Duluth, MN area
2026 President: Brent Blaede
July-August 2026 Chapter News
Happy 250th Birthday America !
The Arrowhead Chapter would like to Wish all of you a Happy Independence Day Celebration and I hope many of you were able to put your old cars in a parade to show off your pride and joy.
Now down to business, I lots of club news to report, so lets get started.
May 16th was our first meeting of the season, with a total of 13 members present. Our members enjoyed cold salads & treats potluck style. Everyone was Happy to see each other again. We had a very productive meeting and came up with a new Meeting format that we will try out for our June Meeting. Carl and Jillaine Wegner attended from Grand Rapids, and gave the latest update on the 35th Annual Crank-Up Tour, hosted this year by the I.V.C.C. with around 25 people registered at that time.
We met for our June Meeting to discuss upcoming events, and finalize our summer. Kent Oliver brought his Beautiful 1957 Ford Skyliner to the meeting.
For the first time ever that I can remember, we ran out of food before all of our Members ate !! Such was the Huge turnout we had…especially for our June meeting which is typically lighter due to all of the events that take place in June..! Next…? Our Crank-Up Tour –
For 35 years, the Arrowhead Chapter and the Itasca Vintage Car Club have taken turns hosting our infamous ‘Crank-Up’ Tour, started by our late-Member Frank Shusta…Many of you will remember him. The I.V.C.C. did a ‘bang-up’ job hosting the 35th Anniversary Tour, without too many ‘backfires’…! The theme this year was; Exploring Minnesota’s Iron Range – Arrowhead Chapter Members as well as Members of the National Plymouth Drivers Club and others made this a large turnout of participants! Tour Members met in Eveleth June 9th for Coffee and Doughnuts. Wagon-Master Carl Wegner did a phenomenal job with the itinerary and keeping our wheels rolling. Off to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame – Members could spend all day seeing artifacts and memorabilia, but alas, Lunch Called us to Gilbert, MN. What could be better with a full stomach than to feed wild bears ! Off to the Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary – Show up around 5 to be taken deep into the woods to see Wild Bears being fed. The tour guides are students from all over our Country working the Summer.
Before checking in to our Beautiful Resort on Pelican Lake, we had to experience walking on a floating bog. The Mickey Elverum Bog Walk is not to be missed when you are in the area. Minnesota Wild Mint and hundreds of other native species are clearly marked and viewed and….Hold on tight to the railing as the bog moves below you!!
What’s a tour without the chance for a group to assemble and ‘pitch-in’…? JUST as we pulled in to our Resort to check-in, Carl & Jillaine felt that ‘thumpity-thump-thump-thump’…! Their tire gave up the ghost, but not to worry, lots of experts gathered around to ‘see’…
Dinner at that ‘Dam’ Supper-Club in Glendale, a Hot Sauna, a night’s sleep – We’re Ready for Day Two!! After Breakfast, Carl led us on one of the most perfect Tour Roads for Antique Cars! We arrived in Chisholm to the Minnesota Mining Museum with way too much to see to describe here. With a photo-op in front of the Famous ‘Iron-Man’ Statue, we motored over to the Minnesota Discovery Center. And ‘discover’ Minnesota, you will…Plan a Full Day to experience.
Many Many Thanks to our Friends in the I.V.C.C. for a GREAT 35th Anniversary Tour!
Don’t Miss Next Year’s ‘Crank-Up’ hosted by our Arrowhead Chapter where we will explore the 88 mile Lake Country Scenic Byway. Headed toward the Detroit Lakes Area, we are hoping our Sister Chapter 412 will show us some good roads- Make Plans Now to Attend !!
Coming up next for us in July, is our Old Fashioned Pic-Nic at a Lake in Wisconsin. August we have a Busy Busy Month…The Arrowhead Chapter will have a display of cars at the D.E.C.C.’s 60th Birthday Celebration. Members’ Cars from 1950 to 1966 will really look the part in front of the 1966 Arena!
This is a city-wide event, and we are honored to represent the Antique Car Community to the thousands that are to attend.
Just days later we will have our club’s Walt Carter Memorial Steak Fry hosted by yours truly. I have a demonstration planned that I think everyone will enjoy. Still in August, our Club has a senior citizen outreach, hosted by Nina Penney. It’s always nice to share our cars with the people that bought them new! It’s going to be a busy summer for the Arrowhead Chapter, we haven’t even gotten to September yet, but lot’s of fun ! So get your old cars out, put them in a parade and…
Let’s Go for a Drive,