Belltown Antique Car Club - P.O. Box 211, East Hampton, CT 06424 August, 2016

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds at 6:30 p.m.

On the Agenda: - Field set-up schedule for our 50th Annual Vintage Motorcar Meet

- Work and class judging assignments for volunteers at the show

- Show car judging refresher, as needed

FUEL FOR THOUGHT

“By...1895, the Duryeas had set up in business [in Springfield] to make horseless carriages…and Hiram P. Maxim started a ‘motor carriage’ department in the Pope Manufacturing bicycle shops in Hartford, Connecticut. ...New England had taken a lead in the sweepstakes to become the auto manufacturing cen-ter of the nation, principally because it was already home to the logical progenitors of the car builders: bicycle and wagon constructors. New Englanders were inventive and vigorous; they were blessed or burdened with industrial experience. [Yet]...New Englanders, including Colonel Albert A. Pope, were not single-minded enough about the car to hold their advantage. ...Pope’s adventures with the motor car are illustrative of his understanding of manufacturing but not automobiles. …‘You cannot get people to sit over an explosion,’ the Colonel was reported to have said, and he promptly decided to go into the electric car business and be done with trying to make the gas engine smooth and quiet.”

- From the book, American Cars by Leon Mandel, 1982, published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang

CLUB NOTES

At the Club’s July 6th business meeting, much of the discussion centered around our upcoming 50th Annual

Vintage Motorcar Meet to be held on Sunday, August 7th.

Jon Grant called for members to continue handing out the “business card” show invitations, especially to own-

ers of interesting early cars. He urged members to turn our attention to getting out the word to boost show

attendance by, among other things, asking local merchants to display our show posters in their front window.

The sepia-tone posters are available in two sizes and feature the front view of a Jarvis Barton-owned Packard.

Jon stated that his daughter is investigating advertising the show on Facebook. The meeting authorized

spending up to $50 for such advertising if it makes sense.

Ralph Phil reported that he will soon post our existing show sign near Stop & Shop in town.

Jon and others who attended the memorial service for Pete Alison were not able to get to the Klingberg Show

this year, but Phil Hamilton announced that he did so. Fortunately, Phil was able to hand out invitation cards

and flyers to owners of many of the early cars displayed on the hill. This was very much appreciated. Phil is

also going to contact local members of the Horseless Carriage Club of America.

Jon asked the group to consider whether we wanted to have live acoustic music, such as having a bluegrass

P. 2 of 8 The Belltown Bulletin August, 2016

CLUB NOTES, continued from previous page

band play in the gazebo during the show. Without knowing the cost, the idea did not garner sufficient support

for it to be approved for this year’s show.

Soon after July 18th Peter Christianson will begin assembling the registration packets that will be handed out

to show car owners. Dan David will provide a 50th anniversary show leaflet modelled on the 1969-vintage

show leaflet that was enclosed with the last issue of the newsletter. The packet quantity will be 350, which is

our target show car count for this year’s milestone event.

Other business -

The ordered club banners were not yet received; Ralph will follow up.

Jon Grant raised the question of whether it was necessary to have a sign-in book for our monthly meetings.

No one seemed to think so…

Charlie Hnilicka reviewed the final plans for the upcoming Chestelm show and urged members to bring an old

car to this worthwhile and casual event. He shared a poster that was made available.

A proposal was accepted to allow non-members to advertise in the Bulletin Classifieds section of our newslet-

ter, provided that the vehicle (or item) on offer is something that fits within our range of interests. Previously,

classified ads were only accepted from members although, on occasion, they were submitted by a member on

behalf of a friend or family member. The new approach is effective with this newsletter. [Editor’s note: ads

submitted by BACC members will be identified as such.]

Saturday, August 13th was tentatively set as the date for the Club’s after-show picnic. Mark Hoydilla will

check with Larry Emmons on the date and begin the needed arrangements.

Remember that the next Club meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, August 3rd will be held at the Haddam

Neck Fairgrounds off Rte. 151. Members should assemble at the pavilion at 6:30 p.m. The meeting agenda

will mainly focus on show preparations and volunteer assignments. Your attendance is appreciated.

MEMBER MILESTONES

Happy Birthday to: Paul Anderson August 1st (70) Rickey Edman August 26th

Scott Macgregor August 3rd Bill Miller August 26th (94)

Gerry Rossi August 3rd Ron Miller August 30th (75)

Jim Way August 7th Phil Guertin August 31st

Jean Johnson August 8th

Happy Anniversary to: Rick & Sue Reale August 5th

Alan & Kathy Miller August 10th

Phil & Linda LaRose August 17th (20)

Chris & Jennifer Beckwith August 23rd

Ray & Betty Lichota August 23rd

Richard & Patty Skinner August 26th

P. 3 of 8 The Belltown Bulletin August, 2016

IT’S SHOW TIME!

Unmuffled Exhaust from the Editor

Our milestone 50th Annual Vintage Motorcar Meet is just around the corner. We need lots of volunteers to make this a memorable and successful show. That’s why members are encouraged to attend the Club meeting on August 3rd at Haddam Neck Fairgrounds. Even if you can’t spend all day at the show due to your other commitments or your own

physical limitations, your participation is still welcome and will be much appreciated.

The gates will open at 8 a.m. but flea market vendors and even some show cars are expected to arrive well before then. Volunteers who want to help with the flea market set-up, show car registration, the paid spectator gate and directing traffic/show car parking are needed as early as 7:30 a.m. Peter Christianson, Richard Beckwith and Jim Way will be organizing the flea market. Mark Aldieri and Dan David will coordinate show car registration. Mark Hoydilla is the go

-to person for the parking crew. Elaine Grant will organize the main gate staff with support from Maureen Hartzell.

The main gate has to be manned throughout the show. Show car registration will be open to about 1:00 p.m. Directing traffic is required at the access road crossing all day but show car parking is mainly needed up to noon or so. All judges are to report for duty at noon and most will work to at least 2:00 p.m.; those handling the larger classes can expect to be needed as late as the beginning of the trophy presentations at 3:00 p.m. Jon Grant is the chief judge and will handle

class judging assignments and compiling the results. Polly Beckwith will manage the trophy presentations.

Is your spouse interested to participate? Working at the spectator gate or assisting with trophy presentation are great

(and fun) ways for first-timers to get involved. A couple of hours can make a difference.

Experience isn’t necessary, just enthusiasm and a willingness to help. Together we can put on a great show!

THE “STRAIGHT SIX”

The Bulletin asked members what they like best to do to help out at our Belltown Vintage Motorcar Meet.

1 - Mark Aldieri: “My favorite thing to do is work with show car registration. You get to see all the cars!”

2 - Phil Hamilton: “As long as I can manage it, I like to be a judge.”

3 - Ralph Phil: “On the morning of set-up, the day before the show, I like to see if I can beat Karl Helming to Bill

Reardon’s place to unload the show material from his trailer. At the show I’m happy taking photographs!”

4 - Charlie Gunn: “Judging is my favorite job at a show. I enjoy doing it.”

5 - Alan Carlson: “I don’t mind parking cars. And I also like to judge. You can learn a lot doing that.”

6 - Mike Somma: “I like to help out with whatever needs to be done. On set-up Saturday that means laying out the flea market and the show car classes on the field. There’s such a wide range of things to be done on Sunday. I’m

always willing to be a judge - we’ll need more judges this year - and I’ll help with cleaning up, too.”

...What will you volunteer to do at this year’s show?

P. 4 of 8 The Belltown Bulletin August, 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, Aug. 3 - BACC special monthly meeting at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds off Rte. 151, 6:30 p.m.; car

show and judging assignments will be made. Club members are strongly encouraged to attend so as to enable us to be

prepared to put on our milestone 50th anniversary show the following Sunday.

Saturday, Aug. 6 - Field set-up at Haddam Neck Fairgrounds for Sunday’s car show. Details at Aug. 3rd meeting.

Saturday, Aug. 6 - Antique & Classic Car Show presented by Conn. Seaport Car Club, Fairfield Univ., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.;

info at www.ctseaportcarclub.com.

Sunday, Aug. 7 - 50th Annual Belltown Vintage Motorcar Meet, Haddam Neck Fairgrounds, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain

or shine, Club member participation needed - plan to arrive by 7:30 a.m. (or by noon if you will just do judging).

Sunday, Aug. 21 - 41st Annual Auto Show & Swap Meet at the Goshen Fairgrounds, Rte. 63, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (flea

market opens 8 a.m.). Hosted by the Litchfield Hills Historical Automobile Club. Glenn or John Royals, 860-489-4500.

Saturday, Aug. 27 - “Air-Cooled at the Orchard” show for cars with air-cooled engines, Lyman Orchards farm market in

Middlefield, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; hosted by CT C.O.R.S.A. (Corvair) and C.V.A. (VW). Rain date: Sunday, August 28.

Visit www.lymanorchards.com/events.

Thursday - Monday, Sept. 1 - 5 - Historic Festival 34 at Lime Rock Park incl. Concours & Gathering of the Marques on

Sunday, Sept. 4.; Lakeville, Conn. Go to www.limerockhistorics.com.

Monday, Sept. 5 - The annual Labor Day Car Show at the Elks Club in Westbrook, sponsored by the Shoreline Recycled

Teenage Cruisers has been cancelled for this year, according to the club’s web site.

Wednesday, Sept. 7 - BACC monthly meeting at the East Hampton Library; pot luck supper tentatively planned.

Sunday, Sept. 11 - 57th Annual Yankee Yesteryear Car Club’s Antique Car Show & Swap Meet, Brooklyn Fairgrounds,

Rte. 169. Contact: Steve Chmura, 860-564-7277.

HOBBY HEADLINES & HISTORY

50 years ago, Chevrolet unveiled the first Camaro, a car designed to go head to head

with the phenomenally successful Ford Mustang. In celebration, Chevy will host a

“Camaros and Coffee” event in Detroit on August 19th and will have a special Camaro

Heritage Display set up for this year’s Woodward Dream Cruise on August 20th. For

further information go to www.camarofifty.com.

Chet Krause, founder and publisher of Old Cars Weekly (1971-) and other hobby titles, and originator of the

annual old car show in Iola, Wisc. (“the largest collector car event in the Midwest”), died on June 25th at the

age of 92. Mr. Krause was also an avid old car collector himself, having amassed some 100 cars at one point

in time. He also collected old military vehicles. Krause Publications’ Old Car Price Guides and the Standard

Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942 are must-have reference books for antique car hobbyists.

Governor Malloy of Conn. has signed into law H.B. 5412 which stipulates that, effective October 1, 2016, the

acquisition of a motor vehicle title shall not be required for vehicles older than twenty model years, however,

the state MAY, at the discretion of the commissioner of motor vehicles, issue a motor vehicle title for an older

vehicle upon the owner’s request. (Note: the title application fee was $25 as of 2013. The new regulations

have not yet been posted on the DMV website so the fee schedule going forward may differ.) Having a title

for a collector car can enhance its value and improve the market for Conn.-registered cars outside the state.

copyright General Motors

P. 5 of 8 The Belltown Bulletin August, 2016

SUMMERTIME FUN WITH OLD CARS

The Chestelm show on the evening of July 13th was well supported by BACC members. Patients and staff of the nursing facility alike enjoyed seeing the antique cars and trucks. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Jon Grant reported that he and Karl Helming made a road trip to Paris Hill, Maine to see the Founder’s Day Classic Car Exhibit on July 16th. Club member Jon Foote was also there. This annual celebration features the private collection of local residents Robert and Sandra Bahre. Their sixty or so exquisite antique cars on view included Duesenbergs, Packards, Stutz Bearcats, vintage race cars and more, even a Tucker. Jon said it was a spectacular opportunity any classic car enthusiast would enjoy. The Bahre’s collection is open to the general public just once a year, on this occasion, to benefit the nearby Hamlin Memorial Library.

BELLTOWN CLASSIFIEDS

Send your sell/wanted ads for cars, parts and hobby-related services to dan12david@yahoo.com

For Sale – 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe, 289 c.i. V-8, automatic; runs good, garage kept, many extra parts. $7,000. Email Rich at rqkelly@gmail.com. [Colchester area]

For Sale – 1946 Ford Super DeLuxe Convertible, maroon with tan top & tan interior, V-8 engine, Columbia two-speed rear axle, fog lights (used as front directionals); fully-restored, 370 miles since winning the Early Ford V-8 Club’s “Dearborn Award” in 2014. $55,000. Contact Charlie Gunn, 203-488-2860. [BACC member]

For Sale – 1925 Chevrolet Superior K-2 Coach, RHD from Australia; unrestored, ran when purchased in 1986. Extra, correct fenders & aluminum grille shell included. Sold on bill of sale from prior owner.

1927 Franklin Series 11-B Sport Sedan, air-cooled six cyl.; ran & drove when purchased from 2nd owner in 1981. Has new brakes & kingpins. Body, interior & wood frame unrestored. Engine disassembled to assess condition; new pistons, pins, rings, valves & guides included. Sold on bill of sale from prior owner.

1947 Mercury Series 79M Business Coupe, purchased in 1968 (+ parts car in 1980), disassembled for resto- ration; frame, suspension & original flathead V-8 rebuilt. Sold on bill of sale only. No previous history.

1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Coupe, green with white interior, 130 hp six cyl., Bosch mech. F.I., four-speed automatic, partially disassembled for restoration by 1st owner; all parts & receipts included. Running when purchased from 1st owner. Sold on original CT title.

Call Dave Dawson, 860-663-2711 (daytime) regarding any of the above four vehicles. [Killingworth area]

For Sale – 1929 Ford Model A Sport Coupe, older ground-up restoration, numbers matching, used very little. $16,500. Call for pictures and more info. Ray Lichota, 860-633-6561. [BACC member]

Charlie Hnilicka, show organizer, stands behind his ’57 Chevy Nomad [left]. Jon Grant makes good use of the running board of his newly-acquired (from Charlie Gunn) ’34 Ford Tudor, while Ray Lichota & Steve Rossi look on [above].

The Plymouth coupe & Ford Model A Tudor of Gordon Hallberg & Roy Hallberg, Jr. [above right]. Chris Beckwith’s home-built hot rod, straight from running in this year’s “Race of Gentlemen” in N.J. [above left]. Steve Rossi’s Citroen Ami was one of two air-cooled French fries amongst the otherwise All-American hot dogs [left].

P. 6 of 8 The Belltown Bulletin August, 2016

CONNECTICUT AUTOMOBILIA

From the Steven Rossi Collection

A passage from THE MERRITT PARKWAY by Bruce Radde, Yale University Press, copyright 1993

Author Radde writes about the “noncommercial status of the parkway” in his chapter entitled Early History & Later De-

velopment, beginning with banishing trucks from using the parkway. He continues, addressing the restricted usage of

the land along the parkway right of way. Here we learn some background as to why James Melton’s antique auto col-

lection ended up moving out of state (see reference to Mr. Melton’s Norwalk, Conn. museum in last month’s Belltown

Bulletin). Here is how Mr. Radde tells the story:

The James Melton Autorama

Hypoluxo, Fla. (not Sarasota), 1953-1961

After Melton’s death, the 35-car collection was sold off to Winthrop Rockefeller, who incorporated it into his own Museum of Automobiles at Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton, Ark. In 1975 the cars were again sold, this time to William F. Harrah of Reno, Nev.

AD-DENDUM

Challenge your brand recognition IQ

Which of the following 1966 cars was advertised in print as

“A MOST UNUSUAL CAR FOR PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THE UNUSUAL”?

a) The Chevrolet Corvair

b) The AMC Marlin

c) The Oldsmobile Toronado

The correct answer to last month’s Ad-Dendum, the 1912 car hailed as “Higher Than Ever in Quality--Lower Than Ever in Price”:

(c) Ford Model T two-pass. Torpedo, completely equipped at $590

NEXT ISSUE

The copy and classified ad deadline for the September issue of The Belltown Bulletin is August 26, 2016.

Monday, August 29th is the planned printing date. E-delivery is scheduled to take place on September 1st.

Send your newsletter suggestions, comments, and contributions to dan12david@yahoo.com.

The next issue will include a list of the award winners from our 50th Annual Vintage Motorcar Meet.

BELLTOWN ANTIQUE CAR CLUB

President - Jon Grant Elected Directors* - Mark Hoydilla & Lee Harris

Vice President - Karl Helming Sunshine Chairperson - Polly Beckwith (860-345-4256)

Secretary - Peter Christianson Newsletter Editor - Dan David (dan12david@yahoo.com)

Treasurer - Maureen Hartzell Editor Emeritus - Bob Hellstrom

Club web site - www.belltownantiquecarclub.org

Club e-mail address - belltowncarclub@gmail.com

Club mailing address - BACC, P.O. Box 211, East Hampton, CT 06424

Facebook - www.facebook.com/BACC-Belltown-Antique-Car-Club-116729245345421/

*) The Board also includes the previous president, Bob Sutton, as an ex-officio member.

P. 7 of 8 The Belltown Bulletin August, 2016

By The Way...

Summer is nearly half over! Have you had your old car out for exercise lately?

Chris Beckwith took his 1928 Chevy Boat Tail Speedster down to Wildwood, New Jersey in early June for the “The Race of Gentlemen 2016.” He reports that his 4-cylinder machine didn’t go particularly fast on the beach course, but he had serious fun doing it. The event is for “old skool” hot rods and motorcycles. Information on it can be found at www.theraceofgentlemen.com. Here are some screen prints of Chris’s car that were taken from combing through a few hundred photos from this year’s T.R.O.G. that had been posted on Instagram…

E-Delivery Bonus**

Interested in the history of the Chevrolet Camaro from a design perspective? Here is a link to a generation-by-

generation design analysis done by prominent GM designers:

http://www.camarofiftymedia.com/product/public/us/en/camaro-fifty/news-releases.detail.html/content/Pages/

news/us/en/2015/feb/0226-camaro-design.html

For a peek at the Bahre collection in Paris Hill, Maine, check out the short promotional video made for last

year’s Founder’s Day event. Go to the Hamlin Library web site page on the event, http://

www.hamlin.lib.me.us/founders_day.html, scroll down below the map and click on the video frame.

**) The E-Delivery Bonus is a feature not found in printed

copies of the newsletter that are distributed via the USPS

Chris Beckwith having the time of his life on the sandy

beach of Wildwood, New Jersey. “How cool is that?”