K-12 students are back in school, but 2008's car-show season hums along, as the following list of this week's events illustrates. Spectators are admitted free unless indicated. For more information, visit www.autoswalk.com.

Friday-Sunday

Inaugural Event, Brainerd International Raceway (Fri/Sat/Sun 8 am– 6 pm; drivers $20, spectators $10; 1-866-444-4455, www.brainerd-raceway.com). BIR opens its new 2.5-mile road track with vintage sports car racing. Beginners and novices can also drive laps. There's also nostalgia drag racing, a Fri. night get-together, a Sat. night track party (featuring Johnny Holm Band).

Friday Night

Minnesota Valley rally, downtown Shakopee (6-10 pm, 952-445-9668, bryan@tsc1890.com).

Prior Lake Roll-In, Main St., downtown (5-9 pm; 952-440-2277).

Fatboys Bar & Grille, East Bethel (3-9 pm, 763-434-8181).

Saturday

All Ford, Lincoln & Mercury Top 21 Trophy Car Show & Swap Meet, Midway Ford, Roseville (9 am–3 pm, 651-488-4721 days, 651-459-8153 evenings, pentaman@qwestoffice.net). Show for Ford Motor Co. models; also model car, racecar displays.

7th Annual Tomahawk Fall Get Together & Barbecue, Valley Buick-Pontiac-GMC, Apple Valley (9 am–3 pm, 763-486-3079).

Lookout Appreciation Trophy Car Show, Lookout Bar & Grill, MN Hwy. 55, Maple Grove (2-6 pm, 763-416-0494, 763-424-4365, metin67@embarqmail.com). Classics, street rods, muscle cars, sports cars.

7th Annual Otsego Festival Trophy Car Show, Prairie Park (behind City Hall), 8899 Nashua Ave. NE (10 am– 3 pm, 612-850-4429, lynne@otsegofestival.org, otsegofestival.org).

16th Annual "No Class" Trophy Car Show, City Park, Walker (10 am-3 pm, 800-833-1118, 218-224-2303, 218-547-3018). Part of a town festival.

Saturday Night

Anoka Saturday Night River Run, downtown (5 pm-dusk; 763-427-1460). Final scheduled event for this cruise-in.

Sunday

Barron Fall Festival Car Show, Swap Meet & Craft Fair, Barron, WI (8 am-3:30 pm, mjavener@yahoo.com).

Monday

Culver's, Eagan (6-9 pm; 612-685-1272, 612-747-1546).

Tuesday

Culver's, Savage (6-9 pm, 952-223-0332).

VFW Post 295, South St. Paul (6-9 pm; 651-455-7408).

El Tequila, Inver Grove Heights (5:30-8:30 pm; 651-455-1650).

Wednesday

Oak City, Brooklyn Center (7-9 pm; 763-531-0235, 612-529-4630).

Central Park, North Branch (6:30 pm departure for short cruise to a restaurant; 651-674-0020, 651-283-3359).

Lookout Bar & Grill, Maple Grove (6-9 pm, 612-581-8730, 763-424-4365).

Wal-Mart, Forest Lake (6-8 pm, 651-464-4052).

Tootsie's Tavern, Big Lake (5-9 pm, 763-263-2574).

Culver's, Buffalo (5pm-dusk; 763-497-1042).

Culver's, Elk River (5pm-dusk, 763-441-0400).

Thursday

The Pizza Shop, West St. Paul (5-10 pm; 651-224-4133).

Culver's, Forest Lake (5:30-8:30 pm, 763-434-6629).

Minnetonka Drive-In Restaurant, Spring Park (5 pm-dusk).