The 1995 Neon ACR Coupe became a celebrated model in the high-octane Celebrity Neon Challenge race series of the mid to late 1990s. This unique racing event saw celebrities and VIPs battling it out on the track in specially prepared Dodge Neons. While the series spanned several years and models, the 1995 Neon Coupe holds a special place in its history, succeeding the initial 1994 Neon sedans and evolving through various iterations.
The 1994 Neon Challenge: Birth of a Racing Series with Sedans
The Neon Challenge first roared to life in 1994, featuring a fleet of nearly twenty 1994 Dodge Neon sedans. These weren’t your average family cars; they were the ACR (American Club Racing) trim, known for enhanced performance. For the inaugural 1994 season, all cars were painted white and meticulously prepared for racing. Key modifications included a Kirk rollcage for driver safety, an electrical kill switch, an onboard fire suppression system, Simpson 5-point harnesses, and a window net. Notably, the rollcage design was an early version, with the front downtubes stopping at the dashboard, a detail that evolved in later iterations. The Detroit Grand Prix hosted the very first Neon Challenge race in 1994, capturing the excitement of this novel racing concept.
The 1995 Neon ACR Coupe Takes Center Stage
For the 1995 Neon Celebrity Challenge season, a shift occurred. The sedans were replaced by brand new, black 1995 Neon ACR Coupes. These coupes became the new steeds for the celebrity racers. The preparation level remained consistent with the previous year’s sedans, ensuring driver safety and competitive racing. The 1995 Neon Coupes sported distinctive “neon” side graphics, along with the signature Kirk rollcage, kill switch, fire suppression system, racing harnesses, and window nets. The 1995 Detroit Grand Prix weekend witnessed the debut of these sleek, black coupes, further solidifying the Neon Challenge’s presence in the racing world.
Once the 1995 Neon Coupes were ready for racing, the original 1994 ACR sedans from the inaugural season were made available for sale, marking a transition in the series and offering race-prepped Neons to the public.
1996-97 Seasons: A Bold New Look for the ’95 Coupes
The 1995 Neon ACR Coupes continued to serve as the race vehicles for the 1996 and 1997 seasons, but with a vibrant cosmetic update. The cars received striking new paint schemes, featuring a yellow top and a distinctive “moustache-like” stripe in either blue or red along the side. These refreshed coupes were seen in action at various events, including an autocross event in Belvidere, adding a splash of color to the Neon Challenge.
The star power of the Neon Challenge was further amplified by participants like Bob Lutz, then COO of Chrysler, who himself raced in the Detroit round of the Challenge in 1996, highlighting the series’ appeal within the automotive industry.
1998: Rebranded as R/Ts for the Neon Charity Challenge
In 1998, the series underwent a name change to the Neon Charity Challenge. The reliable 1995 Neon Coupes were once again utilized, this time given a visual transformation to resemble the sporty Neon R/T models. They were repainted in R/T colors – red, white, blue, and black – and fitted with R/T wheels and spoilers. This R/T makeover added a fresh aesthetic while maintaining the core racing spirit of the challenge. The Minneapolis round of the Neon Challenge in 1998 offered a glimpse of the scale of the event, with numerous R/T-styled Neons ready to race. A notable detail that persisted was the rollcage design, which still did not extend through the dashboard, consistent with the earlier cage designs.
1999-2000: 2nd Generation Neons Take Over the Challenge
The dawn of the new millennium brought the 2nd generation Dodge Neon into the racing series. For the 1999 and 2000 Charity Challenge seasons, the organizers transitioned to the newer 2000 model year Neons. These were based on the Neon SE trim, equipped with a SOHC engine and 5-speed manual transmission. To keep them track-ready and lightweight, features like air conditioning and radio were omitted, as the ACR trim was not available for the 2000 model year. These 2nd gen Neons were equipped with bolt-in Kirk rollcages, fire suppression systems, electrical cut-off switches, 5-point harnesses, and window nets, ensuring driver safety. For the 2000 season, further upgrades were implemented, including 2001 ACR Dynamic struts and front bumper fascias, along with 2001 R/T spoilers, blending components from different model years for enhanced performance and appearance.
Interestingly, a 1999 Detroit auto show display car, featured in Mopar Performance News, was actually a meticulously prepared and repainted 2001 ACR development car. This show car boasted a custom SkyTek weld-in cage designed by PVO, showcasing a different cage design compared to the race cars.
The 1999 Road America round of the Neon Challenge demonstrated the 2nd gen Neons in their racing environment, continuing the series’ tradition of competitive celebrity racing.
Life After the Challenge and MTV’s “Fast Enuff”
After the 1998 season, the 1995-98 Challenge ACR coupes were retired from the Celebrity Neon Challenge. It’s believed that many of these cars found a second life at driving schools. During this period, some cars underwent rollcage upgrades to the “through the dash” design, a modification not originally present in the Challenge cars. Intriguingly, at least one car was repainted in Petty blue and adorned with Petty Driving Experience graphics, possibly a replacement for a car damaged in a previous race. Despite the paint and graphics, this Petty blue car retained the original rollcage design.
The 1999-2000 2nd generation Neon Challenge cars also saw further use after the official series concluded in 2000. In 2002, they were revived for the MTV “Fast Enuff Challenge,” a driving competition where the grand prize was an SRT-4. For this event, the cars were visually updated with 2003 model year bumpers and lights, and some were repainted red, giving them a more modern appearance. Subsequently, these cars were sold off in late 2002 or early 2003, reportedly for very affordable prices.
The legacy of the Neon Challenge and its specially prepared cars, especially the 1995 Neon ACR Coupe, remains a fascinating chapter in automotive racing history. The opportunity to own a piece of this history at such accessible prices after their racing days concluded is certainly something many enthusiasts, including myself, wish they had known about at the time.
