You couldn’t have asked for a better performance from Mother Nature for the 2021 rendition of the Street Machine Nationals (SMN) in St. Paul, Minnesota. With a nice breeze, 80-degree temperatures, and big puffy clouds above, thousands of cars packed the historic Minnesota State Fairgrounds to partake in the biggest three-day muscle car party of the year.

Built on 322-donated acres in 1885, the Minnesota State Fairgrounds is a premier facility to host a car show — it’s like an old town within the city. Many of the permanent buildings were built near the turn of the century, providing a terrific backdrop for classic cars. Though not all classics, SMN events heavily lean towards the ‘60s and ‘70s muscle cars, harkening back to gone-by times.

From the moment the gates opened, cars of all makes and models started streaming into the historic Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Where many car shows are a static affair, one of the best things about the Street Machine Nationals is the incorporation of a cruise route around the grounds. With over 5,000 cars in attendance, many participants use the cruise route to visit other parts of the sprawling facility. There are cars parked in every nook and cranny, so the cruise route allows you to find a spot on the other side of the grounds, check out all the rides there, then simply move on to another section. Spectators not only get to see the cars, but they also get to hear and smell them as cruisers idle by looking at the other vehicles on display.

Not up for cruising? You can always take in the dyno challenge to see how much horsepower your car makes. Or, for those who like even more action, the QA1 autocross is super exciting whether you are watching or participating. Competitors make runs through a coned-off course to see who can get the fastest time without knocking any down. It is open to all as long as you have a helmet and can pass the technical inspection. No matter what you’re driving, autocross is always a blast and something everyone should try at least once.

Street Machine Nationals events are all about the cruise route. Participants are encouraged to let spectators see, hear, and smell their creations. Some are more interesting than others!

Saturday is obviously the most populated day of the show from both a spectator and participant perspective, and St. Paul showed up and showed out. It could take a good while to travel the entire cruise loop on Saturday as people meandered along looking at the cars parked along the route. Food vendors dealt with long lines all day until everyone made their way to the grandstands to see the burnout competition, which is always the highlight of an SMN event. Competitors drive onto a steel plate, then the wheels are chocked, and they get 30 seconds to make as much smoke as possible. The winner is decided by the volume of the crowd’s reaction. There is nothing like ending the day to a big, smoky burnout.

Sunday is a little more subdued, with gates open from 9:00 to 3:00. The highlights of Sunday are the burnout competition and the Show-N-Shine awards to see who was judged to be Grand Champion in their respective categories. SMN sends personalized awards after the event, which is a nice touch that gives the award more meaning to the winner.

If you have never been to a Street Machines Nationals event, put one on your calendar for 2022. You won’t be disappointed if you like cool cars, horsepower, and hanging out with like-minded people.

It doesn’t matter what type of vehicle you have; you are welcome at an SMN event. You can register any vehicle to come into the show. How cool is this old 4x4 Ford?