Exciting things to do in Steinbach? There was bowling once or twice a year. Maybe a few movies at the Keystone theater. But in the 90's, the regular entertainment was just touring Main until you were low on gas, then hanging out at the old Stylerite parking lot! That was, until the cops would showed up! It's hard to believe today, but there was a time when law enforcement in Steinbach was so bored that harassing teenagers with flashy cars was all there was to do on a Saturday night. They'd even break up simple chatting sessions on the parking lots. Raised suspension on a vehicle may even warrant a ticket to be written out and chirping the tires would net you a $100.00 fine! Alas, those hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer in Steinbach are no more!
Celebrate those days of Steinbach with a t-shirt that sports the vintage logo of the old bowling alley.
DRAG RACE LEGEND LEN PENNER
LEN’S PASSION FOR DRAG RACING SPANNED OVER 40 YEARS, DURING WHICH HE CLAIMED OVER 50 NHRA VICTORIES AND SET NUMEROUS TRACK RECORDS IN CANADA AND THE U.S. LEN BUILT A 1955 CHEVY CALLED THE “MAUVE STOVE” WHICH HE RACED FROM 1966 TO 1973. IN 1971, HE BUILT A 1968 CAMARO CALLED “BLUE LIGHTNING” WHICH HE RAN FOR THE NEXT MANY YEARS. IN 2012, LEN WAS INDUCTED INTO THE MANITOBA MOTOR SPORTS HALL OF FAME.
Interview from 2012:
"I was still in grade school when I bought my first car. I was 14 years old and I bought a 1947 Mercury Coupe, it took us two years to prep it and repair it. We did a custom body job on it, new interior, lowered the suspension and put a different motor in it. It was a very rewarding deal for a young boy to be able to do that at a young age."
"In 1963 I started racing a dirt car," he says. "Dad had a shop in Blumenort and there was 100 acres of land. We made a track behind the shop and we dirt raced with friends, we fixed up old hot rods and raced and that's how I started with dirt track. From there I went to Salt Plains and raced there but I wanted to go back to the little drag race car. I started with a '57 Ford and from that I went to a '55 Chevy that I built in 1966 and raced that till 1973."
Len was asked, what was the highlight of his racing career. His response, “anytime you do well, it’s a highlight”.
Penner Motors Steinbach in the early 60s. Note the "space age" observation deck (center right part that says "used cars used trucks").
Better view of the observation deck during an auction of used cars in 1955. Interestingly, no one is on top of the observation deck.
The Edmonton Eadshocken NHL team!?
Mennonite puffed wheat cake. The ultimate faspa treat!
You’ve never heard of Menno puffed wheat cake?! This Canadian Mennonite treat was the highlight of many a Sunday faspa. So it’s Canadian, eh? That’s right! This faspa food tradition actually began in Red Deer Alberta Canada and was first made by a candy maker by the name of Alan J. Russell. Although not “invented” by Mennos, it quickly became popular with thousands of Mennonite housewives across the prairies. It became the quintessential faspa treat!
So why was it so popular among Mennonites? This sweet treat was cheap, quick and easy to make. Just the kind of recipe that you needed when you suddenly found out that jast were coming for faspa.
Here's Taunte Leina's puffed wheat cake recipe that she always made for jast and special occasions. It's best to let it sit for at least 2-3 hours before cutting into squares. Make a batch! You never know when jast might show up! :-) And puffed wheat cake is a lot sheeper to make than it is to buy Little Debbie Cakes!
A great coffee mug for any faspa! Available in our gift store. Click on heart to view
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