Seventy vehicles, 25 years and older, will tour parts of Iowa and south-central Minnesota Oct. 5-9 as part of the 16th annual MotorMemories fall vintage vehicle tour. It's being called the 'Blue Skies to Blue Earth' tour because clear blue skies are common all over in Minnesota, but the south-central region is also "Blue Earth "territory, getting its name from clay found in the river banks.
Johnson Swanson, communications director and secretary/treasurer, said 90 percent of those participating in the tour are from Iowa. And, since MotorMemories is based in Iowa, Estherville seemed like a good place to start for this fall's tour.
Swanson said MotorMemories started as MotorIoway 1000 in 1996 with the Iowa Sesquicentennial and had the goal of touring 1,000 miles with 150 cars. Since then, the group tours in fall and spring in Iowa and border states.
The group will be working with the Black Knights Car Club of Estherville.
"They're kind of our seeing-eye dogs, I guess you could say," Swanson said, noting that MotorMemories usually works with area car clubs.
Swanson said MotorMemories tours are open to anyone with a car 25 years older that's licensed and insured. Rather than an emphasis on shows or speed, MotorMemories focuses on touring, Swanson said.
Swanson said one distinguishing factor in MotorMemories tours is the sheer diversity of models participating. "The cars look the way they came off the showroom floor. Most of them are very stock appearing," Swanson said.
Following is the day-by-day itinerary
Today - Oct. 5 - Afternoon gathering in Estherville with ShineTime and picnic on the courthouse square at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday - Oct. 6 - Morning drive to Windom, Minn. for lunch and a tour of the TORO factory and afternoon drive to Marshall for the Schwan's Museum and the Lyon County Historical Museum.
Friday - Oct. 7 - Driving the Minnesota River Scenic Byway with a lunch stop in Redwood Falls and late afternoon ShineTime in New Ulm.
Saturday - Oct. 8 - A 'loop' tour from New Ulm, starting with a Norwegian breakfast in Hanska, lunch at 'The Garage' in Springfield and optional visits to Lake Hanska County Park, The Jeffers Petroglyphs, Sleepy Eye, Sod Houses on the Prairie and Ted's Tuna Boats. The day concludes with a lecture at the Hermann Monument at 4 p.m. and Oktoberfest activities in the evening.
Sunday - Oct. 9 - A morning drive to Blue Earth for lunch, a visit to the Giant Museum and concluding events.
The supporting sponsor is Willis Auto Campus in Des Moines. Keep Iowa Beautiful is the charitable 'riding partner' for the event.