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Veterans Home classic car show brings out auto enthusiasts for hot dogs, root beer and fun

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By
Lori Sorenson i

Dick Remme was as proud as punch Thursday night when he took his 1940 Pontiac Silver Streak to the classic car show at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.
The white-wall tires were spotless and the black paint and chrome trim were polished to a mirror finish.
And Remme was grinning from ear to ear.
“It was my grandfather’s car,” he said.
The automobile was originally bought at Schoon Motors, the dealership that once operated in the middle of Luverne (where Glen’s Food Center is now located).
Remme’s grandpa, John Birkeland, farmed nine miles northeast of Luverne, so the Pontiac didn't have far to travel to Remme’s farm near Kenneth.
Of course, by the time Remme acquired it, the old car needed some attention, so he contacted Tom Loring of Expert Autobody and Restoration in Adrian.
Loring was a former student in Adrian where Remme once taught industrial arts, so it meant something to Remme to have someone he knew do the restoration work.
Six years ago, the Pontiac project was done, and Remme said he now enjoys showing it off whenever and wherever he can.
Thursday’s event at the Veterans Home provided another such opportunity for Remme and dozens of other classic car enthusiasts to show off their pride and joy.
The circular parking lot in front of the facility served as the perfect venue for the vehicles to gleam in the late afternoon summer sun.
Musicians Tommy Binford and Jeanie Adams performed in the shade under their band name, “Fishing for Olives,” and volunteers served up hotdogs and root beer floats under the front entry canopy.
According to activities supervisor Shirley Connor, the annual car show is organized as a community outreach activity.
“Our veterans love the cars, tractors and motorcycles,” Connor said. “We started offering food and root beer floats a few years ago.”
She said there isn’t a specific count of the people there, but she said volunteers grilled about 400 hotdogs and there were no leftovers.
“I love seeing our residents interacting with the car owners,” Connor said.
“Guys love to stand around and talk about their cars. It's fun to see.”
The Veterans Home Classic Car Show is always on the third Thursday in August. Thursday’s event marked the eighth year of the show.

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