2008 Milwaukee NNL

On Saturday April 19, 2008, the Auto Modelers Group of Wisconsin held their 16th annual NNL at the Excellence Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin. This annual event is one of the biggest contests/shows for model cars, trucks, and motorcycles in the area. Over the last 15 years the event usually brings in over 600 models per year from the Midwest and this years offering didn’t disappoint anyone in the crowd.

The show started at 3:00 p.m. and there were tables devoted to street cars, race cars, street rods, customs, trucks, dioramas, model clubs, and the ever favorite miscellaneous table. There is always a theme for the years contest and this year it was “Sweet 16”. This meant that you could bring in a car, truck, or motorcycle that was around when you turned 16 years of age, not surprising that this is when most of us got our driving license. The sub-theme was “your first car”, and pictures of car and driver were fun to look at while checking out the models.

Finally around 9:30 p.m. the awards were given away to some incredible modelers. The Alan Kulwicki award was given to Greg Schmidt who created a cut-away of the Jack Daniels stock car. This model had more detail in it than any model should have and was just incredible. The People’s Choice award went to Clay Kemp who built a complete replica of Greg Andersons Grand Am Pro Stock drag car. If you have seen any of Clays work in the pages of Scale Auto, then you have some small idea of the level of detail that was present in this little beauty. Mike Dowd won the theme award for his 1966 Dodge Charger and Mike Kollver won in the sub-theme category with a 1961 Ford Starliner. The Club award went to the Winnebago Auto Modelers group. You can check out many of the other fantastic models in the pages of Scale Auto as they were taking many, many, many pictures during the night.

I would like to thank the Auto Modelers Group for putting on a great event and recommend that if you build or just enjoy looking at some incredible models; join them next year about this time in Waukesha. Besides a fantastic show, the next day, you can try and find your next project at the Milwaukee Miniature Motors swap meet at the Waukesha Expo Grounds. I picked up a couple of new projects and hope to have them ready for our show in October. All in all, a great time was had by all of the modelers who attended the 16th Annual NNL. Next year the theme is Daytona Speedweeks. That means anything that runs at Daytona, NASCAR Cup, Busch, Trucks, ARCA, SCCA 24hrs., motorcycles, sprint cars and late models that run the short tracks during February would fit. The Sub-Theme is 'Beach Cars'. That is anything that raced on the beach back in the day. Check it out for yourself. I know that you will have a good time.

Jim Unger