Tonka Cruzers Car Club Excelsior MN 2014 Sponsors

thanks to our 2014 Sponsors!

Joey Nova's

Excelsior Brewing Co

Gary's First Class Car Care

Oppidan

Join us for our first Car Show on May 31, 2014 9-noon

Tonka Cruzers Car Club Blog Update

OK I am still around but very neglectful on a Blog update [last one featuring Gary Berry’s Rolls Royce on frozen Lake MTK in January] but in my defense we have and are super busy!

 The latest was the Cars I got for International School of MTK Play Bye-Bye Birdie … minimal Cars but maximum fun! Had the Cars on display before the play and after the play with the cast members present for pictures with the Cars. I will not go on and on about the Event but let the photos tell the story.

A HUGE thanks to those who brought their Cars!

 

Next is my Excelsior Car Show for this Summer – same place and times but check the dates on the new flier. The first show will be May 31^st the same weekend The Concours d’Elegance which will be on Sunday June 1^st.

 

Next is some upcoming Shows I will mention:
 

Eden Prairie High School Car Club is hosting their first ever Car Show on Saturday May 17^th at EP High School 8 to Noon – for more information visit www.ephscarclub.weebly.com

 

Youngstedts is hosting the 2^nd Annual Chanhassen Charity Car Show in Chanhassen Saturday June 7^th – for more information visit www.propfood.org/chanhassen-charity-charity-car-show

 

My Assisted Shows this year will be Wealshire of Bloomington and Minnetonka Assisted only so far as Catholic Elder Care of NE Minneapolis is doing some remodeling so had to cancel this year. Stay tuned for Dates and Times. 

Winter has not been fun so let’s really enjoy our shortened Car Season this year. One casualty of the winter [true story] is that one of the Car Guys couldn’t get his Ride out of storage due to the boats in the storage facility remained in storage  so his car was trapped – yikes! 

 

Last the mystery Mustang in the last picture will have a follow up story eventually and pictures of the build process and description of the Car. 

Be Well and hope to see you at my Show and other Shows

Rick Meyer

Tonka Cruzers Car Club - Excelsior

PS The Greenwood Market at Highway 7 and Christmas Lake Rd, sells non-oxy gas if you need it! 

 

For your viewing pleasure, check these websites:

http://autos.yahoo.com/video/unsung-hero-mustang-ii-torque-120000000.html 

 

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/rare-mustang-boss-302-emerges-barn-40-slumber-202830266.html 

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/ford-car-ces-144911646.html 

http://news.yahoo.com/video/whoknew-rarest-cars-060000725.html 

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/01/06/why-fords-f-150-still-dominates-the-2014-chevy-sil.aspx#.Us1njfsnXeI 

http://news.yahoo.com/video-audi-unveils-amazing-laserlight-advanced-headlights-system-205515816.html 

http://news.yahoo.com/three-wheel-6-800-car-gears-2015-us-193306020.html

 http://autos.yahoo.com/news/2015-ford-mustang-feature-enhanced-sync-applink-tech-170010819.html 

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/10/dodge-to-reveal-hellcat-powered-challenger-in-detroit/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000588

 

http://news.yahoo.com/carmakers-driverless-cars-legal-framework-224208368--finance.html

  https://autos.yahoo.com/photos/dream-cars-a-vision-of-the-future-of-automobiles-slideshow/

Rolls Royce with Snowplow! Seen on frozen Lake Minnetonka, Excelsior Bay, Minnesota

Gary Berry's Rolls Royce Snowplow on Lake Minnetonka. Gary is a regular at the summer Tonka Cruzers Car Club Car Shows in Excelsior, MN. He took his unique vehicle out on the ice roads of Lake Minnetonka last week.  Here is the story of this unusual car in Gary's own words:

Info provided by Gary Berry:

Some specifics on my car

1981 Rolls Royce Silver Spur originally from Germany

I bought off ebay from a dealer in florida

Through a series of unfortunate circumstance the motor blew leaving the car pretty much worthless. Rather than scrap it i held onto it to bring back to life a project i wanted to do in the early 80s when i had a 1962 rambler with a good body and bad frame and a 1976 jeep cherokee chief with a bad body. I had totally rebuilt the drivetrane in the jeep so i was going to put my rambler body on the jeep frame. That project never happened so when the Rolls became a project it seemed natural to Minnesotaize the Rolls by making it 4 wheel drive.

 I bought a 1993 suburban, tore it down to the frame and shortened it by 8"

I bought a new 4 bolt 350 chev, 4 speed truck trans and a remanufactured transferre case and have now been working and tweeking on it for about 4 years

 I still have lots of work to do but at least it is useable and a fun car to have.

Photos by Rick Meyer

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! from Tonka Cruzers Car Club

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Yeah that’s my Mildred decked out for Christmas.

Sorry for a lapse in updating my Blog site but have been busy with the Christkindlsmarkt Event in Excelsior for the last few months and now the follow up. This is the 8^th year of this event which ran the 3 days after Thanksgiving and our most successful one yet.

Check us out at ExcelsiorChristmas.com

Please view the photos of the opening day Parade the Friday after Thanksgiving with Santa and the Christmas Angel in the lead with some Elves. Check out the photos of a couple of the Car guys [Roger and Chuck] who faithfully participate in the Parade every year – a big thanks to them!

Will continue to update my Blog on a more regular basis with tidbits of interest to all the Car Folk out there so keep checking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The photo of the transformation of Jim Boylan’s 1940 Chev [after he sold it] is amazing. It was at a couple of my Car Shows and gotta say it was very straight and a solid car to begin with and the party who bought it did a great job of having it restored to original – absolutely my kind of restoration, thanks for sharing Jim. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now had to include this last photo of Tracy and me at the Assisted Living Car Show I sponsor in Bloomington. This one of three I sponsor during the summer and getting more successful every year.

This last summer a restored Bus from the Excelsior run showed up that was part of a collection and a Bus that was one that actually was used in the Excelsior run, how cool is that – made for a great photo op!

 

Anyway, that’s it for now and if you have any news or interesting car related “stuff” please send it to me to include on my Blog. It will help fill a void until we can get back on the road again.

Have a safe Holiday Season and hope to see or hear from you soon.

Rick and Tracy,

Tonka Cruzers Car Club - Excelsior

Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt this Weekend and Grande Parade on Water St Friday morning

All,

 

Hi to all and a very Happy Thanksgiving! I haven’t updated my Blog for a while as I have been very busy with the “Main Event” I am part of in the great town of Excelsior.

 

If you don’t know I am involved with the Tonka Cruzers Car Show, Flea Market and now the Christkindlsmarkt 3-Day Event the Friday/Saturday/Sunday after Turkey Day.

We are our own group which sponsor these 3 events – not the City itself and not the local Chamber.

 

Well I’m here to tell you don’t miss the Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt [check our website] for more info. Great Event for a number of reasons Food, Gift shopping for the hard to shop for, Music, Santa on the Trolley for your Kids or Grandkids, Reindeer, Alpaca, Boy Scouts selling Wreaths/Swags and trees. Yep, one stop shopping with entertainment in an Festive outdoor setting.

 

Plug this in your Browser for more information –www.excelsiorchristmas.com

 

The Kick Off Parade is on Friday 11//29/13 on Water Street -Some of you will be joining us for the Parade! meet at 9:45 AM on Water Street by Dunn Bros for the 10:00 AM parade down Water Street with Santa and the crew!

I will keep updating my Blog after this event is over and have more time with interesting tidbits car related so keep checking my Blog -www.Tonkacruzerscarclub.blogspot.com

 

OK all I have time for now but here is something else to check out about my fair town –

http://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2013/10/excelsior-crown-jewel-minnesota-s-little-vacationland

 

Lots of restaurant choices in Excelsior so drive on over some evening and find out what we have to offer and also shop in town, more fun then going to the crowded mall.

 

Be Well,

Rick Meyer

Tonka Cruzers Car Club

 

Sept 7 Apple Day some 1920s Model classic cars in Excelsior by the Excelsior MN Flea Market

Here are a few shots from Excelsior's Apple Day Model T show running concurrent with Ricks Tonka Cruzers car show, duels by the Excelsior Flea Market and right by Lake Minnetonka.

Minnetonka Assisted Living Cruze in

A great big thank you for making the 5th year of the Minnetonka Assisted Living Car Show such a success! I received an RSVP for 25 cars and that’s how many showed up – wow, you are the best.

 

Minnetonka Assisted Living does put on a great event with the sit down meal and the raffle is a fun event along with good entertainment. The Residents do appreciate the car event as do the folks that work there.

 

My Mom is in Assisted Living so I know the first hand the Residents do enjoy someone to chat with and it might require you to talk loud enough for them to hear but no matter thanks for engaging their attention as they have led interesting lives.

 

I have attached some photos I took in more in an intent to be a little artsy/interesting – comment if you want to.

 

Check the blog when you get a chance as Tracy will post them soon.

 

Thanks again,

Rick Meyer

Tonka Cruzers Car Club – Excelsior

http://www.tonkacruzerscarclub.blogspot.com/