This past Saturday, the Metro Detroit area celebrated the 20th annual Woodward Dream Cruise. This massive rolling car show has become one of the key automotive events for the Big 3 Detroit automakers and the Chrysler Group has one of the biggest corporate displays at the show. The Dream Cruise has become one of the most heavily attended events for lovers of American high performance and even for those folks who don’t love Mopar as much as I do – the sprawling Chrysler Group display at the corner of 13 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue is a must-see spot along the many miles of the Woodward Dream Cruise.
While plenty of DodgeForum members were likely in attendance for the 2014 Woodward Dream Cruise, those who didn’t make it to Detroit this past weekend really missed out. In addition to the public debut of the Charger SRT Hellcat, there were a ton of other modern Dodge products ranging from the Dart to the Durango and from the Journey to the Viper – and plenty of 2015 Dodge Challenger models for those who are in love with more than just the 707hp Hellcat model.
For those who didn’t make it to the Dream Cruise, DodgeForum has you covered with a look at pretty much every vehicle in the Mopar display – including the new models, the upcoming models and the many old school, privately owned Mopar cars, trucks and SUVs to remind us why we all love these brand so very much. So without further adieu, check out our gallery of the Woodward Dream Cruise Mopar display!
"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.
