During one of the NIIC monthly business meetings, a fellow member asked me, “Say Randy, since you’ve attended every NIA Spearfish Convention from 1990 to 2007, why don’t you write something about it for the upcoming 30th Celebration?”  I took him up on the offer and I thought about it for a while…
  I came to realize that to write about Spearfish the destination, I would need to include the travel portion as well, in order to capture the total memorable experience.  I will try and explain.

   My starting point is from the southwest suburbs of Chicago and for me, the enjoyment starts the moment the car is packed and I get behind the wheel.  There is just something magical and satisfying when driving one of these old Impalas down the interstate amongst all the other non-descript vehicles.
  Leaving Chicago and traveling northwest on Interstate 90 towards the Wisconsin Dells, traffic can be somewhat hectic.  North of the Dells though, the interstate traffic subsides and I can relax a little and begin to take in the scenery as it unfolds around me.  From the rolling hills dotted with well-kept dairy farms tucked in between woodland forests to the sandstone cliffs, ancient glaciers and Mother Nature have beautifully shaped the Wisconsin landscape between Tomah and LaCrosse – as they say, this is truly God’s Country.
  As I leave Wisconsin and enter into Minnesota territory, Interstate 90 crosses over and then parallels for a couple of miles a “must see” bit of scenic beauty, the Mississippi River and surrounding cliffs.  A rest area is conveniently located here if one chooses to take a break and absorb all that is the “Mighty Miss”.  Leaving the river valley and heading west, the first of three big “hill climbs” looms, as the natural elevation of Minnesota is greater than Wisconsin at this point.  For anyone towing a vehicle, these climbs can be challenging, as they are long, continuous grades.
  Motoring across southern Minnesota, the scenery settles into continuous farm land numerous small towns.  With the windows down, smells of field corn, cut hay (and an occasional pig farm) filter in.  Its afternoon now and I am chasing the sun to Souix Falls, South Dakota, approximately 10 miles past the Minnesota / South Dakota state line, where I will be stopping for the night.  The hotel of choice is the Best Western / Ramkoda as it is a large motel with plenty of open parking, a pool and a decent restaurant.  In the early 90’s, this was a meeting place for other Impala people or caravans heading west to Spearfish and (unofficially) the first party of the week!
  Crossing the Minnesota / South Dakota border is like starting a new chapter in a book.  Heading west from Souix Falls, farm land slowly fades into prairie and long, rolling hills, and the trees become a little more sparse.  About 2 hours into the trip, the town of Chamberlain and another spectacular sight come into view – the Missouri River Valley.  A rest area is located on the eastern side of the river valley which offers a fantastic scenic view of the expanse.  Back on the interstate, a steep down grade drops you into the valley and over the river.  Just beyond the western bank is another trip tradition, and the first stop of the day – breakfast and fuel at “Al’s Oasis”.  This unique outpost consists of a grocery store, souvenir shop, hotel and a large restaurant hall which serves up good food.  Often times I would catch up with other NIA convention travelers here, and it was impressive seeing our “caravan” growing as we continue heading west after breakfast. 
  Leaving the Missouri River valley, I encounter the second large “hill climb” of the trip, which puts me in the high plains area of the state.  The central part of South Dakota can be unpredictable when it comes to weather in July.  I have seen temperatures as low as 57 degrees F to as high as 112 degrees F and everything in between. I guess its part of her character.  Points of interest in this part of the state are the Old Time Western Town, and the Auto Museum in Murdo, both just off the interstate and worth taking a look at if one has the extra time.  By now I am in vacation mode – the brain is pretty much on auto pilot and I am just taking in the scenery.  East bound on the interstate I see small groups of Corvettes leaving the just-ended Black Hills Corvette Classic, which is also held in Spearfish.  Being a fellow Chevy lover, I wave to them as they pass; people in the older Vettes wave back, the newer Vettes not so much.
  Beyond Murdo, the terrain begins to change once more.  In the distance begin to appear rough cut, rocky ridges and small cliffs – the beginning of the Badlands  To experience this unique landscape up close and personal, take the Spur 240 exit and motor through a portion of Badlands National Park, another “must see” natural attraction.  The landscape is nothing you have ever seen before – some equate it to moonscape.  Whether taking the side-trip through the Badlands National Park or continuing west on Interstate 90, both routes bring you into Wall, South Dakota.
  What began years ago as just a small town family drug store trying to coax travelers with billboards advertizing free water or 10 cent coffee, Wall has now turned into a free-for-all of souvenir shops, food and more souvenir shops.  For me, this is normally the next stop for fuel and a Dairy Queen ice cream lunch (yumm!).  With the Impala gas tank topped off, a stomach full of sugar and less than 100 miles to go, I jump back on the interstate for the final run.
  Leaving Wall and heading west once more, I enter the third and final “hill climb” mixed in with beautiful valleys as the land elevation continues to increase.  As I near Rapid City, off in the western horizon can be seen the beginnings of the Black Hills.  The name refers vaguely to the color of the hills formed by densely populated pine trees, and I know the best part of the trip is just ahead.  Rapid City, the “Gateway to the Black Hills”, is the second largest city in South Dakota and does have its share of traffic (compared to no traffic the last day and a half).  I quickly get out of auto pilot mode and start paying more attention as I traverse through the city.
  Once through Rapid City I am now immersed in the beauty of the Black Hills.  As the interstate winds through the valleys, the smell of clean country air and occasional pine sap permeates the air space, and the view is both wonderful and peaceful.  Around mile marker 48 is a rest area where, many years ago, the various Impala caravans converged for the final run into Spearfish.  Organized by year, at one time we had 31 Chevys parading down the interstate – what an impressive sight!
  About half-way between Rapid City and Spearfish is the town of Sturgis – home of the Annual Harley Davidson Motorcycle rally.  I have never experienced it, but friends tell me it’s a wild time with approximately 200,000 motorcycles roaming Sturgis, Deadwood, and the surrounding Black Hills!  Beyond Sturgis lies 20 more miles of hills, valleys and winding interstate leading to my “home” for the next week – Spearfish, SD.  As I pull into the Holiday Inn, I am looking forward to re-joining old friends and making new acquaintances.  As much as I enjoyed the last two days of road travel, I know it is just the appetizer, as the party is just about to begin……..!

  Frankly speaking, three important factors converge to create the excitement of an NIA Convention in Spearfish, South Dakota – the many attractions of the beautiful Black Hills, the warm, inviting townspeople of Spearfish and, most important, the hundreds of good-hearted, friendly NIA members and their families who attend.
  The convention agenda typically is created to provide a tasty sampling of what Spearfish and the Black Hills have to offer.  On any given convention, you have the opportunity to experience many of the following activities:

Meet and Greet Mixer at the Holiday Inn – This is the first formal opportunity to catch up with old friends and a chance to meet new acquaintances while enjoying snacks and drinks in an open courtyard.  The event agenda can be presented at this time and any attendee with questions about the upcoming activities can have them answered.  On occasion, lighthearted entertainment and member interaction has been known to materialize at this time!

Team 16” Softball Game – Those in a sporting mood can participate in a softball game held at the Spearfish High School ball diamond.  Because of the size of the ball, no gloves are required - just some decent running shoes.  Two teams are selected from attendees who have signed up, and one or two games are normally played.  It’s a good opportunity to burn off a few calories and enjoy the afternoon sun!

Picnic in the Park – An NIA convention tradition is the afternoon picnic in the park, located in downtown Spearfish.  Here you will find pleasant park surroundings protected by tall shade trees with Spearfish Creek meandering through it – a great place to break bread and relax.  A volley ball court is available along with a children’s play area, or you can take a leisurely walk along (or IN if you are adventurous) the creek.

Fish Hatchery – Just past the park, and within walking distance, is the historic Spearfish Fish Hatchery.  Here you have the choice of experiencing an active trout farm complete with fish feeding ponds, tour a historic residence and a museum, or stroll along the many walking trails.

Spearfish Canyon Cruise – Another NIA tradition is the cruise up Spearfish Canyon.  Built over original railroad grades used for long-past mining and timber industries, the highway winds several miles up the canyon and is best experienced in a convertible, as the scenery is breathtaking!  Located up in the canyon is a restaurant and hotel, both which offer fantastic scenic views if one chose to dine or spend the night.  As an aside, portions of the movie “Dances With Wolves” was filmed here.

Deadwood, SD – Located south of Spearfish is the historic western town-turned gambling casino called Deadwood.  Once the home of saloons, shootouts Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane, Deadwood has now transformed into numerous casinos, hotels and restaurants.  Luckily the 100+ year old buildings and the cobblestone Main Street have survived, so that “wild west” feeling is somewhat retained.  When scheduled, the Spearfish Canyon Cruise would terminate in downtown Deadwood, which provides an exciting back drop when the Chevys cruise in and park along Main Street for the evening.  If you are a gambling person, this is your chance to try your luck.  My favorite vise is Blackjack and every once in a while I will actually end the evening with a few more dollars than when I started.

Poker Run – A Poker Run is a fun (and sometimes challenging) event that requires a driver, a navigator, and a Chevy.  At a pre-determined starting point, the navigator will receive a set of driving instructions and questions about a specific route through Spearfish.  As the route is traveled, fill-in-the-blank questions about the area must be answered.  At specified stopping points, either the driver or navigator will jump out of the car and look for someone holding a deck of cards.  A card will be selected from the deck and recorded on the driving instructions in the appropriate place.  If the route is followed correctly, the driver, navigator and Chevy will (hopefully) return to the starting point.  Fabulous prizes are given out to teams with the most correct answers, the highest poker hand and the quickest time (without speeding and following all posted signs).

Tour Day – To take advantage of the many sights and attractions of the Black Hills area, a day is set aside for structured or leisure touring.  Whether it be historic, scenic or just plain fun, the choices are numerous:

With the shear number and variety of available sights and attractions alone, it’s easy to understand why NIA members make repeats visits to Spearfish!

People’s Choice Car Show – Here’s the chance to shine up your Chevy and show it off to the masses!  Set up at the Holiday Inn parking lot, all registered cars are organized up by year (58 through 70, plus Early and Late four-door divisions) and put on display for an afternoon.  Convention attendees are given “voting tickets” and are asked to walk around and choose their favorite 58, 59, 60, etc.  For added entertainment, a local DJ is on site playing your favorite tunes, and the hotel provides tasty food and beverages for sale.  A great way to spend an afternoon!

Judged Division – For those in a more competitive mood, your Chevy can be registered into one of the five categories of the Judged Division and have your vehicle inspected by a group of experienced judges.  They will then rate your car on a point system and provide a feedback judge sheet to you, which can then be used for improving or authenticating your vehicle.

Main Street Show n’ Shine – Picture this.  All registered Chevys are lined up caravan style and police escorted from the Holiday Inn to downtown Spearfish.  Once there, a two block section of Main Street is blocked off and reserved for our arrival.  The Chevys are then parked, five wide, down Main Street for an evening car show.  This event gives the towns’ people a chance to view the beautiful “big rides”, while providing an opportunity for the attendees to browse the local shops and restaurants.  At some point, a group photo is taken of the Chevys from an aerial boom which makes for a great keepsake.

PLP – The PLP (Parking Lot Party) is a long standing tradition in the NIA.  A pre-determined spot is selected in the hotel parking lot and becomes the evening meeting spot for all late nighters.  Every one brings their lawn chair, favorite beverage, and snacks for sharing, and a blender is always on hand for mixing Mud Slides or other iced drinks.  It’s a great time to kick back, swap stories, and let loose!

Awards Banquet – The culmination of the week’s activities is the Awards Banquet.  It’s the last formal event of the convention, and a time to share a good meal and some great memories. Officially, after the meal is served, plaques are then awarded to recipients from the Peoples’ Choice, Judged Division, and Main Street Show n’ Shine car events.  Additionally, attendees are recognized and awarded for the Longest Distance Traveled, Forever Young Award, Best Travelling Hard Luck story. Unofficially, “other” awards, “demerits”, “merits”, and “special guests” have been known to be part of the agenda.  You just never know what to expect!

  As much as I enjoyed the trip to, and the events of, a National Impala Convention in Spearfish, SD, the icing on the cake is the friends and family that comprise NIA.  I would be remiss not to mention the many wonderful people I have met and became very close to over the years.  I cannot say it enough – their deep and lasting friendship extends above and beyond the Chevys, and they are the beacon that calls me back to the Black Hills or other NIA events. 

So if your are traveling down Interstate 90 to Spearfish this year to celebrate 30 years of NIA Friendship and Fun, and you come up on a maroon 66 Super Sport and you see a guy smiling from ear to ear, give a wave or a honk – that will be me.