Vol. 5 Issue 8
AUGUST 2014
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OWNER PRESIDENT – Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719
OFFICE STAFF AR/AP – Stacy Robinson 763-421-4400 SALES SUPPORT – Vince Griffith vince@wheelsofthunder.net 651-280-8658 JUNIOR BOSS – Zack Robinson 763-421-4400
EDITORIAL STAFF
Special Features
Pro Power Sports & Marine .....................4
EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR editor@wheelsofthunder.net 763-421-4400
Princeton Speedway .............................28
Mystik Terracross..................................42
Photographers/Writers
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MYLIE LAVOLD TOM EDWARDS
Rally’s & Shows
BILLY BOYLE JENNA OSTERLUND CEAJA PHILP
STEVE CASPER
BRRP......................................................9
Lucky’s 13 Car Show ............................12
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St. Francis Car Show.............................22
ADVERTISING STAFF
BIR ......................................................26
SALES – Scott Robinson scott@wheelsofthunder.net 612-730-3719
Anoka Classic Car Show .......................36
Reviews & Tech
Cloverland Motors & Rental .................18
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Metcalf Service Center .........................32
$34.99 - PHONE: 763-421-4400 www.wheelsofthunder.net
Departments
Garage Built.........................................10 All content published herein is owned exclusively by Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine. Reproduction or further dissemination of the content herein is strictly prohibited without the express written authorization of Midwest Wheels of Thunder Magazine.
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ABATE of MN ......................................40
Game On! ...........................................50
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ro Power Sports was established on Sept 21, 2005 with the purchase and consolidation of two successful dealerships, across the highway from one another – Anoka Ramsey Sports Center (since 1961) & Pro Sporting Goods (Since 1994). Pro Power is a family owned and operated business, stocking a full line of ATV’s, Snowmobiles, Personal Water Crafts, Side X Sides & Motorcycles. Their suppliers include CAN-AM, SKI DOO, SEA DOO, SPYDER ROADSTER, POLARIS & SUZUKI. They are located just on north side of the cities, so make sure to stop in Ramsey, MN to check out their 20,000 square foot showroom and full selection of products and accessories.
P
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Pro Power Sports & Marine, Inc.
YOUR 1-STOP SHOP FOR FUN YEAR ROUND!
A North Metro Premier Power Sports Super Store is the place to be. With a Huge Selection - Great Location - Best Prices This is the stop for you!
On Feb 21, 2014 Pro Power Sports experienced a devastating blow when their roof collapsed and forced them to close for almost 5 months. (See links to news stories below for additional information). How does a business survive something like this? “First you pray and give thanks that there were no personal injuries.” Said Todd
Amar, owner of Pro Power Sports. That is, as long as you don’t count Todd’s truck (His pride and joy). His truck was ground zero for the collapse and who knows how many tons of snow fell right on it. The last count was 20 semi loads of snow and debris being removed from the area. So it is no wonder his monster sized truck looked like a Tinker Toy that was stomped on! Talking with Todd, he said “Everyone has been so considerate and helpful during this whole process. Our manufacturers and suppliers have extended deadlines and offered personal help in the display set up and re-merchandising of our showrooms. Our competitors have offered to loan us clean up equipment and our customers have really stuck with us and supported us through the muck and the junk and the clean-up. They have been so understanding and loyal during this whole process. If customers were in the market for a new machines, they helped us uncover each one from its protective plastic covering and walked over or around the piles of merchandise, business files, computers and ceiling tiles and continued to offer us their business.” After being closed for so long, Pro Power
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Sports officially reopened July 18th, 2014. They have retained all their employees, and have been able to pay their wages through the closure. Todd and the staff continued to work together to keep this great business together and their customers happy. While all around them the construction crews completely rebuilt the store from front to back. With a lot of help and experienced people, they have managed to put it all back together again and made it even better than before. “With the store business at a dead stop, our employees had a chance to really get to know each other and have formed a bond that would be long coming had we not gone through this tragedy together. Because of our team work, we are more organized, more prepared and stronger as a company than we have ever been. This is a happy place to visit and we look forward to seeing you in our store!” said Todd. Pro Power Sports is known industry wide for their excellent, platinum certified, Technical staff. All the Technicians pride themselves on “fixed right -first time.” quality of service. “People come from all over for repair services because they know we get it done right. We get a lot of work that other shops could not figure out. Our services range from oil changes, tire changes and minor service while you wait, to extensive accident damage repairs. We can help you with any type of add-on accessories including tracks and audio systems. If you need a repair or don’t have the time to put your machine away for the season (Summarize, winterize) or need a place to store your machine, we can help you out.” Said Todd. The Parts staff is friendly and helpful. Brian Lambres who heads this department began his career before the store acquisition and is the longest tenured employee, at 21+ years. With over 70,000 parts in stock for your machine and over $1 million worth of Parts, Garments & Accessories, Pro Power Sports always tries their best to have the part you want in stock and available to purchase. If they are out of the part you need, they are able to help you find it and get it coming for you. Pro Power Sports & Marine carries a large selection of clothing and accessories from the major brands: Can Am, Polaris, Sea Doo, Ski Doo, Spyder and Suzuki. They Page 6
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also carry Castle, HMK, FXR and much more! Stop in and see Randy Blomlie and his team of overachievers! “We know customers have many choices when it comes to Power Sport Vehicles, parts and service. The sales staff at Pro Power Sports & Marine is continually training on the different product lines in order to help our customers choose the best machine to fit their needs. Most of our business comes from repeat customers, as well as referrals from friends and family.” Said Todd, as we talked. Pro Power Sports wants your trade-ins: If you are ready to trade your current machine for a new or a great used machine, Pro Power Sports want your trades. They will pay cash for your machines or they will also handle your consignment. Need help with financing? Full financing is also available for all your purchase needs. Make it a 1-STOP shop for all your Power Sport needs at Pro Power Sports & Marine! Make sure to read the full story on the collapsed roof and remodel: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/02/21/ snow-causes-roof-collapse-at-ramseybusiness/ http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3335382.sh tml Pro Power Sports & Marine, INC Available 24/7 - www.propoweronline.com 6781 Hwy 10 NW Ramsey, MN 55303 763-576-1706 - Phone 763-576-1710 – Fax 800-309-1707 – Toll Free. “There’s never been a better time to get out and play. We have a great selection of all the top brands.”
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2014 RACING SCHEDULE BRRP Series includes: IMCA Modifieds & Northern Sportsmods, Legends, Pure Stocks, Hornets, Wissota Mod 4 Sunday May 11th Season Opener - Regular Classes Sunday May 18th Regular Classes Sunday May 25th NOSA Sprint Cars & Regular classes (no Mod class) Sunday June 1st Regular Classes Sunday June 8th Regular Classes Saturday June 14th Tuff Trucks, Train Races, Roll Over Contest Sunday June 15th NLRA Late Models & Regular classes (no Mod class) Saturday June 21st Regular Classes - Fan Appreciation Night Sunday June 22nd Regular Classes Sunday June 29th Regular Classes Sunday July 6th Regular Classes Sunday July 13th Regular Classes Sunday July 20th Regular Classes Saturday July 26th NOSA Sprint & Regular classes (no Mods or Mod-4 class) Sunday July 27th Regular Classes Sunday Aug. 3rd Regular Classes but no Mod-4's Sunday Aug. 10th Regular Classes Saturday Aug 16th Tuff Trucks, Train Races, Roll Over Contest Sunday Aug. 17th Regular Classes Thursday Aug. 21st Rally America Sunday Aug. 24th Regular Classes Sunday Aug. 31st Season Championship - Regular Classes Saturday Sept. 6th Corn Cob National Sunday Sept. 7th Corn Cob National Saturday Sept. 13th IMCA Special Sunday Sept. 14th IMCA Special Friday Dec. 12th ISOC National Snocross Saturday Dec. 13th ISOC National Snocross Sunday Dec 14th ISOC Regional Snocross Regular Classes include: Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods, Mod-4's, Legends, Pure Stocks, Hornets
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1934 2-Door Sedan
“Without my wonderful wife Kay, my children Jeremy, Jason, and Kristina, my dream would not have come true, and I would like to give them a special Thank You!”
Car Owner/Enthusiast:
Randy Evers
Stock Original This is where it all started!
Sound Familiar? Do you have a story of your custom ride? E-mail editor@wheelsofthunder.net and you could be featured with your ride in the next issue!
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Randy Evers of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota bought his 1934 2 door sedan ‘shell’ in the fall of 1991. It was a bare shell with no chassis underneath and in rough shape, but a long time dream of Randy’s. Well, a car trailer and two pick up loads of parts later it arrived at the house. It was the night before the big Halloween Blizzard of 1991 when they decided it should be put in the garage. Only one factor…with no chassis it proved to be a little more difficult of a job than they thought. With the help of family and friends (along with a few choice words), it made its way inside. It was a good thing, because the next morning they woke up to a foot of snow covering the ground. Randy bought a 1973 Valiant and used the chassis, motor, and transmission for the 1934 project, and the steering column came from a 1989 Dodge Shadow. Randy’s dream was to have it running in time for the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s (MSRA) ‘Back to the 50s’ show in June, held at the fairgrounds in Saint Paul. With many long nights and tons
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of work, it was drivable by the time the show came. Only in primer, with two bucket seats bolted in, but he reached his dream of taking it to show! That following winter he finished this beautiful family car with completing the touches on a 360 Mopar engine, auto 727 tranny, self made interior, and heat and air for comfort on their travels. It sports a bright metallic red paint with black cherry accents and ghost flames on the front fenders. He says their kids ‘grew up’ in the back seat of the car as it took them on many family vacations and camping trips. They are happy to have made so many friends from all over the United States while traveling to different events. Now they are having a blast doing the same thing with their grandchildren, Blake, Logan, Gavin….and another little one on the way, traveling in the back seat of Grandpa and Grandma’s Garage Built Beauty…but it looks like ‘Papa’ will have to start another project soon to be able to take all the Grandkids!
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Written by Mylie Lougheed
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ronwood, Michigan might be in small town (population 5,387) but its location in the Western UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan, just 15 miles south of Lake Superior and opposite the Montreal River from Hurley, Wisconsin, makes it a prime location for owner/operator Gary Kuklinski and the team at Cloverland Motorsports to keep shop. For more than 16 years, Cloverland Motorsports has been equipping outdoor enthusiasts with snowmobiles, ATV’s, UTV’s and personal watercraft. The dealership is MSD Gold Certified and offers a full Polaris lineup, including accessories, parts and service. Current inventory offers a variety of ATV’s including recreational and utility Sportsman models, big bore and performance Scambler and Sportsman models, as well as 2-ups and machines for youth. UTV offerings include Ranger full size and multi-passenger options. Need a trailer to haul your toys? They have those too! Whether you are looking to buy new or pre-owned, Cloverland’s inventory has something for everyone.
ATV rentals are all current year models. For those that want some summertime water fun, they rent 3-person Personal Watercraft. Whether you live in the area or are just vacationing, these machines offer great
ways to explore and enjoy the “Wild’s of Michigan”, the Upper Peninsula, or hook up to Wisconsin's largest ATV trail system. All machines are stickered for both Wisconsin and Michigan.
This kind of fun can make a good dent in the wallet so of course financing is available. Customers can take advantage of special Polaris factory authorized clearance sale now through the end of August with rebates up to $1,000 and financing as low as 2.99%. Cloverland also offers rentals of new Polaris and Ski-Doo snowmobiles and Polaris ATV's and side-by-sides. Snowmobile and Page 18
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Cloverland Motorsports; a small town business that’s big on fun! there and play. 2014 and 15 sleds are in stock now. Stop by and check out the selection of Rush, Switchback, RMK, INDY, IQ, and Snowcheck models. Cloverland Motorsports is located at 300 E Cloverland Dr/US 2 and is open 8 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week. To contact the dealership directly, call 1-800-932-1202 or send email to info@cloverlandrentals.com. To keep up with what is happening, follow them on Facebook (Cloverland Motorsports) and visit the website with live webcam at www.cloverlandmotors.com . Cloverland takes pride in providing outstanding customer service in all areas, from sales to service and anything in between. The dealership has 11 employees on staff, including 5 technicians to fix and fine tune your machine. By operating under the team concept and expecting everyone to step up to the plate, Cloverland has earned satisfied and loyal customers over the years. Here is what some of those people had to say. "Great place to buy from. Gary and staff make it a pleasurable experience. Service was exceptional! Wouldn't go anywhere else to buy from. Great prices, great service and friendly. My personal rating AAAAAAAAAAAAA +++++++++++." ~ Richard, Hartford, WI “This is by far the best dealer I have ever been to. The service was outstanding...” ~ William, Melrose Park, IL. “I rented a sled from these guys and had a great experience.” ~ Mike, Clinton, TN Speaking of sleds, we all know winter in upper Midwest can be a downer, but not for Cloverland. Being located in the heart of big snow country means big business. Here, snow is just another reason to get out August 2014
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St. Francis Car Show – August 2014
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St. Francis Car Show – August 2014
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he Princeton Speedway had another fantastic month of action including a Kids Night, a Mod Four Special, fireworks show and a visit from the Advantage RV Modified Touring Series. There’s always a fun event going on at the fastest quarter-mile in Minnesota!
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Written by Tami Jo Kuehn Photography by Jacy Norgaard and Bailey Sens
The Advantage RV Modified Touring Series stopped by the Princeton Speedway June 20 for a night of their Minnesota Melee. The WISSOTA Modifieds took the track and the field was stacked with talent. Matt Gilbertson and Scot Danzeisen led them to the green and Gilbertson took first. Dave Mass and Don Eischens moved aside Danzeisen for second but Danzeisen pulled away. Mass took third and Jesse Glenz moved next to Eischens. The top drivers began to separate themselves from the pack as Mass worked Danzeisen. Again Danzeisen drove away and caught Gilbertson. Mods covered the full quarter mile and leaders prepared to lap. Danzeisen kept pressuring Gilbertson, but Gilberston
continued to pull away. Mass was back and next to Danzeisen as Danzeisen began to fall back. Mass took second and Glenz and Eischens passed Danzeisen. The 40 lap main event went flag to flag, caution free, and Gilbertson rolled his #23 into the Advantage RV Modified Touring Series victory lane. June 27 featured a great race in the WISSOTA Midwest Modified class. Gino Fontecchio and Travis Schulte led the drivers to the green and Schulte took the lead. Jason Hall moved into second and Ashely Mehrwerth slid into third. The yellow waved a couple times keeping the drivers at bay. Schulte still remained in the lead with Mehrwerth and Shane Sabraski in tow. Sabraski took second and Bud Martini moved into third. Martini moved next to Sabraski and battled for second as the drive shaft of Denis Czech laid in turn three. The yellow waved and drivers realigned. Schulte was alone on the restart with Sabraski and Martini on his rear. Schulte sped away but Martini kept close. As the white flew, Martini and Schulte were door to door. It was a shootout to the finish and Martini had the lead as the checkers flew. Martini took the win with Schulte in a close second. Also that night, Robideau took the lead while Dan Gullikson took second in the WISSOTA Super Stock feature. Gullikson went low and grabbed first while Chris Wark slid into second. Shane Sabraski challenged Robideau for third as the yellow flew. Gullikson was first on the restart
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with Wark and Robideau in tow. Robideau, Wark and Tim Johnson ran three wide for second with Johnson pulling away. Johnson closed in on Gullikson as the yellow waved again. Gullikson was still in first but Johnson was on his rear. Gullikson and Johnson pulled away from the pack and Wark took third as the green reappeared. Gullikson's lead was strong and he took the checkers with his French Lake Auto #00x. The 4th of July Holiday fell on a Friday, and the Princeton Speedway held their first ever Mid-Summer Mod 444. The WISSOTA Mod Four class raced for a payout of $444.00 and that brought many competitors to the track. The drivers took the clay with Bryce Bjerken and Keith Thell on the front row. Bjerken took the lead and Thell got second while Shayne Laske and Chad Funt battled for third. Matt Halls kept close to them while Bjerken stretched his lead out. Funt moved into third and Halls and Brandon Linquist battled for fourth as Bjerken began to lap. Halls and Linquist were side by side as the yellow flew and drivers were sorted. Bjerken was alone on the restart with Thell and Funt in tow. Halls and Linquist kept close to Funt for third but Funt held them back. Linquist settled into fourth and began to work on Funt. Funt however closed in on Thell with two laps to go. Bjerken had a lead of five seconds over his competition and took the win in his #6j. The WISSOTA Street Stock feature was also exciting on July 4 with Amanda Milbrandt and Kris Peterson on the front row. As the green flew, Justin Pogones moved up and they went three wide for first. Peterson broke away in the lead while Ryan Kostreba moved to Pogones’ door for second. They both grabbed Peterson’s doors and the bat-
tle for first was three wide again. This round, Pogones took the point. Aaron Johnson moved his #442 into second and next to Pogones. Johnson kept the pressure on Pogones but Pogones kept him back. Kostreba moved in and challenged Johnson for second. After a multi lap battle,
Kostreba took the point. Pogones had stretched out his lead when Kostreba found his groove and closed in. The white flag raised and Kostreba was at Pogones’ bumper as they entered turn three. They
came out of turn four with the pedals down and side by side. As the checkers flew and officials checked the transponder timing, Pogones was determined the winner by .041 seconds over Kostreba. The Annual Fireworks Show in Princeton occurred after the races that Friday night. Stands were packed and people filled the parking lot to honor and celebrate our great country. It was a great night to be at the racetrack and in the town of Princeton. Week after week, the Princeton Speedway puts on a great show, and on August 22, the UMSS Sprint Cars will stop by Princeton for their second time this season. Sprint cars always put on a good show with heats, challenge races and Main event. Earlier this season, Sprints ran flag to flag in a great race and this visit will be just as great. Also, the regular race season will wrap up August 29, and so it’s time to look forward to the 2nd Annual P-Town Showdown. The Showdown will be on September 19 and 20 with two complete nights of race action. Last year’s showdown was a big success, and this year should be too. It’s your final chance to catch live WISSOTA Amsoil Dirt Track Racing Series action Princeton this season, so mark your calendar to be at all these fun events! For all the current track and racing information, check out www.princetonspeedway.com or search for the Princeton Speedway on facebook. We look forward to seeing you on Friday for a Friday Night Car Fight.
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S
ince 1989 when owner Steve Metcalf opened the doors to Metcalf Service Center, his goal has always been to provide the very best service to each person who comes through the door. “We concentrate on trying to be the ‘small town’ guy. When many people walk in here, we know them by first name and they know they aren’t just a number to us.” Page 32
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Metcalf Service Center: Service isn’t just their middle name. Written By Mylie Lougheed
The shop is truly a full service center, working on pretty much everything from RVs and trailers to diesel pushers, cars, trucks, snowmobiles, ATV's and UTV's. They specialize in diesel truck perform-
ance: Bully Dog, Edge, H&S Performance tuners, cold air intake and exhaust systems. They are dedicated to snowmobile repair and maintenance from vintage to full out mods, offering turbo kits, big bore kits, and stock enhancements to your sleds. Need a custom furnace installed on your toy hauler? Metcalf does that too, along with updates to trailers and any other service you need to make sure you can get your toys to your destination. “We do sell a lot of parts and accessories. But the biggest portion of our business is service.” Regardless of what they are servicing, Metcalf is focused on making sure it is done right and that customers want to come back. “Repeat business is the only way we can stay in business. We fix what needs to be fixed and that’s it. If we see something wrong, we will bring it to your attention.” This time of year Metcalf says he and his team are busy servicing recreational vehicles, including service and repair on engines, electrical systems, awnings,
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Metcalf and his son, Tyler, who shares his father’s desire to provide quality service to their customers. They strive to make the fastest race and trail friendly sleds possible. They offer cylinder re-plating, along with traction products needed to get that extra power to the ground. Spring, summer, fall or winter; car, truck, RV, ATV, snowmobile or other; if you are looking for quality service, head to Metcalf Service Center and let them show you why service isn’t just their middle name.
appliances, heat/AC, roof repairs/replacement, to name a few of the services they provide. They also sell recreational vehicles on consignment. Pre-owned conversion vans, class As and Cs, toy haulers, to big diesel pushers, have found new owners from their great location. Many retail stores and restaurants are their close neighbors right off of Hwy 35 in Forest Lake, MN. As busy as summer is at the shop, Metcalf does find time for some fun by participat-
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ing in the Princeton Grass Drags (Princeton, MN) and National Hay Days (North Branch, MN). Held annually, these grass drag events draw people from all over and offer a good time for racers, swappers, vendors and race fans alike. Princeton takes place August 22-24 and Hay Days on September 6 and 7. As we inch closer to fall, business shifts more to ATV’s, UTV’s and getting snowmobiles ready for the season. High performance snowmobiles are a passion for both
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Metcalf Service Center is located at 108 12th St. SW, Forest Lake, MN (30 miles NE of Minneapolis). Business hours are 8:00 – 5:00 Monday through Friday. Contact them at 651-464-6925.
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ABATE OF MINNESOTA Today, I sit in amazement at our ABATE of Minnesota volunteers. In April I issued a call to action to our folks to get active. With the economy in a seven year funk many Minnesota bikers simply quit participating and funding the things that will keep them riding free. While we still have a lot of work to do, our efforts are showing a promising trend. The chapter fundraisers and membership activity from April through July are on the upswing. We have also had three outstanding events that provided great exposure for ABATE. of Minnesota. In late June we were offered a booth at the 2014 Minnesota HOG Rally in Brainerd. ABATE’s good friend Kathryn from Cragun’s Resort took care of the details and Smoker and Jean lined up volunteers and
supplies to operate the membership booth for the weekend. Thanks to all who helped. ABATE. is looking into forming a chapter in the Brainerd lakes area and this event provided a great way to generate interest. We signed up a bunch of members and handed out a lot of information. In addition, the ABATE of Minnesota quarterly Board of Directors meeting will be held at Cragun’s in October. Stop by for the meeting and meet the locals. They are great people! Over the Fourth of July weekend ABATE. of Minnesota had great exposure at the Algona Freedom Rally. Tom Buffington again did an awesome job of organizing the membership tables, schedules and workers. Not an easy task in the middle of a biker party. We are very fortunate to have
him working for us. When you see Tom tell him thanks! And our volunteers were precise and social. But all this would not happen without the great partnership that we have with ABATE. of Iowa. Phil McCormick, the ABATE. of Iowa Directors and all of their members are a pleasure to work with. Some of these folks will be at our Rally in August. Introduce yourself – they are great people! I am writing this on the eve of the annual Minnesota Vikings Childrens Run. Jon Stutelberg, Metro Chapter, has promoted ABATE. of Minnesota at this ride for many years. This event features Vikings players and cheerleaders plus music, lots of great prizes, attracts thousands of bikers and ABATE. gets a lot of memberships and exposure with riders who may not know how hard we work to make Minnesota a great place to ride. John never asks for much, just a few people to help him promote ABATE. of Minnesota. When you see John and Donna and their volunteers at various events tell them thanks - they are great people! Lastly, I want everyone reading this to know that all of ABATE of Minnesota’s efforts are geared towards maintaining or improving the rights of motorcyclists on a state and federal level and finding common sense ways to increase the safety for all street motorcyclists. Ask your friends and family members who ride to join and support ABATE of Minnesota. Introduce them to our hard working freedom fighters - they are great people! Yours in freedom, Mack
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T
he 1950’s was an era that saw the establishment of hot rod clubs from coast to coast. The post-war generation had found a common bond and street rods and drag racing brought them together. By the following decade, many of those clubs had “run their last lap” and hot rodding and its associated clubs began to decline in popularity. Many long time fans were concerned that it was becoming something the 60’s generation didn’t follow and the future of street rods was, at best, cloudy. In the summer of 1967, The Summer of Love for you rock ‘n roll fans, hot rodders in the Hartford, Connecticut area got together for a picnic and rod rally to celebrate their shared interest in cars. Later that year 11 hot rods gathered for a run to nearby Hammonassett State Park. Although that event is not listed as the official start of the Connecticut Street Rod Association, club members consider it the catalyst that got the group up and running. Page 44
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As noted in the About Us section of the C.S.R.A. website “We have organized many events over the years and served our communities making donations to our favorite charities. One of the club’s proudest achievements was building a T-bucket for the North Branford D.A.R.E. program. It is our dream that the Connecticut Street Rod Association not only continue its tradition with our children but with our children’s children. It is our passion for the Street Rod that joins us. We worked hard together and have fun together. Rodding is more than a sport to the members of the Connecticut Street Rod Association. It is a way of life”.
Written by Tom Edwards
August 2014
Having enjoyed street rods and drag racing since the 1960’s, that is a passion I understand. Although the track closed for com-
petitive drag racing in 1984, many C.S.R.A. members have fond memories of Connecticut Dragway and in 2005 they held their first reunion for that Nutmeg State race track. It quickly became a popular event. The ’05 get together was held at Falcon Field in Meriden, Connecticut. That site proved to be too small and the reunion was relocated to PNA Field in Wallingford, Connecticut. You guessed it, that site also proved to be inadequate for the number of cars entered and the Mountain Ridge Resort, also in Wallingford became the current gathering location. Given the number of cars at the 2014 reunion, a larger area may be needed in the near future. For hot rod and drag racing fans, that’s great news. Consumer Reports magazine purchased the Connecticut Dragway site and uses the 327 acre facility as their National Auto Test Center. The drag strip is still in its original location and is used as a straightway for the magazine’s handling and other tests. The strip has been extended and a number of other courses and buildings have been added. One original building, the control tower, still stands and is now used primarily for storage. It has affectionately been dubbed “the historic district”. Matt Fields of Consumer Reports provided this link www.consumerreports.org/cro/aboutu s / w h a t s - b e h i n d - t h e ratings/testing/index.htm for information about how cars are tested at a track where so many drag racing fans enjoyed their earliest races. Matt; thanks for the information about the current use of Connecticut Dragway and the great aerial photo of a track that for a lot of people brings back some wonderful memories. www.WheelsofThunder.net
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August 2014
H
ello Wheels of Thunder Fans! GameON! hopes this finds you well! Here's hoping your summer is going great. GameON! TV is enjoy the dog days of August and preparing for a fantastic fall season....and spending it outdoors. This issue of Wheels of Thunder is once again great, and as always, featuring unique stories, pictures and sponsor information that underscores the excitement around motorsports! Just like Wheels of Thunder, GameON! TV continues to grow & reach so many of you with our sports programming. We broadcast in the Twin Cities on FOX's MY29 and in the Dakota's and western Minnesota via MidCo Sports Network. GameON! loves sports, from the variety of professional, college & high school sports to all the outdoor events that dot our regional landscape. GameON's partnership with Wheels of Thunder is strong and just like you, we also enjoy the most comprehensive race magazine and website to be found! Wheels of Thunder magazine gets it and gets you the latest information, amazing pictures and all those terrific stories to the most passionate motorsports fans in the country! GameON! does what no other TV sports interview show does. We offer the region a diverse and entertaining half hour of TV as we bring you the most visible and popular Minnesota sports figures. From the new look NFL Vikings, to the MLB Twins and the now Kevin Love-less NBA Timberwolves to the NHL Wild, we also visit with the Lacrosse Swarm and Soccer United FC. There's NASCAR and we're on top of your favorite drivers too. Each and every week GameON! comes to you in crystal clear full High Definition and our first APP (it's free to for Apple & Android phones) is available for your use! GameON! TV is now offering a weekly PODCAST available @ our show website www.GameOnTvMN.com. It's full of bits and pieces of sports from the region and what's ahead on our weekly TV show. This show is interactive so we'd love to hear from you! Please visit our Facebook site (friend us @ GameON on facebook), our website @ www.gameontvmn.com and 24/7on twitter #gameontvmn. We'll soon announce a
new home base for GameON! show tapings and each week, we'll continue to list guests and updates on the GameON! website as well as our Facebook site. Get upclose and personal with us!! Furthermore, GameON! Host Rod Simons has baseball on his work schedule as each and every Sunday he's joined by 4-time World Series & Twins pitching great Jack Morris for This Is Twins Territory @ 10AM on the radio home for your Minnesota Twins @ KTWIN 96.3. So, please join us for all that sports offers us here in our great neck of the woods, via Wheels of Thunder, GameON! and KTWIN radio! And get your Vikings fix with our partner in one of the largest Vikings fan websites in the world, www.PurplePride.org. Hey Wheelies, it's time to get off the couch and get your GameON! Be a part of the exciting effort we're putting on! Here's to the summer that's here! Keep your GameON!!
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