Each year, the Dakota R/T Club holds a national convention for its 900-plus members, moving the event around the country each year to give members a chance to attend one in their area. This year, Houston got the nod with the show being stretched out over three days with Friday reserved as a Show 'n' Shine day, Saturday for the drag strip, and Sunday set up as an autocross day.
Beginning early on Friday, the show is an all-day event that ends with an afternoon barbecue. Saturday also began early with nearly everyone heading to Houston Raceway Park for a day of drag racing. In previous years, the club rented the drag strip outright and used it exclusively, but this year, they teamed with the Mopar Performance Club as all the R/T club members thought it would be fun to watch hot cars from the past making runs too. Sunday morning's autocross was also held at Houston Raceway Park with the cone racing continuing until early afternoon when awards were handed out for Best of Show, Low Drag Strip E.T., and Top Auto Crosser. The Best of Show award went to Jason Francis and his '99 regular cab Dakota. Tony Cellana earned the low e.t. award with a run of 11.68 seconds, and Jason Watt took home top honors with his 51.16-second trip around the autocross cones. Lloyd Relph took the Long Distance award for his trip from Washington state.
One event that created lots of interest was the raffle. Some of the goodies included a set of Intro Custom Billet Wheels, a set of Bogart Wheels, a Hotchkis suspension, offerings from Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation, and a set of Cal Trac race bars. Next year's event will be held in early to mid summer in the Northwest. For more information concerning the event or the National Dakota R/T Club, go to www.dakotart.com.