2026 Car Show at Benton County Fairgrounds

Sunday, August 16th, 2026 7:00 am to 2:00 pm

Benton County Fairgrounds at 1410 3rd Avenue South in Sauk Rapids, MN 56379

Honoring Military & Veterans - Past & Present!

Trophies for Top 107 Show Cars, Indoor Displays, Swap Vendors, Used Car Corral, Food Vendors, Indoor Arts & Crafts, and MORE!!

Featuring Freedom Flight - Balloon rides weather dependent

Military equipment from the Minnesota Army National Guard will be on display.

Valve Cover Races (starting about 10:00am) & Model Car Contest

Saturday Night Fun Run - August 15th - 6 PM

Sunday Service at 10:00 am

Pre-entry fee $10 - At the Gate $15

Spectator admission is $8.00 for adults. Kids 15 and under are free with paid adult.

Credit/Debit cards now accepted at all gates!

No pets. No bikes or motorized vehicles. No guns. No skateboards or rollerblades.

Saturday evening fun run

Our Fun Run the night before the car show had a nice turnout. We had about 80 cars, which is a little less than last year, but it threatened rain which I’m sure kept some people home. I want to thank everyone who came out and made The Fun Run a success.

I especially want to thank the people who helped me again this year, Keith Bauman, Barb Neski, Terry Knapek, Jerry and Marian Kriese, Mona Zwilling and Brian Zwilling. With their help it has made The Fun Run the tradition it has become. Again, Thanks.

Jim Zwilling

Youth Car/Truck Enthusiast Award

We have awarded two $500 winners for our “Youth Car/Truck Enthusiast Award” this year to; 20 year old Tanner Staller with his 1929 Ford Model A Roadster Pick up, and to 16 year old Nolan Kreifels with his 1968 Ford Mustang. Both cars were on display in the Ice Arena at the car show.

Tanner Staller

1929 Ford Model A Roadster Pick up

Nolan Kreifels

1968 Ford Mustang

Young Builders Program

We also awarded one $500 winner in our new “Pantowners Young Builders Program” at the Cold Spring Street Machines (CSSM) Car Show back in July to Caleb Reich with his 1973 Plymouth Duster.

All three are deserving of these awards.

Caleb Reich

1973 Plymouth Duster

Valve Cover Racing Rules and Regulations

THE CARS: - 30“ Maximum Overall Car Length

- 10” Total Height

- 10” Total Width

- 10 LBS Total Weight By Our Scale

- No Engines or Propulsion Of Any Kind

- No Moving Weights

- Cars Must Have 4 Wheels (Inside or Outside), Each Wheel 6” Diameter Max

- Wheels Must Have a Non-Metallic Surface Contacting The Track

- Cars Shall Be Based On An Actual Rocker Cover From A Car/Truck Engine

- Nothing Shall Extend Beyond The Gasket Surface On The Front Of The Car

- Cars Must Have A Permanent Number Affixed

- The Car Can Have A Chassis, But Cannot Be Interchanged With Any Other Body After Being

Registered

- The Car Must Be Clean. If It Drips, You Lose

THE TRACK:

- The Judge’s Decision Is Final

- The Track Will Consist of 2 Lanes. Each Lane is 18’

- The Driver Will Release Their Own Car On The Green Light. If You Jump The Light, You Will

Lose That Round

- If A Car Interferes With Another Car, You Lose That Round

- If A Car is Hampered By A Track Issue, They Will Receive A Re-Run

- If A Car Crosses The Center Line, You Lose That Round

- If Neither Car Makes It To The Finish Line, The Car That Makes It The Farthest Is Declared The

Winner

51st Annual car show & swap meeT!

It’s a wrap!