Still good chances to see great cars

By Jim Bohen, St. Paul freelance writer

Last update: October 9, 2009 - 9:46 AM

Autumn has been ready to arrive since our late August "cold snap," but the calendar must flip to October to bring the curtain down on car-show season. So it's not surprising that the number of events for this week and next are significantly fewer than they were a few weeks ago. But though the number of nice days and car shows dwindles, fans of classic cars and street rods still have a few chances to catch these beauties before they're put away for the winter. (Note: Spectators are admitted FREE at all events listed unless noted).

Saturday

Pine Island Cruise-In, downtown (5-10 pm, 507-261-9577, 507-398-7083).

Saturday/Sunday

Elmer's Auto & Toy Museum, Fountain City, Wis. ($7, $6 seniors, $3 children; 9 am - 5 pm; elmerstoys@yahoo.com, www.elmersautoandtoymuseum.com). See hundreds of antique cars, motorcycles and bicycles and thousands of antique toys; also antique dolls and tools and the nation's largest pedal-car display. Also open Oct. 17-18.

Sunday

7th Annual Drive for Kids, starts at Indian Mounds Park, St. Paul (curbside show 8-11 am in St. Paul; participants drive to Red Wing, where that city's Festival of the Arts is also taking place, for a noon-5 pm show with awards; 612-379-BOLD, www.driveforkidsMN.com). The St. Paul start features WCCO's Dave Lee. The drive is open to all vehicles and costs $55 per vehicle ($275 for organizations, up to six vehicles). The event raises money for these youth groups:

1. Bolder Options, a Minneapolis-based youth mentoring organization;

2. The Portage for Youth, a St. Paul after-school/summer program for girls;

3. The Youth Outreach Program, a prevention, intervention and education program for Red Wing kids.

29th Annual Auto Parts Swap Meet and Cars for Sale Car Corral, fairgrounds parking lot, Monticello, IA ($5, under 12 free with paid adult; 7:30 am - 1 pm rain or shine, 319-465-5119/5380, www.autopartsswapmeet.net). Buy, sell or trade high-performance, custom, stock and antique cars, trucks, cycles and parts - or just look.

Monday

Culver's, Eagan (5-9 pm, 612-747-1546, 612-685-1272, 63galaxieman@jmknowlton.com). Informal gathering, weather permitting.

Wednesday

Pizza Ranch, Waconia (6-8 pm, 952-448-4946, 612-396-4145). The last cruise-in at this venue this year.

Thursday

Minnetonka Drive-In, Spring Park (5 pm-dusk, 952-471-9383). Expect fewer cars in poor weather at a place with car-hops and homemade root beer that's not "pretending" to be a 1960s drive-in - it is one.

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