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Mega Mopar Action Series – Extra Coverage
Jet cars whooshed it up pretty gooda real crowd pleaserat both the 2013 and 2014 Mega Mopar Action shows.
SUNSMOKE
Mopars storm the Sunshine State at Palm Beach International Raceway. Here are photo highlights and car show and race results from the 2013 and 2014 events.
By Bill Woods
Photos by TheBurntBros
PALM BEACH INT’L RACEWAY – 2014 Show Car Winners
PALM BEACH INT’L RACEWAY – 2013 Race / Show Winners
Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) in Jupiter, Florida is one of the only facilities in the country that can host drag racing, road racing and karting. Its a great facility with a well-prepped track. So it was a perfect venue for the Mega Mopar Action Series to show off some Pentastar power in the Sunshine State. There was a good turnout of show and racecars, plus attention-grabbing jet car and wheelstander exhibition runs. A great variety of outstanding Mopes showed up with the late models outnumbering the classic muscle. First-time turnout (2013) was good, with the numbers improving for the 2014 event.
Forget about being henpecked, its nowhere close to being storkpecked. These track mascots are trained pickpockets so hang on to your wallet.
Racing was hot and heavy with late-models mixing it up with the classics crowd.
Best of Show at the 2013 event went to Sherwin Kiesshauer and his 1965 Coronet A/FX. His 426-inch Hemi pumps out an estimated 610 HP with the help of a 6-71 Mooney blower feeding Weber carbs.
Moose Magnolia took a win in Modified in 2013 with his 2001 PT Cruiseryeah, they still show up at events. He also copped the Mopar Action award for the Mopar that best resembled a moose.
Steve Spector copped the 2013 show Best Interior award in his modified 71 Cuda convertible.
Homer Hall dressed his 70 Barracuda into AAR clothes and dropped in 426 Max Wedge power. Neat machine.
Todd Kimelman took a Stock win with his 1988 Dodge Shelby CSX-Ta car that Shelby built for the Thrifty rental fleet.
The late-model Mopes outnumbered the classics on the showfield.
Joe Szczepaniak took a Gld award with his Sublime green 70 Charger R/T. Joe bought the car off Moparts 13 years ago for $1450. The previous owner said the car was a nice driver but would never be a show car. Joe obviously proved him wrong. The factory built 394 Sublime 70 Charger R/Ts. Joe believes that his is the only one remaining that wears this color combo.
We really liked Brian Hermanys 49 Dodge Wayfarer that won a Gold award. Brian traded an enclosed motorcycle trailer for the car and did all the work, including paint himself. He hand-fabd the visor by beating it over a buck. Drivetrain is 318/904/9-1/4 w/ 2.73 Sure-Grip. Master power disc brakes are fitted to the original spindles. The cool brake pedal is the original Dodge emblem off the decklid. The interior is out of an 85 Diplomat while the steering column with Tuff wheel and gauges are from an 89 D350 truck. A/C and power window controls are set in the custom console. Front turn signals are 68 Charger while taillights are 57 Harley. The outside mirror is 95 Volvo ($10). Brian says he has about $500 in his ride.
Plenty of dragstrip action at both events kept the race fans happy.
Late models outnumbered the classics at the 2013 show.
All the happy car show award winners (2014).
Harry LaPlatte, Jr. showed up with a plastic facsimile of a 426 Hemi in celebration fo the Hemis 50th anniversary. Looked real enough to fool everyone. He had a photo of his fathers 64 A864 Hemi Savoy racecar with Don Garlits at the Dick Moroso Memorial show in 2008. Another photo shows a closeup of the car which ran 11.01 in 64-66 when the record was 11.07.
Best of Show (2014) went to Joe Valenza and his modified 1964 273/4-speed Dodge Dart GT convertible.
Nostalgia race fans got a charge out of Gordon DiBattisto Jr. (Gordy D)s front-engine Hilborn-injected alcohol dragster.
Another hit in the Pro-Show exhibition category was the wheelstanding Hulk pickup.
John Piminos smallblock 4-speed 62 Dodge Lancer stood out in the show field and made some hot laps down the track.
Late models get a suntan against a background of tire smoke.
Art Warren trotted out his Richard Petty Charger tribute car thats faithful in exterior appearance. He originally installed a NASCAR motor but switched over to a 340. He found the Charger on a truck that was taking the car to the scrapyard and bought it off the driver for $300. He raced the car in stock trim in 76-77, 80-83 and competed in the last race at Palm Beach Fairgrounds starting 10th and finishing 16th. The tribute charger was completed in 2011.
Aubry Engles 06 Charger with underhood mods.
Of all the late model aftermarket wheels, this set on John Barnabys 08 Charger, got the most attention.
One of the judging staff earning his keep.
A few of the classic Mopes on display.
Charles Ferrendis 70 Super Bee tore up the track and Englishtown back in the day collecting a boatload of Win stickers in the process.
Gene Dickerson copped Best Traffic Light Combo Engine Compartment (green and reda brand new class) with his 72 Challenger. He would have lost to Joe Smelnik who has a greed, yellow and red compartment, but Joe broke down on the road and couldnt make the show. Unlucky for Joe but lucky for Gene.
One of our favorites at the 14 show was Pete Fischers 68 GTX packing an 05 SRT10 Viper engine. Neat job, and soon to run as a full feature in an upcoming issue.
MEGA MOPAR ACTION – PALM BEACH INT’L RACEWAY – 2014 Show Car Winners
JUDGED CLASSES
MOPAR 1960 – 1969 – STOCK
OUTSTANDING: Paul Grasso, Stuart FL1965 Valiant
WINNER: Brian Hermany, West Palm Beach FL1964 Fury III
MOPAR 1960 – 1969 – MODIFIED
OUTSTANDING: Larry Maura, Palm Beach Gardens FL1965 Barracuda
WINNER: Luc Viau, West Palm Beach FL1966 Fury
MOPAR 1970 – 1979 – STOCK
WINNER: Rollin Maycumber, Hollywood FL1970 Barracuda AAR
MOPAR 1970 – 1979 – MODIFIED
OUTSTANDING: Charles Ferrendi, Boca Raton FL1970 Super Bee
WINNER: Bruce Roberts, West Palm Beach FL1971 Demon 340
MOPAR 2000 – 2008 – STOCK
OUTSTANDING: Don Concepcion, Sunrise FL2006 Chrysler 300 SRT
WINNER: Carmine Crudele, Plantation FL2006 Chrysler 300
MOPAR 2000 – 2008 – MODIFIED
WINNER: Ryan Ludwick, Coral Springs FL 2006 Magnum
MOPAR 2009 – PRESENT – STOCK
OUTSTANDING: Michael Saveriano, Daytona Beach FL2009 Challenger SRT8
WINNER: Don Pavlik, Boca Raton FL2014 Challenger RT
MOPAR 2009 – PRESENT – MODIFIED
OUTSTANDING: John Milano, Palm City FL2010 Challenger
WINNER: Tracy Raffine, Tamarac FL2014 Challenger Shaker
CHALLENGER 1958 – 1983 – STOCK
WINNER: Lanestrim Shop, Stuart FL1970 Challenger
CHALLENGER 1958 – 1983 – MODIFIED
WINNER: Gene Dickerson, Jupiter FL1972 Challenger
CHALLENGER 2008 – 2011 – STOCK
OUTSTANDING: Kristofer Lahti, Greenacres FL2009 Challenger
WINNER: Brian Mahar, Plantation FL2011 Challenger
CHALLENGER 2008 – 2011 – MODIFIED
OUTSTANDING: David Cordone, Pompano Beach FL2010 Challenger
WINNER: Clint Mason, Cadjoe Key FL2011 Challenger
CHALLENGER 2012 – PRESENT – STOCK
OUTSTANDING: Alex Archer, Coral Springs FL2014 Challenger
WINNER: Vicki Barnhouse, N. Lauderdale FL2014 Challenger Shaker
CHALLENGER 2012 – PRESENT – MODIFIED
OUTSTANDING: Barry Stowart, Pembroke Pines FL2014 Challenger
WINNER: William Calabrese, Davie FL2012 Challenger
CHARGER EARLY MODEL 1958 – 1983 – MODIFIED
WINNER: Art Warren, Palm Beach Gardens FL1973 Charger
CHARGER LATE MODEL 2006 – PRESENT – STOCK
OUTSTANDING: Anthony Lingwai, Coral Springs FL2014 Charger
WINNER: Aubrey Engle, Coconut Creek FL2006 Charger
CHARGER LATE MODEL 2006 – PRESENT – MODIFIED
OUTSTANDING: Pierre Descartes, Pembroke Park FL2006 Charger
WINNER: Justin Barnaby, Lauderhill FL 2008 Charger
SPECIAL INTEREST MOPAR
WINNER: Henry Agee, Vero Beach FL1973 AMC Gremlin
TRUCKS – ALL YEARS – STOCK
WINNER: Walter Goldscheck, Coral Springs FL2005 RAM
TRUCKS – ALL YEARS – MODIFIED
WINNER: Alan Ardo, Pembroke Pines FL2005 RAM Rumble Bee
WINNER: Zack Rinehart, Palm City FL2013 JEEP SRT8
SPECIALTY AWARDS
BEST ENGINE: Thomas Episcopo, Jupiter FL1970 Barracuda
BEST INTERIOR: Chuck Vance, Wellington FL1970 Challenger
BEST PAINT: T. Newbauer, Cudjoe Key FL2010 Challenger SRT
BEST IN SHOW: Joe Valenza, Vero Beach FL1964 Dart Convertible
CLUB PARTICIPATION: Florida Mopar Connection
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