Rod Run brings car fans from near and far

Car enthusiasts will be flocking to Havre this weekend for Hi-Line Cruz’n Association’s 32nd Annual Rod Run.

This year’s theme for the rod run is “Karz Across the Border.”

“We have had quite a few Canadians over the years,” Hi-Line Cruz’n Association member Craig Otterstrom said. “We have had different themes over the years; this year we wanted to honor the Canadians.”

The rod run includes many events spanning the weekend, June 8-10. After June 1, registration fees are $40 per person, $50 per couple, or $55 per family, which includes two adults and any children younger than 21. Each additional is $5 to register.

Participation in the Show ’N’ Shine only is $5.

Registration begins Friday at 5 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m, with food being served from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s events begin with registration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Registration will not be accepted after 1 p.m. Saturday and the Saturday evening dinner cannot be attended without registration.

The public is invited to the Great Northern Fairgrounds to come and see the registered cars and talk to the owners at the Show ’N’ Shine from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Otterstrom said.

A poker run will be held 2-4 p.m. where registered owners can drive their cars around the city to different stops to collect their cards, Otterstrom said. The reward for the person with the best hand will be presented at dinner.

Dinner for the rod run participants will be a pitch fork fondue at 6 p.m., he said, featuring an open bar, music by Blind Luck and dancing.

“We cook steak on pitchforks, cooked with burning oil,” Otterstrom said, adding that the meat is seasoned and it is pretty good; everyone has always seemed to enjoy it.

Besides the award for the best poker hand, awards and prizes will be given for some of the best cars, Otterstrom said.

The judging is done by community members, he added. In the past, the judges have included police officers and body shop workers.

“Our association makes our own trophies,” Otterstrom said. “It is something unique and different about our rod run.”

Sunday morning will be a kind of “good-bye” to everyone who came to Havre for the event, he said.

“In the morning during cleanup, people can stop by, get some donuts and coffee; say goodbye,” Otterstrom added.

He said the event always seems to draw a lot of people and interesting cars.

“We could end up with a couple hundred people,” Otterstrom added.

There are a lot of different kinds of cars that people bring up and register.

“Some are finished; some are in progression,” he said. “You will see newer cars right next to a ’57 Chevy.”

For more information about the weekend, people can contact Barb Salerno at 265-3163 or [email protected] or Kristi Cederberg at 379-2387 or [email protected].