THE PUGET SOUND REGION VINTAGE CHEVROLET CLUB OF AMERICA NEWSLETTER

J a n u a r y 2 0 06 Vo l u me 3 9 , I s s u e 1

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

Spec i a l po in t s

o f i n t e res t :

• February Tour on p. 4

• GM Motoramas on p. 9

DEPARTMENTS

2006 Club Officers & Club information

2

Director’s Corner 3

Club Store & Raffle 4

Club Meeting & Auto Event Calendar

6

2006 Club Touring & Activities

7

From The Glove Box 10

Tappet Clatter Classifieds

11

JANUARY SPOTLIGHT

January Program The January general meeting program will feature what automotive related gifts you received for Christmas along with creating a listing of automotive events happening in 2006. See page 7 for details. Alva Howe is on the list for treats.

Her Name Is Sweetie Pie By Judy Ann Gregg

In 1985 Bob was asked to become the insurance agent for an elderly couple named Bill & Ina who were in need of a new insurance agent. Bob made an appointment for them to come to his office so he could review their policies and be sure they were properly covered. When he checked over the policies he noticed they owned a 1940 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Business Coupe. Bob asked Bill to tell him about the “old car” and Bill said “Oh, that’s Ina’s car”. Well, Ina was more than happy to tell her story about the “old car”. Ina was born March 23, 1907 in Scotland. Her family immigrated to Can-ada and then to Washington State. In the mid-thirties she went to work for an accounting firm in downtown Seattle. She rode the interur-ban from Alderwood Manor to Seattle until they discontinued the interurban ser-vice in 1939. In 1940 she bought the “old car”, albeit then a new car, from the Hopper Chevrolet dealership in Edmonds, Washington. (cont. on p. 5)

2006 Officers of the Puget Sound Region

Puget Sound Region VCCA

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The Puget Sound Region of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America (PS-VCCA) is dedicated to the preservation,

restoration, fun and enjoyment of vintage Chevrolet cars and trucks. Members are not required to own a Chevrolet.

PS-VCCA chapter membership is open to all Chevrolet enthusiasts who are members of the Vintage Chevrolet Club

of America (VCCA). All Chevys from 1911 through 1981 may be registered with the region. General meetings are

held on the 4th Monday of the month at Tillicum Middle School in Bellevue . Meetings in September through May are

from 7:30PM to 9:30PM. June and August meetings are announced in this publication. No meetings are held in July

or December. You can learn more about the club by visiting the website. You can see color photos of previous tours,

parts for sale, wanted, etc. and there is a link to view our Monthly Newsletter “Tappet Clatter.” You can find the PS-

VCCA website on the World Wide Web @ http://pugetsoundvintagechevrolet.org/

Director Asst. Director

Bob Helgeson Jim Martoza helgy@gte.net chevyjim@ Juno.com cablespeed.com Bill Damm Lee Folsom Billdamm@webtv.net Carolee@ verizon.net Activities Coordinators Evie & Rod Schein areshine@juno.com

Mary & Jerry Brownell ljsbrownell@juno.com

Treasurer Secretary Sallie Comstock Jim Farris d.comstock@att.net farrismej@aol.com Editors Membership Dave Haddock Donna Onat chevguy@att.net donnaonat@juno.com Jim Farris farrismej@aol.com Historians Club Store Don Boltz Dave & Betty Roberts donnys32@aol.com

Wanted Reward!

We are still seeking “Spotlights” of club member’s cars for 2006 Tappet Clatters. Please take the time to write up the history of your car and include two pictures and send them to Dave Haddock. Do it the way that suits you the best, but if you can do as an attachment to an e-mail that helps Dave put it to-gether. See the past ones as examples. Reward? – You will get a professionally-printed, color copy of your edition and help us produce an interesting monthly publication. THANKS.

Director’s CornerDirector’s CornerDirector’s CornerDirector’s Corner

T A P P E T C L A T T E R 3

Dick Olson’s Garage Nite

Garage Nites will resume in the Spring. Watch the March Newsletter for something in April 2006.

First, I want to thank Sis and Bill Barker for hosting the Christmas Party. A big crowd, lots of fine food, and lots of fun with the gift exchange. Thank you for hosting our annual Christ-mas Party. In addition to opening up their home, Bill arranged a Tour of Tom Armstrong’s-Garage where we were in awe at what we saw. A Ferrari, Cord, Cadillac, Lola race car, Camaro, duesenberg and Corvettes, Plus a room full of Tom's model train sets. (For his grandkids?) You did good Bill. (See pictures below) We start the New Year with a full slate of officer holders. As in prior years it takes a little nudging but again we have members who step forward and are willing to give of their time and energy to continue the success of the club. I feel I can speak on behalf of the mem-bers to say thanks to the new officer holders If you have an idea for a tour, show, event, or happening that your fellow Chevy owners would enjoy contact Rod Schein or Jerry Brownell so they can include it in our club activity planning. This is the time of year that we begin to plan our activity calendar. So, let them hear from you. The rains are going to stop and we will be able to get that Chevy out once again. Trust me. See you at the next Chevy event. Helgy

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CLUB STORE & RAFFLE

The store will be open at the meetings throughout the winter and spring months.

Dave & Betty Roberts

ANNIVERSARIES! BIRTHDAYS!

February Celebrations

Feb 1 Bill Barker, Don Boltz, Wally Martin Feb. 4 Kathy Currie Feb. 14 Lee Folsom

Feb. 14 Dennis & Gerri Johnson Feb. 22 George & Phyllis Kowats

IMAX Theater & Touring the Hills & Views of Seattle

Join us at the Seattle Center to see the IMAX film, “Wired to Win, Surviving the Tour de France” Sunday, February 19, 2006. Meet at the north ticket booth of the Science Center at 1:00pm

Film begins at 1:30pm $8 for adults or group rate of $7 if we have 15 attending.

After film, warm up those engines and get ready to shift those gears as we head up Queen Anne, over to Magnolia, and along Shilshole, ending up at the Schein’s for Ice Cream Sunday’s and a

time for desert samples Bring a sample of your favorite desert.

Call Rod or Evie at 206-783-8956 by Feb 5th so we might qualify for the group rate. Feel free to just show up at 1:00pm at the ticket booth for the non-group rate.

Also, are there a couple of people who would be willing to go to the 12:30pm showing and then watching the cars from 1:30-2:30pm in a parking lot? Let me know, thanks Rod. I will be looking

into parking and give info at the Banquet. If it rains, we can still take the tour in our modern cars.

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Her Name Is Sweetie Pie (cont. from p. 1)

It was her first car, a brand new 1940 Special Deluxe Business Coupe! In the 1950’s she went to work for the Post Office in Alderwood Manor and then retired in 1973. At that time she parked the car in the garage and never drove it again. Bob told Ina that 1940 was the year both he and I were born and he would sure love to have an ‘old car’ of that year. If she ever wanted to sell it he would like a chance to buy it. Ina laughed and said, “NEVER”. Well years would pass and at every policy review time, Bob would make the offer to buy the “old car” and Ina would laugh and say, “NEVER”. However, one day in 1996 Ina called and said “Bob, if you want that old car come today and bring your checkbook.” Bob called me and said, “grab your purse, Ina wants to sell the old car.” I was watching our three year old grandson, Scott that day and I told Scott “put your shoes on, Papa’s buying an old car today. We need to be ready to roll in ten minutes.” We arrived at Bill and Ina’s and the “old car” was parked in their driveway. It was our first time to see it and we fell in love with it immediately. Love at first sight, I guess you could say. Ina was waiting for us inside, sitting in her favorite chair. We sat down and Ina said “I want $2300.00 for the “old car”.” Bob had done some homework and checked old car values and had told me the car was worth at least $2000.00. So Bob said (like a silly boy) “Will you take $2000.00 for it”? Ina looked at him with her steel blue eyes and said “What! You need a loan?” After we all quit laughing Bob handed her a check and the “old car” was ours. Since the “old car” had not been driven for many a year we had it picked up and delivered to our home the next day on a flatbed tow truck. And that is where our adventure really began! That next day a brand new shiny white tow truck deliv-ered the “old car” to our driveway and that is where the attitude of the “old car” began. From the moment that “old car” rolled off the flatbed and rolled down our driveway you knew she thought she was something special. Maybe that’s why they are called “Special Deluxe.”

As we carefully opened the doors and sat down inside we were thrilled to see that the “old car” was in such good shape. No rust to speak of and no dents but lots of holes. There were holes here, there and every where. Bill had drilled the holes to put extra lights on so Ina would be seen. He had also put an extra horn on so she could be heard. He had the “old car” painted

cream in 1946 so Ina would always be visible. There were lots of wires that had beginnings but no ends. We had a lot of work to do. We carefully looked in all corners and when we opened the glove compartment we found a note dated December 27, 1940. It read:

Ina

O.K. Sweetie Pie

I came over &

Put chains on your car.

So you are

O.K.

I Love You,

Bill

Drive Carefully !! (cont. on p. 8)

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2006 Club Meetings & Auto Events Calendar

JAN 21 January Banquet, driving directions below

23 General Meeting @ Tillicum Middle School

FEB 11/12 Puyallup, WA. 32nd Annual Corvette & High Performance Meet

17-19 Portland, OR. 50th Annual Portland Roadster Show, 877-236-0632

27 General Meeting @ Tillicum Middle School

MAR 3-5 Seattle, WA. Seattle Roadster Show, 877-236-0632

24-26 Redmond, OR. Central Oregon Rod & Custom Show, 541-317-9351

27 General Meeting @ Tillicum Middle School

APR 7-9 Portland Swap Meet

24 General Meeting @ Tillicum Middle School

29 Goldendale, WA. Smokin Joe’s Burnout & Chile Contest, 800-573-3793

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Golden Steer Steak'n Rib House (253) 852-1144 1: Take Ramp I-405 towards Renton 2: At exit 2B, turn RIGHT onto Ramp towards WA-167 / Rainier Ave S 3: Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-167 [Valley Fwy] 4: Turn RIGHT (East) onto S Grady Way 5: Turn RIGHT (South) onto SR-515 [Talbot Rd S]

6: Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-515 [Benson Dr S] 7: Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-515 8: Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-515 [108th Ave SE] 9: Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-515 [Benson Rd SE] 10: Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-515 [104th Ave SE] Arrive 23826 104th Ave SE, Kent, WA 98031

4

5

Directions to the January Banquet

T A P P E T C L A T T E R 7

Club Touring & Activities Information for 2006

NOTE: Please submit

Tappet Clatter contri-

butions before the 5th

of the month. Thanks.

JANUARY MEETING- This month's program we will share our received automotive holi-day gifts. Perhaps family members gave you hubcaps for your Chevy. What Chevy related items did Santa bring you? Also, we will discuss scheduled auto related events, shows, cruz-ins, swap meets, or auctions. What events do you know that are coming up in 2006? The Portland Swap Meet is always in? In August, the Wil-lamette Valley region is hosting the NW Mini Meet and the National Anniversary Meet is in July. We will create a 2006 auto calendar planner of these events. Help us by bringing your lists and join us at Tillicum School in Bellevue at 7:30 PM on Monday January 23rd.

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Activities Summary for 2006

From the Scheins and the Brownells

January 21st Awards Banquet

February 19th Imax & Tour the Hills of Seattle (see p. 4)

March 11th Play & Dessert - Auburn

April Available

May 7th Breakfast & Tour

May 17th Ballard Parade

June 26 Strawberry Picnic @ Mary Moor Park

July 3-7 VCCA 45th Anniversary Meet

July 4th Picnic at Folsom’s

August 12th Johnson’s in Poulsbo

August 24th Boehm’s Candy Tour & XXX, Issaquah

September Available

October Available

November Available

December Christmas Party

December (end of month)

Dinner & Christmas Lights Tour

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8 T A P P E T C L A T T E R

It was at this time we gave the “old car” her name of Sweetie Pie. And the name suits her well. Sweetie Pie has had much work done to her. The first to be involved was Dave Folsom. He is a master craftsman at his trade. He put her engine into working or-der and it is beautiful. He also put her back together after she was dismantled for a not so pleasant painting experi-ence. All her chrome was redone. Her win-dows were replaced and her upholstery and inte-rior lining were also re-placed. She has some new old stock items and of course she has new white wall tires. She, however, is as stock as she can be. One of the unique items that she has from her original purchase is a cigarette holder that when the cigarette is dispensed to you, it comes out lit. Sweetie Pie’s original color was Battleship Grey but out of respect to Ina, the first Sweetie Pie, we had her repainted Cameo Cream. It just seemed to be the right thing to do. Bob has kept a very detailed diary on Sweetie Pie from day one. It is up to 112 pages and I think it has reached book status. It tells everything that has been done to her including when she has gone out for Sunday drives. There are also pictures of every stage of improvements. She is very well documented.

Sweetie Pie was picked for the 2005 VCCA calendar and Bob was able to have her placed in the month of March to honor Ina’s birth month. Ina turned ninety-eight in March of last year and Bob took her for a ride in Sweetie Pie on her birth-day. He had Glenn Miller music playing and Ina was tapping her toes when she turned to Bob and said “1940 was a wonderful year, wasn’t it.”

Her Name Is Sweetie Pie (cont. from p. 5)

T A P P E T C L A T T E R 9

The History of GM Motoramas The GM Motoramas were auto shows staged by General Motors off and on from 1949 to 1961. Eight Motoramas were held during this period. To understand their reason for being we must go back to the early 1940’s and the start of World War II. The war halted the de-sign and production of civilian automobiles while the plants produced war machinery. Auto design and engineering lay dormant and cars produced after WWII were basically the same as those produced before the war with minor face lifts. Demand was very high for new cars when the war ended but production was hampered by the lack of some raw materials.

By 1949 production had caught up with demand and this made 1949 a pivotal year in both auto design and potential sales. What better way to show your new line of cars and boost sales than a large auto show with lots of people and a lot of press? The 1949 extravaganza showed in two cities, New York and Bos-ton. The combined attendance was 591,971. The 1950 Mo-torama showed in New York only and was attended by 320,000 people.

On January 17, 1953, the first GM Motorama to feature futuristic dream cars opened at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. Seven days later, it had drawn more than 300,000 people. The show stopper, and most famous dream car, was the Corvette by Chevrolet. This truly American fiberglass sports car was indeed a first. In addition to the Corvette, the Wildcat, Le Mans, and Starfire were also constructed of fiberglass. Although all the dream cars displayed were beautiful in their own right, the com-pletely new fiberglass bodied cars drew the most attention.

The crowd in this photo pushes forward to get a look at the "Corvette," one of the first of many dream cars that were to be-come a hallmark at the next three Motoramas. The dream cars were a pattern to the future and GM used the Motoramas to ob-serve the public’s reactions to the futuristic designs and mechani-cal marvels. Dream cars influenced the design of General Motors cars for years to come and people liked what they saw. General Motors also liked what they saw and more shows were on the drawing boards. Each Motorama was to become more elaborate than the one before.

An opening crowd of 30,784 "oohed and aahed" the all-new Motorama in the grand ball-room of the Waldorf Astoria on January 21, 1954. A 27-piece orchestra complete with a 12-voice chorus provided a musical background for six shows each day. The crowds were entertained by fashion models, a Broadway cast, and wide-screen movies. Hilight-ing this show was a truly experimental gas turbine car, the XP 21 Firebird. Displayed on elevated turntables were six "dream cars," continuing the quest by GM engineers, styl-ists, and researchers for the pattern of the future. (Continued next month)

From the Glove Box

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The “Glove Box” feature will return next month.

We need more car-related issues to discuss in this feature. It helps our Club members with their cars as well as providing a opportunity for others to learn more about their Chevrolets. Contact Jim Farris by phone or e-mail with any questions you feel might be included in the Glove Box. You can email me at farrismej@aol.com. Thanks. Jim Farris-Custodian of the Glove Box

The Magic of E-Bay!! Too bad I didn’t get this in last month’s issue! Dave Roberts

asked me to include this card he received from former member Ardie Overby. A pretty cool card that must date back to the forties?? Ardie’s ‘37 in the photo.

TAPPET CLATTER Classifieds

FOR SALE

‘52 Bel Air Two Door Hard Top, 3-spd, 216ci, Drive any-where, Everything works well, Nice interior, chrome head-liner cross-trim, new wiring harness, chrome is excel-lent, radio refurbished. Recently serviced by Dave Fol-som. Will forward more pictures upon request, $12,000 firm. (206) 364-1822 jalex1952@comcast.net

‘51 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe 4 door sedan, 235 ci, powerglide, Original interior, Butterfly wheel, 51,000 original miles, see picture below, $12,000, Dan Haarstadt, 425-785-4988

'67 Chevelle Malibu , 350 Chevy Crate Engine and Turbo 350 Transmission, Low Miles, Original Interior, Dragstar Wheels, New Tires, CD Player, Subwoofer in Trunk, see pictures below. Ryan 425-753-7072

1988 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Station Wagon, 78000 miles, V-8 with carburetor rebuilt, gets 20 miles per gallon on highway loaded, new tires, very clean inside and out. $1500.00. Jim Farris 206-937-5636 or cell 206-226-2572 1949 Chevrolet Deluxe, Steering Wheel, Dic Selin 206-547-9697 or rrselin@aol.com. ‘64 Chevelle SS, White, 2-dr HT, new paint & engine, Tom Asaif, 360-659-7553 ‘47-’53 Chev. radiator 1/2 ton; ‘47-’53 grill– no dents; 3-15 in. 6-lug wheels-Blazer type; 3-15x5 3 clip hubcap ridge 6 lug; 2– 15x5 reversed 5 lug; 2-15x5 6 lug (‘48 car) 3 clip; 2-15x6 6 lug 5 clip; 6 15x5 6 lug 5 clip; 10 in. flywheel resur-faced w/ new ring gear, pressure & disc. Wally Martin 425-876-3475 (cell)

‘38 Chev Coupe, Master Deluxe, Price reduced!!!$10,500, Bill Barker (425) 643-0698 or bill@barkerville.net ‘33 gas tank $75, 1934 head $50, ‘47-’48 engines $100, call Don Comstock (253) 863-0420, d.comstock@att.net

‘55 to ‘59 3/4 ton Apache, Need 8 lug, 16 in. wheels (non split rim) and propeller shaft emergency brake parts, Dave Haddock, 206-985-6987 or chevy-dave@gmail.com ‘40 Chev, Need lower ratio gears for differential (now 411), What ratio works best? Rod Schein, 206-783-8956 or areshine@juno.com ‘68 Impala, Need bumper jack, John Strampher, 253-770-1798 or chevyjohn@foxinternet.com ‘64 Chevelle horn button. Would consider any 1964 full size horn button as well" Steve Grissom 425 - 228 3670 Steveg4@aol.com. Rims for ‘27 Chev, Bob Stamnes, 206-365-1482, rstam-nes@yahoo.com ‘51 to ‘54 powerglide rear end, Don Comstock (253) 863-0420, d.comstock@att.net '63 Impala 2 Dr Hardtop - friend is looking for one to restore. Must be running! Donna Onat 425-643-0762 ‘55-56, 1/2 ton, short-bed PU, Prefer 235, V8 Ok, David White, (206) 999-8138, davidcwhite@comcast.net

‘47 Chev Master Cylinder, Don Boettiger, (425) 641-6843, donald.boettiger@wa.ngb.army.mil

WANTED

1936–1950 Passenger and 1/2 Ton Brake Shoe Cores. Also, 9 inch ‘38 to ‘53 clutch discs. Bring to any meeting. We will forward them to

990 South Second Street Lebanon, OR 97355

TO ORDER: INFORMATION: (800) 841-6622 (541) 258-2114 FAX: (541) 258-6968 or www.fillingstation.com

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FOR SALE

January 2006 issue: ⇒ Banquet directions on p. 6 ⇒ February Tour on p. 4 ⇒ 2006 Officers– See page 2

“Sweetie Pie”, our January Spotlight Car