photo by Brie Cohen
The small red cars driven by members of the Albert Lea Shrine Club were lined up and ready to go for last year’s July 3 parade. However, bad weather prevented the Shriners from actually being in the parade, which was canceled. Hopefully, the weather later this week will allow the local unit to again be a popular part of the parade.
Shriners drive little red cars for a cause
Published Saturday, June 28, 2008
Photo by Brie Cohen
Before taking part in a parade, the drivers of the small red cars check their vehicles and add oil and gasoline as needed. This photo was taken last year at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds as members of the Albert Lea Shrine Club were preparing to be part of the July 3 parade lineup.
Orvin Drangstveit
The small red cars driven by members of the Albert Lea Shrine Club were lining up for the Rochesterfest parade in Rochester last year when this photo was taken.
Members of the Albert Lea Shrine Club can be considered the city’s motorized ambassadors as they appear in the summertime parades of area communities.
The club’s members, wearing their distinctive Masonic fezzes and tassels, provide something different for those parades with their eight small cars.
“They’re go-carts with bodies,” is how Orvin Drangstveit, president of the Albert Lea Shrine Club, describes the small red cars which have been scheduled to appear in 17 parades this summer.
The drivers for the cars are volunteers from the roster of the Albert Lea Shrine Club’s 60 members, Drangstveit explained. However, he confirmed that the club is paid to participate in those parades. And it’s those funds which provide the incentive to the whole program because they go to support the Shriners Hospital for Children — Twin Cities in Minneapolis, which specializes in orthopedics.
A list provided by Drangstveit shows the first parade this year was in Morristown on May 30. Following this were appearances at Waterville, Medford, Alden, St. Clair, Rochester and Grand Meadow. Upcoming appearances are scheduled for Albert Lea (July 3), Austin and Blooming Prairie (both on July 4), Waseca, Blue Earth, Kenyon, Montgomery, Glenville and Red Wing. The 2008 season ends with a parade in Mantorville on Sept. 7.
“We need several hundred feet for our part of the parade,” Drangstveit explained. To help provide and control this space, the van and trailer used to transport the drivers and cars always follows the Albert Lea Shriners in the parades, he added.
The Albert Lea Shrine Club, a part of the Osman jurisdiction, started in 1922 and became involved with the small cars in 1951. The present group of small cars were purchased about 1985 for $2,000 each. Every car has a 10-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine, runs on unleaded gas, has working lights and horns and double flag holders in front.
Drangstveit specifically mentions Dick Kary for contributing most of the gas for the season, John Redtke for the propane used to prepare breakfasts, Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen for the potato salad and Ronald Remakel for providing the small cars’ storage place and helping with the maintenance and repairs of the miniature vehicles.
Some area parades will actually feature several Shriner units. These other units from nearby clubs are based on motorcycles, an oriental band, the Merry Medics from Rochester, and even a Chinese dragon belching smoke. And like the Albert Lea unit, they are all strong supporters of the Shriners Hospital for Children — Twin Cities.
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