I have had a little place near Traverse for a while and try to get up there a couple times a month. Very sociable environment where the beer is truly a measurement of time. (Went here for a couple of beers, went there for a beer and so on.) While I am not aware of any specific car clubs, being a touristy area there are always car shows going on in the summer. Seems the little towns up there always have a festival going on and many have shows as part of that. Probably more 4x4, off road, geezer glide clubs than car clubs.
LoveFab inc. is located in Buckley about 20 miles from Traverse. I hear he does pretty good work. He does seem to specialize in imports. Northern Michigan Dragway is an 1/8 mile track about 40 miles away in Kaleva. There is a Michigan Drag Racers FB page that might give you some insight into performance shops in the area.
I like the area. Traverse City proper is nuts and in the summer it’s pretty crazy. Don’t have to go too far out of town though for a little space but again they do depend on the tourist industry up there. Got to have a snow management plan. Figure on moving snow from November thru April. Big snow December thru March (most years).