Gearheads from across the nation gathered at Mancini’s Char House in St. Paul on Thursday afternoon amid dozens of cars dated from 1964 and older.

Collectors — some dressed in 1950s attire featuring poodle skirts and pinned up hair — mingled with each other and munched on steak sandwiches as oldies rock music played from speakers ahead of the three day Minnesota Street Rod Association’s “Back to the 50s” event taking place at the State Fairgrounds this weekend.

2022 and 2023 Miss Back to the Fifties Tammie Johnson (’22) left, and Amanda Moore (’23) pose next to a 1956 Chevrolet at the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s (MSRA) Back to the 50’s Weekend Kickoff Rally at Mancini’s Char House on West 7th, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

The event brought Larry Rollow, from Dallas, up to St. Paul with his blue 1951 Studebaker — a car that’s been in his life ever since he was a child. Originally, he bought the car from a friend where he grew up in California and used it for drag racing. Eventually he sold it, but 20 years later when flipping through an Autotrader magazine, he spotted the Studebaker and knew that it was his, so he bought it back, fixed it up and now he’s ready to show it off in Minnesota.

Scott Weyer, from Prior Lake, stood by his black pearl gold 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe that he spent more than five and half years building and repairing. Originally, the car was a friends’ and Weyer wanted to buy it from him, but his friend didn’t want to sell it. Seven years later, in April 2016, his friend asked him if he was still interested. So, Weyer took his wife, Mary, to go see it and “he couldn’t write the check fast enough.”

His wife loved it and was understanding, which is the most important thing, according to Weyer.

Classic cars are line up during the Minnesota Street Rod Association’s (MSRA) Back to the 50’s Weekend Kickoff Rally at Mancini’s Char House on West 7th, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

More than 10,000 classic vehicles are expected to fill the State Fairgrounds on June 21 through June 23, according to Dale Sohlstrom, a committee member of the Minnesota Street Rod Association. It’s the largest car show in the country, and recently was voted one of the top car shows in the nation by USA Today.

More than 2,000 volunteers working a total of 4,500 shifts are needed. Sohlstrom notes that there is going to be something for everyone — food, kids games, a “ladies showcase” featuring fashion items and more.

The collectable cars, poodle skirts and 1950s’ music that brought a classic atmosphere to Mancini’s on Thursday is just a taste of what is to come this weekend, according to Sohlstrom and J. Marie Fieger, volunteer for MSRA. To them, Back to the 50s is more than just an event, it’s a family. To get a full schedule and map for the Back to the 50s event, visit msrabacktothe50s.com/.

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