Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion.

mcink · 09-03-2011, 12:16 AM

Just a couple days after the Lucas OIl Nationals were completed at Brainerd, MN, there was a Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion held at Jim Christensen and Ron Roddels shop in Brandon, SD.

I did not take attendance, but my guess is about 125 racers and fans showed up to reminisce about the past at good old TVD.

The Motor Market magazine crew shot these photos, and asked me to post them for all to see. The Motor Market magazine is one of those free magazines you get as you leave the grocery store, but it is so much more. This magazine follows the automotive scene in and around the Sioux Falls, SD area. Yes, it has ads (gotta pay the bills somehow) but it has some really great features about local shops, collections, and events in the area.

You can read the entire magazine online at www.themotormarket.com/magazine.

Here is a scan of the most recent issues cover.

Here is the invite for the reunion.

Here are the photos from the event. Most everyone really liked the old photos, and memorabilia from Thunder Valley. Many stories flowed throughout the evening.

mcink · 09-03-2011, 12:21 AM

more photos from the racer reunion:

they wanted us to wear name tags...

Ron Roddel took charge of the food. It was great, by the way...

Jim and Ron have a great shop.

stories were told, for sure...

mcink · 09-03-2011, 12:24 AM

photo sharing...

checking over a past issue of The Motor Market magazine.

TVD memorabilia...

mcink · 09-03-2011, 12:26 AM

benchracing...

Alan Nyhus · 09-03-2011, 08:56 AM

Many thanks to Ron Roddel and Jim Christensen to hosting this great event. It was great to catch up with people and interesting to see where their lives have taken them and what they're doing now.

Tim, the photos are great.

P.S. I'd forgotten about being pulled over in Norfolk, Ne. by 'Barney Fife' on the way back from the Div. 5 banquet. Daryl Lier, Jim Christensen and myself had to pool our money to pay the ticket before we could leave 'Mayberry'. Too funny......

Chuck Koppien · 09-03-2011, 12:39 PM

WOW...my eyes have gone to hell, I hardly recognize anyone, all you guys look so old....Geeezzzz my mind is a blur, am I that old?

I didn't know that Roddel was such a 'Chef'...Congrats on class at Indy

I do recognize, H. Gehring, D. Vanderploeg, T.Olsen, H. Axmaker. M. Lovro......

Al Nyhus, I didn't see you in the pictures, but I see Kevin, maybe you can put names on the pictures so 'OLD guys like me' could remember.

Tim, thanks for the pictures, nice to see these guys, sure brings back memories

09-03-2011, 12:16 AM	#1
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion. Just a couple days after the Lucas OIl Nationals were completed at Brainerd, MN, there was a Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion held at Jim Christensen and Ron Roddels shop in Brandon, SD. I did not take attendance, but my guess is about 125 racers and fans showed up to reminisce about the past at good old TVD. The Motor Market magazine crew shot these photos, and asked me to post them for all to see. The Motor Market magazine is one of those free magazines you get as you leave the grocery store, but it is so much more. This magazine follows the automotive scene in and around the Sioux Falls, SD area. Yes, it has ads (gotta pay the bills somehow) but it has some really great features about local shops, collections, and events in the area. You can read the entire magazine online at www.themotormarket.com/magazine. Here is a scan of the most recent issues cover. Here is the invite for the reunion. Here are the photos from the event. Most everyone really liked the old photos, and memorabilia from Thunder Valley. Many stories flowed throughout the evening.

09-03-2011, 12:21 AM	#2
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion. more photos from the racer reunion: they wanted us to wear name tags... Ron Roddel took charge of the food. It was great, by the way... Jim and Ron have a great shop. stories were told, for sure...

09-03-2011, 12:24 AM	#3
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion. photo sharing... checking over a past issue of The Motor Market magazine. TVD memorabilia...

09-03-2011, 12:26 AM	#4
mcink Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: eastriver Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion. benchracing...

09-03-2011, 08:56 AM	#5
Alan Nyhus VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lower Dakota territory Posts: 1,180 Likes: 1,074 Liked 799 Times in 236 Posts	Re: Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion. Many thanks to Ron Roddel and Jim Christensen to hosting this great event. It was great to catch up with people and interesting to see where their lives have taken them and what they're doing now. Tim, the photos are great. P.S. I'd forgotten about being pulled over in Norfolk, Ne. by 'Barney Fife' on the way back from the Div. 5 banquet. Daryl Lier, Jim Christensen and myself had to pool our money to pay the ticket before we could leave 'Mayberry'. Too funny......

09-03-2011, 12:39 PM	#6
Chuck Koppien Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 9 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Thunder Valley Dragways racer reunion. WOW...my eyes have gone to hell, I hardly recognize anyone, all you guys look so old....Geeezzzz my mind is a blur, am I that old? I didn't know that Roddel was such a 'Chef'...Congrats on class at Indy I do recognize, H. Gehring, D. Vanderploeg, T.Olsen, H. Axmaker. M. Lovro...... Al Nyhus, I didn't see you in the pictures, but I see Kevin, maybe you can put names on the pictures so 'OLD guys like me' could remember. Tim, thanks for the pictures, nice to see these guys, sure brings back memories