There aren’t many better ways to welcome the car club season than to join 2,000-plus modern muscle car owners and fans in southern California for the Spring Festival of LXs, popularly known at Spring Fest.
This year’s event, the 14th annual sponsored by the SoCal LX club, is set for Saturday, March 23, at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. Fans of the Dodge Charger, Challenger and Magnum, and the Chrysler 300, come from around the country to show off their rides, renew friendships and check out the creativity of their fellow enthusiasts.
Spring Fest is a red-letter day for people at Dodge//SRT, Chrysler, Mopar and the FCA Product Design Office, who walk the rows of cars and spend the day meeting owners and fans. It’s a prime opportunity to collect autographs on engine covers, hoods and radiator supports (make sure to have a permanent marker or paint pen handy!)
Among the FCA people you might see at Spring Fest this year:
- Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America, and Head of Parts & Service (Mopar), FCA – North America
- Ralph Gilles, Head of Design, FCA
- Mark Trostle, Head of Performance, Passenger Car and Utility Vehicle Design for FCA – North America
Because Auto Club Raceway hosts the National Hot Rod Association’s season opening and closing races, as well as the NHRA Hall of Fame, it’s the perfect place to show off the newest member of Dodge’s factory-built drag-oriented car, the 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320.
The street-legal Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 is engineered with the grassroots racer in mind. It starts with the 392 HEMI® V-8 that delivers 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to the TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission.
Dodge//SRT engineers added standard features that include SRT-tuned Adaptive Damping Suspension with Drag Mode, Line Lock, TransBrake, Torque Reserve and extreme-duty 41-spline half shafts. Specially developed Nexen SUR4G Drag Spec 275/40R20 street-legal drag radial tires deliver maximum grip and offer repeatable quarter-mile times.
Spring Fest celebrates performance and luxury in cars such as the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300.
Undoubtedly the show field will include the latest examples of the other members of the Dodge go-fast muscle car family that includes the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye, Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody and 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.
Trostle and the FCA Design staff will have all the details on the FCA Drive for Design competition. Drive for Design is open to all U.S. high school students in grades 10-12 to draw the “ultimate status vehicle” using any of FCA’s brands. Three winners will be selected and the prize package includes a scholarship to attend the College for Creative Studies Precollege Summer Experience Transportation Design program.
There will be thrill rides and vehicle displays and entertainment and vendors. Also, Spring Fest veterans will tell you that Dodge//SRT, Chrysler and the FCA Design Office are always looking to fan the passions of their fans via the unannounced appearance of some “special” projects.
But the only way to find out is to go!
There is still time to make your plans. Know that plenty of Spring Fest participants make a three- or four-day weekend out of the event to enjoy southern California and have plenty of mingle time. Also, several LX clubs caravan to and from the event.
Interested? Get yourself and your car registered here – you must register to attend! You can also get updates at the Spring Fest Facebook page.
