They are insurance adjusters, general contractors, small business owners,  teachers, information technology professionals, college students, truck drivers, police officers, and, of course, marketing proessionals.    Members of the NJ Mopar Group come from all walks of life.   Brought together by a common interest,  their cars, the group’s membership stays together because of their relationships with each other.     As Mopar enthusiast and Dodge Charger owner myself, I joined the group exactly a year ago after relocating to the Northeast from Texas.    The 3 year old, 230 member New Jersey group is one of several sister clubs across the eastern seaboard of the United States, including the PA Mopar Group,  as well as groups in Washington DC, Southern Maryland, and soon in New York all united under the Muscle Mopars Clubs of America banner.   Collectively, the group sports a membership of more than 500 Mopar enthusiasts in the region.

The word “Mopar” originated in the 1930s  as an acronym for “MOtor PARts”, the parts producing arm of the Chrysler Corporation.     Enthusiasts who raced Chrysler products of any make over the years have come to refer to their vehicles “Mopar” products rather than by their individual names, Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge.    Mopar owners boast that the acronym has multiple other meanings such as “My Own Pure Adrenaline Rush”.      

I knew very quickly that the NJ Mopar Group was not a typical car group after attending one of the groups weekly “Meet and Greets”.      The Mopar group recruits new membership by attending car shows and by hand distributing invitations to other Mopar owners,  but it is  through a series of  “Meet & Greets” that take place on different nights throughout the week that prospective members really get a feel for the breadth and depth of the relationships that exist within the family-like organization.    The group’s calendar, updated daily on their website,  includes something for everyone:   car shows, charity events,  group modification weekends, family dinners,  play dates for the children of the members, pool parties, and weekend overnight trips as a group.     The kindred atmosphere is hard to miss.   Whether cruising together to enjoy an ice cream cone or to attend a large regional car show,  the group arrives for every event as a unified  and impressive caravan of classic and late modeled Dodge Chargers,  Challengers , Magnums,  and Chrysler 300s representing a rainbow of colors that is as diverse as the membership itself.    With military-like precision, the each vehicle, one-at-a-time,  backs perfectly into its assigned space is a domino cascading manner that has become well-rehearsed over time.   The doors open and trunks open , canopies are erected, soft drink coolers are placed, and lawn chairs are arranged before each family returns to their own Mopar to prepare it for show.    It is not uncommon to see dad detailing the car, mom shining the interior, and the kids polishing the wheels.    We are all, indeed, a stalwart assemblage of friends.

Giving back to the community is a key focus of each of the regional groups that reside under the Muscle Mopars of America umbrella.    In August the regional groups will come together to host the 3rd Annual Muscle Mopar Bar-B-Q.   Planned for Saturday, August 22^nd at Spruce Run State Park in New Jersey, the event is open to all Mopar owners and their families from across the Northeast and will include a car show, homemade food, fellowship,  and children’s activities, with all proceeds from the event  benefiting  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.         

This weekend, the PA Mopar Group assisted sponsor High Horse Performance (HHP) to conduct a Welcome Home Day at the VA Hospital in Wilmington, DE for Afghanistan and Iraq troops.   In its second year, the event was free to the public and, in addition to the car show,  included a  military band, police dogs, Air Force helicopter,  and several events for children  from face painting to games.    We were surrounded by service members from every branch of the military, and from every generation.     Many were escorted to the outside festivities only with their aid of their nurse and IV poles, and it was clear they were very glad to enjoy the short break from their personal recovery and circumstances to enjoy a day that was arranged just for them.    Top honors at the car show were designated as  “Memorial Awards” , each named after  an armed services member who lost his or her life in Afghanistan and Iraq.   The gesture  gave each award very significant meaning and caused all of us to pause and think about what is really important in our lives:    our freedom and our relationships with each other.    I have never been more proud to be associated with my Mopar family than I was at this event. 

These are challenging times for many people.  Our lives are busier than they have even been in an economy that is impacting many families in ways they have never experienced.   It’s easy to become so focused on survival – on getting through the day, on getting through the week – that you forget that there is a lot of strength that comes from being with others who share a common interest and joining together for common causes.    The families that comprise our collective Mopar groups, whether from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York or elsewhere, are fortunate to have such a strong network of friends and counterparts, all united in our common passions that involve our cars and our communities, but also in our concern for each other.     

Membership in the any of the Mopar Groups represented under the Muscle Car Clubs of America umbrella is open to all Mopar owners and enthusiasts.  

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I had a great Sunday at Island Drag strip about 10 miles from the house today. It was my first time taking the car onto a drag strip. Great time had by all.  Photos

What’s new?  I will fill you in on my experience at the New Jersey MVC (Motor Vehicle Commission), give you some car club news, and let you know how the R1D1 flu has impacted my plans.

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I have committed myself to interacting with people outside of the workplace.   In the year I have been here I haven’t often made time to do that and it is something I really missed.   In Texas I had the car clubs, the homeowner’s association, my weekend home at Arrowhead, all of my friends and family, and then I come here and find myself totally engaged in work – morning to night.     So taking the time to meet new people is a priority, and I have really enjoyed the guys and girls who make up the New Jersey Mopar Group.        Today  handful of us made the quick trip down to Philly to hang with a similar group down that way, and it’s always a fun experience.      Of course, if you know me, you know once I do something, there isn’t any half-way – -  it’s full tilt, full throttle, do it all the way time.   So, it’s time to do some mods on the Charger…..  stay tuned!

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Return to PA MOPAR GROUP MEET & GREET – MARCH 8, 2009

I have been spending some time with a new group of friends here in the Garden State and it has been a good thing for me to meet some people outside of the work place. The New Jersey Mopar Group meets several times a month across the state, showing our cars, having Bar-B-Qs, or just meeting up for coffee after work.

2/26 at Union/Essex County Thursday Night Meet and Greet in Short Hills, NJ

2/22 I took this pic on the way to Joe’s Crab Shack near Trenton,NJ last weekend

More Pictures from Joes Crab Shack

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 We had a dusting of snow today – not enough to get  excited about but it did make a lazy Sunday extra lazy.   I am ready for Spring!!! 

Granny is hanging in there – although the overall decline continues.   Medicare has determined that she is no
longer responding to therapy which means they will no longer financially support her treatment.   She now  becomes a “private pay” patient which means exactly what you think it means.  My biggest concern, however,
remains her well-being and comfort, not the financial aspect of her care.

Last night I joined about 65 other members of the New Jersey Mopar Group for a “Meet and Greet” at
Joe’s Crab Shack in Lawrenceville, NJ, which is about an hour and a half of hear down towards Trenton
and Princeton.    I met a ton of people that I had become friends with online over the past year. 

The Fight the Fat effort has stalled a bit.   I haven’t gained back what I lost, but I haven’t been too committed in the  last several weeks either.   That will change this week as I get back to the gym and restart my Tuesday official weigh-ins.  I have just had a lot of distractions  lately that I have to focus on avoiding.

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 I washed the car today and put it to bed for the winter.
 We’ll see if I can actually keep from driving it.   By all
 accounts, we are just weeks away from the first real
 snow and that means road salt, so its probably time to
 put the silver bullet to bed for a bit.

After the car wash

In the garage

I headed out on a road trip this morning to check out
the Mount Airy Hotel and Casino at Mount Pocono, PA.
I wanted to check it out to see if it would be a good
place to take Mom, Granny, and Roseanna in
November.

Entrance to the Hotel  

Entrance to the Casino

Inside the Casino

I won $8.00!!!  Almost enough to buy lunch!

The silver bullet in the parking lot.  I like the way people stop and look at it.