Photo: An outrageous blown and tubbed Camaro draws stares as it thumps through the Minnesota State Fairgrounds during the Car Craft Summer Nationals, which took place July 22-24.
The Car Craft Summer Nationals came to a close July 24 after three days of roaring engines, smoking tires, polished paint and deep-fried eats.
Car Craft magazine’s annual street machine event, which draws about 5,000 cars and 45,000 spectators, continues to be the Minnesota State Fairgrounds’ second biggest car show behind Back to the ’50s. But more than a show, the event features an autocross course, a chassis dyno, a launch box that tests acceleration and braking, a burnout competition, a Miss Car Craft contest and more.
Basically, if you enjoy cars–particularly domestic vehicles from the muscle era through today–there’s something for you at the Car Craft Nats. And the event appeals just as much to lawn-chair show goers as it does to adrenaline junkies. The show’s Real Street Eliminator competition pitted participants against each other on the dyno, the autocross course and in the launch box. New this year was a Pro Builder’s Shoot Out, a Royal Purple Do-It-Yourself Garage and a Revell Make ‘N’ Take model building area.
Severe weather whipped through the Fairgrounds on Saturday, but it didn’t dampen spirits much. Nor did the construction on University Avenue, or the absence of Porky’s, a popular destination after the show in years past. Cars cruised Snelling Avenue instead.
Hopefully the show continues to grow, as it’s pretty cool to host a national car mag’s main event year after year. If you’ve never experienced it, make sure to get there next year. Check out the photos for some of this year’s action and go to carcraft.com for more details.
July 24th, 2011 | Articles, Event Articles
Thanks for putting my ’73 Grand Am on you site. We had a great time at the Summer Nationals, looking forward to next year.
Comment by George Roetman — October 29, 2011 @ 8:28 am