Event Coverage Official 2019 46th Annual MSRA Back To The 50's Weekend June 21 - 23

After a long cold Winter that gripped the US I think we're all thankful the hot rod season has begun. One of the highlights for many is the Minnesota Street Rod Associations Back To The 50's weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota. This will be the 46th annual and will be held Friday June 21st - 23rd.
Many of you are familiar with this event....either because you attend or you follow along on the HAMB thread.
It's an exciting event, last year 11,707 hot rods, customs, gasser, street rods, drag cars and stockers attended! All of which are 1964 and older! That is quite impressive. To have that many 1964 and older cars in one place at one time is amazing. (Mustangs are not allowed as they are considered 1964 1/2) I have attended this show for many years; it's something I look forward to every summer. For many participants and vendors alike this is a "can't miss" event. Once you attend once, you'll be back. The fun factor is through the roof. It's great seeing people that have traveled from out of state and are attending for the first time. They are blown away.

All this fun occurs at the beautiful Minnesota State Fairgrounds. There is a lot to see and do. This includes live music, WWII aircraft flyovers, 400 swap spaces in the swap meet, 300 commercial vendors, model car contest, and continuous cruising throughout the fairgrounds. Many premiere hot rod builders attend and bring their builds. If you're bringing your family (as you should since this is a family friendly car show) and they want to get away for a while, there is a shuttle that will bring them to and from the Mall of America.
So do yourself a favor and get your hot rod and your tail to Minnesota this June.

https://msrabacktothe50s.com/faq/

 

I will be there somewhere along the center island of Randall Ave, just like I have the last 20 of the 26 years I have attended. There is no 12 step program for it so I will be addicted to it the rest of my life lol Larry

 

I can't wait.

 

Not so patiently waiting...

 

Best show in the USA. I will be there for sure. It would be nice if we could get a Hamb meet and greet on Saturday that we all could find. Open for suggestions.

 

The Space Needle is easy to find. Maybe have it on the Cooper St side??



Here is a map of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. It's large, but will be filled end to end with hot rods! Awesome!

 

Finding a spot to park around the space needle will be next to impossible. Between the Fox lot and Robin lot usually has lots of empty parking spaces. That is about where the meet was last year, but without a Hamb banner or a sign it was hard to find the Hambers.

 

Titus always parks in that lot about halfway through the bend, and he sets up a canopy/tent thing for his family. Look for that.

 

yep, were out in the robin parking lot towards the fox lot, we got tired of fighting for spots, so we just set up a couple tents and park and come and go as we please, and you never have to worry about not being able to park

 

I found it to be one of the best get together weekend there is. The venue is perfect.

 

So can you guys with the tents put up a Hamb sign so us other Hambers can find the group? Could be fun to meet people we have messaged back and forth here on the forum. A big piece of cardboard with Hamb written on it would do, just so we know that the people parked there are Hambers.

 

Looking forward to the show as well and hoping for good weather. Will be there rain or shine with my topless A V\8.

 

Here is the list of Commercial Vendors that will be in attendance at the 2019 Back To The 50's. (This was the confirmation list as of 5/5/19, so more vendors may have been added)

This is an incredibly killer list of vendors! What a great time to take advantage of "show specials", speak to the vendors/reps in person, demo their products, and take home some cool stuff!! This in no way over-shadows all the great cars that will be there, but adds to an already outstanding event!

A & R Tire
A Plus Rod and Kustom
A to Z Screen Printing
A.M. Burney Exteriors
Advantage Lifts
Affordable Street Rods
Air Compressors Plus
Aldan American
All American
American Made Sales
Art by Amy Cunningham
ASA Partners
Auto City Classic
Auto City Gas
Auto Inspirations
Auto Meter
Avon Sales
Awesome Oldies
Backwoods Speed Shop
Bad Dog Tools
Becker Fire and Safety
Bedder Getter
Bel Cappelli Hat Company
Billet Specialties
Borgeson Universal
Bowler Performance
Brake and Equipment
Brookville Roadster
Buck's Carports & Canopies
Bud's Speed Shop
C.A.R.S. Inc.
C-Aire Compressors
Camaro Central
Car Capsule
Cara Fuller Photography
Caricatures by Erin
CARtoons Magazine
Cenaiko Expo / JD's Salsa
CFM Motorsports
Checkered Racing
Chuck's Place
Classic Instruments
Classic Street Signs
Classics Plus Inc.
Classics Plus Ltd.
Clean Tools Inc
Clean Up Inc
Coach's Corner
Coffee Queen Coffee
Coker Tire
Compressed Art Airbrushing
Cooling Components
Corky's Towing
Covercraft Industries
Cragar Wheels
CRT Shirts
Campus Ragz
C-Tech Manufacturing
Cutco Cutlery
CVF Racing
Dakota Digital
Danny's Rod Shop
Dealer Automotive Services
Dean's Parts
Denny's Auto Restoration
Design Engineering Inc (DEI)
Diecast Model Cars
Dillon Radiator
Dip'n Good Dips
Dom's Sunglasses
Dot's Frame Shop
Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Inc.
Edelbrock
Ellingson Motorcars
Energy Panel Structures
Euro Shine
USA Ewe-Nique Products
E-Z Chassis Swaps
Factory Motor Parts
Fatman Fabrications
Finishing Touch Car Care
Flaming River
Fog Light City
Footpharmacy Direct
The Ford Barn
Ford Performance
Future Vision Galaxy
All Star Garage Experts
Twin Cities Gearhead Enterprises
Glide Engineering
GM Enterprises
Griot's Garage
Grundy Insurance
H & H Classic Parts
Hagerty
Harris International Labs
Hazelwood Flagpoles
Heartthrob Exhaust
High Plains Industries
Hollywood Handbags
Home Depot
The Horkey's Wood and Parts
Hot Rod Hardware
Hotwire Auto
Hush Mat & Zycoat
Inland Empire Driveline
Innovation X
International Trade Services
Iola Car Show
Iverson Automotive
J & K Sunglass Creations
J & L Collectibles
J.C. Taylor Insurance
Jasper Engines/Transmissions
JB Dist. Co. Inc.
Jeff's Crank Balancing
JJ's Rods/E-Z Firewall Boots
Johnny's Auto Body
JR Custom Plating
Kalahan Communications
Kathy's Collectables
KBS Coatings
Keep The Bitch Floored
Keystone Automotive
Kindig It Design
Kwik Wire
L & L Street Rods
Laid-Back USA
Living In Skin
LMC Truck
Lokar
Lyons Diecast Collectibles
M&E Sales
Martin Wholesale Group
McMillan Rod & Custom
Meguiar's
Merv's Classic Chevy Parts
Metro Moulded Parts
Midwest Lifts
Midwest Manufacturing
Millner-Haufen Tool Co
Minnesota Pneumatic Prod
Mobile Game World
Model Empire
Mouse-Mix
NAPA Auto Parts
National Auto Tools
Neat Old Stuff
Neon Warehouse
Nichols Paint and Fab
Northland Buildings
Painless Performance
Park Place Storage Condos
Past Gas Art
Perfection Products Un-Ltd
Performance Rod & Custom
Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Parts
Phoenix Machine
Piston Clothing
PJ's Auto Literature
Porter Muffler
PPG Paints
Premier Street Rod
Prestone Products Corp
Pro Art Custom Paint
Pure Choice Motorsports
QA1 Race Coatings
RaceDeck
Radiator Supply House
Rat Rod Magazine
Renewal by Andersen
Restop
Ribbon Fair Games
Ridetech
Roach Pinstriping
Rodding USA
Rodworx
Roger's Rod and Customs
Ron's Diecast Collectibles
RR Frames
RTS Transmissions
Rusty Nut Enterprises
Rydell Parts
S.S. Enterprise
S+S Enterprises
Samaritan Tire Co.
Sanderson Headers
Schwanke Engines
Scooter Time Rental
Scott's Hotrods
Scramblers
Shannon Watts Art & Design
Show Cars Automotive
Sick n Twisted Designs
Smeding Performance
Smokey Road Rod Shop
Smoothie Fabrication
Sole Shine Henna
Soler and Sons Southwind Treasures
Speedcult
Speedway Racing Systems
Speedzone
Steady Clothing
Steichen's
Stewart Warner
Strapman
Streakfree
Suburban GM Parts
Summit Racing
Sun Products
Supercar Collectibles
Superior Sleep
Swillco Speed Shop
T & S Quality Bag Sales
Tanks
Tea Design
Thekeyguys.com
Tie Boss
Timber Wolf Point
Timberwolf Belt Co.
Timeout
Toppers & Trailers Plus
TPS Products
Travel-N-Past
Trio
Trouble Free Lighting
True Grit Sandpaper
Uncommon USA
Union Speed and Style
Unique Specialty & Classics
Unisteer Performance
UPS Store
The US Mags / MHT Wheels
Valspar / House of Kolor
Vanz Auto
Veit Automotive Foundation
Vengeance Products
Vintage Air
Wheelsmith
Wildfire Lifts
Wildlife Resins
Wilwood Disc Brakes
Winter Company
Wizards Products
Wolf Creek Autobahn
Woodward Fab
Woody's Auto Literature
X-Treme Products
Yogi's

 

Less than 2 weeks until this great event. Who's going and what are you bringing? Any of you attending for the first time?

Here is a cool video from the 2018 MSRA Back To The 50's. It's just a small sampling of the thousands of cars




For you first timers, here's some info you may find helpful. The Minnesota State Fair is (I believe) the 2nd largest state fair in the U.S. which is why it's referred to as the "Great Minnesota Get-together". It's also one of the largest fairs in the world. With that, the MN State Fairgrounds is quite large. There's many paved streets and sidewalks. For those looking for shade, the place is filled with mature trees. Although it's very large...it will be packed end-to-end with hot rods. It's amazing how many cars show up....actually...it's pretty damn awesome! Also, regarding alcohol....they do not sell it on premise during BTT50's, so it's BYOB. There are police that patrol the fairgrounds. If you're sitting behind your car enjoying the show with your friends and family they will turn a blind eye. If you're walking around and not causing a problem....they will also turn a blind eye. Just use common sense and don't act stupid (which I know you wont) and you're good. I've never seen a problem in the 30-some years I've been going.

There are restaurants on the grounds and many food stands & trailers.





There's also some of the best cookies around..




If you're looking for an aerial view of the show, the Skyride will be open as well.

 

You had to show the COOKIES! Don't you know some of us are on a 12 step program for addiction! Hi my name is Larry and I can eat a bucket by myself! Someone pass the milk. lol I have been going 26 years and eat way too many of them every year. Everybody that's going have Fun! I will be parked on the center island of Randall Ave somewhere. I will be driving my best friends 57 210 hardtop, Maroon , Cragers and old Project X style rear wheel flares. He has Parkinsons and can not drive that far at a time. May only have a couple more years where he will be able to enjoy it ,so I make sure him and his car are there. God willing I can always take one of my Mercs another year. Larry

 

4 cars/cheeseheads going, should be fun.

 

Anyone know if O'Gara's is open during BTTF?

 

O'Gara's is open during the 50's.

Make sure you get a bucket of cookies, too. They are delicious. @ONEBAD51MERC is right, one could enter a 12 step program after eating a bucket.

 

Looking forward to seeeing a few familiar faces

 

I’ll be there for my first time.
I’ve been told I don’t have a familiar face though.

 

Will you be there with #71?

 

the 2019 coverage in photos & videos should be great

 

That's awesome this is your first @T&A Flathead you're going to have a great time. Hoping for favorable weather. I'm surprised this is your first since you're quite close living in Wizco. I'm thinking this won't be your last!

@Jalopy Joker I will try and take as many pics as I can and post them here, as I've done in years past. Typically my event coverage of BTT50's is decent. I know you're one of the guys that enjoys seeing photos from this show. One of these years you need to make it up to St. Paul for this show. You'll be mad at yourself for not attending years earlier.....come on, 12,000 hot rodders can't be wrong! I'm starting to get stoked for this years event.

 

@Speed~On , yeah I should have made it sooner but I’m a transplant to wizco. Is there a hamb meet & greet ?

 

Yeah, I think there will be one. Sounds like people want to have it in the Robin Lot. HAMBer @titus typically parks in the Robin lot which is towards the North end of the fairgrounds. Scroll up to the map I posted above. The Robin Lot is slightly North and West of the grandstand. I'm not sure if a time has been agreed upon yet. Typically the Meet & Greet is on Saturday. I am a transplant to WI too. Grew up in MN.

 

The plan is for me to be there on Friday and Saturday.

Haven't been there in 4 years. Excited to return.

 

OK so let's do it in the Robin lot at 1pm on Saturday. @titus can you put up a Hamb sign on your tent?

 

Can we do a HAMB show within the BTT50s show. Have the Robin lot filled with HAMB cars and people on Saturday ?

 

After a many year hiatus I will be up there with my girlfriend. If I can dig it out I will bring my HAMB Banner.

 

Please bring your banner so we can find you.... We would all like to meet your girlfriend!