Staff photo by Fritz Busch The 21st Annual New Ulm Autofest takes place 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sunday, June 25 at the Brown County Fairgrounds. New Ulm show participants include from left, Alan Solberg, 1933 Dodge; Roy and Helen Janni, 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396; Lee Knauf, 2009 Saturn Sky; Paul Maday, 2021 Harley Davidson Tri Glide; Brad Johnson, Fairfax, 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III; Lyle Turbes, 1968 Buick Skylark GS 400; Floyd and Judy Dorn, 1936 Ford 5 window; and Sid and Jan DeLeo, 2023 70th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette. More than 400 registered vehicles are displayed each year.

Free registration,

admission, drawings,

swap meet all day

By Fritz Busch

Staff Writer

NEW ULM — Hundreds of shimmering cars, trucks and motorcycles will be part of the 21st Annual New Ulm Autofest that opens Sunday, June 25 at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

Admission, registration and drawings are free to view hundreds of newer and older vehicles. The show includes a model car contest, new larger swap meet area and Pink Ladies garage with crafts and wellness vendors.

The first 350 participants will receive a goody bag including calendars, can coolers and other items.

New Autofest t-shirts sold at the show feature three vehicles owned by local enthusiasts including Roy Janni’s silver 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396. Janni, of rural New Ulm, has owned the car since it was new.

Serving in the Army in Vietnam in 1969, Janni said he admired SS396 Chevelles enough to save much of his pay to buy one.

He said there were Ford and Chrysler sales representatives but not for GM where he was stationed in Vietnam. The sales reps sold military members cars that would be ready to be picked up in the U.S. when they got home.

Roy said his brother Ron ordered him a Chevelle SS396 from Fering Chevrolet in Sleepy Eye that he picked up when he got home. Janni served his final 18 months in the Army at Fort Eustis, Va. and Fort Mead, Md.

Getting an early Army discharge to attend college, Janni used the Chevelle to drive to school, work and other activities.

On Thanksgiving weekend in 1971, he was rear-ended by a semi truck in Mankato. The crash heavily damaged the car but the frame was not bent so it was repaired.

Janni put the car in storage in 1977 with 89,000 miles, rust behind the front wheels and rear quarter panels and in need of a tuneup.

In 1992, Janni decided to repair the car including an engine overhaul and stripping the frame of all parts before it was sand blasted and primed. The car remained in that condition for a few years before Janni decided to rebuild it to like new condition.

Janni and his wife Helen take the car to shows, parades and local classic car roll-ins.

“The car attracts more attention than we ever thought it would,” said Janni.

Lyle Turbes of New Ulm, formerly of St. Cloud, noticed a 1968 Buick Skylark GS 400 for sale near his Osakis cabin 40 years ago.

Turbes bought the car and said he enjoyed taking classic car tours to Wisconsin, Duluth and South Dakota. He plans to show the car at Autofest.

For more information, visit the New Ulm Autofest Facebook site.