The Chrysler Display at the corner of 13 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue has become one of the star (static) attractions of the annual Woodward Dream Cruise and in 2013 – the Mopar area was better than ever. In addition the a huge Dodge themed stage where a pair of hosts ask trivia questions in exchange for fun Chrysler prizes, the Mopar display features a huge souvenir trailer, an area where you can play the new Mopar Drag N Brag iPad game, an area where you can change the tires on a mock NASCAR race car, a small SRT showroom full of information on the high performance models, a free airbrush tattoo area (I got a Mopar M logo on my right leg) and a variety of photo stations where you can have your picture taken in front of a unique Mopar vehicle including the awesome Raminator monster truck.
Of course, even with all of those features of the display, the most important aspect is – of course – the cars and for 2013, Chrysler put a focus on stock and modified production models. There was a small collection of privately owned Mopar models from the past 50 years or so but the majority of the cars in the Chrysler Group area where either normal production vehicles or concepts from other events around the country. Production models included the entire SRT lineup including the Charger SRT8, the Challenger SRT Core, the new Grand Cherokee SRT and the new SRT Viper TA along with the new Jeep Cherokee, a couple Dart sedans including the Mopar 13, the new Power Wagon Ram, the Challenger R/T and the newest Charger Daytona. Non-prouction models included the new Viper GT3 race car, the turbocharged Lil Red Express truck from SEMA 2012, the Charger SRT8 from the Fast and Furious 6 movie, a couple Jeeps from this year’s Moab Easter Jeep Safari and a Dart and Challenger customized to match either other with a dark red and black theme. Of course, the Mopar display also featured the new 2013 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Concept that debuted at the Dream Cruise.
The huge gallery below offers a look at pretty much every vehicle from the 2013 Woodward Dream Cruise so if you couldn’t make it to the show – you are in luck as you can see the vehicles of the Chrysler Display…you just wont get to enjoy the festivities that went with the vehicles. Enjoy!
"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.
