Over the weekend of July 20th and 21st, the Chicago land Mopar Connection held the 33rd Annual Belvidere Mopar Happening at the Boone County Fairgrounds. Just down the road from the Stellantis Belvidere production plant.

Starting in 1991, the show used to take place at the actual plant. Member John Slack’s father worked as a higher up at the plant and was able to arrange for the show to occur after some of the club members put forth the idea that it would be a blast, and it was!

As things happen, the show outgrew the grounds they were allow to use at the Plant, fortunately just up the road is the spacious Boone County Fairgrounds. With this new venue, the club was able to expand the show to two days.

Saturday is primarily centered around a gathering of Dodge Chargers, of all years, shapes, and sizes. As well as a gathering of Modern Mopars of all models. There are a few large Modern Mopar clubs in the Chicagoland and Southern Wisconsin area, so this is always a very well received area. And the Charger gathering is always full of all sorts of cool.

One of the big changes this year was the opening of the two-day swap meet to all makes and models. While in the past it has been a Mopar centric swap, there was plenty of room this year with the annual Dog Show that the club usually shares the grounds with, now being a weekend before.

Sunday is where the big show happens, 325 cars came through the gate this year for the show. There was something for everyone, even crazy car haulers, not one, but two ridiculous haulers on site. On site there was two top quality restoration shops, Magnum Restoration out of LaSalle, IL, and Noel Automotive from West Branch Iowa. They both had cars they had worked on, on site for inspection.

Bob and Vicki Ashton from the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) were there as well, after a short delay after the bearing sheered the wheel off their trailer! Thankfully nobody was harmed, and after hours of work, they got to the show!

Every year the show works to bring in the younger crowd, and succeed often. I remember it used to be the young guys in their Neon’s (built just down the road) or the FWD Chargers (Also built at Belvidere). Now they have moved into the Modern Challengers and Chargers and a younger generation is coming up through Jeeps and other fun avenues at the show.

I have not missed a Belvidere in almost 20 years. It is one of the best shows for the year for me, I know I will be there next year. Will you?! You can find out more at their website HERE.

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