MATS LasVegas Weekend Report?

[71vert340]

 I've been expecting someone to report how MATS went this weekend. Did any members attend?
Terry

[Chryco Psycho]

Runcharger was there I believe 

[floorit426]

I was out there, on Friday and Saturday. The turnout was definitely down, from years past. I would say the show car field was about 40% of what it was, in it's heyday. The swap meet had four rows, as opposed to the 6 or 7, of years past. The racing was great, but down, as well. The ProMods are awesome!

On the plus side, the parking was moved to the other side of the track, which is a vast improvement. The modern stuff is keeping this thing alive, but I'm sorry to say it is definitely on life support.

With that said, we had a great time, meeting up with old friends, enjoying the show, and, well....it is Las Vegas!

[RUNCHARGER]

Well: I drove 1000 miles on Wednesday, 450 miles on Thursday. Dropped the truck and trailer at the track Thursday and drove the Cuda into Vegas. 572 all aluminum Hemi, Passon OD 4 speed, Shaker, Aluminum Dana 60 rear etc. Cruised and beat on it a bit, drove it back to the track Friday.
They wanted $85 to make some TO runs, we weren't concerned about the $85 but figured we would be sitting in the heat for hours to maybe make one pass so we thought maybe on Sunday because everyone leaves early Sunday. Spent the day going through the swap meet, bought a few knick knacks and looked at the pathetic car turnout for the show. Drove the Cuda back to town and ran the crap out of it a bit.
Saturday, drove the Cuda back to the track and Greg went to the NASCAR experience where he was pretty pissed he could only run 161MPH. I was waiting for him to get back when all of a sudden the Cuda was gone. He ended up taking it over to the Autocross where he was making a few light passes. Car has no rear sway bar, Drag Streets on the back and 70 series Radial T/As on the front. He was just getting acclimated to the track when the fuel pump overheated in the record heat. So I didn't get to run it but Greg beat the times of a whole bunch of Hellcats and other cars with a Drag oriented, non handling Hemi.
Basically the show is a total bust because of the lack of Mopar guy participation. Anyone that complains there is nothing to do as an excuse for not going is a pussy. We drove a bunch of miles, made our own fun and broke our drag oriented, very nice car while outclassing guys in their storebought handling cars (I sure give the guys with the new stuff for coming and participating though, good on em) on the handling course.
We had a ton of fun but the show is dead and the only reason another Mopar event is finished is because of the lack of participation. Whine there is nothing to do with your Mopar but we all know who to blame.
Anyway, we had fun but we can go to Mission to Drag Race, Area 27 or Mission to Road Race or Autocross almost anywhere. So with no car show to go to, there is no reason for us to go back. The event will be a Drag Event if they keep it going I imagine.

[Chryco Psycho]

I thought about going , I could have stayed for free in Vegas so it was really just the cost of the flight & entrance to worry about , I used to go every year 9 years back .
I imagine the heat was partly due to being 1 month later than usual .
Sad that it is dying 

[RUNCHARGER]

It would have been a pleasure to meet you CP. Yup, 97 degrees Friday and Saturday I believe. It broke the record on Saturday. We went from 37c at the track to -1c when we hit Idaho Sunday coming home.
No wonder the Aeromotive let go in the Cuda in the heat I guess but it kind of shortened our fun. Cuda looked really good under the tent but I didn't take any photos.
Greg paid $1600 for the NASCAR experience and they wouldn't let him ride (packing his driving gear) from the NASCAR track over to the MATS event in the heat in their shuttle to town. He talked to the guy actually driving the shuttle though and he snuck him in on his trip into town. Typical of hospitality down there I guess.

[Chryco Psycho]

Wow 37C !
We will meet at some point soon !
Nice that the shuttle guy looked after Greg at least