mssra Midnight Sun Street Rod Association
Anchorage, Alaska
 
   
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  Having FUN in the Midnight Sun!  
The Midnight Sun Street Rod Association (MSSRA) was founded in the fall of 1974 by ten street rodders and incorporated in 1979. Today, the MSSRA is the largest and most active car club in the State of Alaska with over 196 members and growing.

While MSSRA is a street rod club at heart, it is unique in that it is an open vehicle club. Members have muscle cars, sports cars, street machines, trucks, original cars, and of course, street rods. Many of the MSSRA events are attended by members of other clubs such as the, Antique Motor Mushers, Air Cooled Club, Valley Cruzers, and Corvette Club or those who may not be a member of any club.

The largest car event in the State is the Jay Ofsthun Memorial Show and Shine, which is held the first Sunday in August every year. It was started in 1979 by MSSRA member Ed Park and Antique Auto Musher member Jay Ofsthun. The event takes place on the Park Strip in downtown Anchorage. The intent was to have a "Fun Day with Cars" at no cost to participants, no cost to spectators, and no stress of awards. It remains a free event today thanks to our major sponsor, NAPA Auto & Truck Parts. Participants come from all across Alaska, Canada, and the lower 48. Last year the show had of over 350 cars on display and 400 cars are expected for 2007.

Each February, when the temperatures are freezing and the cars are in heated garages with a cover over them, some MSSRA participate in the Anchorage Fur Rondy Parade. Yes, street rods can drive on snow and ice. It’s in February of each year MSSRA has their annual Beach Party. This is a potluck dinner with tons of fun, prizes, and games. You gotta do something for fun in the winter!

The Summer Solstice party, affectionately called the Rumble, was started in 2000. Its held on June 21, the longest day of the year with 21 hours of daylight, and is multi-car picnic held under the midnight sun. The club with highest percentage of cars to members present wins the Rumble, a traveling plaque.

The MSSRA sponsors Thursday Night Cruises from late April to late September. In the beginning, a good cruise was having four to six cars show up. Then in the mid 90’s it started growing by a couple of cars a week all the way to an average of 50 cars we have today. Everyone shows up at a common location and then cruises through town to a local restaurant for dinner.

The club is active in local community activities as well by participating in several parades, smaller shows to help promote local business, providing rides for seniors at the local Pioneer (Retirement) Home, a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) event and participating in charity fundraisers. In 2005 MSSRA raffled a 1970 GTO for Ronald McDonald House of Seattle rising over $21,000.

Alaska summers may be short but they are action packed under the Midnight Sun.

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