Charity Giveaway Winners
We are pleased to announce the proceeds from the drawing raised $14,100.00 which was split evenly between, Speedway Children Charities, Lili Claire Foundation and Southern Nevada Firefighter's Burn Foundation to assist in their efforts in Southern Nevada
Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets. Special thanks to following:
| Fender Guitar |
Cannery |
| TTI Exhaust |
Mopar Authentic Restoration Products |
| Vegas Signs and Vinyl Graphix |
Craig Tanaka |
| Romeo Furio |
Year One |
71 Dodge Dart Swinger: Clay Hansen of Layton, UT
Fender Guitar winner: Galen Williams of Tucson, AZ
Chip Foose autographed stool Auction winner Bill Sefton
(L to R) Phil Painter, Bill Sefton, Chip Foose, Chris Jacobs
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Our event special guest for 2009 will be Chip Foose, That's right Chip Foose. Most of you have watched the TV Show
Overhaulin and seen the amazing touch that Mr. Foose has with automobile design. He is one of the most talented automotive designers in the world. His accolades and accomplishment in the automotive design field are too numerous to list here. Chip Foose is one of the most sought after personalities in today's automotive entertainment industry. Selling out events everywhere he attends. Besides being a very talented automotive designer and a pure genius in automotive engineering.
Chip Foose is one of the most genuine, down to earth, great guys that you will ever meet. He is a devoted family man and a wonderful roll model for all. Mr. Foose is one of those pillars of strength that stands for all that is good in today's society. He is an example that through hard work and dedication you truly can have it all. Chip Foose is living his dream. We are very pleased and honored to have Chip Foose as the 2009 Mopars at the Strip guest of honor.
This year's
musical guest at the Cannery, back by popular demand will be The World Classic Rocker's 2 consisting of former members of bands such as Journey, Steppenwolf, Toto, Lynrd Skynyrd, Santana and Boston. Many of you had requested to have the band back after their outstanding stage performance in 2007.
The management and entertainment staff at the Cannery have worked tirelessly to arrange schedules so that the
World Classic Rocker's 2 can again entertain at the Mopars at the Strip event party. Other activities at the Cannery on Friday and Saturday night will include the Mopar Muscle magazine-sponsored Quarter-Mile of Mopars. This opportunity is for the first 66 vehicles each night. If you would like to participate, be at the Cannery no later than 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday evening. Friday their will be a special display of hand picked Mopars on display in side the courtyard at the Cannery. Friday night's entertainment is SUPERBOGGIE.
As most of you are aware the New Dodge Challenger is available at Dodge Dealers across the country. At our Dealership's it is a daily occurrence for customers to come to the dealership with camera in hand to have their picture taken with the all New Dodge Challenger. If you are reading this welcome, it is obvious that you have some interest in Muscle Cars. I suggest that you go into your local Dodge Dealer and drive this New Challenger. Recently I took my two sons for a ride in a 09 6-spd SRT8 Challenger.
(It reminded me of the time my father took me for a ride in a 4-speed 68 Road Runner, (I thought that was about as cool as it could get as an 8 year old.) Well I am happy to inform you that my 14 and 12 year old boys weren't sure what to think when we approached the Silver 09. As we got settled in the car the boys giggled as I had to ask them how to start the car. They giggled again as they pointed out the start/stop button.
Once the big Hemi V-8 roared to life, the boys giggles changed to huge grins as the pistol grip shifter engaged and the car started to move. Once we were on our way from the congested traffic, the grins got bigger with each blurp of the throttle. Once on a safe secluded back road, we did what every car enthusiast would do. We made sure that the car was fully warmed up, gauge readings all where they should be, slipped the pistol grip down in to first gear and stabbed the throttle, power shifted to 2nd and then 3rd. I looked at my two boys to get their reaction. They looked like they had just gotten off of their first Bullet train ride. The grins on my two boy's faces were priceless, as big as the one I had in 1968. Wow, what a car. What a moment in time for the three of us to share. "Dad we need one of these for some guy time don't you think Dad?" Exclaimed one of the boys! The new Challenger is awesome, I highly suggest that everyone take a cruise in one of these new Challengers from Dodge. You will be impressed with the advancements in technology. WOW!!
Another adventure that I was privileged to attend was the All Hemi Reunion this summer. Jim Kramer and Dick Towers amassed a once in a lifetime event featuring numerous famous Hemi Race Cars, specialty Hemi Cars, and the people who have helped to develop the Hemi engine mystic. This was one of those rare moments in my automotive life that I set back and let it all soak in, with the realization that if I hadn't made the trek to Salem Ohio, what I would have missed out on. It truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Like the saying goes, "When opportunity knocks, you must open the door". Well here is opportunity knocking on your door. 2009 will prove to be a pivotal year in the Mopar Enthusiast hobby, with all of the turmoil that most of you have seen in the financial markets, the talks about loan guarantees to the Big 3. Add that to the bombardment each of us experience from the internet, newspapers, or the nightly news. We as a society need a relief from all of the dismal news. That is exactly why you need to go open the door on the garage, fire up your ride and take it out and run it through its paces. You will be glad that you did.
Budweiser King Funny Car...
on display at the 2009 Event
Read more about the car, it's restoration and it's owners.
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If it doesn't put a huge smile on your face, well then take it out and do it again until it does. I have watched stressed out business owners get in their rides, go for a romp, and come back refreshed and renewed as if they had just done something illegal. That's your assignment; there is no better time than now to enjoy your Mopar. That's why you have it. Then bring it back out and drive it to Mopars at the Strip in the spring.
If you weren't at the event in 2008, make your plans today, and if you were fortunate enough to
witness the wheels-up action in 2008, then bring a friend and your camera to document the wheels up action of Hemi Super Stock racing. These Factory Hot Rods will be blasting down the quarter mile again this year. Along with some of the fastest Mopar Drag Racing anywhere. This year's event will again feature a dozen competitive classes. Including a Fire Fighters VS Policeman race class. It should be interesting.
There will be a special display tent commemorating the new Dodge Challenger. If you know of or have any information on any memorabilia or rare Dodge Challengers or new 08 and 09 challenger that should be in this display please contact us at 702-256-8254.
Some of the other "events within the Event" are the
all-Mopar auction, the
all-Mopar Swap Meet,
Manufacturers' Midway, Jeep Off-Road Poker Run, the
mammoth Car Show with classes for Judged and Popular Choice, and even a Fun Field for those who just want to drive their Mopars into the event (for display only). Mopar Muscle magazine will once again hold the
True Street Challenge. This is a great opportunity to have your Mopar grace the pages of Mopar Muscle. (Entry forms must be accompanied with photos of your car.
Entry deadline is March 06, 2009.)
Mopars at the Strip will hold a
raffle drawing that supports three local children's charities: The Southern Nevada Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, Lili Claire Foundation, and Speedway Children's Charities. This year's charity giveaway car is a 1971, Hemi Orange, Dodge Dart Swinger. Tickets are $20 and are available at the event or at our secured site, moparsatthestrip.com.
Winner need not be present to win. Along with the car our friends at Fender Musical Corporation have donated a one off Fender Stratocaster Guitar. The first ticket drawn from the bucket wins the car and then tickets will be drawn until someone present at Mopars at the Strip on Sunday afternoon wins the guitar. All of the proceeds after cost from the drawing will benefit the aforementioned charities.
We would like to thank those companies that have supported us since the beginning: R/T Specialties, Indy Cylinder Head, tti Exhaust, Painter Dodge, Extreme Sportswear, Cannery Hotel and Casino, and all of our other sponsors.
In closing, we want to thank everyone for their support of Mopars at the Strip. It is your support and passion that have been the driving force behind this event's success-Without
U, there is no
Us.
With that said, start packing your bags, Destination: fabulous Las Vegas. We welcome all Mopar enthusiasts to "The Wildest Mopar party in the West."
The Painter Family
JP Motorsports
