The Glue Crew visits the 10Th annual NNL North
(AKA GMO NNL 06/07/08 Bloomington Min)
On a last minute whim, I joined our Eric Gajda on a trip out to Bloomington for the 10th annual NNL North contest, put on by the Racing Plastic Modelers (RPM; get it?). Unlike most IPMS groups, RPM is strictly a car builders club (with the occasional motorcycle…). I’d never been to an NNL before, so I was interested in how it differed from other events I’d participated in.
As I hadn’t anything new to bring, I dusted off the old truck (which has more miles on it now than my 1:1 wheels now) and the Pinto modified I’d taken to Madison and our event last year. Eric brought a ’63 Ford Galaxy, his “Dr. Feelgood’s” Chevy Panel Delivery, his now infamous “Pussy Wagon”, a gaggle of ’32 Fords, a ’55 Ford custom pickup, and his clear-bodied Mr. Gasket Mustang Gasser. Seeing him bring a large number of Fords warmed the cockles of my heart…
There were two special categories sponsored by the MCCM (Model Car Club of Minnesota), whom from the looks of it co-hosted the contest (shoot me if I’m wrong). “Model T&A’s” (gotta like the way these guys think) for entries based on Model T and Model A kits (Sorry, Pete), and “Best Pick-Up” given in memory of Steve Benkovics by the members of the MCCM .
Two categories were marked as being presented by RPM, “Best Competition Vehicle” and “Legends” (cars raced by drivers that have passed away in recent years). The rest of the awards were based on contestant judging, with awards being handed out for the “Top 10 People’s Choice”. One award is handed out for best Junior modeler.
With over 500 kits entered, you didn’t know where to look first – I was overwhelmed with the quality, craftsmanship and imagination displayed. Most everything from box stock to scratch built was at a master’s level. Two dioramas stood out to me; a diorama of a “Saturday night” dirt track featuring 6 cars going through a corner, with the winner of the previous “heat” in “victory lane”. Cars ranged from a ’49 Ford through ’57 Chevys.
