Former car club comes together for reunion

Sep. 17—The Minnesota Thumper's Car Club was reeling in the years recently as former members took a moment to look back at the memories they created together at a reunion at the Austin Eagle's Club on Saturday.

The Thumper's Car Club is based out of Austin and it was created in the early 1960s. The Club was known for its decal a heart over a hot rod and it had up to around 90 members at one point. On Saturday, there were around 20 members and spouses along with widows of deceased members who showed up to share the nostalgia.

"It celebrated the friendship of anyone who had a love of automobiles," said member Lon Krueger. "It was a common rule back then that if you had a Thumper plaque on your car, you had to stop and help anyone in need on the road."

On Friday night, the group held a get together at a rural Mower location and then Saturday they held a meal at the Eagle's Club.

Also taking place over the weekend, the club was reunited with The Comp, a drag competition vehicle the club had built. The new owner of the car agreed to bring the car back to the reunion so former members could get a look at the car, which still runs to this day.

Krueger also said that the reunion gave members a chance to meet members that weren't a part of the club when others had joined.

"There were members I met at the reunion — a lot of people joined later on that we never knew," he said. "It was a chance to meet new people."