Event Coverage Official 2018 MSRA Back To The 50's Thread. St. Paul, MN June 22, 23,24

Well, it is indeed that time of year once again. In just over 2 weeks the 45th Annual MSRA Back To The 50's car show will invade the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minnesota. Each year the show...well lets be honest...EVENT, brings in around 12,000 hot rods, customs, street rods, and gassers.

Wednesday and Thursday is registration pickup at the host hotel and the south pickup point. Thursday evening there are numerous cruise-ins throughout the Twin Cities. It really is 4 solid days of hot rodding. Friday morning the gates open and the fairgrounds instantly transform into a hot rodders paradise. The beautiful MN State Fairgrounds is covered with mature trees as it's truly a great venue to host a show of this size. There is live music, WWII airplane flyovers on Saturday, and many top builders will be on hand with some of their builds.

This is also a "can't miss" event for many hot rod vendors from all over the nation. If you're looking to purchase/spec parts, take advantage of show specials, or talk to the reps in person, here is your chance.

The Swap Meet is Sunday where many great parts can be had. Once you attend, you'll never miss another. This is a "can't miss" event for so many. So, get your car ready and get your tail to Minnesota!

Who's returning and who's attending for the first time?

 

I understand this is a long list of vendors. For those of you that are not familiar with the fairgrounds, it is quite large with lots of buildings. The vendors in no way overshadow the show, the cars dominate the weekend.
However, if you're looking for parts, you can find them here.

As of last month, here is the most updated list of Commercial Vendors attending this year.
A Plus Rod & Kustom
A to Z Screen Printing & Signs
A&R Tire
A.M. Burney Exteriors Inc.
Advantage Lifts Affordable Street Rods / Richard's Stuff Air Compressors Plus, LLC
American Made Sales
American Petroleum Institute
Amsoil
Lifetime Oil Art by Amy Cunningham
Auto City Classic
Auto City Gas
Auto Inspirations
AutoMeter Products
Awesome Oldies
Bad Dog Tools
Bankmasters of Minnesota
Becker Fire & Safety Services
Bel Cappelli Hat Company
Billet Specialties
Borgeson Universal Company Brake & Equipment Warehouse
Bruce Horkey's Wood & Parts
C.A.R.S., Inc.
C-Aire Compressors
California Car Cover Company
Cara Fuller Photography
Carcapsule USA
CARtoons Magazine, Inc.
Cenaiko Expo
CFM Motorsports, LLC
Champion Windows
Chuck's Place
Classic Instruments
Classic Plus Limited
Classic Street Signs
Classics Plus, Inc.
Clean Tools Clean Up, Inc.
Coach's Corner
Coker Classic Tires
COMP Performance Group
Compressed Art Cooling Components, LLC
Corky's Towing
Coys Wheels
CRT Shirts
Cutco Cutlery
CVF Racing
Dakota Digital
Dealer Automotive Services
Dean's Parts
Dennis Carpenter Ford Parts Design Enginnering, Inc.
Dick's Hot Rod Shop
Dillon Radiator
Dip'n Good Dips
Discover Austin, Minnesota
Dom's Sunglasses
Dot's Frame Shop
Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Inc.
Edelbrock
Ellingson Motor Cars
EMS Automotive <------HAMBers!
Energy Panel Structures
Evapo-Rust Ewe-Nique Products
E-Z Chassis Swaps
Fatman Fabrications, Inc.
Finishing Touch Car Care
Flaming River
Flowmaster
B&M
Hurst
Fog Light City
Ford Performance
Future Vision
Galaxy High Performance
Gandrud Chevrolet
Gearhead Enterprises
GM Enterprises
Good Guys Rod & Custom
Good Times & Collectibles
Griot's Garage
Grundy Worldwide
H&H Classic Parts
Hagerty Insurance
Haneline Rod & Custom Products, LLC
Hot Rod Hardware
Hotwire Auto ididit, LLC
Inland Empire Driveline
Iverson Automotive
J&L Collectibles
Janc, Inc.
JB Distributing Company, Inc.
JC Taylor Insurance
Johnny's Auto Body
Johnson Trailer Company
JR Custom Chrome Plating
Kalahan Communications
Kathy's Collectibles
KBS Coatings
KC's Paint Shop
Keep The****** Floored
Key Guys
Kindigit Designs
The Keystone Automotive
Kool Rides
Kwik Wire
L&L Street Rods
Laid Back
High Range Designs
Leaf Filter North of Minnesota
Leather 4U
Legens Hot Rod Shop
Lettertech
Living In Skin - Hop Up Mag
Hi Octane Lizard Skin
LMC Truck
Lokar
Lyon's Diecast Collectibles
M & E Sales
Martin Wholesale Group
McMillan Rod & Custom
Meguiar's
Merv's Classic
Chevy Parts
Metro Moulded Parts
Midwest Manufacturing
Minnesota Pneumatic Products
MN Transportation Center
Model Empire
Modern Driveline
Mouse-Mix
MSRA Scholarship Foundation
NAPA Auto Parts
National Auto Tools
Neat Old Stuff
Neon Warehouse, Inc.
Northland Buildings
Norwex
Ol Skool Rodz Magazine
Painless Performance
Rod & Custom
Pete & Jakes
Super Bell
Phoenix Machine
Pirtek Midway
PJ's Auto Literature
Porter Mufflers, LLC
Preferred Welder Sales
Pro Art Custom Paint Promotion Company
The Pure Choice Motorsports
QA1 Precision Products
Race Coatings
RaceDeck
Rat Rod Magazine
Relics Awry
Renewal by Andersen
Restop
The Ribbon Fair Games
Ridetech
Rise and Shine Enterprises
Roach Custom Pinstriping
Rodding USA
Rodman Tool
Rodworx
Roger's Rod & Customs
Ron's Diecast Collectibles
RR Frames, Inc.
Rusty Nut Enterprise
Rydell Parts
S.S. Enterprise
Samaritan Tire Company
Sanderson Headers
Schwanke Engines
Scooter Time Rentals, Inc.
Scramblers 2, LLC
SeneGence Int.
Shannon Watts Art & Design
Show Cars Automotive
Smokey Road Rod Shop
Sole Shine
Henna Body Art
Soler & Sons
Southwind Treasures
Specialty Truck Equipment
Speed Zone
Speedcult
Speedway Racing Systems
Speegle Agency
Suburban GM Parts
Sun Products
Superior Sleep
Swapmeister
T&S Quality Bag Tanks, Inc.
Teas Design, Inc.
Tie Boss Timber
Timeout Toppers and Trailers Plus
TPS Products
Travel-N-Past
Trio Trish's Wishes
Trouble Free Lighting
Uncommon USA
Union Speed & Style <----HAMBers
Unique Specialty & Classics
Unisteer Performance
UPS Store
The Valspar
House of Kolor
Veit Automotive Foundation
Viking Paints, Inc.
Vintage Gameroom
Wheels of Time
Wheelsmith
Wildfire Lifts
Wildlife Resins
Wilwood
Winter Company
Wise Guys Seats
Wizards Products
Woodward Fab
Woody's Auto Literature
X-Treme Products
Yogi's
Zycoat LLC

 

Myself and 3 friends are going and taking our cars for the first time. It's a 900 mile trip for us so we're taking 2 days to drive there. The cars we will be driving are 2-32 Ford coupes, a 29 Ford sedan and a 34 Ford coupe. I will post pictures of our trip. St. Paul or Bust !!!!!

 

Making my second appearance first time with the coupe


Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

We'll be there for the 27th year in row.

 

you can't see it all - but fun trying.
lots of great vehicles not all H.A.M.B. friendly but lots to look at -1964 and older.

 

We will be there.

 

Oh hell yeah...me too-

 

Can't say enough about this show, the venue, the people, and the cars are amongst the best in the nation. It blows streetrod nationals out of the water.

 

Every year all 3 days for more than 25 years

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

They also have an online map for vendors this year.

https://www.expocad.com/host/fx/MSRA/18msra/exfx.html

 

It's hard to believe we are only 2 days away from the start of Back To The 50's 2018 with Registration Pick-up beginning Wednesday, and the main pick-up day of Thursday. Wishing safe travels for those that will be traveling from all over the United States and beyond to attend this great show.

 

Coming up from Missouri as a spectator. Any Friday Night car events outside the fairgrounds? Will be staying in Eagan. I'm attending the show on Saturday.

 

Since I live 2 blocks from the fairgrounds, and my car is in divorce jail, I will be walking there.

 

what's the weather forecast for the weekend ? my 2nd time there, can't wait

 

Wasn't sure we were going to make it this year. It would have been out first time missing it since 1999, but the wife insisted on it, and some time opened up in our schedules. Hope every one has a good drive, see you at the Fairgrounds! The current forecast looks like great weather all weekend.

 

I went to BTTF's all through out the 90's and 2000's. It never failed to please. Great food, people and rods! I do think it's a little too many on Saturday now. You used to be able to cruise around and see the complete fairgrounds on Friday, but Sat was impossible. I'm sure that it's not even possible on Friday now. If you can go, don't miss it!

 

I'll be there with this truck!

 

Look at this weather forecast. Looks great!!

 

If you're going to be around Thursday evening, come see HAMBer Moriority and I at the Minnetonka Drive-in!!

The Minnetonka Drive-in has a cruise-in every Thursday evening. With this being Back To The 50's weekend it should be a great time. This is a 50's style drive-in with working drive up style order stands. Head over Thursday evening if you're looking for some pre-BTT50's fun!

Minnetonka Drive-In
4658 Shoreline Dr
Spring Park, MN 55384

 

I'll be there in my deuce .....

 

I'm planning to be there in my 31 Plymouth Coupe. First long drive for the coupe since built.

What is the trick to getting a good spot?

 

Looking forward to the event again this year. Forecast looks good. Hope to see some of the HAMB'ers in person.
My car is the "Blue and White 1959 Nomad".

 

The trick to finding a good spot is to not get hung up on having a good spot.
The only bad spots are the ones near the greasy spoon food vendors.

 

I will be there with this '28 A pickup behind the DNR building by the fish pond. Gary

 

Thanks for the Minnetonka information Speed-On. This might work for me. Should be getting in late afternoon that day. Would be nice meeting some Northern Hambers.

 

Leaving Oklahoma for St. Paul tomorrow a.m.

 

I won’t be there but my dad and brother and my car will


Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.

 

It's on the bucket list and hear it's a awesome show and swap.....

 

5 of us are heading there Thursday morning. I have not missed a one since 1998. Taking my avatar car this time.