Blend Street Rodding with Auto Club Fun at the Glacier Street Rod Association of Kalispell, Montana
Those who live in or near Kalispell, Montana and who love the sport of street rodding will enjoy the great fellowship and sportsmanship of the Glacier Street Rod Association. The club offers much more than street rodding activities. It gives every member an opportunity to meet some great people with like passions and to see a variety of fabulous automobiles from the past.
The Glacier Street Rod Association promotes interest in various types of street rodding. With club functions and activities, members gather a better understanding of the sport while also learning about driving safety, car maintenance, restoration, and operations.
The club functions under the direction of a Board of Directors with elected officers including a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, correspondent, and newsletter editor. Officers and directors are required to hold their offices for twelve months or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Officers are selected for voting by the nomination or volunteer process.
So, What Exactly is Street Rodding?
Street rodding is a sport consisting of classic car enthusiasts that love cars typically made in the year 1948 or earlier. These cars have been modernized in some way in the engine, transmission, or interior, but do not follow any certain pattern or set of rules for restoration and modification. Street rods are the very basic type of classic car and are driven to events such as cruises, tours, and car shows for non-racing family enjoyment.
Street rods often reflect the creativity of the car’s owner with features and comforts added according to their personal desires and needs. A street rod might have a modern-day engine or any engine from any type of car, a modified suspension to give a smoother ride, a radio or even a CD player, power brakes, power steering, air conditioning, etc. It can be whatever the driver wants it to be without following a set of rigid rules to be accepted in certain classic car events and shows.
Membership Information
Street rodders that want to get in on the action can submit an application, which must be approved by the club's Board of Directors. Prospective members are interviewed by a club member and then introduced to others at a monthly meeting. The next meeting held will be the deciding factor, with a secret ballot vote. The prospective member will not attend this particular meeting. Membership requirements include owning a four-wheel automobile dating back to 1957 or earlier or a replica of one of these vehicles, maintaining their car with safety considerations, and paying dues to retain voting privileges for the member and their club registered mate. Membership dues are paid annually.
Membership Meetings
Members of the Glacier Street Rod Association enjoy regular monthly meetings at which they get together to fellowship and discuss street rod and club news. There are club reports given from the secretary, treasurer, and committee. Members may also discuss club business and plan upcoming events. A time and place is decided on for the next meeting as well. Besides the regular membership meetings, the club sometimes holds special membership meetings as well as meetings for the Board of Directors.
Glacier Street Rod Association Newsletter Details
The club's newsletter is printed on three sheets (front and back) and features monthly club news. Inside are the officers' names, minutes and an attendance sheet from the previous meeting, a "meet a member" section, club-related feature articles, upcoming G.S.R.A. events and other club activities, paid advertisements and free member ads, and club-related photos or jokes. The newsletter helps members get to know one another and how the club functions, and it provides an easy method of communicating club updates to everyone.
The Annual Glacier Rod Run
An event that binds street rodders together is the Annual Glacier Rod Run. The Rod Run features 1957 and older automobiles only and includes fun tours, camping, a Cruise-In, club merchandise, a Rifle Raffle, a Show & Shine, and a parade. The Rod Run also has great food, live music, and activities the whole family can enjoy. There are awards such as Participant's Choice and Sponsor Trophies.
The Glacier Street Rod Association Website
At the club's website, street rodders can read about club events and local news. There's a "Want Ads" section to find parts and cars for sale. The site features photos from past events, club by-laws, and helpful links and sponsors. In the photo album, there are photos from GSRA Rod Runs dating back to 2001 as well as photos from Avalanche Lake, Moose Fire, the Mopar Smoke Out of 2001, the Polson Ronan Rod Run of 2002, Rocky Mountain Street Machines, the Unfinished Nationals of 2002, and other fun events.
The website also features a "Memories" section that gives interesting facts from the 1950s automobile history and information about Chevy engines, the Ford Motor Company, famous Montanans, and local facts about Montana.
The club offers a refreshing atmosphere to those whose passion is street rodding. If you're anxious to see what it's all about, visit the website to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
