Yoopers for a few days!

Saturday, June 28 was the 39th St. Ignace car show just on the north side of the Mackinaw Bridge that joins the two peninsulas of Michigan.  St. Ignace is a quaint little town that turns into a car cruising paradise the last weekend of June every year.  Several members of the ClassiX Street Rod Association decided to make a mini vacation of this years show by heading north from Grand Rapids, Lowell, Belding, Jenison, Kentwood and East Grand Rapids on the Wednesday prior to the car show.  We arrived in St. Ignace about 1pm to cool temps and threatening skies.  Just after returning to the Northernaire Motel after lunch at Northern Lights restaurant, the rains came.  We decided to relax and sit out the showers and ended up taking the courtesy van to the Kewadin Casino for a buffet dinner later in the afternoon.

Thursday dawned with blue skies and sunshine - cruisin' weather!  Once the cars were cleaned up, we cruised into town and found the registration trailer for the show.  A short while later, we found out the t-shirt vendor was setting up shop in the vendor lot.  They weren't even open yet but the owner made his boys find the shirts we wanted and take our money!  With registration and t-shirt shopping completed, we spent the rest of the day cruising and watching other cars roll into town.

The rest of Thursday and all of Friday were spent just hanging out, cruising the streets and scoping out the other cars arriving for the show.  Saturday morning, we were up early and left for the show at 5:45.  Rick and his yellow truck led us into town and sweet talked the parking attendants into the same spots we had last year - right in front of the bank.  That spot had a perfect location for our awning with it's new club banner and just enough room to park all seven cars between side streets.

Fred and Paul knew one of the judges who happened to work at the big Frankenmuth show and we met up with him on Friday for ice cream and some bs'ing.  He stopped by our awning with Top Hat John, the other judge, and kinda let us know that last years winners wouldn't be winning again this year.  That eliminated Jimmy's 32 Ford Roadster, Fred's 47 Chevy Fleetline Custom and Jon's 41 Chevy sedan.  As it turned out, the entire club was shut out from any awards this time around.  One car in particular caught everyone's attention as we cruised the streets.  This one was parked along the street on Thursday and Friday and was selected for a special award on Saturday.  Many of us thought it was a Chrysler concept car but it turned out to be one man's dream and totally constructed by hand!

We not only secured the same rooms for next year at Northernaire but we also managed to add two more rooms for a total of seven.  Two other groups each cancelled a room and that gave us the immediate option to add them to our group.  This show is so much fun, everyone is planning to return next year for the 40th year of the show.  Sunday's caravan home was uneventful other than a couple of rain showers near Gaylord and again around Cadillac.  Everyone had a great time and we're all looking forward to next year.

A show, a bash and a cancellation!

Our weekend of June 21 started on Saturday with 7 of us gathering for breakfast at New Beginnings on 44th and the East Beltline.  Ken Boorsma, a friend to many of us, joined us in order to find the show location.  GR Auto Gallery was hosting their 3rd Annual Show and they had perfect weather for it.  Here's the 8 of us at the Gallery.

After the Gallery show, 5 of us made a short trip south to Crafty B's Birthday Bash.  Kirk Brown operates a custom fabrication shop that specializes in old school hot rods and one of a kind components.  Every year he hosts an open house, BBQ & buffet lunch and car show at his shop to celebrate his birthday.  The fun started at 1pm and lasted late in to the night complete with live bands.

Sunday, several of us were scheduled to attend at photo shoot for the 28th St Metro Cruise Pinup Girl Contest at the Gilmore Museum.  Transportation and makeup issues for some of the contestants caused this event to be postponed.  Too bad because it was a nice day for a cruise to Gilmore's.

June 13-15 - A busy weekend!

We're still recovering from a busy June weekend.  The sunny and comfortable weather made for a great 3 days.  Friday morning was our regular breakfast club gathering at New Beginnings restaurant on Grand Rapids' north end.  Friday evening we attended a fund raiser show for Veterans at the Boat & Canoe Club in North Park.  Six of us made this show.

Saturday morning was breakfast at New Beginnings in Standale followed by a cruise to Grand Haven.  Club member Pete does a lot of boat lettering at Grand Isle Marina and he was asked to furnish several cars for their open house and fun day for the slip renters.  Eight of us made it to the Grand Isle show.

Later on Saturday, several of us made a stop at John Ball Park and joined up with several other local clubs to participate in a Memorial Cruise for fallen cruisers.  We cruised the streets of downtown Grand Rapids before heading out to the south end to our favorite burger joint, Andi Leigh's Pizza.  Steve, Rick, Phil and Jon made the cruise.  Thanks to Ken Firlik (Chrome Bolts) of the Road Rodz for the picture.  Steve, Jon and Rick cruising past Spectrum Butterworth Hospital.  Check out the officer on the corner.  ;)

Sunday was a beautiful, sunny day ideal for a car show.  The annual Fathers Day show at Charlton Park near Hastings, Mi has become a tradition for many of us and now several of our family members join us for a picnic lunch.  Jon's 41 Chevy passed the NSRA inspection and received a Safety 23 sticker for the windshield.  To our amazement, two of our club cars were selected for special awards.  Steve Melville's 34 Ford coupe was chosen by the Radcliffe family for the Radcliffe memorial award and Jim Banfill's yellow 32 Ford roadster was chosen for the first annual John Moffett award by the Moffett family.  These two men were founding members of the Southern Michigan Street Rod Association.  The SMSRA is the host club for the Charlton Park Fathers Day show.  Jim also picked up a Top 25 award as did Paul & Sharon with their flamed 48 Ford coupe and Jon with his 41 Chevy 2 door sedan.  Five awards out of 8 cars in a field of 950 says a lot about the quality of our club's cars.  Here are the seven that cruised together to the show.

Ron & Teresa arrived early to grab their traditional primo parking spot in the village.

The winners!  Left to right, Jim Banfill, Jon Hansen, Steve Melville and Paul Dishaw.  Jim's yellow roadster and Steve's red coupe in the background.  Thanks to Pete for the steady hands on the camera.

Party time!

Family, friends and fellow ClassiX Street Rod Asso. club members gathered last night for a surprise birthday party for Ron Shooks.  Mary Drew and crew provided bbq, potato salad and pop at Andi Leigh's Pizza.  The meal was topped off with chocolate birthday cake and ice cream.  Ron turned 50 and needed help to pose for this picture.

Happy Birthday Ron!  Keep on cruisin'!

Ionia Show June 7

Six CSRA club members made the early morning run to Ionia to attend the annual Ionia Classic Car & Truck Show.  With 25+ classes, local judges, blue skies and sunshine, it was a great day for a show.  Over 240 cars and trucks entered the event with several more parking in the vicinity but not registering for the show.  A 7th club member, Phil, arrived late with his 57 Chevy and was among the "extras" that didn't register.   Here's the group lined up on main street.

Left to right are Fred & Janet's full custom 47 Chevy, Jon's 34 Chevy Vicky, Steve's big block powered 34 Ford couple, Paul & Sharon's flamed 48 Ford coupe, Jim's immaculate 32 Ford roadster and Rick's 348 tri-powered 57 Chevy pickup.

The group did well in the judging as Rick was second in his class, Paul & Sharon won Best Engine and Fred & Janet won Best Street Rod.  Here's the smiling trio.

 

Fred may have a bigger smile in this picture when we brought the GR Auto Gallery Gallery Girls over for a picture.

The rest of the month (June) is full of shows and activities.  Hopefully, I can post after each event.

It's Spring! (Finally!)

The last few months have been rather hectic for me personally and that's why the club blog hasn't been kept up to date.  We continued our monthly dinner gatherings at Rio Grand through April due to the seemingly endless winter.  Most of us were unable to bring out our cars until mid March.  Snow was still on the ground!  In early March a new car was added to the group.  Jon picked up a second car, a 1934 Downs bodied Chevy Vicky.  Here she is on the maiden voyage to the local hangout, Andi Leigh's Pizza, on April 26. 

This was taken after the 28th St Metro Cruise Dust Off and Pin Up Girls semi finals.  Club member Phil's 57 Chevy became a popular prop for pictures in the parking lot with the girls.  (Dream on Phil!)

 

May 9th was the initial car show of the year held at Woodview Church in Wyoming.  Five CSRA cars made it to the show.

Right to left are Paul & Sharon's 48 Ford,  Rick's yellow pickup, Steve's 34 Ford coupe, Jon's new 34 Chevy Vicky and Phil's black 57 Chevy.

May 17 was the Kathy Weed Memorial NSRA Safety Inspection and Downs Custom Performance Automotive open house coordinated by our club and the folks from Downs.

 The event was such a success that the northern Michigan NSRA rep has requested we do this as an annual event and make it a NSRA Appreciation Day.  Next years event is already in the works! 

May 25 was the Spring Fling car show in Greenville (Turk Lake).  Club members Chip and Bob made the show and both scored a top 75 trophy.  Congrats guys! 

May 31-June 1 was the Super Chevy magazine car show and drag races at US131 Motorsports Park in Martin.  Club members Ron & Teresa Shooks and Jon entered the car show and both cars won multiple awards.  The Shooks' 51 pro street Chevy won an Editor's Pick recognition on Saturday and an Outstanding Award for 2nd place in class on Sunday.  Jon's 34 Vicky garnered a class win plaque and Super Chevy Jacket as well as being recognized for the Best Early Chevy.  These four awards were particularly gratifying since this was a judged show rather than a participant voting program.

That about brings this blog up to date.  Hopefully future updates will be more regular.