Every car club needs a name and most clubs come up with one relatively painlessly. But even when finding a name is harder, a club's founders or early members choose it, right? Not in the case of the Wright County Car Club. The west metro group had its name before there was even a club.
The club's story begins in 1982, when a Buffalo, Minn. (located in Wright County) radio station wanted some vintage cars at an event. When some owners of classic cars obliged, the station's announcer thanked the "Wright County Car Club" for supplying the cars. The problem was, no such club existed. The car owners decided, however, that forming a club was a good idea so - with its name already chosen - the club was born.
The club doesn't limit its interest to any make or year of vehicle. That results in a range of vehicles stretching from a 1917 Chevy to the 1979 Fairmont Futura two-door coupe that club president Bob McMullen finally persuaded a "little old lady" to sell him a few years ago. Most members prefer stock models or restorations but a few members own fenderless roadster street rods. McMullen, whose collection includes a 1918 Ford Model T and a 1931 Ford Model A Town Sedan - plus some 1950s-vintage Plymouths, a stretched 1957 Chevy Suburban and a '41 Chevy Canopy Express that all need work - is also creating a street rod that combines a 1923 T-bucket body and a 1941 Ford flathead V-8 engine.
Activities for the 80 or so club members, who stay in touch through a newsletter, include monthly meetings and a first Saturday of the month breakfast cruise. The club sponsors a car show in conjunction with the annual Buffalo Days celebration that draws around 150 cars in good weather. Another major event for the club is the lunch stop at Buffalo Senior High School for the annual New London to New Brighton Antique Car Run. By selling lunches to spectators gathered to see the early 20th century cars, the club helps defray its modest annual expenses.
With some professional mechanics in their midst, members can get help with their vintage cars. That makes it easier to drive them in small area parades and to participate in the annual Classics by the Lake show in downtown Buffalo and the Northwest Metro Cruise Nights that are held at different drive-in restaurants on Wednesdays from late spring to early fall.
For more information on the club, call 763-682-3772 or 763-972-2305.
