August 24th-26th, 2023 | the Bend XPO center, East Moline, IL

Boss Nationals 2023

 

Organized by Rick Ybarra and Finley Ledbetter

Mark your calendar to attend the national gathering of Ford’s best high-performance true Boss Mustang and Cougar cars – stock, modified and Cougar cars – past and present. Taking place at Bend XPO, East Moline, IL from August 24th through August 26th, 2023.   Showcasing 1969, 1970, 1971, 2012 & 2013 Boss Mustangs and Cougars.

 NEW!! Also showcasing all 1961-1973 Ford and Mercury high performance cars in outside, non-judged outdoor display.  No online registration reguired.  Just showup anytime, register at the show office for 1, 2, or 3 days and pay $50.  Come and go as you please.

Addtionally we are spot lighting 427 SOHC Cammer powered Ford and Mercurys.

2023 Boss Nationals logo

Schedule Overview

Wednesday, August 23 MANDATORY Setup Day for Indoor Swap Meet Spaces and Indoor Cars

9am – 5:30pm: Setup swap meet spaces, and park arriving cars.  If you’re going to be late, please text us at 940-736-0941.

Indoor Swap Meet spaces: must be setup by 6pm Wednesday, August 23th.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

All judged (indoor and outdoor): must be inplace  inside their respective space no later than 9pm Wednesday, August 23th.  NO EXCEPTIONS. 

IMPORTANT: All indoor vehicles must have

  • 1) have the battery disconnected in show mode
  • 2) have a minimum of one fully functional fire extinguisher with the car
  • 3) have a maximum of 1/8th of a tank of fuel per City of Eeast Moline Fire Code
  • Registration Location: Coming soon
  • Show Parking: Coming soon
  • Swap Meet Parking Assignment: Coming soon

 

Thursday, August 24

8:00am: Opening Ceramony

8:30-ish – 12 noon: Everyone mingling and having a great time!!

12 noon – 4pm: Judging commences for those cars entered for judging.  Everyone mingling and having fun!

4pm – 8pm: More socializing, mingling and having fun!!

Friday, August 25

8am – 4pm: Judging continues.  Everyone mingling and still having a great time!!

4pm – 8pm: Still more socializing, mingling and having fun!!

Saturday August 26

8am – 12noon-ish: Judging ends.  Mingling and having fun!

12noon-ish – 5pm: Mingling and having  more fun!

5pm – 6pm: Awards presentation

6pm – 8pm: Show ends.  Mingling, saying good-buys, etc. 

Sunday, August 27 Everyone Heads Home

Location

The Bend Expo center

The Bend XPO center East Moline, IL
922 Mississippi Parkway | East Moline, IL 61244
Click for Map

Event

Free for all spectators. Activities include car show with featured cars and multiple judged car classes; swap meet; lots of food; and more!

 

 

 

Start Planning

Car Show

Multiple judged car classes for Trailered or Driven Concours Boss 302, 351 & 429 cars. Also multiple special recognition certificates for Survivor Unrestored Boss cars; Original Owner Boss cars; and Special Purose/Unique Boss cars. See JUDGING page for more details. 

NEW!! Outdoor display space for your 1961-1973 Ford or Mercury high performance car with  no online registration required.  Just showup anytime, register at the show office for 1, 2, or 3 days and pay $50.  Come and go as you please.

MorE TO DO

Time to meet friends, both old and new. Buy, sell or trade at the swap meet.   Alcoholic beverages and a concession stand are available in the XPO Center.  Many restaurants are nearby – see list of some of them below.

Swap Meet

Ready to buy, sell, and trade? Reserve your space at the swap meet.  Both indoor (limited quantity) and outdoor spaces are available.

Save the date

August 24-26, 2023

 

Lodging & Eats

The Hyatt Place East Moline/Quad Citeies is the “official” Boss Nationals event hotel. Located at 111 Bend Blvd, East Moline, it’s just 0.2mile from the XPO Center. 

Hyatt Place East Moline Quad Cities

Use this link for information & online registration or call them at 309-755-6000. If you call, be sure to reference our group block which is under “2023 Boss Nationals Anniversary Car Show” with a group ID of “G-BNCS”.

If rooms at the Hyatt Place are no longer available when you contact them, use the link below to a Google Map which you can use to search around the Bend XPO center for other hotels, restaurants, etc.  

Link to Google Map

A little further down this page, we’ve also compiled a list of many, but not all, nearby hotels, restaurants, and RV hookups.

IMPORTANT!! Be sure to mention Boss Nationals car show block when booking your hotel. 

Miles shown with the hotels listed below is the approximate distance from the Bend Expo center.  Reminder: Be sure to mention Boss Nationals car show block when booking. 

Hyatt Place - THE event hotel

0.2 miles.  Info/Online Reservation 309-755-6000 Group ID G-BNCS

Stoney Creek Hotel

3.4 miles. 309-743-0101

The Axis Moline Hotel

3.5 miles. 309-640-0060

Wyndham Moline on John Deere Commons

4.0 mile. 309-764-1000

Isle Casino Hotel

4.5 miles. 563-441-7115

Comfort Inn & Suites East Moline

5 miles. 309-792-4600

Comfort Inn Moline

6.5 miles. 309-762-7000

Hotel Backhawk

7.4 miles. 563-322-5000

Hampton Inn & Suites - Davenport

8 miles. 563-441-0001

Quality Inn & Suites - Davenport

12 miles. 563-386-8336

RV Hookups

Fisherman’s Corner.   6 miles northeast.  877-444-6777

RV Hookups

Lundeen’s Landing.   8 miles east. 309-885-4555

Camping

Illiniwek Forest Preserve Campground   0.5 miles northeast. 309-496-2620

DON’T MISS THE NATIONAL GATHERING OF FORD’S BEST HIGH-PERFORMANCE TRUE BOSS MUSTANG AND COUGAR CARS – STOCK, MODIFIED, RESTORED – PAST AND PRESENT.  BE SURE TO VIEW THE VIDEO BELOW

Get In Touch

(940) 736-0941

Address

2023 Boss Nationals
C/O Finley Ledbetter
P.O. Box 321
Graford, TX 76449

Have a question or need more information?