My name is Mick McGrath, I’m 19 years old, and am a junior majoring in physical therapy at the University of Mary, just south of Bismarck, ND. Ever since my parents started taking me to car shows when I was young, I have had an interest in hot rodding. Some of my best memories with my parents are being in the garage helping them work on one of their classic cars and going to the Back to the Fifties Car Show in Minneapolis every summer. When I got my driver’s license, I decided I had to get a hot rod of my own.

 I got a job at a local grocery store and started saving my money. After months of searching, I finally found my dream car, a 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback. It was nothing extremely special, just a stock fastback with a 302 and a 3-speed manual, but the car was in really good shape and I immediately fell in love with that Mustang. The first thing I did was to put some Cherry Bomb glass packs on it! After that I found a four-speed manual and spoilers and louvers, and some American Racing Torque Thrust wheels for the car. I worked at the grocery store for 3 years to pay off my car, but it was worth every second.

This fall, I have also had the fortune to be able to work on another classic hot rod, a 1964 Chrysler 300 silver edition. I have always wanted a car that was 1964 or older, so I could get into the Back to the Fifties car show and I thought this one was really cool because you don’t see many of them around. Now I’m back to making car payments again!  It has a 383 and the neat push button automatic transmission that Chrysler used in the 50’s and early 60’s. I put some new wheels and red line tires along with some Cherry Bomb glass packs… Loud pipes save Lives!! 

About two years ago, I started a cruise night in Bismarck, but I didn’t want it to be another cruise night where people go to a restaurant with their cars and sit around all night. I wanted people to actually cruise, like back in the 50’s and 60’s, so I started Drag Main night. We meet at the Big Boy Restaurant on the first Tuesday of every month (weather permitting) and then cruise. It looks like Bismarck took a step back in time with around 200 cars dragging Main Street the first Tuesday of each summer month. I also created and maintain a website (https://sites.google.com/site/dragmainbismarck) and a Facebook page for the event (It’s a Drag Main Street Bismarck Specialty Car Event).

 While I was at the Back to the Fifties Car show last summer, I got another really cool idea. The Minnesota Street Rod Association started an affiliate club, The Ignitors, for young hot rodders, and I joined their group. I am currently working with the North Dakota Street Rod Association to start something similar here.

 Thanks for the opportunity to tell my story. 
 Mick McGrath
 A Young Hot Rodder