Communities across the state frequently host gatherings of classic cars, but none of them are quite like the event underway in north-central Iowa this weekend. Ron Gustafson, of Eagle Grove, is organizing the 15th annual car show reunion and race at the fairgrounds in Webster City.

“These are vintage race cars that used to race back anywhere from the ’30s to the ’80s,” Gustafson says. “They’re sprints, midgets, modifieds, stock cars, cars you used to see at Webster City way back when.” Gustafson says the owners of these rare vehicles will actually be racing the cars on the track this weekend, as they’ve gone to great lengths to keep them operating in pristine condition.

“People have found them in barns and garages and have restored them,” he says. “It’s kinda’ like when you take a hot rod that you find and restore it, these race cars are restored back to racing condition.” Gustafson says the cars and the owners will come to Webster City this weekend from across Iowa and several surrounding states, including a few from as far away as Florida and Arizona.

He says one of the vehicles was known at the Ranger, a sprint car. It has a motor from the Ranger aircraft in it which runs upsidedown and backwards. It raced in the IMC division back in the 1940s and ’50s. Learn more about this weekend’s events by calling 800-873-1507.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City