12,000 Miles

As of this morning, the M10 officially rolled up on 12,000 Miles!

It was nice timing as I just started using the UVS Covercraft 100 Sunshade yesterday, have some parts I plan to order, and maybe most importantly hope to get the oil changed this weekend.  Things have been quite busy as of late, so while it seems simple, it will be a big accomplishment.

If the M10 stays in the shop, I'll likely proceed with the next upgrade in the coming weekends!

10,000 Miles

Milestone September 3rd, 2014 10,000 Miles

5,000 Miles in the Mopar 10

Well, Monday August 6th, 2012 was just a regular day for most folks...It was a regular day for me, but with a twist.

The Mopar 10, fresh off the 2012 Midwest Meet Show, clicked over to 5,000 Miles!

I know some may balk at that as they keep their cars in a bubble waiting to cash in several decades down the line.

I got the car to enjoy it.  I can't justify getting the car and parking it.  Would that be nice?  Sure.  Would I have liked to keep it like a time capsule?  Would be neat...

The simple fact is, I don't know what a day will bring.  I could leave the world tomorrow, or in a few years when the M10 commands 1/2 the price it cost new.

The thing with myself, and hopefully most M10 Owners is we don't plan to sell the cars.  I didn't get the car thinking, "Well, in 2050 the car will be 40 Years Old and based on the AAR and T/A and Daytona/Superbird I should be able to sell it for "X" and profit "Y."

I don't even know if we'll have fuel for current cars by then, let alone any other variable that may arise.

If the car and I make it to 2050 and it is worth 5x sticker that will be great...but I will still plan on keeping it AND driving it.

Should that day come when all the "bubble" cars start getting auctioned off for huge profits, the people buying the "bubble M10s" will be doing so based on what the drivers did back in the day.  I hope they'll look back or recollect this blog, the Mopar 10 Registry, or seeing one at a show/race and be glad they got the opportunity to pick up the car that made such an impression on them.

I've always been mindful of the car's future legacy (First Ever Mopar branded car, Limited Edition, etc) and thus have kept what I do, even when some view it as extreme, able to be reversed.  If I want the car to go back to stock I have the factory's pathetic speakers.  If I want the OE Fog Light Bulb installed, I can pull the blue ones.  Cloud 10's Footwell Lights and Underbody Lighting?  Totally able to be removed with no traces left on the car.

That said, I did those things for a reason.  They enhance the car to me...they make it that much MORE enjoyable to drive.  To date, the stereo has still been the best thing I've done.  I get to use it every time I'm in the car and it rocks, literally.

I have more things I plan to do, many coming up very soon, but they will always be done to enhance what I enjoy about the car, make up for what I think the factory SHOULD HAVE DONE, and of course they will remain reversible should I ever opt to go back.

Either way you cut it, you can't go wrong.  I know 5k miles isn't much for a car that has been on the road for over 18 months, but I do drive it almost daily (main down time is due to installing parts etc).  I will probably continue to document things at various "milestones" (Did you pick up on that one?  I know, lame, but I couldn't resist!).

The big perk/rumor/urban legend of clipping 5k miles is that the factory computer cuts loose a bit and you notice a performance gain.  I can't say that I did, but I do think between now and when the car was at 500 miles it has picked up a bit.

I had hoped to prove the hypothesis via track times in Noble, but sadly the heat and humidity kept me running about what I did here in town when the car was still under 1k miles.

Nonetheless, here is to more great times and fun in the M10:

Mopar 10 at the Bug Ranch

I'm sure most of you have heard of the Cadillac Ranch.  Situated just west of Amarillo, Texas on I-40 the Cadillac Ranch is a landmark and well known tourist stop.  Locals also tend to take their fill in repainting the Cadillacs, but I digress.

What most people don't know, is that there is a Bug Ranch.  I'm not sure if that is what it is technically called, but it is what I call it.  Just outside Conway, Texas (east of Amarillo on I-40), your eye might spot a strange site...If you have traversed the area and your children or passenger mentioned Volkswagen Bettles being buried half-way in the ground they were NOT joking.

It isn't as easy to spot as the Cadillac Ranch.  The bugs are about half the size, but on a more likely note, they are just off an exit ramp that has an overpass over I-40.  This means most folks are looking at the overpass (likely trying to figure out what is North or South on those roads), but if you glance to the south side of I40 on the west side of the overpass you'll see the graffitti Beetles.

I kind of like it, and since I wasn't trying to make good time and get to OKC in time to make the scheduled activities I decided to pull off and take some pics.  You'll be glad to know you are likely to have this one to yourself.  The Cadillac Ranch can go from desolate to bustling in a few minutes...This one is a bit more laid back.

Check it out and add it to your bucket list...

This definitely qualifies as a unique photo-op and you can not get your car this close to the caddys west of Amarillo.  I saw it as a fitting end to a great weekend.

Mopar Nation Midwest Meet 2012

I haven't gotten to make many shows this year, but one I did get to make was the 2012 Midwest Meet.

One of the reasons the M10 appealed to me was being able to just hop in the car and drive...Shows that seemed like a rough trip in an old car (ie 4.10 gears, are there enough gas stations etc) turn into just a leisurely and enjoyable road trip.

Things lined up and a few of us from AAM headed over to OKC over the weekend of July 27th-29th, 2012.

The line-up was pretty simple:

Friday 7-27-2012: Dave & Busters, Thunder Valley Raceway
Saturday 7-28-2012: Andy Alligators, Night Show at Riverwind Casino

I headed out Friday morning eagerly looking forward to cutting some good times at Noble.  Thanks to the 75 mph speed limit I was able to cover ground pretty quick, and if not for some construction on the Oklahoma side of the state line it would have been record time.

This is what most of the drive looks like:

This does tend to get your attention.  It is in Groom, Texas and is the largest cross in the Western HEMIsphere (see what I did there?):

Farther to the east, things were strange...green in fact.  It was easy to tell where the rain had fallen and where it hadn't.  I didn't take this picture because of the terrain, but simply because of the color:

I was able to get in ahead of the official schedule, but to my surprise as I pulled in to Dave & Busters (roughly 1 hr ahead of schedule), folks had just gotten in, parked, and were headed in the door.  I'd never been to Dave & Busters and figured the food would suck...it was honestly pretty good and being that this went down Friday at lunch time, the crowd was a non-issue.  Several of the games were fun as well...still don't quite understand their points/scoring, but oh well.  Main thing is it was fun!

Here is a shot of what I found in the parking lot:

And a little more of Dave & Busters:

Next stop was the hotel where a few of us were bedding down for the night:

A little after check-in, it was time to hit the track:

Special thanks to the photographer who got these shots:

Ruby vs Destiny on the Track!

M10 Ready to Launch (check out the wicked glare...you try finding a green bulb looking into that!):

If you recall, I had mentioned my hopes of "getting some better times."  Ordinarily, Thunder Valley in Noble is a great place to go fast compared to the home track.  It mainly comes down to DA and prep.  The prep was fine, but the weather was not.  This entire weekend was like a sauna...but no one wanted to be in it.  The track opened and the air temp was hovering around 110 and couple that with a pretty high humidity and it made things miserable not only for racers, but the cars as well.  Nonetheless it was a good time and I'd love to go back in the fall some time to get some better times in the M10.

I think I only made 3-4 passes.  The first one was quite interesting due to the fact I was looking right into the sun.  I cut a red light against a Mopar 11 equipped with nitrous, but was ahead of him the whole way down the track.  It worked out quite well to redlight there as it kind of made up for their deeper rear end gearing.  It probably looked pretty cool from the stands if nothing else, lol.

And just in case anyone reads this and is inspired to hit the track...the road out is pretty littered...with law enforcement.  I don't think I've seen that many police cars waiting in the weeds in years.  Luckily not knowing your surroundings and being in the dark you tend to go slow.  I know a lot of people leave the track and get on it...I held off, and I'm glad I did!  I don't think the folks in Noble will have any trouble with returning racers speeding through town again.

I got back to the hotel...drove to a car wash and did my best to make it presentable:

Came back to the hotel and talked to a friend that redlit in the finals.  Woke up to find the sauna was already heating up at 7 AM and hit the town for some more fun.  Look what I found:

Before you knew it, it was time for the show...It was a solid turnout and there were actually a lot more late model Challengers than anyone expected.  This show is usually LX heavy, and I truly think the Challenger showing caught everyone off guard...Can't complain about that though!

As you might have guessed, I was the only M10 in attendance.  Some day the Trinity will align!

Anyway, I was in the Stock Challenger class (fewer than 3 mods), and found once again that there are still a lot of people that have no idea what a Mopar 10 is...and yes, this was an all Mopar show.  I really need to get a poster made to explain what the car is.

Regardless, one of the "mods" (although I consider it more of a custom styling accent than a mod) is of course the lighting.  First I swapped the interior lights....then the fog lights...and wrapping up right before I left the house for OKC was Phase 1 of  Cloud 10: Footwell Lights and Underbody Lighthing (Phase 2 Coming Soon!).  I was really inspired to get this taken care of because this show is a night show, and thus the perfect setting to display the custom work.

This might be my favorite shot...Really shows that the underbody light makes people step back and think about things...or get down on the ground and try to figure it out:

Well, as fate would have it the weather was so disagreeable the show wrapped up a little early.  Hard to get votes for something when no one knows you have it.  Luckily, a few folks on the judging staff saw it and must have appreciated it because the M10 was selected as the winner of "Best Lighting!"

In addition to the trophy, I got $100 to Fasty's Garage...although I still haven't received it or any info on it, but I at least have the trophy!  I consider it to be more a testament to a car than the driver in most cases, but I will gladly take a little credit for the lighting.  I know a lot of people don't like it, but hey...it is my car and I think it looks like it belongs there.  Plus, when was the last time you saw a Challenger that was blacked out with a blue glow at night?  The pics really don't do it justice, and I think it really suits the car.

After that the fun was over and the next day we all headed back.  I did stop for a few more photo-ops:

First up is a rest stop overlooking a canyon.

And of course, here is the largest cross in the Western HEMIsphere once again...

I did make one other stop, which I decided to chronicle in a separate post.

All-in-all it was a good time.  The M10 got some valuable highway miles, which is rare given the multi-hour run times.

Dave & Busters was great, the track was nice, had a lot of fun the rest of the trip, and the show was pretty good too.  The fact that the just completed Cloud 10 garnered "Best Lighting" just made things that much better!

2012 Mopar Nation Midwest Meet Videos

I just got the videos from this past weekend's Mopar Nation Midwest Meet edited and uploaded...

Figured they should be posted before I go into detail on the trip with the M10.

So here you go:

Mopar Nation Drag Racing at Thunder Valley

Mopar Nation Car Show Walk Around

Hope you enjoyed....Sadly my camera died at the track or I would have had much more video.  Did get the car show covered pretty well.

Sunshade Blues

As simple as it seems, to me Sunshades are a big deal.  With old cars, or used cars, you are likely inheriting someone else's cracked dash.  There was nothing you could have done to save the precious padded vinyl on your 70 Cuda 3 decades ago.  Same goes for your late model acquisitions.  

However, when you buy a new car (like the Mopar 10), you have the chance to be that person...You know, the one who actually took care of their car...The rare person who did everything in their power to keep the dash immaculate.

Can the Sunshade keep the Mopar 10's Dash from cracking like my 01 Ram's dash?  I don't know...

Will it help, you bet!

In addition to keeping the dash in the best shape we can, the sunshade will keep interior temps down considerably. This means the air conditioning doesn't have to work as hard, you aren't as likely to get burned touching the shifter or seatbelt, and your leather might thank you as well.  A sunshade may seem negligible for some, but here under the scorching Texas sun it is a nice investment.

That said, we can't just run down to Walmart and pick up the bargain bin special.  The Mopar 10 deserves better.

There are a few options for custom cut, but they lack the personality the car has.  After some research I went wit this Blue Go Gear Sunshade.  It isn't a perfect fit, but I have found that I can have about half an extra pleat in each corner of the windshield with a slight bow in the middle (you can see it in the pics).  This covers the entire dash and that was my main objective.

Plus, it looks awesome in the true blue.  Check it out for yourself:

Here is some pertinent info on the Sunshade.  For what it is worth, I sourced mine from AutoBarn on Amazon.com:

GoGear

SP130802J

Jumbo Sunblock: Folding Automotive Sunshade

Snugfit: No Sagging, No Bunching

Cooler Interior Surfaces: Reflects Heat 

Blocks Harmful UV Rays: Prevents Cracking & Fading

Performance Rating: 100 For Advanced Durability

Protect your vehicle from the dmage and heat of the hot summer sun.

Block 99.9% of harmful UV Rays to prevent dashboard from cracking or fading.

Keep car cooler and use less A/C even in the hottest weather.

Convenient folding design makes shade eas to remove and store.

Made from high quality reflective materials and insulation.

Unique SnugFit Design

Innovative neckline hugs the mirror to help prevent sagging, bunching, and gaps that can damage your sunshade and potentially your vehicle.

Better Performance.  Better Protection

More Rigidity Delivers a Better Fit for Superior Sun Protection

To install, open and push sunshade tight against the windshield, aligning the SnugFit Design cut-out with your rearview mirror.  Attach suction cups for a more secture fit.  Fold down visors to hold the shade in place.

Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation

428 Peyton/PO Box 1157

Emporia, KS 66801

(620) 342-7320

www.hopkinsmfg.com

www.GoGearMobile.com

Sunshade Performance Rating

50=2 Layer, Reflective Mylar, Standard Foam Insulator

100=3 Layer, 2 Reflective Mylar Layers, Extra Thick Air Insulator, Up to 10x More Rigidity than 2 Layer Shade

250=Premium 3 Layer, Ultra Reflective Barrier, Double Thick Foam Insulator, Donbded Mylar Backer, Up to 25x More Rigidty than 2 Layer Shade

Mopar 10 Custom Embroidered T-Shirt

This is something I've wanted to get posted for quite awhile.

Earlier this year, for a birthday gift, I was given this custom embroidered t-shirt.  It features all blue stitching that encompasses the Mopar logo, "''10," and of course, the car number.  The lady who made this for me can make one for you on a shirt, polo, varsity jacket etc.  If you are interested, just let me know.

Here are some pics:

I have to say, it is a very cool shirt.  Not only was it a well thought out gift, it gets a lot of compliments and is something every Mopar 10 Owner should be sporting.