The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Lansdale Auto Group to host All-Mopar Show Sunday
MONTGOMERYVILLE » Mopar mania will muster up plenty of heat in Montgomeryville this weekend for the third year in a row.
Every era of the Chrysler brand, from muscle cars and classics to high-performance newer models, will descend on Lansdale Auto Group at 710 Bethlehem Pike in Montgomeryville on Sunday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m,. for a charitable event that celebrates “All Things Mopar.”
“We are thrilled to host this event for the third year in a row and provide a one-of-a-kind Mopar experience to the people in and around Montgomeryville,” said Jay Haenn, president of Lansdale Auto Group, who operates the dealership with sons Mark and Geoff.
“Mopar enthusiasts are some of the best around and it will be a great day celebrating them. In addition, through the success of this event, we are honored to support a cause very near and dear to us, the Driving Away the Cold program.”
All proceeds from the show will be donated to Driving Away the Cold, the nonprofit program run by the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, which works with more than 180 local dealerships, including Lansdale Auto Group, to raise funds to provide brand-new winter coats to local children in need. The program began in 2008, with nearly 18,000 new coats distributed. Today,
the total number of coats distributed has topped 315,000, and continues to grow every year.
Roughly 150 vehicles are expected to be on display at the All Mopar Show, noted Michaela Brass, director of the show and a salesperson with the dealership, whose extensive expertise has earned her the title “Miss Mopar” and a following of more than 25,000 on social media.
“Mopar began as an umbrella term for the Chrysler muscle car lineup at one time but has since expanded to cover Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Plymouth, Desoto and AMC,” Brass said.
“We will have cars ranging from the ’50s to a brand new Dodge Demon that was purchased here a couple of months ago. We bring quite a few cars here that people wouldn’t normally see locally — cars coming from Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York. And I think the atmosphere around here is something to be proud of. We have a beautiful showroom where people can lounge if it gets too hot, and we have a shaded grotto area between our two buildings, which is where the DJ will be. People are welcome to bring their lawn chairs and relax.”
Additionally, an estimated 25 trophies will be awarded, including the top ten classic (pre-1993) and top ten modern (post-1993) vehicles.
Treating themselves to complimentary food from a Mopar-inspired menu created by Chef Paul of Bell’s Tavern in Lambertville will surely be near the top of everyone’s car show agenda, Brass pointed out.
“In years past we did burgers but this year we’re changing that to Philly roast pork with provolone and broccoli rabe and French fries, and at the end, ice cream. People can make donations and enjoy being with people that like the same things they like. There will be a lot of networking going on, good food and a lot of fun.”
In honor of the theme, the sandwich is called the Roadrunner Roast Pork, “after the Roadrunner car that Plymouth put out from 1968 to 1973,” said Brass, whose passion for Mopar and selling Chrysler vehicles dates back to her grandfather.
“He was actually hired by Jay Haenn’s father, Joe, who was the founder of the dealership. My whole family has worked here as well,” said Brass, who explained that she came by the name “Miss Mopar” accidentally.
“Some guy came up to me one day and said ‘I don’t believe you work on engines,’ and he popped the hood on his ’68 Roadrunner and said ‘if you can tell me what engine that is I’ll believe you.’ I said ‘Sir, that’s a Crate HEMI.’ He said ‘Wow, you really are a real life Miss Mopar,’ and the name sort of stuck. When I got my ’72 Roadrunner I made a Facebook page so that people could follow along with what I was doing, and it grew significantly from there.”
Family-owned and operated since 1967, Lansdale Auto Group offers new vehicles from Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat, along with used cars, trucks and SUVs by those and other leading manufacturers.
Vehicle registration is $15 and can be made at the dealership or at the gate the day of the show.