Lassley wins engine

MAT-SU — Mike Lassley was the lucky winner of a 350 Chevrolet engine built and raffled by the Midnight Sun Street Rod Association. The proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

“This project had two benefits,” said 2012 president Erik Johnson. “Members who have never rebuilt an engine had an opportunity to learn and, of course, the Wounded Warrior Project.”

Members met one night a week for three months at member Dave Taylor’s garage working on the project. Bob VenHuizen of Midtown Auto Parts & Machine Inc. donated machine work labor and provided parts at a substantial discount. MSSRA partnered with the Eagle River Elks Club, whose gaming permit was used for the raffle. Other sponsors include Alaska Clutch and Shawn Heusser of the King Center.

Members who helped build the engine and/or contributed parts include Bill Carlson, Joe Inama, Paul Moll, Sid Johnson, Erik Johnson, Robert Carlson, Jim Baines, Neal Noll, KB Bettisworth, Ray Elleven, Anthony Bilderback, Kurt Rein and Taylor, who provided the garage.

MSSRA is car club dedicated to building and preserving original and modified automobiles. The club also sponsors two automotive swap meets per year; the Summer Solstice Rumble, an all car club picnic at Mirror Lake; Thursday Night Cruises, late April through September; and the ever popular Jay Ofsthun Show and Shine on the Park Strip, always the first Sunday in August.

The club plans to raffle another engine this year. Visit MidnightSunSRA.org for an announcement.