Back to the '50s Car Show
Mark SimpsonDescription
For nearly as long as there have been cars, there have been car shows. Many of the earliest car shows were held so manufacturers could debut their latest models to the public.
But as the love affair between the public and their automobiles grew, so did the desire for owners to personalize their cars to make them unlike anything else on the road, and naturally, they wanted a place to show off these beauties. It didn’t take long for car owners to gather to appreciate each other’s efforts, and so the local car show was born.
The car show takes many forms, from a gathering of like-minded enthusiasts in a parking lot, to a cruise night on a favorite stretch of road or a more organized and judged event. With little effort, most enthusiasts can find a car show in their area almost every weekend during the summer months.
Regardless of where you live, every region has that one must-attend event. For those of us in the upper Midwest, that event is the “Back to the ’50s” car show sponsored by Minnesota Street Rod Association and held in St. Paul, MN. This 3-day event draws in this region’s finest 1964-and-older cars and trucks.
Street Rods, Gassers, Hot Rods, Customs, Rat Rods, and restored classics come together for this event in their shared passion for the automobile. And not just a few either, this event regularly draws 12,000 cars and nearly 120,000 spectators, making this the country’s largest 1964-and-older event.
There are no awards, judges, or trophies, just a gathering of people drawn together from all corners of the United States, Canada, and points beyond, to share in their admiration of the early automobile. The tree-lined streets and buildings of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds give the Back to the ’50s car show a small-town feel, and with just one visit it’s certain to make your list of must-attend car shows.
The MSRA Back to the 50s car show is the country's largest pre-1964 car show in the entire country. You know, if you're into car shows, this is the one you really gotta attend. This is a great venue. This is the 47th annual one that we've had here at the fair grounds, and we average usually around 12,000 cars. Our attendance, depending on the weather, can be anywhere 75 to 100,000 people over the three-day weekend. And it's an event for families and friends. And shopping and fellowship. And more shopping and cars. And food and more cars. And it's kind of like, I guess the way to put is, this is a state fair for cars. It really is, it's incredible. It's really a great event. You know, I know my kids have enjoyed it. My son prides himself on attending every year since he was in the womb. And, you know, and still makes his way here today. In fact, I know he was in school up in WyoTech and he made a special trip from Wyoming just so he wouldn't break his streak of attending the event. If you're just into really looking at really nice cars, you can't possibly see them all in a weekend. You know, it's just the fact that they move around and, you know, it's so much area to cover. But the nice thing about this venue I really like, it's like you're walking in a, you're like, walking in a small town, you know? It's like, all tree-lined streets, there's plenty of shade, there's, you know, having been to other events across the country where you end up in a parking lot full of car, this event really has that sort of small town feel, yet there's 12,000 cars here. It does, and when you're mentioning, like you said, you come to this event 'cause there's 12,000 cars, this beautiful street rod is parked here today. Well, that doesn't mean it's gonna be parked here if he's here tomorrow, because they, if a space is open, they park there. Okay, turn your headlights on. The majority of these cars are safety inspected, which means they have a free inspection just to check with that extra set of eyes, 'cause most of these cars are built, many of them in somebody's garage. They are shows or cars that have been built to that particular owner's taste. So there's just a lot that's happening. The safety inspection is really a big one. So Linda, there's 12,000 cars here, and what I've noticed is, you know, the passion seems universal. Whether you're driving a Patina Rat Rod or you're driving a show-stopping, full-modded street rod, the passion remains the same. When this show went forward, the excitement and enthusiasm for having the show to bring their cars was unbelievable. And this morning when those gates opened, I decided to do a Facebook Live, and I'm doing this Live, and the cars are coming through, and I literally started crying and chills, because I saw the smiles on their face. They're proud of those cars. It can be a survivor. It can be a $300,000 car. Every car is what that person loves and what that person has designed, and they wanted to bring it here, and they want to celebrate it and have their families and just be part of this whole thing. So everyone has a personal passion. But we all understand it, so it's like a community. Well thank you, Linda. I appreciate you taking time with us today. And it's a great event and we anticipate on being back for many more years here. Oh, good. Thank you, thank you. Hope to see you next year.
How about some more details on this car meet. Like when and where, cost of attending, etc. Looks like a fantastic meet.