The Northern Knights Car Club was started in 1982 by a small group of people who wanted to restore, drive, show and enjoy their old cars with others who shared their interest in vintage and unique cars. Most of the members live in the Park Rapids, MN Area.

The Northern Knights Car Club is a general interest car club open to anyone interested in restoring, driving, showing or socializing with other people who share their interest in cars. The club is open to all domestic and foreign cars and trucks new and old as well as any special interest or limited production autos.

The club has organizes and hosts one large car show each year called the “Run to the Rapids” and is usually the second weekend in August. It is held on Main Street downtown Park Rapids, MN. It is open to cars from both club members and local car enthusiasts for a fee. Spectators can attend free.

Our club meets the last Monday of each month throughout the year. In the winter months we meet at the Heartland Inn downtown Park Rapids, MN on Hwy 34 at 6:30. We discuss local car activities, plan garage nights for members, occasionally have guest speakers who are experts on different car topics, and plan our cruises and annual car show. You are welcome to come and visit. During the summer months we meet at the Antique Tractor Fairgrounds on the southeast side of Park Rapids.

The History

Many people have an interest, to one degree or another, in cars but in the late 70’s three in particular, with a passion for old cars, were destined to meet.

Jim Thorne, then the business manager for school district 309, was working on a 1934 Ford Pickup. Mike Johnson, then the manager of the Park Rapids Pamida store, had a 1927 Model T Roadster. Bob Helgren, a teacher with school district 309, was finishing a 1936 Ford Coupe.

The meeting of these three individuals and the friendship that developed caused others to share their enthusiasm and talents. Before long, a group was gathering weekly at the Dixie Drive In to look at and “talk cars.”

With the help of the Toppers car club of Fargo, the existence of car enthusiasts in the Park Rapids area became known over a much larger area. The Toppers organized a Rod Run in the summer of 1981 and again in 1982 around the Park Rapids area. A “Rod Run” is a gathering of “rodders,” by invitation, to spend a weekend together talking about, looking at and driving their cars while enjoying the sights and activities in the area.

Excited and encouraged by the success of the Rod Runs, the Park Rapids group decided to organize a club and did so on July 4th, 1982 with 14 charter member (families). The membership has grown to more than 50 member (families) and covers a large area that includes Walker, Nimrod, Wadena, Menahga, Perham, New York Mills, Osakis and Lake Park.

Rod Runs have been held every year since the club was organized and many new friends and experiences have resulted. The Rod Run participants continue to return because of the warm welcome and fun times they have enjoyed due to the hospitality of the Northern Knights car club, the city of Park Rapids and the people of Hubbard County.

Car Club Historians:

Bob Helgren & Mike Johnson