When it comes to automotive enthusiasm, there’s nothing quite like the rabid passion and unbreakable camaraderie found in a true gearhead family. In the case of the Heart of Dixie Challengers and Chargers club, that family bond is fueled by a shared obsession with two of the most iconic modern Mopar® muscle machines ever conceived.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Mariah and Michael McCool, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind this thriving community of Challenger and Charger fanatics. As they recounted the origins of their Alabama-based club, one thing became crystal clear – Heart of Dixie was born from a simple but profound revelation.
“We branched off from another national Challenger group,” Mariah explained, “But they started letting people who didn’t even own Challengers become captains and lead cruises in non-Mopars. For us, that just wasn’t cool. If it’s not a Challenger or Charger, it doesn’t fit the brotherhood, you know?”
Rather than grumble endlessly, the McCools and around 30 like-minded enthusiast couples decided to take matters into their own hands and form a new club that would put Dodge’s legendary modern muscle front and center. In May 2021, the first official Heart of Dixie cruise roared to life.
From its fledgling beginnings just two years ago, the club has rapidly grown into a 200-member juggernaut, with a hyperactive core group of 50-75 die-hards constantly arranging innovative events and outings. Key to its philosophy is an unwavering focus on having flat-out fun while leaving the door wide open.
“We just want the group to be somewhere you can get away from all the drama and craziness in the world,” Michael said. “There’s no captains, no hierarchies, no egos. Everybody is equal, whether it’s a cruise, a car show or just hanging out. If you want to be involved, you’re in!”
This refreshingly inclusive ethos has forged a club culture more akin to a tight-knit family than a stuffy organization. Members make lifelong friendships that extend far beyond the cars themselves. Cruises and events aren’t just melted rubber and roaring exhausts – they’re a chance for quality social time spent with people bound by a common passion.
Speaking of cruises, the Heart of Dixie crew absolutely slays when it comes to plotting ambitious road rally adventures. Forget mind-numbing interstate slogs – their cruises are carefully curated tours through Alabama’s most scenic backroads and hidden geographic gems.
“We’ll plan routes that take people to incredibly cool spots they’d likely never see otherwise,” Mariah explained. “Whether it’s waterfalls, dams, old tunnels, you name it – our cruises are as much about the journey as the destination and those surprise photo ops.”
On top of the driving tours, the club mixes things up with track days, autocross, car shows and any other excuse to go fast, make glorious noises and further cement the Heart of Dixie family bond. Speaking of family, I couldn’t resist asking about future growth plans.
“We don’t really have a target for how big we want to get,” said Michael. “The quality of the group and that close-knit feeling matters most. If we can keep expanding a bit by adding ambassadors for different areas to help plan local stuff, that’s ideal. But we’ll never sacrifice what makes Heart of Dixie so special just for the sake of getting bigger.”
With Mariah and Michael firmly devoted to protecting their club’s organic, inclusive spirit, it’s clear the Heart of Dixie Challengers and Chargers crew will be making joyful exhaust music and memories for many years to come. For any Alabamians craving a true gearhead tribe, you’ve found your people.
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