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The Official Publication of the ANKOKAS, NJ Region AACASMOKE SIGNALS

March/April 2018Volume 55, Issue 2

In This Issue: C AACA Annual

Meeting C Ankokas Trip to

the American Treasure Tour

C Ankokas, AACA and Local Events Calendars

C The Car is the Star C It Caught My Eye C Ehang’s 184 Drone C AACA Rummage

Box C Puzzle C History of Friday

the 13th

In This Month’s Issue:

At The Steering Wheel.........................1AACA AnnualMeeting......................2Ankokas AmericanTreasure Tour..............3Meeting Minutes........4Calendars...................5Fun Holidays inMarch and April.........5Car is the Star............6In Memoriam..............7It Caught My Eye.......8Passenger Drone......10Rummage Box..........10Puzzle.......................11RoadsideRamblings................12Letter Fromthe Editors................12Submarine Day.........13History of Friday the 13th.........14Marketplace.............14Special Speakers.....15

Could Spring actually be coming? Today as I type this, it is 66 degrees, but Bob reminds me of the huge storms that we have had in March and April! Ugh, hopefully it will not happen. The last several weeks have been very car related. We had a Director’s meeting at which we made some decisions on our Haddonfield show and that Thursday we reported them at our February meeting. Read the minutes from the meeting if you were not in attendance. Then the next day we were off to the AACA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, which, of course, was the day after the Super Bowl Parade for the winning Eagles. We spoke with many people who were just amazed at what they witnessed—especially when they were trying to get to the hotel on Thursday. One couple said that they had come in on Wednesday thinking that they would do some site seeing on Thursday. No one realized that the tri-state area bleeds Eagle green, as the saying goes.

It is nice to say hello again to people that we only see once or twice a year. One gentleman at the breakfast table where we sat down said, ‘Oh I remember you guys, we sat next to you at the President’s dinner last

year!’ I must confess that his memory is much better than mine. It was another successful meeting, especially with the announcement that both Steven and Diana received Master Awards for the website and newsletter. This is the second time for Steven and a first for

Diana. We said hi again to numerous Ankokas members that we had just

seen the night before! Thanks to Barry Goldsmith, who attended their seminars on Friday, we have a speaker for the March meeting

and the May meeting. March will be about antique car

lubricants and May will be about fraud in

antique car buying. See further info on the following pages. Barry did all the legwork and emailing to arrange this.

We had a great time at our trip to

the American Treasure Tour in Oaks, PA. Those of us who went

stopped at Ponzio’s for breakfast before heading to PA. See article later in the Smoke Signals.

We will, very shortly, be mailing out the invitations to the Charter Luncheon being held on April 8th at the Ramblewood Country Club. The cost is $35 per person. Please get the checks back to us as soon as possible if you plan on attending.

Kathy Petters, President

This newsletter is a publication of the Ankokas Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, located in southern New Jersey.Material may be

reproduced only if credit is given to the source and we are asked for permission to reproduce the material.If you have material

that you would like to contribute or you have comments or ideas about the newsletter, please contact the editor, Diana, at [email protected].

President Kathy Petters. Photo by B. Petters

SMOKE SIGNALS Page 2

News & EventsAACA Annual National Meeting

article by Diana Antinucci, photos by D. Antinucci and S. Soppe

On Feb. 8th through the 10th, the AACA held its annual meeeting in Philadelphia. In attendance this year were Bob and Kathy Petters, Bernie Shuster, Sam Mento, Barry Goldsmith, Dave Costello and Steven Soppe. Our Vice-President, Carl Villone led a seminar on having your car judged at an AACA meet. Attendees were treated to various seminars, including History of the Ford Flathead V-8 Engine, 3D Printing Technology and a seminar on repairing and restoring your car (in which Steven learned you can use ketchup to restore brass).

At the dinner on Saturday, Steven Soppe was presented with his second Master Webmaster award and Diana Antinucci was presented with an award for Master Editor.

At the meeting this year, Barry Goldsmith met up with some the seminar instructors and has arranged for a couple of them to talk to our group after two of our regular meetings. There is more about that on page 15 of the newsletter.

Everyone had a great time and for those that have never been to the annual AACA meeting, you’re missing out on some good times and great information.

Steven Soppe receiving his Master Webmaster Award from Tom Cox (on the right).

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Diana Antinucci receiving her Master editor Awardfrom Tom Cox (on the left).

Carl Villone leading his seminar on AACA judging.


Ankokas American Treasure Tourarticle and photos by Kathy Petters

On Saturday, February 17th, club members took a trip to the American Treasure Tour in Oaks, PA. I was disappointed at the few attendees, however those of us who went were very impressed. Judy and Howard Steinberg and Joe Dougherty traveled together. Jeff Schulte brought his friend Herb and Keith Bentzley brought his friend Nancy along with his mother and brother. Bob and I ran into all of them at Ponzio’s for breakfast. After breakfast it was a quick hour ride to the museum with traffic unusually light—hooray! Our tram tour guide was very knowledgeable and told us that the size of the museum could be compared to 12 super Walmart’s put together and that is why we were taken on a tram! The amount of “treasures” blows the mind! Every square inch seems to be occupied. Bob complained that his neck hurt from looking up so

much. They have everything from beautiful dolls, pipe organs, doll houses, over 200 hanging model planes, and dioramas to unrestored antique cars. No matter what you may be interested in, they have it, including many old movie posters. The section with all of the pipe organs you may walk around yourself (about 100). One by one you can follow around to each organ as it gives a minute or more example of what it sounds like. You can circle around the areas a second and third time and still see something new that you didn’t notice before! Everyone agreed that it was well worth the trip. Upon leaving, Howard said to Joe, “How about we go see this guy’s car museum in Morgantown tomorrow!” We will have to find out if they went. We went there with Bernie and Arlene Shuster on Wednesday afternoon during Christmas week. It also is beyond belief!

Ankokas members at the American Treasure Tour.

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Antique cars on the tour.

Some of the objects in the collection.


gh February Meeting Minutes gh � Meeting called to order at 7:38 by President

Kathy Petters. No new members present or guests. Minutes were read and approved with no changes.

� Treasurer’s report given by Jeff. � Diana & Steve reported that the cut-off date for

the March/April SS is 2-20-2018. � We now have confirmation for our Haddonfield

show date of September 15th. � We are continuing our intent to

regain our sponsors from last year. We had hoped to obtain Pete Tanzini (car detailer) for this year but he was injured and is out of commission for a while. Our quest to continue our prior sponsors continues.

� Steve Soppe & Diana Antinucci announced that they were married a few weeks ago. Congratulations from all of Ankokas.

� Carol & Tom reported that we have 56 renewals so far with the roster being printed and dispersed.

� Diana made her request for articles for sale and or wanted and stories for the Smoke Signals. Carl is ready and waiting for members seeking name badges.

� We had a directors/officer’s meeting on 2/5 with some changes being made to the Haddonfield show. We will now offer free registrations to all vehicles 1939 and older. We will have a BOS this year and the Sutton & Hanson awards are being combined into one to honor the memory of members of our Ankokas family who passed in the previous year. They will be mentioned but not printed on the plaque. Again, no dash plaques but we will retain the $5 lunch coupon. The feature class will remain as cars 100 years or older.

� Our tour is set for the American Treasure Tour museum. A date of February 17 was selected and if anyone wants to join the locals for breakfast at Ponzio’s at 9:00 are welcome. All others are to meet at the museum at 11:00 AM.

� The passing of members Michael Cooper and Ed Fowler was announced.

� Our annual holiday party has been set for 12/2/2018 at the same location, The Madison in Delran.

� We will be having some more car displays at some care facilities again this year, but are looking into having some on a Saturday or Sunday instead of during the week when working people are limited.

� Our charter luncheon will be on April 8th at Ramblewood Country Club.

Invitations will be sent out shortly.

� We discussed the possibility of having a regular meeting or two on a Saturday instead of Thursday night but that was a no vote from most of the members present.

� We received a thank you letter from the SJ Food bank (via Tom & Barb Veevers). Tom & Barb offered to provide a tour of the facility to see just what

they do. We will look into this. � Dave Traino reminded Veterans of various

discounts at Lowe’s and other stores and a $3K deduction on your state taxes. He passed out some forms which are also available on line.

� As always cookies by Diana were enjoyed by all.

� Meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM

Submitted by Bob Petters, Secretary

Important Highlights:• Haddonfield Ankokas Annual Car Show will be Sept. 15, 2018. Save the date!• The Ankokas Annual Holiday party is set for Dec. 2, 2018 at Madison’s Save that date also!• The Ankokas Charter Luncheon will be on April 8, 2018 at Ramblewood Country Club. Invitations will be mailed shortly.


ghghgh Ankokas Events 2018 ghghghMarch 8: 7:30PM: Ankokas regular monthly meeting on the second floor of the Haddonfield Municipal Building, 242 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield. After the meeting will be a special presentation about automobile lubricants.April 8: 1-5PM: Ankokas charter luncheon. Ramblewood Country Club. Invitations will be mailed.

May 10: 7:30PM: Ankokas regular monthly meeting on the second floor of the Haddonfield Municipal Building, 242 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield. After the meeting will be a special presentation about classic and antique car fraud.Sept. 15: Annual Ankokas Haddonfield Car Show.

ghghgh AACA Calendar 2018 ghghghApril 5-7: Southeastern Spring Meet hosted by Hornet’s Nest Region. Charlotte, NC.May 11-12: Central Spring Meet. Auburn, IN.May 31-June 2: Greensburg, PA. 2018 AACA Annual Grand Natiuonal Meet hosted by Western PA Region.

July 11-14: Gettysburg, PA. 2018 AACA Eastern Spring Meet hosted by Chesapeake Region.October 10-13: Eastern Fall Meet hosted by Hershey Region. Hershey, PA.Go to www.aaca.org/Calender/aaca_calendar.html for more information and listings.

March 2: Dr. Seuss DayMarch 6: Oreo DayMarch 8: Popcorn Lovers’ DayMarch 9: Teachers’ DayMarch 12: Girl Scouts DayMarch 14: National Potato Chip DayMarch 17: Submarine DayMarch 22: National Goof Off DayMarch 23: National Puppy DayMarch 25: Waffle DayMarch 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day

Fun Holidays to Celebrate in March and AprilApril 2: Children’s Book DayApril 4: School Librarian DayApril 8: Zoo Lovers’ DayApril 12: Grilled Cheese Sandwich DayApril 14: International Moment of Laughter DayApril 15: World Art DayApril 19: National Garlic DayApril 21: Husband Appreciation DayApril 22: National Jelly Bean DayApril 27: Tell a Story DayApril 28: Great Poetry Reading Day

Local EventsMarch 25: 8AM-3PM: South Jersey Region AACA Annual Swap Meet and Car Corral. Salem Fairgrounds, 735 Rte. 40, Woodstown, NJ. Contact Chuck Gibson 609-221-5435. April 14: 10AM-2PM: 1st Annual Knights of Columbus Show. St Joan of Arc Church, 100 Willow Bend Rd, Marlton NJ. Contact Andrew Kavulich 856-222-9845.April 19: 4:45-9PM: Collingswod Cruise Night. Haddon Ave., Collingswood. Registration is 4:45 to 6:30PM at the Collingswood Senior Community Center, 28 W. Collings Ave., Collingswood, NJ. Contact Terry 856-858-9275.April 28: 9AM-3PM: 9th Annual Roebling Museum Car Show. 100 Second Ave., Roebling, NJ. Open to all years, makes and models. Contact Bobbi 215-752-0484.May 18: 5-9PM: 25th Annual Cruisin’ Main Steet in Downtown Hammonton. Show is along Bellevue Ave. and associated side streets. Contact Tony 609-561-3041.

ANKOKAS REGION, AACAANKOKAS is a southern NJ Region of the AACA dating back to 1964.

Ankokas Region PO BOX 343 Riverside, NJ 08075www.ankokas.com [email protected]

OFFICERS

KATHLEEN PETTERS, [email protected]

CARL VILLONE, [email protected]

JEFF SCHULTE, [email protected]

BOB PETTERS, [email protected]

BOB PETTERS, PAST [email protected]

STEVEN SOPPE, [email protected]

TOM MC LARNEY, [email protected]

NANCY DOUGHTERTY, [email protected]

BERNIE SHUSTER, [email protected]


The Car is The StarA series about

cars from movies and television

“Starsky, it’s red.” “It’s not red, it’s candy apple red.” article by Diana Antinucci

Starsky and Hutch first aired 43 years ago on April 30, 1975. Starring Paul Michael Glaser as Starsky and David Soul as Hutch, it ran until May 1979. Everyone knows the real star of this show was a red 1975 Ford Gran Torino.

It almost didn’t happen that way, though. Originally, the creator of the show wanted a green and white Camaro convertible because he had once owned such a car. Chevy was a sponsor of the show, but still declined to provide the car. The show was left to choose from a studio stable of Ford cars. So, two stock Ford Torinos were chosen, painted red and given a white stripe, making them a car not available to the public. Powered by a Windsor V-8, a black interior and vinyl bench seats. Air shocks were added to the rear end, larger rear tires were added as well as Ansen Sprint 5-slot mag wheels. These cars also had body-colored side mirrors. Beginning in the second season, these cars were replaced with two more brand new Torinos that had chrome mirrors, side body mouldings, silver-plated bumper panels and vinyl bucket seats. The bucket seats turned out to be an important change. The actors had found that during stunt driving (which they did a lot of themselves), David Soul would slide across the vinyl bench seat during sharp right turns and collide with Glaser. These Torinos would be used until the end of the series. These cars also had a higher gear ratio than stock cars to provide better acceleration.

Glaser is famous for taking an instant dislike to the Ford Torino. Glaser has gone on record saying he believed the car was “big, ugly and childish-looking”, that he does not like Ford products in general and that

he found the idea that two undercover cops would drive around in such a conspicuous vehicle to be absolutely ridiculous. When he first saw the car, he commented that it looked like a “striped tomato”. The name stuck and became part of the show as Hutch’s name for Starsky’s car. During filming of the 2004 20th Century Fox movie spoof of Starsky and Hutch, Glaser had several chances to sit in the car being used and

refused to do so. Glaser went so far as to intentionally damage the cars during stunt driving and the impact of such driving can be seen on the cars as the series progressed.

Despite Glaser’s feelings about the car, it was extremely popular with the public and they were clamoring to own their own “striped tomato”. In 1976, Ford built a limited edition version of the car for sale (a thousand cars for sale in the US and one hundred for Canada). The cars sold for $4,461 (just over $18,000 today) and included three-speed automatic

transmission, electronic ignition, power steering, front power

disc brakes, steel-belted radial tires and 351 cubic-inch V-8 engine as standard equipment. For an additional $165 you could have the car painted and striped like the television car. Optional equipment available included air-conditioning for $478, deluxe bumper for $67, white wall

Paul Michael Glaser with the Gran Torino at Chiller Theater in April 2017. Photo By S. Soppe.

The Gran Torino at Chiller Theater in April 2017. Photo By S. Soppe.

Continued on page 7


ghgh In Memoriam ghgharticle by Diana Antinucci and Kathy Petters, photo by D. Antinucci

I have the sad duty of reporting the passing of three Ankokas members.

It is with saddened hearts that we inform you of the death of a long-time friend, fellow club member, and former secretary of our Ankokas car club, Jackie Fletchner. She died on January 6th in MA at the age of 85. In 2013 she was visiting her son and his family in MA for Thanksgiving when she suffered a stroke. She recovered, had been through rehabilitation, and was planning to return home. Before she could, she had another stroke which was massive this time and had to be cared for in a nursing home where she died.

Bob and Kathy Petters became acquainted with Jackie when she would attend our functions with Dr. Romeo Luongo, who had a 1965 Cadillac convertible. After Romeo’s death in 1999, Jackie continued as a member, becoming secretary from 2004 until 2013. She was also

our meeting snack lady who made sure that we had our Dunkin Donuts, coffee, and soda. Jackie came out to all of our functions and always helped with whatever we were doing. She has been and will be missed.

Ed Fowler passed away on November 12, 2017 at his home in Chesterfield, NJ. He had been Fire Chief of Chesterfield Hose Co. #262 and a Chesterfield police officer. In addition to his membership in Ankokas, he was also a member of the Central Jersey Tractor Pullers and enjoyed collecting antique tractors, cars, trucks and guns.

Ed’s sister took the time to write to us and she remembered fondly the vehicles Ed saved from the scrap heap and restored. She says he had the gift in seeing something in them that she did not. Ed will be missed by Ankokas, his friends and family.

Michael Cooper passed away on January 30th. His brother is planning a car cruise to Johnson’s Farm in Mike’s honor at a later date. P

Car is the Star continued from page 6

tires for $52, tinted glass for $51 and dual mirrors for $46. With charges for transportation and handling, the grand total for a fully-optioned car was about $5,351 ($22,000 today). It got better gas mileage than I expected, with 13mpg in the city and 19mpg on the highway. One of these spcial production cars was leased by the show from the middle of the second season until the end of the series. Known simply as “Unit 129”, a stunt driver damaged the original engine beyond repair and it received a transplant of a 429 Lima V8.

One of the cars appeared on the first episode of The Dukes of Hazard during the final season of Starsky and Hutch. After the series ended, the cars returned to the studio lease program. They were later sold at auction to A. E. Barber Ford in Ventura, CA. “Torino #1” was sold to a private buyer in Ojai, CA, who owned it for a year before selling it to an Air Force officer that owned it for seventeen years. In 1988, this Torino was bought by an Ohio resident and this person sold it in 2012

to Cars of the Stars Motor Museum in the UK. A few years after that, the museum sold it to the Dezer Car Collection in Miami, FL and Dezer sold the car at a private auction in 2015 to a collector in Texas. At the time, it was a mostly original, unrestored car, including the original engine and paint. The Texas buyer has since done a gentle, frame-off restoration.

Sometime during its life after the show, “Torino #2” was wrecked and sold as salvage. It was repaired, but painted the wrong shade of red and had the stripe painted incorrectly. The engine had been replaced with a 2.8 liter Ford V-6. A NJ buyer gave it a full restoration and it was used as the hero Torino in the 2004 movie.

The 20th Century Fox movie Torino was bought in 2009 by the owner of “Torino #2” and was later sold to a couple in Oklahoma. “Unit 129” is owned by a collector in New Hampshire. In total, twelve Torinos were used in filming the series. I did not find any information on what happened to those other cars.P


ghghgh It Caught My Eye ghghgharticle and photos by Diana Antinucci

The iconic British sports car named Midget goes back to 1928, when MG (Morris Garages) produced the M-Type, developed from the Morris Minor. MG continued to produced Midgets in various forms until 1954. When the MGA was produced, it was deemed too large to call a “Midget” and the name truly died away. However, in 1958, MG found themselves under the same parent company as Austin_Healey and the Austin-Healey “bugeye” Sprite was such a success that the parent company (the British Motor Corporation) decided to give the Sprite a makeover and sell it as a new Midget in 1961. Today, when someone talks about a Midget, they’re usually talking about the MG Midgets produced between 1961 and 1980.

The MG Midget MKI began production in 1961 and was almost identical to the Sprite MKII (Sprite started production earlier and were therefore always one model number ahead) except for the Midget’s vertical bar grille, some extra chrome trim, leather seats and a black steering wheel instead of white. Both cars featured a lockable trunk lid, a flat rear-hinged hood, headlights in the corners of the front fenders and “square styling” overall, including the rear wheel arches. They also had a flat windshield, removable soft top and side screen curtains. They had no door handles, people had to open the curtain to reach inside and open the door. Both cars had a 46.5hp 948cc BMC “A” Series engine with twin carburetors , capable of 88mph, 0-60in 17 seconds with a fuel economy of 34mpg. There were drum brakes both front and rear. The Midget MKI sold for £669 ($19,480 adjusted for inflation). For additional cost, options included a hard top, heater, radio and luggage rack.

In October 1962, the engine went from 948cc to 1098cc and 56hp. Disc brakes replaced the drums in the front, partially to compete with Triumph’s Spitfire. The car was also given better interior trim and wire spoked wheels became an option.

In 1963, a new Midget was introduced, the MKII. The new model had a better suspension, a curved windshield, wind-up windows, the door style was slightly reworked and it was given locks with external handles.

Better instrumentation was put into the dash. The engine block was made stronger and larger main bearings were added, top speed was now 92mph, 0-60 could be achieved in 14 seconds and fuel economy was 32mpg.

The Midget MKIII was introduced in 1966. There were no overtly apparent changes to the appearance of the car, but a folding soft top was added. A smog pump was put into all cars exported to the US. Rear bumpers were changed from a single piece to split bumpers and both front and rear bumpers were trimmed down. The fuel tank was made larger. One of the biggest changes was from a 1098cc engine to a 1275cc A-Series engine used on the Mini Cooper S. Many people were disappointed in this engine, however. The engine, which achieved 76hp in the Cooper, was tuned in such a way that it only got 65hp in the Midget. This was done because if the

engine went unchanged into the Midget, it would be faster than the more expensive MGB.

In late 1967, cars exported to the US were fitted with padded dashboards with smaller main gauges, collapsible steering columns, a third windshield wiper and anti-burst door latches to conform with US safety standards. In late 1969, more changes were made.

The sills were painted black, the car was given a recessed

black grille and the tail lights were squared off. All interior switches were changed to the rocker type. 13-inch “Rostyle” wheels were made standard and wire spoke wheels became an option. In August 1971, the compression ratio was altered and horsepower fell to 54.5. In January 1972, The rear wheel arches were made round for the first time since the MKI Sprite, thrilling car enthusiasts that wanted to put wider tires in the rear. Alternators were put in place of generators in December 1972. In 1974, in compliance with US impact regulations, larger rubber bumper blocks were added and nicknamed “Sabrinas” after a curvy British actress. To make sure these bumpers were at the correct height, the ride height of the car was also changed. In addition, the frame was stiffened and rear bumpers were reinforced by frame members instead of being simply bolted on. Also in 1974, because there was difficulty in making the A-Series engine conform

1969 MG Midget. Taken at the 2017 Riverside car show.

Continued on page 9


to emission standards, the engine was replaced by a Triumph 1493cc, four-cylinder engine with a single Stromberg carburetor mated to a Spitfire transmission. The overdrive version of this transmission was never offered on the Midget. There was a slight improvement in horsepower and top speeds now reached just over 100mph with 0-60 in 12.3 seconds and a fuel economy of 27.9mpg. In late 1974, the rear wheel arches returned to their square appearance and in 1976, wire spoke wheels were taken off the option list. For 1975’s golden jubilee celebrations, a single Golden Jubilee MG Midget was made and given away as a promotion.

MG struggled to make cars that conformed to US standards. With constant revisions and added equipment (air pumps, EGR valves, catalytic converters), it was hard to keep up. In addition, these changes decreased the performance of the cars and engine power fell to 50hp. The last Midget left the line on December 7, 1979 and the last 500 were given a special black commemorative badge.

For those interested in purchasing a Midget, it is important to be aware of several things. First, Midgets have an unfortunate rust problem. Use a magnet to check for excessive use of filler. Be on the lookout for rust on the sills and rear spring mounting boxes. If the mounting boxes have rusted and collapsed, the car will sit low. There should be a three-inch gap between the top of the rear tire and the wheel arch. A-pillars are also problem areas for rust, so check for even door gaps. In addition, the battery tray can rust through, the brake/ clutch master cylinder may leak and the trunk floor may rust where it meets the rear panel. You should also check the footwells, floorpan, hood, doors, wheel arches and front and rear fenders for rust. The good news is that new shells are readily available and may be less costly and time-consuming than trying to repair the rust. Once the rust is gone and modern rust prevention measures have been taken, rust is no longer a concern. Parts for these cars are also readily available and are generally not very expensive.

The 1275cc A-Series engine seems to be the preferred engine type. It is easily tuned for higher performance, but is infamous for oil leaks (along with the 948cc and 1098cc). If properly taken care of, it should run for 70,000 to 100,00 miles before it needs to be rebuilt (low oil

pressure when the engine is warmed up may indicate that this build is coming sooner rather than later). No A-Series engine is quiet. Even a good engine has a timing chain rattle and a noticeable tappet noise. A really loud engine can be a problem though and may be a damaged carburetor heat shield. The 1275cc engine can also suffer from a failed head gasket. Look for a white substance on the underside of the oil filler cap, indicating coolant getting into the oil.

A Midget transmission is fairly hardy, but like any piece of equipment, they can have problems. Clues to a transmission problem are that the car jumps out of gear, makes noise in first and reverse (a whine is normal, but excessive noise is not) or baulks at down-shifting. Be wary of early cars that had a “smoothcase” transmission, these have known problems and are nearly impossible to find. Later “ribcase” transmissions are more robust, parts are widely available and even a complete change of transmission is not overly

expensive. In some cars that have been tuned for more power, the halfshaft can break. Also be on the lookout for five speed conversions as these are not original to the car.

It is recommended you check the front suspension by jacking up the car by the front cross member, and, holding the front tires at the top and bottom, determine

if there is play in the tire. Also, bounce the front of the

car with all four tires on the ground. A bouncy car can indicate bad front lever arm dampers. Midgets are also susceptible to kingpin wear due to the failure to lubricate or improper lubrication.

The brakes, regardless of drum or disc, perform fine, but look for a bad dual master cylinder which also controls the clutch hydraulics. Leaks will be evident and repairs can be costly. On the interior, make sure the gauges work and are correct. Finding correct working gauges can be a problem and they can be expensive. The exterior trim changed slightly periodically and you should do your homework to make sure the correct trim is on the car you are looking at.

There is no special equipment needed for most of the work you may need to do to a Midget, everything is put together with nuts and bolts.

These cars attract my attention whenever I see them. They are delightful little cars that elicit smiles from car show crowds and certainly from your editor.

1971 MG Midget. Taken at the 2017 Riverside car show.

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It Caught My Eye continued from page 8


ghgh From the AACA Rummage Box ghgharticle by Jim Elliott, 2017 VP of Finance and Budget

Tips for a Winning Show CarI will never forget the first time I drove my show car on to

the field at an AACA National Meet. The apprehension and nervousness was nearly unbearable. That was twenty years ago and I still have those same feelings every time I compete.

I learned a lot along the way to make show day more successful. You should start with the AACA Judging Guidelines. You can order one from headquarters for a small fee. You can save your money and receive a free one by attending a National Judging School or by downloading a copy from the AACA website.

Reading the judging guidelines prior to arriving at the meet can reap great rewards. This book gives you specifics about what judging deductions can be taken. After reviewing the guidelines, judge your own car to make sure you have the correct headlights, tires, spark plug wires and hose clamps,

just to name a few of the potential problem areas.Don’t assume the show will be held on a cloudy or rainy day.

Back your show car out of the garage in the bright sun. Open the hood, doors and trunk. If you notice something that makes you cringe, I guarantee, the judges will notice it also.

Invite a family member or a friend to inspect the car. The more “eyes” the better. Address any deficiency that is noticed.

If your car has unique or unusual features, make sure you bring along as much factory documentation as possible to share with the judges. I try to bring a dealer’s sales brochure along with the Owner’s Manual.

Finally, clean your car. The judges are judging your car as if it is sitting brand new at the dealer’s showroom. Dirt in the wheel wells, grease on the engine, rust on the exhaust or dirty windows could be the difference between a great day and a big disappointment.

ghgh Ehang’s Model 184 Drone ghgh

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article by Diana Antinucci

On Feb. 5, 2018, Ehang, a company in China, released video of its “Model 184” single passenger drone, with a passenger climbing in, pushing a button and flying away. Think of this as a much larger version of a toy remote-controlled drone. This flight was between two and three miles, but was not the first test flight. Ehang has been talking about its passenger drone for some time, first carrying a passenger in 2015, showing the Model 184 at the 2016 CES conference in Las Vegas and carrying out over 40 test flights. This is the first time it has released video of a flight. They were so confident in the drone’s abilities that company CEO Huazhi Hu went for a ride.

The drone is a single passenger, zero-emissions electric vehicle with sixteen engines and propellers. It has a maximum take off weight of 800 pounds (the drone itself weighs 520 pounds), has successfully travelled 9.3 miles and gone just over 80 miles per hour. It was also tested for flight in dense fog and winds of about 35 miles per hour. It was also tested at an altitude of 1,000 feet and at night. The drone can fly autonomously or can be piloted.

Ehang is not the only company working on a passenger drone. Boeing and Airbus, along with some smaller

companies, are also working on the vehicles. In late January, Airbus tested their passenger drone over Oregon. JetBlue and Toyota have invested in Joby Aviation, a small company in Santa Cruz, CA. Airbus has bought Aurora Flight Sciences, an autonomous aircraft manufacturer. So, the race is on.

Ehang sees the passenger drone being used for emergency medical vehicles, tourist joy rides and to relieve gridlock

traffic on the ground. Regulations are, as always, behind the times. There are no established standards for such vehicles and there are no national or international guidelines. The technology for operating in busy air spaces and the ability to avoid obstacles in the air and on the ground have not yet been demonstrated.

So, when can you expect to fly your own drone? That answer is not clear.

Ehang is claiming it will release pricing and other details this summer. They already have an interested buyer in the

Dubai tourist trade and the Dubai government is interested in having passenger drone taxis in the next five years. Ehang also has a two-passenger drone in the works (teased in the video). To see the video, click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr1V-r2YxME.I have one question. If I can soon have my Jetson’s car, is

anyone working on getting me a Rosie personal robot? P

Ehang’s Model 184 passenger drone. Photo by Alex Butterfield. Used under the Creative Commons

Attribution 2.0 Generic license.


Original artwork by D. Antinucci.

1. Where The Wild Things Are2. Goodnight Moon3. Little Bear4. The Giving Tree5. Madeline6. Frog and Toad Are Friends7. The Lorax8. Corduroy9. A Bear Called Paddington10. Winnie-the-Pooh11. Eloise12. Amelia Bedelia13. Good Dog, Carl14. The Very Hungry Caterpillar15. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie16. The Poky Little Puppy17. Stellaluna18. Charlotte’s Web19. Curious George20. Matilda

A. Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)B. Alexandra DayC. Roald DahlD. Margaret Wise BrownE. Michael BondF. Janell CannonG. Maurice SendakH. Shel SilversteinI. E. B. WhiteJ. A. A. MilneK. Else Holmelund MinarikL. Eric CarleM. H. A. ReyN. Ludwig BemelmansO. Janette Sebring LowreyP. Kay ThompsonQ. Laura Joffe NumeroffR. Peggy ParishS. Arnold LobelT. Don Freeman

ghghghgh Puzzle ghghghghIn celebration of Children’s Book Day on April 2nd, match the title of the famous children’s book to the author.

Answers on page 14.


ghgh Letter From The Editors ghghDiana: Wow, has it been a busy January and February! No

wonder the Editorial Supervisor is so exhausted.Steven: I’ll say it’s been busy. We got married on January

28, after being together for 17 years. Then, in just two weeks in February, we had a Directors’ meeting, a club meeting, spent two days at the AACA annual meeting, then off on our honeymoon for a week in Asheville, NC.

Diana: Sweetie, the honeymoon wasn’t a club activity.Steven: Well, we did see a great car museum.Diana: And let’s not forget about the awards we received at

the AACA meeting.Steven: Yes, congratulations to you

for receiving your first Master Editor award for the work you do on this newsletter.

Diana: Thank you. You know I couldn’t have done it without your help and the support of Kathy and Bob and all of the club members. All of you check my work and keep me up to date on all of the club news. And congratulations to you for your second Master Webmaster award for our website.

Steven: Thank you. As with your newsletter, I couldn’t have done the website without the help and support of Kathy, Bob, and everyone else in the club. It’s

the club that participates in the events and activities. I’m just posting the announcements and pictures.

Diana: It seems to me that if we want to keep up the quality of our publications, we need all of our members to keep up their participation in all of our activities.

Steven: Yes, we do. If our members don’t come out to join the fun, we won’t have anything to write about or pictures for our photo gallery. Without the support of our membership, we won’t have a club.

Diana: We really do need everyone to participate, to get involved, to bring yourself (and antique car if you have one) to

our community displays, our meetings, and our tours. If you haven’t been to one of our meetings, it’s time to get involved and meet some new friends. If it’s hard to get to a Thursday night meeting, invitations for the Charter Luncheon will be mailed out very soon. That would be a great place to come meet and socialize with other club members.

Steven: Yes, the luncheon is on Sunday, April 8 from 1 pm to 5 pm. Surely you can come out on a Sunday.

Diana: I’ll be there, and don’t call me Shirley. I hope to see a lot of new faces

at meetings and the luncheon. And you never know what new cookies I’ll be baking.

The editor would like to thank the editorial supervisor for his enthusiastic support.

Photo by D. Antinucci


The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles preserves the automotive history of Pennsylvania. Included in its collection you can find both gasoline and electric cars (one electric-powered example goes back to 1910), horse-drawn vehicles (including carriages, wagons and sleighs), high wheel bicycles, trucks, vehicle builders’ tools, automotive memorabilia (including a collection of PA license plates and a collection of early 20th century engines) and motorcycles.

On special display through Spring 2018 are American Austins and Bantams. Beginning in 1930, these vehicles were built in Butler, PA and marketed as a compact, fuel-efficient car. Eight Bantams and Austins in a variety of styles are on display at the museum. The newest addition to the collection is a reconstruction of a 1915 Pullman Speedster built by a historian and Pullman restorer. The museum also houses the largest collection of cars built by Duryea and some one-of-a-kind vehicles like their 1910 Max Meyer Motor Tractor.

In addition to the collections, the museum also houses a 1921 Sunoco gas station and the 1938 Fegely’s Reading Diner. The museum occasionally offers coffee and pie at the diner for 1938 prices. They also have a Food Truck Fair every year that draws crowds and Duryea Day is a car show held annually by the museum at Boyertown Community Park.

Even the building housing the collection is part of the museum. Instead of a purpose-built modern building, the collection resides in the former Boyertown Auto Body Works, originally opened as a carriage factory in 1872. The building has a reconstructed blacksmith forge where they give periodic demonstrations and an early belt-driven machine shop, along with buggies and wagons built in that shop.

Adult admission is $8.00, seniors or AAA members are $7.00, children under 15 are free. There is plenty of free parking in the lot across the street. The museum is ADA-compliant, offers guided tours and has a gift shop. The museum is open seven days a week from 9:30AM to 4:00PM, excluding major holidays. For more information, call 610-367-2090 or go to boyertownmuseum.org.

ghgh Roadside Ramblings ghghBoyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, 85 S. Walnut Str., Boyertown, PA

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ghgh Celebrate Submarine Day! ghghThis is a short list of submarine movies to help you celebrate Submarine Day on March 17th.

Destination Tokyo (1943) (PG-13) Starring Cary Grant. During WWII, a US sub is sent on a secret mission to the shores of Japan.

The Enemy Below (1957) (PG) Starring Robert Mitchum. A game of cat and mouse between the captain of an American Destroyer and a German U-boat captain.

Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) (PG) Directed by Robert Wise and starring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. During WWII, a submarine captain seeks revenge against a Japanese destroyer that sunk his previous vessel, putting his new vessel and his crew in danger.

Ice Station Zebra (1968) (G) Directed by John Sturges, based on a novel by Alistair MacLean and starring Rock Hudson and Ernest Borgnine. A US Navy captain is ordered to escort a British civilian, a US Marine, a friendly Russian and the crew of the nuclear sub Tigerfish to Ice Station Zebra, a weather station at the North Pole. But not everything is as it seems.

Das Boot (1981) (R) Set in 1942, this German film follows the exploits of a German U-boat harassing British shipping in the Atlantic.

The Hunt For Red October (1990) (PG) Written by Tom Clancy, directed by John McTiernan, starring Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Sam Neill and featuring Scott Glen, James Earl Jones and Tim Curry. During the Cold War, the Soviets have created a new nuclear submarine, but the captain of the new sub has plans of his own. Has he gone rogue...or does he plan to defect, with the new sub, to the US?

Crimson Tide (1995) (R) Directed by Tony Scott and starring Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington and featuring George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen and James Gandolfini. During the Cold War, a sub

receives orders to attack Russian forces, but the communications are damaged as another message is incoming. The XO and Captain disagree on the course of action to be taken... should they attack as previously directed or reestablish contact and confirm orders before proceeding?

Down Periscope (1996) (PG-13) Starring Kelsey Grammer, Rob Schneider, Harry Dean Stanton, Bruce Dern, William H. Macy and Ken Hudson Campbell. A comedy about an oddball submarine crew.

U-571 (2000) (PG-13) Starring Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton and Harvey Keitel. During WWII, the crew of a US sub is sent to seize a German Enigma coding machine.

K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) (PG-13) Starring Harrison Ford and Liam

Neeson. During the Cold War, a Russian nuclear sub malfunctions in the North Atlantic and the captain must prevent a nuclear disaster that threatens his crew and may trigger a war between the Soviet Union and the US.

Below (2002) (R) After a mission to rescue the remaining crew of a British ship, the crew of the rescuing US sub may have picked up more than just survivors.

The Los Angeles class fast attack submarine USS Charlotte (SSN 766) steams in a close formation with submarines from

partner nations during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Photo by Mass

Communication Specialist 1st Class Dustin Kelling. This file is a work of a sailor or

employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is

in the public domain in the United States.

P



Friday the 13th happens at least once every year and can happen up to three times annually. This is bad news for people who suffer from triskaidekaphobia, fear of the number 13, or specifically paraskevidekatriaphobia, fear of Friday the 13th. But where did a fear of Friday the 13th come from?

Superstitions about the number thirteen have circulated for centuries. Western cultures consider twelve a complete number (twelve days of Christmas, months in a year, signs of the zodiac, labors of Hercules, gods of Olympus, tribes of Israel), making thirteen short of perfection. The Code of Hammurabi (an ancient legal text) skips the number thirteen.

There may be several other possibilities for the dislike of the number thirteen. Ancient Norse myth tells of a party of twelve gods where an uninvited thirteen guest (Loki) crashes the party and kills the god of joy (Balder).

Problems with Friday alone may go back to traditional stories that Eve gave Adam the apple on a Friday and that Cain killed Abel on Friday, but these associations are weaker than the associations for the number 13.

Fear of Friday the 13th may go back to the Middle Ages when the day became associated with the Last Supper. Jesus and his twelve disciples (13 people) ate dinner together before his crucifixion on Friday. It may

also go back to Friday, October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV of France arrested hundreds of the Knights Templar and had many of them put to death.

There is no written record of a problem with Friday the 13th before the 19th century, though. Henry Sutherland Edwards’ biography of Gioachino Rossini in 1869 mentions that Rossini died on Friday the 13th , an “unlucky” day and an “unlucky” number. Thomas W. Larson published a novel in 1907 about a broker taking advantage of the fear of Friday the 13th to cause a Wall Street panic. The Knights Templar aren’t mentioned in conjunction with superstitions of Friday the 13th until 1955 with Maurice Druon’s novel The Iron King. Others have made the association since. The popular Friday the 13th slasher films have done little to assuage fears.

In some countries, it isn’t Friday the 13th that’s a problem. In Spanish-speaking countries and in Greece it’s Tuesday the 13th. Until the Americanization of Italy’s youth, thirteen was considered a lucky number.

The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, NC has estimated that 17 to 21 million people in the US are affected by fear of Friday the 13th and that $800 to $900 million dollars in business are lost on this day. Some people even refuse to leave their home.

The next Friday the 13th occurs in April this year. There is also one in July. Happy Friday the 13th everyone!

ghgh History of Friday the 13th ghgh

ghghghgh Member Marketplace ghghghghWanted: ‘49 Buick Roadmaster 2dr. that needs restoring or a 1963 Pontiac Tempest. Alan Coshland 609-801-1167.For Sale: 1950 Plymouth, Special Deluxe 4 door sedan. $8500.00. New battery, and recently checked at garage. Runs well and in great condition. Call Donna Schuman 856-810-8254.For Sale: 2005 50th Anniversary Edition Thunderbird, metallic midnight black with sand color interior with removable black hardtop with porthole windows (includes stand and cover). 32,000 miles, kept in climate-controlled garage. Very well appointed car. Car comes with full documentation. Contact Joe Picogna 856-686-7587 or [email protected] Sale: USA 960-T Pro Trig-Blast Sandblasting Cabinet. New List price…$1200.00. My price $500.00, you pick it up. Call Tom McLarney 856-461-8084.For Sale: 1972 Chevy Custom 10. Odometer shows 79,000+, new tires but two have gone flat. Minimum surface rust. Has 283 or 327 V8, two barrel, three on the tree. Seat upholstery in good condition. Not running. Asking $3,000, but will accept reasonable offers. Contact Pam at 609-670-0488.

Has Anyone Seen This Car?It is a 1947 Oldsmobile with two front ends. It was last

seen in the National Park/Westville area of New Jersey in 2006. Please call Alan Coshland at 609-801-1167 with any information.

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Answers to puzzle on page 11: 1G, 2D, 3K, 4H, 5N, 6S, 7A, 8T, 9E, 10J, 11P, 12R, 13B, 14L, 15Q, 16O, 17F, 18I, 19M, 20C

See us on the web at www.ankokas .com or e-mail us at [email protected].


If you have not received your 2018 roster, please contact Tom McLarney at 856-461-6688 or [email protected]

Important Announcement! Important Reminder!We have special speakers scheduled

for March 8th and May 10th. Please make sure you attend the meeting on these dates and hear those that have taken their time to speak with us.

Our next meeting is March 8, 2018 at the Haddonfield Municipal Building, 242 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield. There will be no regular meeting in April. The charter luncheon will be on Sunday, April 8, 2018. Look for invitations to be mailed soon.

ghgh Guest Speakers at Upcoming Meetings ghgh

article by Barry Goldsmith

While attending the AACA annual meeting in Philadelphia on Friday, February 9th, I attended a seminar given by Lawrence Giancola, a direct jobber for AMSoil products. Lawrence provided a detailed presentation on various oil designations and what they mean for the car enthusiast when purchasing an engine or gear lubricant for their vehicles, whether for modern or antique. I spoke with him following his presentation asking if he would be willing to come and speak to our club, specifically addressing lubricants, both motor oils and gear lubricants for antique cars. His talk is very informative and I’m sure of great value to the members of our club. Of course he is representing Amsoil products. The importance of understanding the various designation codes listed on any oil used in our automobiles is well worth the time spent listening to Lawerence’s presentation, especially as we enter the age of using synthetics, blends and organics in our cars. Mr. Giancola will be giving his presentation to the club at our regular meeting on March 8th.

Lubricants for Automobiles Collector Car Fraudarticle by Barry Goldsmith

While attending the AACA annual meeting in Phila-delphia on Saturday, February 10th, I attended a seminar given by Bruce Spencer Shaw Esq. Bruce provided a great seminar on how not to become a victim of fraud when trying to purchase an antique or collector automobile. His knowledge of fraudu-lent practices regarding the re-stamping of VIN numbers and advertising was truly impressive. He detailed the words to look for in an advertisement for an antique or classic car that is for sale and why not to buy a car at auction. His wealth of knowledge goes back to his days of operating a string of speed shops in the local Philadelphia area and of many of the famous cars campaigned during the early 60’s and 70’s. I spoke with him following his pre-sentation asking if he would be willing to come and speak to our club. His talk is very informative and I’m sure of great value to the members of our club. Of course he is representing his own law firm, but is right up front regarding his fees and defining when it is worth fighting to get your money back on a fraud-ulent car deal and when to arbitrate. He is sched-uled to speak to our group at our regular meeting on May 10th. Bruce’s talk promises to be an eye opener to the world of fraud within the antique and classic car hobby. P

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The Ankokas Region would like to thank its sponsors and encourage its members to patronize these businesses whenever possible:

1701 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, NJ

1708 West Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ

Member Ads

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Independently owned NAPA stores with convenient locations in Hainesport 609-261-5070 and Mt. Holly 609-267-2360.

[email protected] 856-375-5649

www.toplinecompany.com 856-662-6400

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