Vintage to Modern - Just Like Their Members

WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS

Collecting has always been a beloved pastime; from vinyl records to baseball cards, there is something out there for everyone. However, one thing that the members of Valley Vintage Car Club have in common is collecting cars, motorized vehicles, and memorabilia, so much so that they have been a club for 50 years.

"Fargo-Moorhead has had many car clubs over the years, they come, and they go, and generally, one of the problems is money," stated Stan Krogh, founding member.

Another founding member, who has since passed away, Richard Dick (R.D.) Olsen came up with an idea. "We'll pay local dues, enjoy the fruits of our work, and we won't send money out of state to national clubs," shared Krogh. "We needed a name, so that night, we talked about it and decided to name it Valley Vintage Car Club; that name was chosen 50 years ago, and we're still going."

While they aren’t the only car club in town, they have drawn in a lot of members over the years.

Valley Vintage currently has 203 memberships, though not all reside in the Fargo-Moorhead area. What is great about a group this size is you get the opportunity to associate with people – young and old.

"I joined the club 20 years ago; I found myself not mingling with anybody, just working all the time," said Roger Gunderson. "Now, my friends are all car guys, we're all different ages, and it is a lot of fun."

The thing about Valley Vintage that grabbed my attention is how close everyone is to each other. "It's really a family club; children are welcome; we are a loose operating club on purpose," explained Krogh. "If we want to be miserable, we'll go back to work."

Jason Geir is the perfect example of one family joining the club and never leaving.

"Technically, I have been a part of the club since I was a kid; my dad became a member back in the early 80s," stated Geir, who has been a member for 20 years. "A few of us grew up together, going to these events, and some of us are still involved."

When you join a club like Valley Vintage, you are in it for the long haul; lifelong friends have been made and kept through simply enjoying cars.

"My biggest regret in life is that I didn't join earlier because I've met so many good people in the club. We all get along for the most part, even though we have different car choices," exclaimed Steve Lattimore. "We give each other a bad time sometimes, but that's half the fun."

The car club is more than cruising around town or posting up at a car show for a weekend, although I must admit that sounds like a great time! Valley Vintage is about looking at their cars and the memorabilia they have collected, monthly meetings, or even going on supper runs with their families.

You may think, wow, this sounds great, but I don't own a classic car. Well, you're in luck; owning a collector car is not required to join this club. "Back when I joined the club, I did not have a collector car," said Lattimore. "People were so helpful trying to sell me theirs that I ended up getting a car like I had right after high school, in the 70s," explained Lattimore.

As long as you are interested in motors, you're in the club. Within the club, you will find classic cars, motorcycles, and even adult go-karts.

Being their 50th anniversary, they plan to do something special to celebrate.

"We usually have our banquet in the spring, but a lot of the guys are old and retired; they are snowbirds," said Geir. "So instead of doing a picnic this year, I proposed the idea of a 50th-anniversary party so the snowbirds can join us, and we can eat and visit and maybe tell some stories and,

One of the events they all enjoyed sharing with me was the award section. It is more of a roast than actual awards.

"A lot of people would get awards for ridiculous things like the Rusty Wrench award, for those who haven't done any work on their car for a year," laughed Geir.

"Sometimes we behave like a bunch of 12-year-olds," added Lattimore.

I enjoyed talking with these guys, hearing stories about their friendship and the jokes they have played on one another, their most cherished cars, and what the club means to each one of them.

The name Valley Vintage gives off a vibe that they are only interested in vintage cars, but that couldn't be further from the truth. "We have cars ranging from a 1904 Schacht to Stan's 2019 Corvette," explained Geir.

As you can see, this club enjoys vintage cars and modern ones, too, by members young and old; age doesn't matter. What matters is the enjoyment you get from your hobby and those you can share it with.

“The good life is having what you need and enjoying what you have. Good friends, family, a sense of adventure and a fondness for fun. In the case of us car collectors, it is the ability to relive our youth while celebrating the past,” exclaims Geir. •