Brooklyn Park Car Club Pulls in to Back to the 50s
All roads lead to Back to the 50s Car Show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. The Northwest Metro is well represented by members of a car club that meets every week at Wagner’s Drive –in.
Everywhere you look at Back to the 50s Weekend at the State Fair grounds, there are cars as far as the eye can see. Hundreds. Thousands. None newer than 1964, all something special. From drag-ready T-buckets, to showroom-condition ’40’s Mercurys, and even a few low-riders, there’s something for every car lover here.
And tucked away at the corner of Randall and Cooper Street, the Wag-Niter’s car club. They usually meet every Monday at Wagner’s Drive-In in Brooklyn Park, but this weekend they’re among the 12,000 classic car owners here to see and be seen.
Car Show blind date leads to couple tying the knot
Bob and Shelly Malarkey own a fully-restored baby blue ’64 Fairlane wagon – a car Bob bought in Canada fifteen years ago, never imagining how much the car would change his life. He started bringing the car to Back to the 50’s every year, and it wasn’t long before someone decided to play matchmaker.
“His brother asked me if he could give (him) my phone number,” says Shelly. “And I said no.”
But that didn’t stop Bob – he called Shelly the next day and arranged a blind date at the car show. That was ten years ago. Four years ago they tied the knot here, right next to the Wag-Niters’ encampment.
While Shelly liked cars before she met Bob, she was never car-crazy. But that’s all changed. Since meeting Bob she’s become the secretary for the Gopher State Timing Association, which puts on car shows and drag races.
And speaking of drag races, Shelly does that now, too, in Gopher State’s 160mph race car. Of course, there’s also the Monday nights at Wagner’s, and any other car meetup.
Bob and Shelly can get to – things Bob used to do alone, but now has an eager partner along for the ride.
“It’s been fun,” Bob says. “She’s my best friend, my car buddy, my everything I guess. It’s a good life.”
