The 1st generation Dodge Neon was incredibly popular for not just its low price and great (for the time) fuel economy but also because it was a sporty, fun to drive car. Even though they didn’t pack the big power of the SRT4 versions offered during the 2nd generation, the early Neons helped to pave the way for the American sport compact segment that has sadly fallen off with the resurgence of American muscle. However, there are still plenty of people out there racing their 1st generation Neons.
Im guessing from the video that this guy is not one of them as the Neon in the video appears to be pretty beaten down by life but that doesn’t prevent this compact Dodge sedan from doing an incredible burnout. From the sound of things, this is a manual transmission model and according to the comments, this is a single cam 2.0L engine. There might be modifications but considering the condition of the vehicle – I would guess that this is just a stock beat up Neon on some old rubber.
The best part of this video (aside from the massive amounts of thick smoke) is the fact that as the engine RPMs climb and the car begins to run out of power, he shifts to get the revs back up to where they need to be to keep the tires spinning hard. The result is one of the best 1st gen Neon burnouts Ive seen. He is only spinning one wheel but in the long run – it doesn’t matter so long as you smoke the one tire good and hard and that is exactly what he does.
"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.
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