2022 Member Event Memories
Fom Tom Vollbrecht, Jr.: The 2022 SS/FR took place on the weekend of August 26th – 28th. During the weekend we had just over 1,100 MSRA members come through the gate and enjoy the weekend. I had the chance to speak with many members (including a new member from Kentucky) and they were all having a great time as usual.
Friday morning started earlier than normal with a quick driver’s meeting at the bandshell in the infield of the Road Course. Once the meeting was done, MSRA members were able to drive their cars around the 2.5-mile Competition Road Course. All that participated in the Road Course activities had a blast and were very thankful that MSRA added this activity to the weekend schedule. Hopefully we can do it again next year.
Both Saturday and Sunday started out cloudy and misting. Once the clouds and mist lifted the BIR crew went to work and got the track dried and ready to go. Overall, 180 cars (and many more drivers) were able to participate in the on-track activities on the famed BIR Drag Strip. This year there were several nostalgia cars and even a Jr. Dragster making runs.
This year the SS/FR was an MSRA Voting Event. The nominees from all of the 2022 Voting Events are listed on the Announcement webpage.
If you have never been to this event or it has been a few years since you attended, make sure and make plans to attend next year. Once the dates for 2023 get finalized they will be printed in the LineChaser.
I would like to thank all the volunteers that helped throughout the weekend to make this MSRA’s can’t miss event.
SLIDE SHOWS: It was a fun weekend and lots of photos were submitted. The photos have been placed in six categories: Weekend of Racing, GSTA-LA Racing, Friday Photos, Friends and Families, Camping, and Cars. A special thank you to those who shared their photos with us. Credit is given to the photographer on each photo. If you have photos to share from SSFR we would love to include them.
4/22/22 – The SPRING KICKOFF MEETING was held on Saturday, April 16th.
Our annual get-together where after a long, cold, and snowy winter we get to re-connect with friends, meet new members, and get caught up on this year’s “car show” season, member-only Events, and the Voting Events. In spite of the meeting being on the day before Easter, we had a nice turnout of members in attendance! Members enjoyed shopping at the Merchandise table, Jackets table, Scholarship table and buying Back to the 50’s shirts! Thank you to everyone who attended! Look for the minutes from the Membership meeting in the May LineChaser!
3/31/22 – 62nd Anniversary of the TOPPER’S show, Fargo, ND – March 26-27
From Mike Forsman, MSRA Outstate Rep:
MSRA was at the TOPPER’S show this past weekend. We had a display of five member’s vehicles, along with our information table. We answered lots of questions, passed out membership applications, and people are excited and looking forward to the MSRA 2022 Back to the 50s Weekend show.
Thank you to all of the Toppers for putting on a great show and for your hospitality. We had a wonderful time!
Thank you to those who brought their cars to be shown in the MSRA display and also helped in the MSRA booth:
Kirk and Nita Christopherson -’48 Ford F1 Pickup2021 Street Rod of the Year
Terry and Shirley Nystromn – ‘36 Ford Cabriolet
Mike Klampe – ’55 BelAir
Scott and Melinda Kerfeld – ’34 Ford
Mike Forsman – ’57 Chevy Station Wagon
CONGRATULATIONS to the Toppers Award Winners From the MSRA display: Scott and Melinda Kerfeld, Kirk and Nita Christopherson, Terry Nystrom who also received Outstanding Entry, and Mike Klampe who also received the Topper’s Choice Award,
Thank you to Mike Forsman and the MSRA volunteers who helped set up/tear down and worked at the booth.
3/21/22 – MSRA at MOTORHEAD MADNESS, Duluth, MN – March 19-20
From Mike Forsman, MSRA Outstate Rep: We had a great showing of some excellent MSRA vehicles at the 52nd Annual Motorhead Madness at the DECC in Duluth.
Members in our display received many of the show winning awards!
Kirk Christopherson – Best In Class and Best Truck – ’48 Ford F100
Gerald Gruwell – Magnificent 7 – ’57 Pontiac 2Dr Htp
Dale Sohlstrom – Best In Class – ’56 Pontiac Station Wagon
Dean Markuson – Best In Class – ’66 Bronco
Larry Olson – Outstanding in Class – ’39 Plymouth Coupe
Bill Lewis – Outstanding In Class – ’56 Chevy C-10
Dick Lombardi – Outstanding In Class – ’57 Lloyd Alex
Jim Overlie – Outstanding In Class – ’34 Dodge Pickup
Jim LaBorde – Outstanding In Class – ’32 Ford 3-Window
Mike Forsman – Outstanding In Class – ’57 Chevy Station Wagon
Thank you to Mike Forsman and the MSRA volunteers who helped set up/tear down and worked at the booth.
2022 ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET – By Stacy Lemke #22085:
On January 29th we once again gathered at Grand Casino Hinckley for the annual Winter Awards Banquet. Inside, everyone gathered in the lobby near the ball room for a social hour. Once inside the main room members were able to view the Car of the Year and Custom of the Year nominee artwork and plaques as well as continue socializing. As usual, the food and service from Grand Casino was great.
Dale Sohlstrom and John “Wings” Thorsen got the awards presentation going by thanking all of the hardworking volunteers that make MSRA what it is. There were a few people that retired this year and they were all acknowledged with an appreciation plaque.
Bill Kantos, the NSRA/MSRA Safety Team leader, talked a bit about the Safety Inspection program and asked all of the inspectors in attendance to stand. Byron Bode of the Twin Cities Roadsters, then announced the winner of 50th Annual Ron White Memorial Hacksaw Award. This year the winner was Kevin Lehan and his 1930 Model A Coupe.
Next up was MSRA’s president, Tom Vollbrecht, Jr. Tom gave a quick speech and thanked everyone for all of the support that he and the board have received from the members during the past year.
Wings then called up the 2021 Board of Directors and announced the newly elected 2022 Board of Directors. They are Travis Fowler (Vice President), Tom Vollbrecht, Sr. (Treasurer), Brent Alpert, Molly Boyum, Wally Burchill, Dick Kinnan, Dave Lemke and Mike Forsman (Out State Rep).
Wally Burchill and Wings then took the stage and announced the Custom of the Year and Street Rod of the Year nominees. Each nominee was presented with a plaque and artwork of their car. Congratulations to Tom and Renee Fritz for winning Custom of the Year with their 1950 Ford Woodie Wagon and to Kirk & Nita Christopherson for winning Street Rod of the Year with their 1948 Ford F1 Pickup.
Rich Novak had the overhead projectors going with photos all night, including the artwork of all the nominated cars.
Thanks to all of the members that attended and to all of the people that helped with this great event
Announcements
Click Here to go to the Back to the ’50s Weekend Website
