Mark your calendars, here's a car show season preview

This preview of this year's car-show events presents some highlights. While dates and locations are confirmed, one or two might change, so check the "Intersections" and "Auto Scene" columns in "Cars" for up-to-date information.

Feb. - The Greater Northwest RV, Vacation and Camping Show (42nd annual, Feb. 5-8, Minneapolis Convention Center) and the World of Wheels (47th annual, Feb. 6-8, St. Paul's RiverCentre) are on the same weekend this year. Both shows are previewed in "Cars" next weekend. Chip Foose of Discovery Channel's "Overhaulin'," plus the original and new KITTs from "Knight Rider," will be at World of Wheels.

March - The Greater St. Paul and Minneapolis International Auto Show fills the Minneapolis Convention Center with all the new models March 21-29. The Gopher State Timing Association hosts the state's longest-running show, the 53rd Annual Rod & Custom Spectacular, at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum March 28-29. Ted Guth will build a funny car during the show and fire it up Sunday.

April - The First Fifty Auto Club hosts a car show/swap meet April 26 at the State Fairgrounds.

May - The Buick Club's Spring Extravaganza is May 3 at the State Fairgrounds, while the InterMarque Council's Spring Extravaganza (May 16, location not set) features vintage foreign cars. Mopars in the Park is May 30-31 at the Dakota County Fairgrounds.

June - The world's largest three-day rod and custom show - the Minnesota Street Rod Association's Back to the 50s - expects 11,000-plus cars again June 19-21 at the State Fairgrounds. The All-Ford Picnic is at St. Paul's Ford plant June 7. This month also features the All-GM show (June 8, State Fairgrounds) and the Stone Arch Art Festival/Art of Classic Cars (June 20-21, Minneapolis).

July - Two big shows: The Iola Old Car Show (July 9-12) in Wisconsin and the Car Craft Summer Nationals (July 17-19, State Fairgrounds).

Aug. - The pre-1915 cars stop for lunch in Buffalo and finish the annual New London to New Brighton Antique Car Run Aug. 8 at Long Lake Regional Park. There's a Stockyard Days show the next day. August also "hosts" the Muscle Car Classic (Aug. 2, Waterford Park Office Complex, Plymouth) and the Summer Spectacular (Aug. 29, Dakota County Fairgrounds).

Sept./Oct. - The Twin Cities Collectors car show/swap meet is Sept. 6 at Aquatore Park, Blaine, and Motorbooks' "Wheels and Wings" is Sept. 12 in Osceola (Wis.). The season closes with State Fairgrounds swap meets Oct. 4 (Midwest Fall Swap Meet & Car Show) and Oct. 11 (Roadsters Twin Cities Swap Meet).