The Northstar Camaro Club is a non-profit Minnesota based club dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of all generations of Camaros. This family based club has something for everyone no matter what generation or condition your car is in. The Northstar Camaro Club was founded in 1997 by Roger Schone.
“Everyone remembers their first Camaro or the first time they saw one traveling down the street. I remember my first experience that hooked me for life. Around 1971, I had a paper route and was about to cross the street when a garnet red 1969 Z28 came around the curve. Man I thought I died and gone to heaven. That same year my older brother bought one of the two rally green 1968 Z28s the local Chevrolet dealer used for quarter mile racing. From that moment on, I knew that you could never own too many Camaros.
In mid 1995, I moved to Minneapolis and was about to complete a 7-year restoration of my first Z28. I searched for a local Camaro Club and learned that the Twin Cities once had a club named “Northern Huggers” and was told that the club once had over 300 members. After learning this, I was puzzled why no local Camaro Club existed if they once had that much interest. One evening I called on an ad that had Camaro parts for sale and started a conversation with this guy named Mike Brenner. Mike has a passion for Camaros and classic cars in general. Well, to make a long story shorter, Mike and I decided to form a new Camaro Club. Early 1996, I contacted Ken at the US Camaro Club and asked for help. Ken was very helpful and sent a partial list of the old Northern Huggers membership list out to us. Mike and I made contacts and found Pat McCarthy and Don Fischer who used to be involved with “Northern Huggers” and had a full membership list.
Our first meeting was Feb. 6, 1997 held at Park Tavern in Bloomington, this was the start of Northstar Camaro Club. Todd Thompson was at the first meeting and took charge at finding the club a sponsor, Harold Chevrolet.
Our first annual show was held August 1997 at Harold Chevrolet. The first show had 75 cars with lots of interest in growing the club and becoming something that people with similar interests could gather and learn from others and just talk Camaros. Since our first show we have come a long distance with the efforts of many people, thanks for fulfilling the dream that Mike and I had. Since the club’s growth over the years, many of us that were involved starting the club now take a more passive role.”