From The New Hamburg Independent

Monday, August, 22, 2011 - 6:06:37 PM

Scott Cressman, Independent staff

 Record crowds visit New Hamburg for Moparfest

Thousands of new and old Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, and Jeep vehicles met in New Hamburg last weekend for the busiest Mopar festival in Canada.
The 32nd edition of the show set a new attendance record. Over 1,700 different showcars and 23,000 paying visitors poured in to fill the New Hamburg fairgrounds. Last year’s show attracted roughly 20,000 visitors.
“We were thrilled. It was a great year this year,” said organizer Michelle Schertzer. “We couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
“You always aim to break your records and make new ones. It was a really great turnout,” she said.
Over 100 more cars showed up than last year. In fact, so many vehicles came that nearly all available space at the fairgrounds was used up, said organizer Patt Schertzer. If more had come, there might not have been room.
Abe and Gloria Biickert from Ottawa won the 1972 Plymouth Satellite prize car, while Doug Clarke of New Hamburg won the Mopar 10 Challenger car.
Kevin Addison of North Bay won $5,000 of Mopar money.
The longest distance traveled for Moparfest was Chris West, who drove 4,098 km and nearly 48 hours from Victoria, B.C. to bring his 1969 Plymouth Barracuda.
“Brings back a lot of memories walking down here.  I had a lot of these cars when I was a kid,” said Dave Roth, who was visiting Moparfest from Kitchener for the first time.
“It’s like walking back in time.”
Moparfest is a chance for car enthusiasts to see old cars lovingly restored, buy specific car parts they can’t find anywhere else, and connect with other car lovers.
Mike Mather owns two Dodge Chargers, the 1968 and 1972 editions. He has been a fan of the Mopar designs since buying a 1969 Charger as a young man.
Mather had scoured the vendors area to find a used solid-state radio for his ’68 car, an authentic part that he said is very hard to find.
“I’d say it’s the finest display of Mopars in one place in Canada,” said George Monahan. Monahan, from Bright, owns a Mopar funny car and comes for the car displays, to buy parts, and to be inspired.
“There’s all kinds of cars here that are unique and interesting,” he said. “You get ideas for your own vehicles.”
The New Hamburg Lions and Optimists Clubs, and Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Legion, Firebirds hockey team and K-W Optimists all contribute to running the event each year. The money from each $10 admission is split between them and other charities.
Many of those groups, including the Girl Guides, Sunshine foundation, and Wilmot Family Resource Centre, set up booths at Moparfest to raise extra money. A fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada raised $1,200 to fight the disease.
Over the years, Moparfest has donated $2.5 million back to Waterloo Region charities.

Friday, August, 26, 2011 - 1:01:33 PM

Doug Coxson, Independent staff

 Moparfest proves lucky for New Hamburg man

New Hamburg’s Doug Clarke is the new owner of a Limited Edition Dodge Challenger with a dealer price tag of $45,000.

Clarke picked up his new vehicle Friday after winning the New Hamburg Optimist Club’s Opti-car draw during Moparfest on Sunday.

It was a lucky day for Clarke for more reasons than one.

His fishing trailer in Goderich wasn’t damaged at all by an F-3 tornado that devastated that community on Aug. 21. Trailers just 500 yards from his were completely destroyed.

Clarke got his winning ticket as a Father’s Day gift from his wife Ann, who gave the other half of the book of tickets she bought to their sons.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Doug said of the win. “When we got the call my first response was ‘what car?’” But Ann knew right away, reminding Doug about the Optimist ticket and the prize. The thrilled winner plans to take his new car, only 500 of which were made, on a trip to see his trailer in Goderich this weekend.

The Optimists sold 30,160 tickets for this year’s car, the highest amount ever sold by the club.

The money will help the Optimists with their commitment to support youth in the community, including programs at Interfaith Community Counselling Centre and the Youth Drop In planned for Phase 2 of the Wilmot Recreation Complex, said Optimist car co-chair Doug Miller.

T's Auto Detailing will be open on the Moparfest weekend so that you have a place to wash your show car. Book early to get at the front of the line!

Gregg & Becky from Indiana are bringing their Coronet to Moparfest for the first time this year.

We have a winner!!
remember this contest on FaceBook?
Moparfest - Canada's Largest All MOPAR Car Show!
For our contest, you can wear anything, or even be holding it! If you have one of the Moparfest pins, or shirts, license plate frames! Post your pictures so we can give away a 2011 shirt!

The winner from the "show us your Moparfest wearables" contest on Facebook

Here is our winning photo. It's a picture of The sender's grandson getting everything ready so his Papa's 49 can be ready for another year at Moparfest.

MoparMax.com we will be running a press release regarding Moparfest in the Mopar memos section on Wednesday.  The memos section is a news section that is updated weekly. CHECK IT OUT!
MoparMax.com is the largest independent online magazine, and the only mopar magazine on the internet that reads like a print magazine.  This is why we now have a monthly readership approaching 50,000 readers.  

Thanks to

They provide us the Gators we use to keep the grounds clean.

Look for the Moparfest advertisement in the next Canadian Hot Rods Magazine.
If you on the big "M" on the flyer they you'll be in the ad.

David Hawkin's 1965 Plymouth Belvedere A990 HEMI Superstock
This 1965 Plymouth Belvedere A990 Hemi Super Stock Clone is one of only 65 made with 426 Hemi, approx. 550 H.P.Car has reverse valve body transmission. Light weight for racing, no heater, radio, side mirrors or rear seat. 6"steel rims on front 8" steel on rear.  This was straight from factory.

This award winning car was chosen to be one of the finalist for the "Car Crazy" Canada's Best cars. There are only 45 cars chosen so this is an honor. David and his car would like to win as the winner and their car will get to go to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas USA.

Bragging Rights!! Thanks to all of you, we were voted #8 favourite festival in all of Canada!

Thanks everyone who voted

Bragging Rights!!

This year at Performance Wold in Toronto we gave the Best Mopar award to David Hawkins for his 1965 Belvedere A990 HEMI S/S. If you missed his car you can see it in the arena at Moparfest.

Here is an update of the drawing that Robert Kotan is doing of the "door prize". It's coming all done now...

Moparfest is happy to announce thatA&W will be joining with Moparfest for 2011. We haven’t worked out all the details yet, but you can be sure  that we will post the “Cruisin the Dub” cruise nights when we get our calendar online.

The Jewel 92 FM Community Cruiser will be at Moparfest August 20, 2011 from 10 am to 1 pm. Drop by & visit

Morningstar will be hosting an aray of kids activities at the show. A great addition to this family event!

Syd Vanderpol came to Moparfest

For our 30th Anniversary year! 1966 Chrysler New Yorker 340ci

For the 30th anniversary EVERY PERSON* that comes to Moparfest can have a chance to win this car. Yes, all spectators, participants, vendors, volunteers... 
We will be handing out free tickets in front of the grandstands on both Saturday & Sunday. You just need to come & get one.

Does anyone know who this is signing my Moparfest Plaque?
It's Kasey Kahne. NASCAR's #9 when he was driving for
Richard Petty Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

The newest Client Transport Inc trailer has been decorated with this year's giveaway car. 
It's actually a very large decal on the roll up door, but it makes you look twice. Especially if your behind it at night.