Back To The 50's Car Show - Laid Back & Low-Key

Size has long been the hallmark of the huge Back to the '50s event held every summer in St. Paul, Minnesota. With more than 11,000 vehicles registered for this year's 33rd annual happening June 23-25, it was again one of the largest rod and custom shows in the country. But something beyond sheer numbers resonated at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds this year: a totally casual atmosphere. Simply put, this is probably the most laidback show of such magnitude anywhere.

In an era where street rod builders are television celebrities and car owners fret about where to "debut" their six-figure, pro-built rides, Back to the '50s is an unpretentious, bring-what-ya-got gathering. The informal vibe is probably rooted in the way the Minnesota Street Rod Association runs the event. There are no awards or trophies, which takes away the air competition and makes things comfortable for those who own less-than-perfect machines. And by opening the door to all '64-and-earlier vehicles long ago, the MSRA has ensured a good mix of rods, customs, classics, trucks, and even a few vintage imports, most of which are (gasp) actually driven to the show!

Some participants camp in their cars overnight in order to claim particular parking spaces, but the vast fairgrounds are so inviting it's hard to pinpoint a true "power parking" area. Those who do find the "perfect" spot miss out on one of the event's primary pastimes: cruising. Hopping in your car and parading around the grounds is a great way to check out iron without killing your feet, all while showing off your ride in motion.

Of course, Back to the '50s has all the other attractions you'd expect from a big summer event-hundreds of parts vendors, craft booths, and food stands offering some of the yummiest fairground vittles around. Chip Foose was on hand signing autographs on Saturday, and there was live music and regular prize drawings throughout the weekend. Saturday's Mecum auction and Sunday's swap meet let rodders hunt for new projects, or parts to finish current ones.

If you yearn for the laidback, carefree days when rods were built to drive and events were merely a means for fun and fellowship with like-minded rodders, you should consider checking out Back to the '50s. The 2007 show is already scheduled for June 22-24, and you can get all the details by visiting www.msra.com.

Slick is the only way to describe Ray Maruska's '40 Ford convertible from Duluth.	It doesn't take a ton of body mods to make a '46 Ford sedan look cool.	Roger Lund struck gold when he channeled his '30 Ford five-window, got it rolling on chrome steel wheels with 5.90-15 and 8.20-15 whitewalls, and plunked a trio of 97s on top of the Flathead.
Sensible street rod sedans have always been popular in the upper Midwest.	Here's a bit of history. Don Moyer's Model A roadster was originally built by Ohio's Jim and Jack Sullivan in the late '40s, and updated by subsequent owners through the years.	Flames seemed to be hot this year, as did fat-fendered Fords.
We love lakes-modified roadsters, especially when they look as cool and as fun as Steven Blake's '27 Ford with four-cylinder Ford power.	Vescio's Customizing and Restoration was showing off one of its latest creations-Steve Andersen's hot Deuce five-window.	It's been around for a few years, but we still think Dick Quimby's '39 Studebaker sedan is a great example of dare-to-be-different rodding.