Each year, on the third weekend of June, St. Thomas Dragway hosts its annual Mopar Day—this year held on June 20th. The event is organized by WOMO, the Western Ontario Mopar Owners Car Club, which was founded in 1983 and proudly upholds the motto “Preservation through friendship.”
Mother Nature may have tried to rain on the parade, but Mother Mopar wasn’t backing down. Engines roared, tires bit into the track, and the faithful kept racing through the day—only pausing briefly as a passing shower swept across St. Thomas Dragway before the action fired right back up. When the clouds cleared, the pits buzzed with laughter and the smell of high-octane fuel, as friends and fellow enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the cars that they love and the community that keeps them running strong.
WOMO marked a milestone this year with a special HEMI display, celebrating 60 years of legendary HEMI power. The lineup featured nine stunning examples of Mopar muscle, including a Plymouth ’Cuda, Dodge Chargers, Coronets, and a striking Super Bee, each one a tribute to Chrysler’s engineering heritage.
It was an impressive sight, a living timeline of horsepower and history that drew admirers all day long. As spectators wandered past the gleaming lineup, conversations sparked about favorite models and memories, the kind of shared enthusiasm that defines Mopar Day and keeps the community’s spirit alive year after year.
The show car field was packed with an impressive variety of Mopars. Among the standouts was Michelle Buchner’s 2001 Mexican-built Dodge Ramcharger, imported into Canada—a rare sight for enthusiasts. Although Ramchargers were once sold domestically, sales ended here 1993, while manufacturing continued in Mexico, keeping the model alive for that market.
Bill and Dee Knox proudly displayed their Chrysler 300 Silver Edition—a limited-production model that drew plenty of attention. Al Trudgen’s 1969 Dodge Charger, complete with a massive hood scoop, made a bold statement on the field. Nearby, Pete Hendel showcased his Plymouth Savoy, one of several impressive cars from his personal collection.
Bernie David made the trip from Toronto with his striking 1970 Dodge Challenger convertible, accompanied by an eye-catching orange A-100 pickup featuring a billboard stripe and a 340 engine under the hood.
WOMO presented ten trophies in total—a remarkable achievement given that more than 150 cars were in attendance. Several awards went to vehicles previously featured in Mopar Connection Magazine. Among the winners were Terry Rockford with his 1972 Plymouth ’Cuda and Jim Mizener with his Plymouth Fury. The coveted Best of Show honor was awarded to Paul Laidlaw for his outstanding 1970 Hemi ’Cuda—a car so exceptional that it was featured just last week here.
The show also included a lively swap meet—a favorite stop for many attendees. Rows of vendors offered everything from rare Mopar parts and vintage emblems to performance upgrades and restoration supplies. It was the kind of place where enthusiasts could track down that elusive trim piece to complete a project or simply stock up for the next garage session.
The track once again proved to be the highlight of the day, featuring racing in five classes. In ET1, David Keller took top honors with his AMC AMX, running the 1/4 mile in 10.6422 seconds at 124.35 mph. ET2 went to Jack Fernandez, whose 1969 Dodge Dart covered the 1/8 mile in 6.3529 seconds at 108.68 mph.
The ET3 Street class was claimed by Brandon Whitfield with a ¼ mile time of 13.9981 seconds at 90.14 mph. In the Gen III Hemi class, Scott Haverkamp powered his Ram pickup to a 14.8559-seconds run at ¼ mile at 90.93 mph. The most popular category, the Nostalgia Hemi class, saw Lloyd Booker and his Plymouth Belvedere take home the trophy with a 6.34-second pass at 107.41 mph.
If you couldn’t make it out this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s event. It’s the perfect opportunity to stroll through rows of stunning show cars, browse Vendor Alley for parts and memorabilia, and take in some fast-paced racing action at St. Thomas Dragway. Each year brings new faces, fresh builds, and plenty of horsepower to enjoy. Until then, keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down!
