In 2004 the Willmar Car Club celebrated its 25th Anniversary.  The Club has approximately 80 family memberships totaling over 250 members.  The annual show in May attracts over 250 show cars and several thousand spectators.  Over 5,000 breakfasts have been served to car buffs at the monthly Car Buffs Breakfasts over the last 20 years.  But how did this all begin?

In 1980 Steve Martens attended a Minnesota Street Machine Association (MSMA) car show in the Twin Cities and made inquiries with the MSMA officers concerning the formation of a Chapter of the MSMA in the Willmar, MN area.  With the help of his friends Phil Bonham and Mike (Jake) Jacobson, a club was started and a car show was planned for the summer of 1981.  Other charter members included Rod Beliveau, Tim Erickson, Dave Freese, Darcy Koepp, Kylene Martwick, Dave Mickelson and Chuck Ostendorf. 

The first meetings were held at Phil Bonham's parents place on South Hwy., 71, Willmar, and also at Robbins Island.  All the trophies for the first two car shows were cut, sanded and stained in Phil's parents' shop and the dash plaques were provided by the MSMA. 

The first show was held on July 12, 1981 at the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds.  The second show was held at the Kandi Mall on May 23, 1982.  The main reason the show change from July to May was that Phil Bonham entered the Navy on May 24.  After Phil's GTO convertible caught on fire at the first show, he wanted to be there for the second show - with his GTO displayed in the Mall. 

The MSMA provided guidance and advertising for the first show.  With the rising cost to continue to be affiliated with the MSMA, and with a wider variety of interests in collector cars, the Willmar Street Machines name was dropped and replace by the name, Willmar Car Club after the second show.

Starting in 1983, the annual car show was held on the third Saturday of May at the old Senior High School, now Kennedy Elementary School, in Willmar.  Part of the car show is the weekend display of vehicles inside the Kandi Mall.  Shoppers can reminisce of by-gone days and are enticed to see over 10 times as many cars at the Sunday show.  On the car show Sunday, a free Willmar Bus Service shuttle transports people from the car show to Schwanke's Car, Truck & Tractor Museum and to the Kandi Mall to shop and of course, view more show vehicles.

Forrest Honebrink and Francis Kalvoda are the current editors of the club newsletter, The Polishing Rag.  The newsletter informs members of various events and meetings.  Over the years, the Club's monthly meetings have been held at a variety of locations, including the Medical Center, KEC, Roosevelt School, members homes or shops and currently in the Unitarian Church basement located at Fifth Street SW and Trott Avenue in Willmar.  Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the third Friday of the month.  Summer meetings are usually social gatherings held outside or held in conjunction with another event such as the New London A&W Cruise Nights.

Past presidents include Steven Martens (1980 - 1988), Tom Hamann (1989 - 1991), Joe Shimota (1992), Jay Mork (1993 - 2000), Bob Barr (2001 - 2003), Dennis Ulrich (2004 - 2006) and currently Cliff Gesellchen. 

Willmar Car Club is a registered Minnesota nonprofit organization.  Proceeds from the annual car show have funded projects for the Kandiyohi County Historical Society, playground equipment at Kennedy Elementary School, and the high mileage cars made by the Willmar Senior High School students.  The club provides scholarships to Ridgewater College auto body students, contributes to the Toys For Tots program, Warm The Children and the Women's Shelter, just to name a few.

In May, 1982, two Willmar High School teachers, Ray Hillstrom and Francis Kalvoda, started the Car Buffs Breakfasts at Timbers Restaurant, 1111 First Street South.  In the early years, the breakfasts were all at Timbers on the first Saturday of each month, May through November.  Later, the May and November breakfasts were in Willmar and other breakfasts were held at restaurants in area towns.  In recent years, winter breakfasts are held in February, March and April.

After 25 years, the Willmar Car Club is still going, still growing and still preserving vehicles to be enjoyed by future enthusiasts.