In the high performance Mopar universe the Dodge Caravan is probably one of the least respected vehicles but with the help of a Neon SRT4 engine and a massive turbocharger – this particular Caravan puts on one of the greatest smoke shows that I have ever seen from something that wasn’t an NHRA drag car.
The information on this video is slim but it provides all of the essentials – a 1996 Dodge Caravan powered by the Neon SRT4 2.4L 4-cylinder engine fitted with a Turbonetics 72mm turbocharger offering up 35psi of boost and an automatic transmission. The video begins by the turbocharged minivan backing out onto the road and around 21 seconds into the video, we hear the Caravan’s engine begin to work. While some might think that the vehicle is failing to spin the tires, the driver is actually easing into the powerband and allowing the massive turbo a chance to spool up.
It takes some 13 seconds to spool up the turbo but when the driver lets it rip – rip it does. There is doing a burnout and then there is totally obliterating the tires and this Dodge Caravan is definitely doing the latter. For a minivan to sit and smoke the tires this much would be an impressive feat but for this Caravan to roll forward and pick up speed as it destroys the front tires – it is nothing less than awe inspiring.
While a high performance Dodge Caravan might not be everyone’s ideal performance vehicle…there is no question that this is one of the best burnout videos ever both because of the intensity of the burnout and the fact that this is still a 199 Caravan. Talk about a sleeper!
"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.
