can't tell me that Ray doesn't know where to get a quick blow....

...over!

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Jan 30, 08 6:40 pm

MattH wrote:Club formed in Dec 1997,
Must dig out more photos. New thread time?

So there was no MMA until after the 4th Nats?

I had forgotten that but I had the time of year right at least.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 30, 08 6:57 pm

Now that does make me feel old, thanks.
That was my first real introduction into the Mopar side of the American car scene, I went along with my mate in his red 69 Charger ( UWD 903G ).

Plus I never realised my Dart used to sit so low, amazing what a set of Super Stock springs will do for the ride height.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 30, 08 7:18 pm

Here it is in '98, Dean.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Wed Jan 30, 08 7:57 pm

I remember it breaking in the burn out contest!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jan 30, 08 8:31 pm

Probably the last time it was pushed hard Kev

RobTwin · Post by **RobTwin** » Thu Jan 31, 08 1:43 am

Jim wrote:The first Mopar Nat's seems so long ago - only 14 years, so the 15th event is this year. I remember Santa Pod didn't believe anyone would turn up and it would be a waste of time. I reckon it is now the best event of the year - bar none.

Some of the photo's posted here are not from the first Nat's:

The 70 Coronet R/T ex Stuart Keen, now Adam Ford, belonged to me back in 1989/90/91 i sold it to Jeremy Lancaster, he drove it to the first Nat's, it was still painted Orange. I bought the car back from Jeremy soon after the first Nat's then sold it to Stuart in 1996? (phew!). Stuart painted it green later.

My Hemi Road Runner (TOR 34G) was repainted B5 blue in 1995 or 1996 I can't remember which. I drove it to the 1996 Nat's.

Thanks Jim, I did wonder. The 1st lot I posted were the pics I took on the Saturday of the 1st Nats, but the others were Stu's pics - some may have been from a year or 2 later, as you say.

Got some more that I'm not sure of, but will scan & post them separately. Poss 96 Nats?

Can you remember which years it was held at Avon Park?

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Thu Jan 31, 08 8:53 am

Kev, The Dart didn't break in the burnout competition. It won it.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Thu Jan 31, 08 9:12 am

I'm certain one year @ Shakey he broke it in the contest. It was when they used to put a lump of wood in front of the wheels.....

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Thu Jan 31, 08 9:25 am

No Kev, you must be thinking of someone else, - it never broke. (It had an auto trans in those days)

That Dart was always a damn good car. I cant imagine why Dean hasn't sold it. It is one opf the best A bodies in the UK. After those days of racing, Jeremy spent a lot of money and time sourcing parts to bring the car to a high standard and very close to original. Since then Dean has improved it further. If it was a B body in that condition it would have sold long ago. Personally i reckon the 340 4 speed A body is the perfect combination. The 340 is one of Mopar's best ever engines - i am through with big blocks now.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Thu Jan 31, 08 9:29 am

Yep! Small Block's Rock!
I'll take it I am wrong with the Dart thing, must have been someone else

I agree with your remarks on the GTS, it is a fantastic car