The fast and the curious

Published 6:58 am Thursday, August 27, 2009

In 1995 Dodge released a new car to the public with the intent of providing an affordable, reliable family car.

Called the Neon, the car on first glance resembles a VW Bug in shape, departing the sharp and square corner of vehicles up until then and adopting a rounded look that resembled a bubble with wheels.

Yet more than 10 years later, it’s drawn a following that equals the mania like those held for the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and various models from the 1950s.

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Even still it may be hard to understand why a car destined to be simple would warrant a meeting of enthusiasts like the one that came together in the Cash Wise parking lot recently.

Neons and their owners came from Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa to admire each other’s Neons: bodies, engines, specs — the whole nine yards.

When Austin meet organizer Colby Hansen explains it, it’s almost spiritual.

“There’s something about them,” he said on the day of the meet. “It’s just our choice of vehicle.”

There are three meets during the year, all taking place in the spring, summer and fall months, and this was the second. Compared to car shows in general, there isn’t much that happens at these meets.

They are simple affairs that involve meeting in a pre-ordained spot, talking about their vehicles, showing off their vehicles, going out to eat and then going on a drive.

Or maybe it’s not even that complicated. “We sit around and BS, go out to eat,” Hansen explained.

Either way, the love for a vehicle that upon inception was pretty unassuming, is easily evident.

For example, Tony Sobota, who drove 140 miles from Wilson, Wis. for the meet. The man is an evolving database of Neon facts that he can access at a moment’s notice.

Without much in the way of prodding, Sobota plops down Dodge’s initial advertising booklet from 1995 on the hood of the rarest of Neons of which Sobota owns two: the ACR Nitro Yellow-green, the color being exactly how it sounds.

Then he precedes to fire off the history without so much as a thought.

“1995 was the only year they came out with the Nitro Yellow-green,” he said. “Dealerships wanted to go back to the 70s and the muscle car look.”

These days, finding a car that was one of only 1,500 ever made is akin to finding buried treasure. “They’re super rare,” Hansen said.

Sobota doesn’t hesitate when explaining his own love for the car, which without much surprise mirrors other enthusiasts ideas.

“It’s the most affordable car for its horsepower,” Sobota explains, almost like a teacher in front of a class. “1998 and after the market really picked up and then exploded.”

Not only are the cars themselves affordable, but the all aspects of the vehicle are easily customizable. In the grand scheme of things, the Neon is very affordable in adding one’s personal touch.

It’s also made easier keeping them in working order. “The parts are interchangeable,” Sobota said, explaining that a part from a 90s model of Neon can be used in a later-year version of the car.

So, the love for the Neon has been as established as one can with words. It’s back to the meet and what it is, besides the car that brings people with a common interest together.

“It seems like a family,” Maselan Sauers said. Sauers has had a deep association with the car, having owned 24 Neons in his lifetime — buying them, repairing and customizing, and reselling them.

“Other groups, other meets, it just gets cliquey,” he said.

Sobota agrees and even takes it to the drives themselves.

“A lot of it has to do with the people,” he said. “You get on the street with a couple of cars that are the same and there’s nothing like it.”