The 2016 North American International Auto Show is underway in Detroit and those folks who love big horsepower won’t find a display more alluring than that of the Dodge brand.
While there are a few lower performance models, such as the Dodge Journey, the rest of the display is really a tribute to the high powered brand Dodge has become. From the Dart GT to the Viper ACR to the Hemi Durango to the mighty Hellcat twins – no automaker showing in Detroit packs the punch of the current Dodge lineup.
For those of you who aren’t going to make it to Detroit for the 2016 NAIAS, we have put together a gallery of the gorgeous Dodge vehicles on display at this year’s show. The Challenger, Charger, Viper, Durango and Dart are all well represented and as a special treat, show-goers will even get to drive a 2016 Viper GT video simulator.
Dodge might not have the biggest display in Detroit’s Cobo Hall, but no one else offers the raw power of the modern Dodge lineup and that is displayed very clearly at the 2016 North American International Auto Show.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
