Attendees share common interest at Paul Bunyan Vintage Auto Club's First City Cruise-In
Jun. 18—BEMIDJI — Sitting behind the wheel of his 1956 Mercury, Kermit Anderson was one of many car enthusiasts who drove into the Paul Bunyan Vintage Auto Club's First City Cruise-In at the Lueken's South parking lot on Saturday.
First held in 2019, these events came about after several years of the club hosting the Bemidji Car Show. A longstanding tradition, the show took place at various venues including Bemidji High School and the Beltrami County Fairgrounds.
Last being held at the Sanford Center in 2017, the car show was discontinued due to a lack of sponsors. However, the admiration for antique automobiles still existed and a less formal version of the car show would take its place.
Though still relatively new, Saturday's First City Cruise-In has already proven to be a popular fare, though there's room for growth as future events will take
place from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 21.
"This is building momentum," Anderson said. "We're trying to do a better job of advertising. At first, it was word of mouth and that's OK. But there are so many people that have cars in their shed and you never see them. When they come out, it's just unbelievable."
Anderson, along with Larry Oakes and Roger Tell, founded the Paul Bunyan Vintage Auto Club in 1972 and
celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.
Oakes passed away on May 28 after ongoing health issues,
leaving behind his wife, Carol; son, Gregory; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Despite his physical absence, Oakes' impact on the club was very much alive on Saturday.
"He was the very first president of the club and he brought so much to it," Anderson said. "Everybody knew him and everybody liked him."
Oakes had moved to Cass Lake from Duluth in 1968. At that time, Duluth had an active car club.
"I missed having a group like that to perpetuate the hobby," Oakes explained in a 2022 interview with the Pioneer.
In the four years prior to the club's creation, Oakes got in touch with Tell and Anderson wanting to create a community for everyone to share their interest in vintage cars and restoration. So, the three joined forces to set up the club's first meeting that drew in about 70 people with varying interests.
Such a meeting created camaraderie over a shared interest in cars and relationships that would continue for a lifetime.
A source of Oakes' interest in cars was his first car, a Model A Ford, that he received when he was 15 years old.
"The Duluth paper advertised it at $45," Oakes recalled in 2022. "My dad took me through Duluth to meet up with the guy selling it and he wanted $49.50. I said to him, 'Well, you advertised it for $45. Why'd you raise the price?' He said, 'I just filled the gas tank this morning and it was $4.50.'"
Reflecting on the past while looking ahead to the future, Anderson hopes younger generations will continue the auto club's operations as they realize the founders' vision from 1972.
"I'm 86 years old now, so I'm hoping that they keep it going," Anderson said. "I used to be on the (auto club's) board all the time, but it's kind of nice to be retired and relax. I hope it keeps going and I hope it stays a family event."
Anderson considers events like the First City Cruise-In — and the Paul Bunyan Vintage Auto Club in general — as opportunities for people from all backgrounds to come together over a shared love of cars, an aspect of the club that will continue regardless of its leadership.
"We have people who are farmers, people who are teachers, those who work in refrigeration," Anderson left off. "There are so many people from all walks of life that we would never know otherwise."
