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The Houston Mopar Connection Club (HMCC) originated in the Summer, 1983. A relatively small group of individuals were interested in enjoying and preserving Chrysler Corporation vehicles, particularly Mopar muscle cars, and sought a forum to accomplish that task. The main reason for starting the club was to unite people with the same interest, Mopars, and to assist them to have fun together and to help out each other on Mopar projects. Credit Don Powers, Brian Grebinger, Chuck Julian, and a few others for the idea to start a Mopar club. These Houston-area folks formed a club designed to link Mopar-loving people in the greater Houston metropolitan area together. Within the first year the club grew to 89 members.
The HMCC has since grown to nearly 200 family members, with each family owning an average of more than three Chrysler related vehicles. The vehicles span the Chrysler production years, right up to the current Indy Edition of the Dodge Ram truck. Club members use their Mopars as daily drivers, race cars, show cars, or work trucks. Various club members particularly enjoy pre and post World War II vehicles, 1950s era fin-cars, 1960s -1970s muscle cars and 1980s and 1990s K cars, Jeeps, Eagles, Caravans, Vipers and Prowlers. You name it, if its a Mopar related vehicle, including vehicles from the AMC Corporation, it is of interest to some HMCC member.
In fact, ownership of a Mopar is not a prerequisite for HMCC membership. The club welcomes everyone interested in Chrysler-related vehicles.
The enthusiasm of club members has sparked the growth of the HMCC, as well as providing the foundation for the establishment of many good friendships. The love of Mopars is the glue that holds the club together. Of course, a zeal also exists among members to show and race their vehicles. Via that process, HMCC members hope to bring the general engineering excellence of Mopar to the attention of the general public.
The result of this zeal was the club sponsorship of a car show in the late 1980's at a local Chrysler Plymouth dealership with approximately 30 Mopars on display. The success of that event led club members to decide to continue the event the following year. The show soon turned into an annual event, and the event was moved to the Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas. Next, the event turned into a two day occasion. Now Mopars could participate in a car show as well as race down the quarter mile track. Parts vendors and spectators were also attracted to the show in increasing numbers.
In September, 1995 over 1,300 participants and spectators enjoyed the Houston Mopar Muscle Nationals. Significantly, HMCC activities have always focused on taking revenue generated through club activity and using that money to benefit the community. For example, in 1995, as a result of the two day show and race, the HMCC donated $2,200 to the Houston Food Bank (HFB). Because the HFB leverages donations it receives, the clubs donation allowed the HFB to provide over $55,000 in food to local needy people.
The HMCC has continued to donate revenue to the Houston Food Bank in the years since.
Revised & updated 4-7-98
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