20 - Southpoint Sun
“I can remember...”
Whenever I heard Jim Kennedy utter those three words (“I can remember…”) I listened carefully to what he was about to say. Jim was a long-time member of the Leamington-Mersea Historical Society and a life-long resident of Leamington, Ontario. Kennedy Cleaners was the family business and for years they also operated the license office on Nelson Street. One day Jim remembered a car that was in the Kennedy family in the 1930s and maybe even the early 1940s. It Bill Sherk was a Marquette (a companion car to the Buick) and only built by GM for about eighteen months before the Great Depression killed it. In the Kennedy family, this car was known as “the Clunk,” perhaps because it was nearing the end of its useful life. A worn-out universal joint could make a clunking sound whenever the driver changed gears. And the driver would have to double-clutch because there was no synchromesh in the transmission. The Marquette was the brainchild of Alfred P. Sloan, who became president of GM in the U.S. in 1923. He believed the company needed to build a car for
every purse and pocketbook. The cars already being built by GM (Chev, Buick, Olds, Oakland, and Cadillac) were spread across too wide a price range, so the thinking went. In 1926, GM introduced the Pontiac as a companion car to the more expensive Oakland. In 1927, GM introduced the LaSalle as a slightly less costly version of the Cadillac. By 1929, Oldsmobile got the Viking and Buick got the Marquette. In Canada, production of the 1930 Marquette began in May 1929 in Oshawa. Six body styles were available and all were powered by a six cylinder engine with 212 cubic inches and 67 horsepower. Prices ranged from $1245 for the business coupe to $1335 for the 4-door sedan. Buick prices were noticeably higher with the least expensive Buick at $1650 for the business coupe and $2705 for the Limo-sedan. These new companion cars seemed to make sense during the prosperity of the “roaring ‘20s” but the stock market crash in October of 1929 changed everything. The Marquette, Oakland, and Viking all discontinued production during 1930. The only companion car still available was the LaSalle, which lasted until 1940. I’m always looking for stories. Email billtsherk@sympatico.ca.
THE OLD CAR DETECTIVE
Internet photo of 1930 Marquette 5-passenger coach.
FUN IN THE SUN ANSWERS
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Leamington cyclist achieved high ranks
by C. Scott Holland LEAMINGTON — For one Leamington resident in the mid-1980s, cycling to remain fit led to running marathon races. And they weren’t your ordinary long-distance races either. In 1986, Leamington’s Danny Quick was training to run his second John Marino Ultra Marathon 700-mile-plus race, which was a qualifier for the Race Across America. Quick began his cycling in 1981 and entered several races and won. The Windsor Cycling Club member took up the challenge of the 1985 Marino race and finished 18th. Only 25 of the 75 entrants completed the race. Statistically, it meant that only 30% of the starters made it to the end. Part of Quick’s training at the time was biking to and from his place of work in Windsor on various streets and roads of Essex County. Prior to the race, he stated, “I don’t see it as a 700 mile race. I just go through the first 24 hours and set a goal to finish.” The 1985 race was held 100 miles southwest of Los Angeles, and included desert and steep mountain terrain. Of course, fundraising was an integral part of his ventures and thankfully he had three local sponsors whose names he wore on his hats and jerseys throughtout his county training and in races. His ultimate goal was to qualify for the Race Across America and be the first Canadian to finish it. But first, he needed to gain entry by being a top 12 finisher at the Marino race, which was being held in Chicago. With his wife Cindy heading up the road crew that consisted of a few relatives plus his two daughterrs along for support, they would head from check-
DANNY QUICK
point to checkpoint and supply needed food and drinks. As for racing itself, Quick said, “It’s a very big mental thing. You have to be prepared for anything. Physical pain is very real and your body tells you to stop, but you have to get past the pain and keep going.” Heading into the 1986 events, Quick had the experience of being in the Michigan National 24-hour Challenge and the Marino race. In the Michigan event, he led about 350 other entrants for 120 km but was forced out of the race because of mechanical problems. In that 1986 Marino race, Quick did qualify for the 1987 Race Across America, as he finished eighth out of the 60 who entered. The course was 11-anda- half circuits of a 61-mile course. He completed it in 45 hours and 49 minutes. In the Race Across America, Quick started well and was in 10th place after three days of the grueling nine-day race. Weather conditions created havoc with gusty winds and sleet. After 750 miles of the 3,500 mile journey, Quick was forced to call it quits due to a severe stiff neck. There was certainly disappointment but he was highly encouraged by being among the race leaders in those early stages.
ACCESSING INFORMATION ON COVID-19 If you need accurate information, please be sure to check out one of the websites below. Some of the information floating around social media is not accurate and you should put your trust in these websites to give you the proper information. HEALTH CANADA
www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19
ONTARIO MIN. OF HEALTH
www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus
ONTARIO SELF ASSESSMENT TOOL
covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment
WINDSOR ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH UNIT
www.wechu.org/
CHATHAM-KENT PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT
ckphu.com
MUNICIPALITY OF LEAMINGTON
www.leamington.ca
TOWN OF KINGSVILLE www.kingsville.ca
MUNICPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT
www.chatham-kent.ca
CRYPTO: a. Fireworks b. lit WORD SCRAMBLE: Rocket GUESS WHO: Tom Holland
c. display
d. sparkle
ERIE SHORES HEALTHCARE www.erieshoreshealthcare.ca
BUSINESSES & EMPLOYEES www.ontario.ca/ontariotogether
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html
