Sunday, April 11, 2010

TECH SESSION- APRIL 24, 2010

Classic Thunderbirdclub of Chicagoland

TECH SESSION- SAT., APRIL 24, 2010
BEGINNING AT 9:00 AM

A CONVERSION TO EXPEDITE LUBRICATION OF THE (OFTEN NEGLECTED) STEERING BOX ON YOUR T-BIRD

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION
BY KEN SMIZINSKI - CTCC TECH CHAIRMAN
AT BOB'S GARAGE
265 N. WAUKEGAN RD. - Lake Forest, II. 60045


****R.S.V.P. BEFORE APRIL 19, 2010****
DON'T DELA Y - CALL A.S.A.P.
CONTACT: BOB WENDERSKI FOR REGISTRATION
TEL: 847-234-2394 EMAIL: (bsw60045@comcast.net)

AGENDA:
9:00 AM TILL 10:00 AM COFFEE AND ROLLS
TECH SESSION BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 10:00 AM TILL 1:00 PM
AFTERWARDS LUNCH WILL BE SERVED

WEATHER PERMITTING GET YOUR "BIRD" OUT FOR THIS DUST-OFF EVENT
THE EXTENSIVE CTCC LIBRARY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR BROWSING & TAKE OUT
DON'T MISS THE GROUP PHOTO FOR THE "BIRD-NEWS"


DIRECTIONS TO THE TECH SESSION:
TAKE (1-294) NORTH TO ROUTE 60 (TOWNLINE ROAD) - EAST ON ROUTE 60 TO WAUKEGAN ROAD - TURN NORTH (LEFT) ON WAUKEGAN ROAD (APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE) TO 265 N. WAUKEGAN ROAD (WHITE MAIL BOX/BLACK ROOF) ON THE EAST SIDE OF ROAD.
IF YOU REACH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT DEERPATH ROAD, YOU PASSED US UPl

IMPORTANT PARKING INSTRUCTIONS
T-BIRDS TO THE REAR - DRIVERS IN FRONT

CTCI Board Meeting- Feb.5-6, 2010

CTCI Board Meeting (February 5-6, 2010)

Lin Somsak, Early Bird editor for 24 years, reported that in 2009 the use of color in the Early Bird was expanded and well received. Lin reported that she continues to get a good flow of quality photos for the cover. As always she is in need of technical articles. She requested clubs which have a color version of their logo, please send it to her for use in the magazine. Lin also reported that the Early Bird magazine has been awarded the Golden Quill Award from Old Cars Weekly for the eighth time.

Al Robinson reported that the website committee has selected one developer. Progress on the new website is going well and it should be up for use in a few months.

Rich Martin reported that there were no major changes made to the Concours Rules or Guidelines, and that all the minor adjustments from last year were now in place. The committee recommended that a position of Touring Judges Training Chairman be created to improve the consistency of Touring judging. Scoff McGilyray reported that the only change in the Authenticity rules is an updated document that now includes part numbers. Training Chairman Martin Bierman reported that there will be a few changes to the training slide show. Scoring Chairman, John Sailors, reported that the Scoring Program has been updated to better handle the cars being judged for the Preservation Award.

Office Manager George Barlow reported that a computer error caused the loss of several names from our mailing list late in 2009. Procedural and password changes have been made to prevent this from happening again.

George will be retiring in 18 to 24 months. The Board decided to train Office Assistant Jennifer Parker to be the Office Manager. George will continue, until his retirement, in the newly created position of Promotions Manager.

Treasurer Larry Kooiman reported that during 2009 we had income above expenses of $20,823. This was possible because of cost controls and diligence, and Managing Director Jim Hack's persistence with the State of California to get the club reclassified in the Workman's Compensation system. As a result we received a refund from the state.

Mickey Harris reported that the planning is well underway for the Region 4 convention being held in Glenn Ellen, VA in June of 2011. Martin Bierman presented a proposal from Chapter 65 in Omaha to host the Region 5 convention in Omaha in August of 2011. Their proposal meets all the requirements and was approved by the board.

Geraldine Nuckles reported that the call for entries for the Newsletter Contest was in the Jan-Feb Early Bird. She has entries from three clubs at this time. She also has four judges lined up for the contest. Due to lack of entries Martin Bierman recommended that the Board discontinue the Tech Article contest at least for one year.

There are four clubs competing for the Ford Johnson Memorial Award this year. Any one of the four could win it based upon their Thunderbird miles traveling to the International Convention in Dayton this summer.

Bill Somsak presented a paper indicating several things the club should be doing in the next 3 to 5 years. The key points are: Develop teams in various parts of the country to assist local clubs with putting on shows, encourage local clubs to have a contact person to keep CTCI updated with club information for the website and Early Bird, and develop a membership growth plan.

As reported last year, some historical data regarding the production of the early Thunderbirds has been discovered. Director John Smith was appointed to determine the best repository of that data and other historical data that the club owns.

The following officers were elected for 2010:
President- Martin Bierman
Vice President -Scoff McGilvray
Secretary- John Sailors
Treasurer- Larry Kooiman

Liz Werth -Director, CTCI Region 2

Cover April 2010 Bird-News


Letter to the Editor

A BETTER IDEA


Your cover article of the FORD license plate in the March B-N brought back memories of the fun times in the club during the mid-seventies.

It is my recollection that the club toured the Auto Show in 1974, after dinner at the Como Inn, and a bus ride to and from McCormick place, courtesy of Como Inn. It was then that we discovered the fabulous license plates on the Ford vehicles. What a great source of souvenirs, door prizes and goody bag items!

After getting nowhere trying to have some donated to the club, we decided on our great "License Plate Raid'. We would return as paying customers on the last Sunday evening of the show. We came prepared with socket sets, pliers, wrenches and screwdrivers. We were a regular Swat Team!

While some members formed a shield to hide the "mechanic", it was an easy matter to collect dozens of "samples". At one point, member Sally Forhman was seen collecting her trophy from a new Ford, while it was still rotating on the turntable display. Leaving the show with our loot was part of the planning. Since it was in the dead of winter, we wore bulky, loose fitting clothes that hid the contraband.

I still have some of my "collector" plates. They were displayed on my '56 Buckskin in those days, and now on my '02 modified 'Bird as shown on these pics. Thanx for the memories, Bert.
Rudy Budach

[Editor's Comment: Rudy and Janet have been CTCC members since 1970!]

The Editors Notebook- April 2010

THE EDITORS NOTEbook
Bert Eisenhour

THE SIGHTING OF THE FIRST ROBIN - ON MARCH 9th - held promise for the early arrival of spring weather! These hopes were dashed by ... SNOW!

The story - and photos - covering the very successful Breakfast Meeting is featured on pg.3. We thank Jim Wilson and Liz Werth for the coverage.

Eagle-eyed readers will no doubt be interested in learning the correct identification of the racecar pictured on the cover of this month's issue. Stay tuned for the ANSWER next month.
The March Membership Meeting Election found Doug Rogers returning as a member of the Board. Thanks to Pete Ekstrom for his past service as a member of the CTCC Board of Directors.

Shade tree mechanics won't want to miss the CTCC Tech-Session set for Saturday, April 24th! See page for the complete schedule and make your RESERVATIONS with Bob Wenderski - today.

A second "T-Bird QUIZ" appears on page 7. This should prove to be an interesting challenge! (Thanks to Joe Kraatz for the item .)

Pre Convention Breakfast

CTCC BREAKFAST EVENT ~ Saturday, March 6th

Seventeen CTCC members gathered for a special breakfast event at the Red Apple Pancake House in Palatine on Saturday, March 6th. The breakfast was held for those planning to participate in the CTCI International Convention in Dayton, Ohio, June 15-20. Members in attendance included Steve Davajon, Joel Greenberg, Len Keil, Larry Kelly, Pete Kramer, Joe and Sandy Kraatz, Kami Woody, Ron Pavlak, Lloyd Schellin, Ken Smizinski, Len and Irene Vinyard, Bob Wenderski, your scribe, and Bill and Liz Werth.

We caught up on happenings over the winter months while food was being served. After breakfast, CTCI Thunderbird Entry Forms, as well as individual Judging Sheets for Interior, Exterior, Engine Compartment, Trunk Compartment, Undercarriage, and Special Items were passed out. Each judging sheet lists the items to be judged in that category. Ken Smizinski stressed that if a car is driven, "Undercarriage Not Judged" should be checked on the entry form. Ken then went around the table and made sure each participant knew exactly which categories to check on the form. We plan to meet at the Lincoln Oasis on the Tollway at 8:00 AM sharp on Wednesday, June 16 to begin our caravan to Dayton. Cars should already be "gassed up" and participants should bring a sack lunch for a stop along the way.

The temperature outside was in the high 30's, the warmest day of 2010 so far, so we proceeded out to the parking lot to view the Thunderbirds. Steve Davajon brought a Burgundy '63 390 M Series convertible. The hood was open to show chrome on the fan shroud, top of the radiator, air cleaner, valve covers, and oil filler cap. What a dress up kit! Joel Greenberg brought his Yellow '57, Pete Kramer a Cashmere '05, my Thunderbird Blue '02, and Len Keil was seen driving off in a '90s 'Bird.
- Jim Wilson



[SEE THE ADJOINING COLUMN FOR PHOTOS OF THIS SPECIAL CTCC EVENT. THANKS TO LIZ WERTH FOR THE PHOTO COVERAGE. ALSO, A TIP-OF-THE-HAT TO KEN SMIZINSKI FOR PRESENTING THE INFORMATIVE PROGRAM. Additional photos in the photo album]