“We grew up racing with our uncle and have been racing for 12 years now,” said Laela Eisenschenk.

Both are nieces of Minot native Donny Schatz, professional sprint car racing driver.

Laela and Amelia Eisenschenk were at a car show put on by the NoDak Speedway at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds on April 12, where they showed a few of the cars they have raced with in the past.

“We are excited to be racing a new vehicle this year, the 410 Sprint Car Late Model.” Amelia Eisenschenk said.

Wayne Schumaier, a member of the Dakota Cruisers Car Club, stands next to the 1965 Chevy Impala Super Sport he bought in Harvey.

Robby Rosselli is serving his ninth year on the board for the NoDak Speedway and on his seventh year as vice president for the club.

“The Speedway Race Club goes back 73 years and is the longest running club in the nation,” Rosselli said. “All profits that we raise go back to the club so that we can continue to put on the races and car shows.”

Members of the Dakota Cruisers Car Club were also at the April 12 event to show some of their collections of classic cars.

Wayne Schumaier, a club member, brought his 1965 Chevy Impala Super Sport to the car show. “I found the car in Harvey and it was such a great find I had to have it.” he said. Schumaier has owned the car for one year.

Dakota Cruisers are celebrating 31 years as a club, with more than 300 members. Club member Arlan Krebsbach recalled the Broadway car cruises that started in 2020.

Elizabeth Hendrickson/MDN During the recent NoDak Speedway car show, Dakota Cruisers’ members displayed collectable toy cars.

“When COVID hit no one was going out so the car get-togethers got larger,” Krebsbach said. “That’s when we started meeting at the U-Haul parking lot. People would go get a bag of burgers, sit on the tailgate and watch everybody cruise by.”

The club members also are involved in the community with various activities, including showing their cars to residents of local nursing homes.

“We will get invited to Edgewood Vista as well as Trinity Nursing Homes to bring the cars up to show the residents. They all really love it and it brings back a lot of memories for them,” Krebsbach said.

Elizabeth Hendrickson/MDN Dakota Cruiser members have their classic cars on display for all to see and reminisce over.