I'm participating in the AARP Cheyenne Spelling Bee today, Saturday, and need to recover Sunday....
So Monday, posts resumes.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Texas: Old cars have a variety of devoted fans
From Lubbock Online: Old cars have a variety of devoted fans
When the Lubbock Mustang Club convenes its 30th anniversary car show at 10 a.m. Saturday on the Lubbock campus of Wayland Baptist University, the members will bring some of the history of the automobile with them.
Not every one of the cars in the show will be a Ford. Laura Hamlett, vice president of the club, has a Corvair convertible that represents one of General Motors’ bold innovations that lasted only a few years in the mid-1960s.
The Corvair has a six-cylinder, air-cooled engine mounted at the back. It may be that the Chevrolet Division hoped the added weight over the rear-wheel drive would give traction in snow and muddy roads. Besides, it was a really neat-looking small car, and now is virtually in a class by itself.
Hamlett and her husband, Jim, do have an interest in the Mustang, though, and when they joined the club six years ago, Jim bought a 1970 Mustang coupe.
Jeff Krueger, who may be the most devoted collector of classic automobiles in the club, still has the 1977 Volkswagen beetle that he purchased as his first car.
“My second car was a Mustang,” he said.
Now, he owns nine Mustangs, including one that is rarest by color — pink. It is only occasionally taken slowly and painstakingly out of a closed-in truck under a clear sky for a photograph, and not at all if rain is a possibility.
The club isn’t particular about the brand or model of cars that are invited into the annual show.
“Our car show is open to anything, Krueger said. “We’ve had dragsters, we’ve had 1912 Model T Fords — it’s open to just about anything. We usually see about 200 cars. This is the oldest car show that is still in existence in basically the Panhandle. To the general public, it’s free. For entering cars, it’s $25 before, and $30 the day of the show.”
John Robison, president, said he became interested in the car club in the mid-1990s when he bought a 1965 blue Mustang. “It was like the one that I owned in the late 70s. That seems to be a common event with Mustang drivers. Many of us owned one in high school or college, then wanted one again later in life.”
Robison knows why he joined the club: “I figured that it would be a good way to meet folks, drive and display my car and have some fun along the way. As a ‘shade tree’ mechanic I also wanted to get to understand the car better and know where and how to get parts.”
He added, “I currently own a 1971 Mach 1, and my son and I are gradually restoring it. We take it to a few shows and car displays, and he will likely own a Mustang from now on.”
Krueger has researched the history of the sports car phenomenon that was introduced April 14, 1965. “We’ve had a Mustang around for almost 50 years now,” he said. They sold a million Mustangs between 1965 and 1966, and set a sales record for types.”
He said, “They were actually running out of motors — they had more demand than they had cars. Everybody wanted a 289 V-8, and they started making promotions of six-cylinder Mustangs with special air breathers to make them look fancy, because that’s all they had. They didn’t have enough big motors to put in the cars.”
He said Lee Iacocca is considered the father of the Mustang, and he took Ford in a new direction with the sports car.
“The Edsel was a flop back in the late 1950s, and Ford was pretty gun-shy about bringing anything out that was a little different and crazy at those times. Mr. Iacocca basically convinced them that they needed this neat little car that looked fancy but still had a back seat in it, so it could take care of a different generation of clientele.
According to Krueger, the Mustang remains popular and continues in production. “It is still the number one best selling muscle car out there — outsells everybody else by at least 30 percent, still to this day.”
There’s greater variety than when it came out in 1965. “You can still get a coupe and a convertible, all kinds of versions from V-6 all the way up to ... you can actually get a Shelby Mustang now that has over a thousand horsepower and is street legal. It’s a street car and a race car — the Mustang is now a NASCAR. It has a wide variety of flavors.”
According to Krueger, the old ones are sometimes more expensive than a new one, especially in the high-powered Shelby versions. “There’s big stuff out there if you want to pay the dollars.”
He thinks one of the reasons the Mustang was such a success is that it was relatively inexpensive at the beginning.
“The base price in 1965 was $2,400 for the smaller version. They did something different — nobody had ever seen a car that had a long nose and a short deck in a four-seater. It had a shifter on the floor and bucket seats, so it looked sporty but was really not that much more expensive. You could buy it in a 3-speed, a 4-speed, as well as an automatic at that time.”
He added, “This year’s model in a six-cylinder version is like $34,000, and you can spend up to $80,000 on a Shelby.”
According to Krueger, the Lubbock Mustang Club has about 125 members. “It’s more a family club than anything else. The youngest club member is my youngest daughter, who is 6. And we also have guys in their 70s.
Hamlett said, “We enjoy the club meetings, the camaraderie of the members, and having a piece of history to drive around. It’s a natural conversation starter to meet new people when you drive a classic car.”
Krueger sums up the club this way:
“Basically, they just get together for the love of their car.”
When the Lubbock Mustang Club convenes its 30th anniversary car show at 10 a.m. Saturday on the Lubbock campus of Wayland Baptist University, the members will bring some of the history of the automobile with them.
Not every one of the cars in the show will be a Ford. Laura Hamlett, vice president of the club, has a Corvair convertible that represents one of General Motors’ bold innovations that lasted only a few years in the mid-1960s.
The Corvair has a six-cylinder, air-cooled engine mounted at the back. It may be that the Chevrolet Division hoped the added weight over the rear-wheel drive would give traction in snow and muddy roads. Besides, it was a really neat-looking small car, and now is virtually in a class by itself.
Hamlett and her husband, Jim, do have an interest in the Mustang, though, and when they joined the club six years ago, Jim bought a 1970 Mustang coupe.
Jeff Krueger, who may be the most devoted collector of classic automobiles in the club, still has the 1977 Volkswagen beetle that he purchased as his first car.
“My second car was a Mustang,” he said.
Now, he owns nine Mustangs, including one that is rarest by color — pink. It is only occasionally taken slowly and painstakingly out of a closed-in truck under a clear sky for a photograph, and not at all if rain is a possibility.
The club isn’t particular about the brand or model of cars that are invited into the annual show.
“Our car show is open to anything, Krueger said. “We’ve had dragsters, we’ve had 1912 Model T Fords — it’s open to just about anything. We usually see about 200 cars. This is the oldest car show that is still in existence in basically the Panhandle. To the general public, it’s free. For entering cars, it’s $25 before, and $30 the day of the show.”
John Robison, president, said he became interested in the car club in the mid-1990s when he bought a 1965 blue Mustang. “It was like the one that I owned in the late 70s. That seems to be a common event with Mustang drivers. Many of us owned one in high school or college, then wanted one again later in life.”
Robison knows why he joined the club: “I figured that it would be a good way to meet folks, drive and display my car and have some fun along the way. As a ‘shade tree’ mechanic I also wanted to get to understand the car better and know where and how to get parts.”
He added, “I currently own a 1971 Mach 1, and my son and I are gradually restoring it. We take it to a few shows and car displays, and he will likely own a Mustang from now on.”
Krueger has researched the history of the sports car phenomenon that was introduced April 14, 1965. “We’ve had a Mustang around for almost 50 years now,” he said. They sold a million Mustangs between 1965 and 1966, and set a sales record for types.”
He said, “They were actually running out of motors — they had more demand than they had cars. Everybody wanted a 289 V-8, and they started making promotions of six-cylinder Mustangs with special air breathers to make them look fancy, because that’s all they had. They didn’t have enough big motors to put in the cars.”
He said Lee Iacocca is considered the father of the Mustang, and he took Ford in a new direction with the sports car.
“The Edsel was a flop back in the late 1950s, and Ford was pretty gun-shy about bringing anything out that was a little different and crazy at those times. Mr. Iacocca basically convinced them that they needed this neat little car that looked fancy but still had a back seat in it, so it could take care of a different generation of clientele.
According to Krueger, the Mustang remains popular and continues in production. “It is still the number one best selling muscle car out there — outsells everybody else by at least 30 percent, still to this day.”
There’s greater variety than when it came out in 1965. “You can still get a coupe and a convertible, all kinds of versions from V-6 all the way up to ... you can actually get a Shelby Mustang now that has over a thousand horsepower and is street legal. It’s a street car and a race car — the Mustang is now a NASCAR. It has a wide variety of flavors.”
According to Krueger, the old ones are sometimes more expensive than a new one, especially in the high-powered Shelby versions. “There’s big stuff out there if you want to pay the dollars.”
He thinks one of the reasons the Mustang was such a success is that it was relatively inexpensive at the beginning.
“The base price in 1965 was $2,400 for the smaller version. They did something different — nobody had ever seen a car that had a long nose and a short deck in a four-seater. It had a shifter on the floor and bucket seats, so it looked sporty but was really not that much more expensive. You could buy it in a 3-speed, a 4-speed, as well as an automatic at that time.”
He added, “This year’s model in a six-cylinder version is like $34,000, and you can spend up to $80,000 on a Shelby.”
According to Krueger, the Lubbock Mustang Club has about 125 members. “It’s more a family club than anything else. The youngest club member is my youngest daughter, who is 6. And we also have guys in their 70s.
Hamlett said, “We enjoy the club meetings, the camaraderie of the members, and having a piece of history to drive around. It’s a natural conversation starter to meet new people when you drive a classic car.”
Krueger sums up the club this way:
“Basically, they just get together for the love of their car.”
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Cruisin' For Classic Cars On A Steamy Summer Night
From NPR: Cruisin' For Classic Cars On A Steamy Summer Night
At the heart of the small town of Milan, Ohio,
there's a graceful and tree-lined town square. It makes a good gathering
spot for the classic cars and trucks of decades past.
A 1923 T-Bucket Ford, a '77 Chevy El Camino, a '68 AMC AMX, a '46 Dodge truck, a '59 Ford Galaxie — they all keep arriving after 5 o'clock every Tuesday evening. As the owner-drivers park around the square, engine hoods go up, lawn chairs come out — and the admiration begins.
If the town's name sounds familiar, it's probably because Thomas A. Edison was born here in 1847. In Milan, they call him "the world's greatest inventor."
Don Gefell runs a shop in town called Sights and Sounds of Edison. He has an original Edison celluloid cylinder of Edison's actual voice, and occasionally takes it, and his phonograph, out to the square's gazebo to add to the festive mood.
Local residents say the show's setting in Milan's historic town square is what really sets it apart.
Mike Inman is among those showing off his car on
a recent steamy evening. "I brought a '62 Pontiac Catalina tonight —
421 lightweight," he says. "I think it's 550 horse[power]."
With temperatures floating around 100 degrees, Inman got up and went on the early side himself.
But even in the heat, it's good to sit under the shade trees, see your friends and listen to live music on the square.
Kelly Guseman, who owns a downtown shop that sells T-shirts and hats, helps the Milan Chamber of Commerce put Cruisin' on the Square together every Tuesday.
"Anybody can have a car show in a Dairy Queen parking lot," Guseman says. "But I think people really enjoy the town square and the old historic buildings. I mean, that's what really makes this car show."
In many ways, the show is like a baseball game. Milan merchants donate door prizes for the event, and if you bring a car to show, you can register to win. Tonight, Nancy Smith, proud owner of an '88 Chevy Camaro, wins a coupon from Jimmy's Pizza Box. The local Masons are grilling sausage, and attendees can also pick up a yellow perch sandwich from the Wonder Bar or burgers from the American Legion.
Bruce Chrislip, a former mechanic, shows off his 1937 maroon-and-black Plymouth pickup truck, as Nancy Wargo arrives in her dignified 1949 Chevy Deluxe.
"It's ... two-tone green with the visor on it," Wargo says. "Been in my family all 63 years."
Wargo explains the shiny Chevrolet was her
Great-Aunt Betty's car initially. She had it for 20 years, and then
Wargo's father had it for 40. In its pristine condition, you could
practically put it right back in the Chevy dealer's showroom.
"It's a nice, solid-feeling car," Wargo says. And even in this heat, she says it can hit 55 mph.
People don't come to the square just for show and tell. Wargo and her husband would like to find a '67 Ford Mustang convertible to buy. And, on a cooler Tuesday summer night, they just might find it here — sometimes up to 120 vehicles show up for the classic car cruise-in.
Noah Adams/NPR Antique
trucks, including a 1937 Plymouth, on display at the weekly Cruisin' on
the Square car show in Milan, Ohio. Classic car owners and enthusiasts
gather each Tuesday evening through the summer to show off their cars or
even find one to buy.
A 1923 T-Bucket Ford, a '77 Chevy El Camino, a '68 AMC AMX, a '46 Dodge truck, a '59 Ford Galaxie — they all keep arriving after 5 o'clock every Tuesday evening. As the owner-drivers park around the square, engine hoods go up, lawn chairs come out — and the admiration begins.
If the town's name sounds familiar, it's probably because Thomas A. Edison was born here in 1847. In Milan, they call him "the world's greatest inventor."
Don Gefell runs a shop in town called Sights and Sounds of Edison. He has an original Edison celluloid cylinder of Edison's actual voice, and occasionally takes it, and his phonograph, out to the square's gazebo to add to the festive mood.
Local residents say the show's setting in Milan's historic town square is what really sets it apart.
With temperatures floating around 100 degrees, Inman got up and went on the early side himself.
But even in the heat, it's good to sit under the shade trees, see your friends and listen to live music on the square.
Kelly Guseman, who owns a downtown shop that sells T-shirts and hats, helps the Milan Chamber of Commerce put Cruisin' on the Square together every Tuesday.
"Anybody can have a car show in a Dairy Queen parking lot," Guseman says. "But I think people really enjoy the town square and the old historic buildings. I mean, that's what really makes this car show."
In many ways, the show is like a baseball game. Milan merchants donate door prizes for the event, and if you bring a car to show, you can register to win. Tonight, Nancy Smith, proud owner of an '88 Chevy Camaro, wins a coupon from Jimmy's Pizza Box. The local Masons are grilling sausage, and attendees can also pick up a yellow perch sandwich from the Wonder Bar or burgers from the American Legion.
Bruce Chrislip, a former mechanic, shows off his 1937 maroon-and-black Plymouth pickup truck, as Nancy Wargo arrives in her dignified 1949 Chevy Deluxe.
"It's ... two-tone green with the visor on it," Wargo says. "Been in my family all 63 years."
"It's a nice, solid-feeling car," Wargo says. And even in this heat, she says it can hit 55 mph.
People don't come to the square just for show and tell. Wargo and her husband would like to find a '67 Ford Mustang convertible to buy. And, on a cooler Tuesday summer night, they just might find it here — sometimes up to 120 vehicles show up for the classic car cruise-in.
Friday, August 3, 2012
AZ: 8/4-5: Antique Car Show, Parts Exchange, Old Engine Fire-up
From AZCentral: 8/4-5: Antique Car Show, Parts Exchange, Old Engine Fire-up
For some folks, a classic car evokes memories of their first car, the joy of taking the wheel for the first time and the freedom of the open road. Others might fondly recall a yesteryear when manufacturers built unique cars with deep-rooted flair.
In recognition of classic cars and antique stationary engines, the Prescott Antique Auto Club will hold its 38th annual Antique Car Show, Parts Exchange and Old Engine Fire-up this weekend at Watson Lake in Prescott.
"The club was founded in 1970 to promote interest in vintage vehicles," club president Charles Rulofson said. "It has grown to over 200 members. ... Membership is open to anyone, and (vintage) car ownership is not a requisite."
The show, open to all makes and models from 1987 and earlier, features a wide variety, from antiques to street rods. Car clubs from around the state including the Arizona Chapter of the American Historical Truck Society and the Oldsmobile Club of Arizona will display their own classic wonders of motorized pride-and-joy.
As an incentive to entrants, the first 200 show-car registrants will receive a commemorative T-shirt, dashboard plaque and goodie bag.
The show also welcomes motorcycles, scooters and farm tractors unique to another time and place.
"Besides providing a gathering place for people with an interest in vintage vehicles, the club is involved in a number of community-oriented activities," Rulofson said. "These range from mini-shows for assisted-living centers to providing Christmas gifts for veterans at the VA hospital and community living center."
Not all the antiques will be mobile. One area will be set aside for the showing and, organizers hope, the running of old stationary engines.
"The Arizona Flywheelers will have a variety of their engines hitting and missing (at the fire-up) for all to see and enjoy," club chairman Jim Schultz said. "The engines were used in the early 20th century at mine sites and ranches to run things like generators, water pumps and saw mills."
For hard-to-find parts needed to restore and keep antique engines functional, more than 100 vendors will be on hand to exchange antique car, truck and machine parts.
"This usually has guys emptying their garages, so you never know what you will find," Schultz said.
Rulofson said the exchange is one of the largest in Arizona.
Automotive-memorabilia vendors also are welcome at the exchange, and a separate cars-for-sale area will be featured as well.
Rulofson expects a general attendance of about 5,000 for the weekend event.
"Most of the attendees will be there as aficionados of classic and vintage cars, but everyone is invited to come to the show and enjoy some time viewing and learning about America's car heritage and its love of the automobile," Rulofson said.
For some folks, a classic car evokes memories of their first car, the joy of taking the wheel for the first time and the freedom of the open road. Others might fondly recall a yesteryear when manufacturers built unique cars with deep-rooted flair.
In recognition of classic cars and antique stationary engines, the Prescott Antique Auto Club will hold its 38th annual Antique Car Show, Parts Exchange and Old Engine Fire-up this weekend at Watson Lake in Prescott.
"The club was founded in 1970 to promote interest in vintage vehicles," club president Charles Rulofson said. "It has grown to over 200 members. ... Membership is open to anyone, and (vintage) car ownership is not a requisite."
The show, open to all makes and models from 1987 and earlier, features a wide variety, from antiques to street rods. Car clubs from around the state including the Arizona Chapter of the American Historical Truck Society and the Oldsmobile Club of Arizona will display their own classic wonders of motorized pride-and-joy.
As an incentive to entrants, the first 200 show-car registrants will receive a commemorative T-shirt, dashboard plaque and goodie bag.
The show also welcomes motorcycles, scooters and farm tractors unique to another time and place.
"Besides providing a gathering place for people with an interest in vintage vehicles, the club is involved in a number of community-oriented activities," Rulofson said. "These range from mini-shows for assisted-living centers to providing Christmas gifts for veterans at the VA hospital and community living center."
Not all the antiques will be mobile. One area will be set aside for the showing and, organizers hope, the running of old stationary engines.
"The Arizona Flywheelers will have a variety of their engines hitting and missing (at the fire-up) for all to see and enjoy," club chairman Jim Schultz said. "The engines were used in the early 20th century at mine sites and ranches to run things like generators, water pumps and saw mills."
For hard-to-find parts needed to restore and keep antique engines functional, more than 100 vendors will be on hand to exchange antique car, truck and machine parts.
"This usually has guys emptying their garages, so you never know what you will find," Schultz said.
Rulofson said the exchange is one of the largest in Arizona.
Automotive-memorabilia vendors also are welcome at the exchange, and a separate cars-for-sale area will be featured as well.
Rulofson expects a general attendance of about 5,000 for the weekend event.
"Most of the attendees will be there as aficionados of classic and vintage cars, but everyone is invited to come to the show and enjoy some time viewing and learning about America's car heritage and its love of the automobile," Rulofson said.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Philadelphia: Fire rages through garage filled with classic cars
From Philly.com: Fire rages through garage filled with classic cars
It was declared under control at 10:29 a.m., but firefighters continued to pour water on the building as dark smoke soared skyward.
Scott Tennesen, president of the Latin Cruiser Car Club, said the group housed 15 classic cars in the building.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Robert Wright, the building's owner, said there was rumor that a car owner doing bodywork in violation of garage policy may have sparked the fire.
Tennesen said the classic vehicles stored in the garage included two 1971 Ford Mavericks, a 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 350, a 1949 Ford, a 1976 AMC Pacer, a 1978 Ford Pinto wagon, a 1961 Cadillac, a 1961 Ford Falcon, and a 1956 Chevrolet panel truck.
Most of the cars were insured, he said, but probably are irreplaceable.
"You can try to find one that's similar, but you can never replace the time, money, and effort spent on those cars," Tennesen said.
Alvin Taveras, who lives near the garage and rents two berths for his cars, said he thought his 1993 Honda Civic hatchback was destroyed. He said he had recently spent about $2,000 preparing the car to race at a New Jersey track and had no insurance for it.
"I was always afraid of this," said Jose Rodriguez, another neighborhood resident who kept his BMW in the garage and had also done work on his car. "My hard work is going down the drain."
The Latin Cruisers Car Club participates in shows throughout the region and hosts weekly cruise nights at a Chick-Fil-A in Port Richmond, where neighborhood residents can see the club's cars on display.
A
two-alarm fire ripped through a garage building in Kensington today,
sending black smoke billowing into the sky and damaging or destroying at
least 15 classic cars.
One firefighter was taken to a hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion suffered while battling the blaze at Jasper and East Cornwall Streets.
The fire was reported around 9:30 a.m. and escalated to a second alarm about 9:45 a.m. as 150 firefighters and 22 pieces of equipment responded to the blaze, officials said.
One firefighter was taken to a hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion suffered while battling the blaze at Jasper and East Cornwall Streets.
The fire was reported around 9:30 a.m. and escalated to a second alarm about 9:45 a.m. as 150 firefighters and 22 pieces of equipment responded to the blaze, officials said.
It was declared under control at 10:29 a.m., but firefighters continued to pour water on the building as dark smoke soared skyward.
Scott Tennesen, president of the Latin Cruiser Car Club, said the group housed 15 classic cars in the building.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Robert Wright, the building's owner, said there was rumor that a car owner doing bodywork in violation of garage policy may have sparked the fire.
Tennesen said the classic vehicles stored in the garage included two 1971 Ford Mavericks, a 1966 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 350, a 1949 Ford, a 1976 AMC Pacer, a 1978 Ford Pinto wagon, a 1961 Cadillac, a 1961 Ford Falcon, and a 1956 Chevrolet panel truck.
Most of the cars were insured, he said, but probably are irreplaceable.
"You can try to find one that's similar, but you can never replace the time, money, and effort spent on those cars," Tennesen said.
Alvin Taveras, who lives near the garage and rents two berths for his cars, said he thought his 1993 Honda Civic hatchback was destroyed. He said he had recently spent about $2,000 preparing the car to race at a New Jersey track and had no insurance for it.
"I was always afraid of this," said Jose Rodriguez, another neighborhood resident who kept his BMW in the garage and had also done work on his car. "My hard work is going down the drain."
The Latin Cruisers Car Club participates in shows throughout the region and hosts weekly cruise nights at a Chick-Fil-A in Port Richmond, where neighborhood residents can see the club's cars on display.
Monday, July 30, 2012
St. Peter's Church Blesses Classic Cars
From Baynet.com: St. Peter's Church Blesses Classic Cars
Dozens
of classic automobiles were displayed on Saturday morning at the St.
Peter’s Blessing of the Cars and Car Show in Waldorf. The cars were
blessed by pastors from the St. Peter’s Catholic Church and School.
Along with the
car show, activities were set up for children and a book sale to benefit
the charities of the church also took place. Dozens showed up during
the morning hours despite the triple digit temperatures. It’s the second
time the church had organized the popular event.
Go to the original link to see a slideshow of photos.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Canada: Classic cars on display each week at Baden Cruise Night
From The Indy Blog: Classic cars on display each week at Baden Cruise Night
Baden’s weekly Cruisin’ at the Pond event has been attracting a steady stream of classic cars and visitors out to see the old machines on display.
Now in its third year, the show is attracting over 80 cars each Wednesday, said organizer Ron Weber. That’s an increase of around 20 from last year’s turnout.
The biggest turnout so far came on a tribute night for John Hiller
and Paul Cassel, when 167 cars showed up, filling the small park to
over-flowing.
The Petersburg Optimist Club was also added to the event this year, and is offering drinks and burgers for sale.
Cruisin’ at the Pond takes place every Wednesday this summer, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Baden pond.
Baden’s weekly Cruisin’ at the Pond event has been attracting a steady stream of classic cars and visitors out to see the old machines on display.
Now in its third year, the show is attracting over 80 cars each Wednesday, said organizer Ron Weber. That’s an increase of around 20 from last year’s turnout.
Terry and Joyce Swannell tour some of the old machines at Baden’s Cruisin’ at the Pond July 4.
The Petersburg Optimist Club was also added to the event this year, and is offering drinks and burgers for sale.
Cruisin’ at the Pond takes place every Wednesday this summer, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Baden pond.
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