The long Memorial Day weekend has traditionally marked the beginning of the summer vacation season. For street rodders in the Midwest it also coincides with the National Street Rod Association's Mid-America Nationals held in Springfield, Missouri. The extended holiday weekend gives rodders a chance to take a few extra days for the trip to Springfield and to enjoy the drive at a somewhat more relaxed pace. This extra travel day, Springfield's centralized location, and great springtime weather combined this year to set a new Mid-America Nationals record. A total of 2,243 street rods were registered for the 2004 event and a record 85 vendors set up shop to display their street rod goodies.
For the second year in a row a huge street rod parade through the streets of Springfield started off the weekend's festivities on Thursday evening. Complete with a police escort, over 150 rods caravanned from the headquarters across town to the massive Grizzly Tool complex. The folks at Grizzly were gracious hosts and fed hundreds of appreciative street rodders.
As the skies began to look threatening, Event Director Pat Newell got the program rolling a little early. Over 30 street rods were driven in front of the crowd on hand in the grandstands. Plaques and awards were handed out. The festivities wound up with James Underwood being picked as the very lucky participant winner of the NSRA Chevy Colorado pickup truck.
It was a record setting weekend in Springfield. With the Memorial Day weekend being secured for next year's event, and given all the fun had by everyone on hand this year, the 2005 edition of the NSRA Mid-America Nationals will probably be record setting too!