Gleason will be host to a brand new event with a vintage vibe as the Northern Round-Up classic car and motorcycle show takes over the Gleason Community Club grounds on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The event was conceived by Gleason native and hot rod shop owner, Chad Walker, who wanted to bring something to the area that’s a little different from the typical car show.
“This is more of a cultural event than a car show,” Walker said. “This is about bringing your car and hanging out with like-minded people.”
Similar events have proven popular around the Midwest, but all are a fairly long distance from northcentral Wisconsin.
“We’d been talking within the business about how to put together a bigger event,” he added. “I’m originally from Gleason and moved back up here about a year ago. There are no bigger shows like this in the area.”
Walker put feelers out through social media and enthusiast forums to gauge the interest in an event that would bring together the components of the classic hot rod culture – rockabilly music, pin up girls and of course cars, trucks and motorcycles. The response encouraged him to move ahead with Northern Roundup.
Gleason Community Club offered their facility off Hwy. 17 for the event and Walker was also able to pick up several sponsorships from local businesses.
“The response was overwhelming,” Walker said.
The car show is open to pre-1975 cars and motorcycles and pre-1979 trucks. Entry fee is $20 per vehicle. Walker said the number of vehicles pre-registered has already surpassed his expectations for the show. He’s hoping to see a wide variety of classics, customs and hot rods roll into the Community Club grounds.
“Our criteria are not as strict as most shows,” he said. “If you built it and you drive it, bring it.”
Live music will be provided by the rockabilly and surf band, The Night Crawlers, starting at 3 p.m., followed by the psychobilly and punk of the Krank Daddies at 8 p.m.
The event will also feature a ‘50s style pin up girl contest at 1 p.m. More than a beauty contest, Walker explains, the prize goes to the contestant who best portrays the classic pin up girl.
“The pin up girl contest is open to girls of all shapes and sizes,” Walker said. “Most of it is attitude.”
Vehicles with flamethrower exhaust will put on a show at 6 p.m.
Northern Round-Up opens at 10 a.m. Saturday. Food and refreshments will be available on the grounds.
Walker’s business, Rooster Six Customs, has a history of giving to charities and for this event all proceeds will go to Hodgkins Lymphoma Research. A friend of his had the disease, which is a common cancer of the lymphatic system.
For more information, see The Northern Round-Up page on Facebook.