A GDYNETS® PUBLICATION © 2011, G. DAVID YAROS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Car Collector Chronicles ®
Volume IV, Issue 10
Exploring:
Car Collector Chronicles
High RPMs
Car Collecting Today Classic Rides Reports From the Field Oldsmobile (1897-2004)
It is October. Where has the summer gone? I find it depressing that I have put my rides up for the winter already. Actually, there is one more local show in which I may participate. If I do, it shall be with The Gray Lady, our ‘55 Coupé de Ville, as she has yet to be allowed to begin her winter nap.
Cadillac (1902- ) Allanté (1987-1993)
Corvair (1960-1969)
In terms of car activities, it was not a particularly busy one this year. The highlight was using our Allanté, Auntie Pearl, as our means of transport for our summer vacation. She performed flawlessly.
IN THIS ISSUE:
High RPMs
1
GDYNets On the Web
1
The Milwaukee Masterpiece Club Day
Another highlight was finally getting The Gray Lady out on the open road. It was the first real opportunity to see how she handles on the highway. What I learned is, one had best pay close attention whenever escorting The Gray Lady on her rounds! She is big, requires a lot of room to maneuver and
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CCC® -THE FORUM http://ccc.activeboard.com Car Collector Chronicles-scribd
OldsD88@gmail.com
I would be lying if I did not acknowledge the satisfaction of reaction to the car. The plain, simple fact is that one just does not often see vehicles possessing such stature and class out and about anymore. She is most definitely a head turner! Next month marks the fourth anniversary of the debut of CCC®. For me that is a little hard to believe. Back in November of 20 and -o-8 I had no idea how long the endeavor would continue. We seem to have a good following,. The reader numbers are impressive, especially when one considers that it does require some effort to go to the web site and either download the pub, or read it online. I extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you for your interest in our publication. I will also make my perennial
plea for reader participation in the form of comments and contributions. Do feel free to let me know via email or the CCC® forum what you like, don’t like, would like to see and what is going on with you in terms of collector car activities. Your willingness to do so will help make the newsletter a better publication!
GDYNets® on the Web Find GDYNets on the web:
CCC® Forum EMail:
tends to take up every inch of any lane of travel.
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Humor on Wheels 4
Photo Gallery
October 2011
Saved 62 - 1962 Olds web site http://www.freewebs.com/ jeandaveyaros The Gray Lady - 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville web site
SAVED 62: A website devoted to our 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 convertible. The site also has a lot of information on Oldsmobiles and its founder, Ransom Eli Olds.
THE GRAY LADY: This website features our 1955 Cadillac Coupé de Ville and Caddy information.
DAVE’S DEN: A website devoted to a myriad of interests. Foremost is extensive information on the “Steel City” of Gary, IN. There are also offerings on steel making, U.S. Steel-Gary Works, U.S. Marine Corps, M14 assault rifle, of course Oldsmobile, and the tragic story of the murder of Gary, IN Police Lt. George Yaros.
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Car Collector Chronicles
The Milwaukee Masterpiece As I indicated last month, we would be participating in “Club Day” at the Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours. We did. It was an interesting experience, in a lot of ways. I was familiar with the event, somewhat. This was because years ago we happened upon it by chance while out for a veritable “Sunday drive.” Our interest in viewing the cars that day waned rather quickly when we were told the price of admission was $8.00. I am able to report that it no longer costs eight bucks to get in and walk the show field.
“A free continental style breakfast was served inside the V.I.P. tent. Next to the V.I.P. tent one could purchase wine by the glass. A caesar salad lunch was also available.”
First, let’s talk about the venue. The show is held at Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee. That places it right on the lake front with one of the best views of the Milwaukee skyline. To the immediate south is the Milwaukee harbor breakwater, where power and sail boats leisurely traverse. The bottom line here is, it is pretty hard to find a better venue. Now, let’s talk about the pre-show publicity. There was plenty, and not just local. I even received an email from Hemmings Daily hyping the show. Of course The Masterpiece received air time in advance on Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio, a weekly radio show broadcast. The week before the show, every day it seems, I received an email about show events and activities; such as cocktail parties, etc. I shall now turn to organization of the show. Our Olds was assigned both a category and a check-in time. We were instructed to be there at 0730 Hrs., even though the show did not open to the public until 10 a.m.! As our participation was clearly linked to the Oldsmobile Club of Wisconsin, I am still trying to figure out why there was a 1950 Mercury and a 1957 Ford parked between our ride and the other Olds Club member cars? In our registration packet were name tags and passes to the V.I.P. tent. A free continental style breakfast was served inside the V.I.P. tent. Next to the V.I.P. tent one could purchase wine by the glass. A caesar salad lunch was also available. Impressive, right? Very few vendors were allowed, or chose, to have a presence at the show. Reliable Transport was there with a couple of its rigs. They were on display, after having off-loaded cars for the concours event. Chubb Insurance Group and Hagerty were there. Chubb even gave away free, high quality t-shirts. Perhaps the most interesting vendor display was that from Rotary Lift. It had a 4-post lift on the show field with a fairly new Lincoln on it. The lift was placed on the ground, with 2’ x 2’ by 3/4”
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Car Collector Chronicles
plywood pads under each post. A pretty brave soul, in my opinion? I have to say, even the “Club Day” cars were a cut above the usual rides on display at most local shows. Both the car owners and spectators were very knowledgeable and friendly. We met a lot of nice folk. Of course, the point of any show is the cars. There were some unique rides on display, even on “Club Day.” One is best described as “only in Wisconsin.” It was a 1948 Packard, in very good to excellent condition. What made it unique was that it was painted in Green Bay Packers green and gold colors! There was also a pristine Porsche Junior diesel tractor on display. I had never seen one of those before. Its condition was such as to bring into question whether it had ever seen field duty any time during its existence. Another interesting display was of two Stutz’s. They were accompanied on the show field by their “official waxer,” or detail person. The cars were trailered to the show. The owner did make an appearance, but only after flying into Milwaukee on his private jet from Pebble Beach! –– In case you have not figured it out yet, we were more than a little out of our league here. Even so, I have to say I was more than surprised, as well as pleased, at the number of people who photographed our car. I wonder what happens to those photos? I suspect I shall stumble upon them on the net, sooner than later? With respect to photos, I did let a few people get in the car to photograph the dash. After one guy had his pic taken behind the wheel, I told him the charge for such was a $25 donation to the “Saved 62 Restoration Fund!” We all had a laugh at that one. The most prevalent comment about our car was, “Look at that steering wheel!” It is V-shaped in the center and does sport a lot of chrome. Far different from the nondescript steering wheels of today, housing a driver air bag. Now, let me address the negatives. I reported above, spectators no longer have to pay an $8 admission charge. That is true. The cost now is 15 bucks! That seems to be more than a little steep to me? As there were over 250 cars on display, and most having 2 owners, I was not able to get a handle on how many people actually paid the exorbitant spectator admission charge to gawk at our rides. I suspect it was not that many, and certainly not as many as it could have been if the charge
“I have to say, even the “Club Day” cars were a cut above the usual rides on display at most local shows. Both the car owners and spectators were very knowledgeable and friendly.”
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Car Collector Chronicles
was $10 or $5. It was obvious, the organizers did not want to induce just anybody and everybody to enter the grounds. It was also made clear, though in a very subtle manner, that us “Club Day” participants were only being tolerated for the day. The point was kind of hard to miss when our issued credentials included the V.I.P Tent pass, but only for Club Day on Saturday. We were not deemed good enough to mingle with the concours owners on Sunday. I found that a tad insulting. So, what about the concours show on Sunday? I cannot say, as I do not go where I feel I am not wanted or welcomed. That was the feeling imparted, intentionally or not. Consequently, we elected not to attend. Not one to hold a grudge, here is the link to a list of the Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours winners—MM Concours Winner List.
Humor on Wheels
– Ok, I’ve had my say for the month. Now it’s your turn! I invite/encourage submission of your comments, opinions and contributions, and ask that you help spread the word about our publication. Everything sent shall indeed be reviewed by me. Submissions should be sent to CCC® at OldsD88@gmail.com. –– Now that you have finished reading this month’s issue of the newsletter, come start/ join an ongoing dialog with other CCC® readers and like-minded car collector folk on the CCC® Forum. Stop by, check us out and share your views … . _______________________________________
-- RESTORE 'EM, AND DRIVE 'EM! COMING NEXT ISSUE:
The (publishing) Year in Review Cuban Car Market
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Car Collector Chronicles
Photo Gallery Saved 62 on the Milwaukee Masterpiece Show Field
The Green Bay Packard
A Porsche “Gentleman’s Tractor”
Packard Hood Ornament
Oldsmobile Crest
Lincoln Dash