Sunday, March 6, 2011

TECH SESSION- APRIL 30, 2011

Classic Thunderbird Club of Chicagoland

TECH SESSION- SAT., APRIL 30,2011

AGENDA: TESTING AND REPLACING THE VACUUM ADVANCE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR - CHECKING AND REPLACING THE PRIMARY IGNITION WIRE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR - INVESTIGATING WHY THERE'S A TRANSMISSION FLUID PUDDLE UNDER YOUR T-BIRD!

REGISTRATION LIMITED, SO CALL IN A.S.A.P. RSVP Before April 25, 2011

9:00 AM TILL 10:00 AM COFFEE AND ROLLS
AFTERWARDS LUNCH IS PLANNED AT ALEK'S RESTAURANT IN LAKE BLUFF
THE EXTENSIVE CTCC LIBRARY WILL BE A VAILABLE FOR BROWSING & TAKE OUT

TAKE (1-294) NORTH TO ROUTE 60 (TOWNL1NE ROAD) - EAST ON ROUTE 60 To WAUKEGAN ROAD - TURN NORTH (LEFT) ON WAUKEGAN ROAD - APPROXIMATELY HALF A 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 UP!

T-BIRDS TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY, REGULAR DRIVERS STAY IN THE FRONT

Spring Tour- 2011


"Planes, Trains and Automobiles"

We are planning to combine our love of automobiles and nostalgia on a weekend trip down old route 66 to Bloomington, Illinois. We have a few interesting and entertaining things planned along the way. Please see the itinerary below.

The pre-paid cost for this trip is $79.00 per person ($158.00 per couple). Please make your checks payable to CTCC and mail them to your tour hosts, Tom and Judy Bruin:
The Bruins
7420 S. Rawson Bridge Road
Cary, IL 60013
847-516-5823
224-730-7910 (Tom's mobile)
tg.bruin@yahoo.com

The pre-paid cost includes the following: Museum and tour admission fees and gratuities for the entire weekend; Friday lunch, Friday Pizza party; Saturday breakfast, Sunday brunch and show (including gratuity).

Hotel Accommodations:
Hampton Inn and Suites
320 S. Towanda Ave.
Normal, IL.
309-452-8900
The room block is reserved under: Chicagoland Thunderbird Club
You have until April 15, 2011 to make your reservation at our group rate. The hotel has a 24 hour cancellation policy on any confirmed reservation.
Rooms and Rates:
Dbl/Dbl or Single King $99.00/nite
King Studio Suite $109.00/nite

Itinery:

Friday 5/20/2011
• Depart (8:45 AM sharp. Be gassed up, and ready to go!) from the Hinsdale Oasis on 1-294. (alternative meet-up location, anywhere on 1-55, south of I-8o)
• 1st stop - Pontiac, Illinois
o A visit to the Route 66 Museum, Livingston County War Museum, WallDog Sign and Mural Museum
o Trolley tour viewing of Pontiac's building murals
o Photo-op for each of our cars in front of (nearly) world-famous Route 66 mural
o Lunch at How Sweet It Is on historic Pontiac town square, (sorry Culver's fans)
• Bloomington, Illinois -Visit the Prairie Aviation Museum
• Friday night Pizza party and socializing

Saturday 5/21/2011
• Hot breakfast buffet at hotel
• Depart hotel promptly at 9 AM for a scenic 45 minute drive to Monticello, Illinois
• Round trip ride on private train car from historic downtown Monticello depot/station to the Monticello Rail Road Museum. Tour of museum exhibits.
• Lunch and shopping on your own in the quaint downtown Monticello square
• Free-time - time permitting, there are a couple of other interesting things to see, including:
o Allerton Park and gardens, http://www.allertonpark.illinois.edu/
o The David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, http://www.daviddavismansion.org/
o Twin Groves Wind Farm, http://www.horizomwind.con/projects/whatwevedone/twingroves/
• Group dinner, in downtown Bloomington at Station 220 at the old central fire house

Sunday 5/22/2011
We will be attending the Sunday Brunch Performance at Conklin's Barn Theater in Goodfield (about a 25 minute drive from Bloomington). We will be seeing The Cemetery Club, a heartwarming story about life, love and the pursuit of happiness!
• Doors open at 11:50 AM
• Brunch at Noon
• Show at 1:30 PM
Note: The hotel will have a free continental breakfast on Sunday morning to tide you over until we get to the show.
3:30 PM Departure and caravan back to Chicago area.

TED ZEMPER REPORT: BARRETT-JACKSON

Thanks for your inquiry. Yes, 1 did sell the car -for $38K + IO% buyers fee to B-J (Total of $41,800 to the buyer). This was less than we had hoped for as we were told to expect $50-70K. Our expected time slot was for Sunday afternoon of the last day, around 1:15 PM. Our actual time on the block was an hour later and there were 3 other 2-seater 'Birds sold before ours that day; (a '57, a '55, and a Minter-restored '55. Ironically, all three cars were Flame Red - the same color combo as ours -with white porthole hardtop.) That one-hour delay and number of T-Birds being offered, we believe, resulted in diminished buyer interest, and a smaller crowd as people were mentally finished with the auction on late Sunday PM.

In the seven days of the event, there were a total of 21 2-seater T-Birds sold:
9 - '55's Ranging from $70,000 to $33,000 (Average of $46,890) "Hammer Price" + 10% Buyer's commission to B-J
5 - '56's Ranging from $115,000 to $42,000 (Average of $62,200) "Hammer Price" + 10% Buyer's commission to B-J
7 - '57's Ranging from $120,000 to $36,000 (Average of $65,860) "Hammer Price" + 10% Buyer's commission to B-J

Each of these can be accessed at the following link: hftp://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/archivecarlist.aspx

Also, each seller must pay B-J an 8.0% "seller's commission" and a consignment fee of $500 - $1,500 to B-J. So, B-J does pretty well!

I was disappointed in this year's offerings- mostly '60's - '90's muscle cars! Lots of Chevys, especially big-engined Vettes and '60/70's sedans/cpes/converts. I think this is a sign of the fact that this auction attracts high-end buyers seeking their "dream car" of when they came of age. The majority of buyers there seemed to be "baby-boomer" age, and therefore, the '60's to '90's interest. There seemed to be far less "real classic" cars this year compared to the last 2 prior years (from my memory of both events).

Although I'm disappointed in my outcome, Anne and I are ok with it all. We had tried to sell our car here locally - advertising for a year in the CTCI Newletter, and having consigned the vehicle to the Volo Auto Museum for 2 summers, and having displayed it in several Volo-sponsored car shows - with no serious interest shown from any of this effort.

So it is DONE. We've freed up a heated garage space- and had 11 year's worth of enjoying our gorgeous Red '57!

Since we continue to have our home also on the market - wishing to spend our winter's in AZ where our daughter and her family live -we are continuing to try and simplify our life.

I have enjoyed my membership in CTCC for II years, despite [the fact] that I have never been very active, and I have very fond memories of the Baby Bird Birthday Bash at the beautiful Sanfillipo Palace in 2005!

Of course, my heart still pounds when I see a two-seater T-Bird!
Best of continued good luck to all the members of CTCC!

Cordially, Ted Zemper

ANNUAL PIZZA PARTY REPORT

Thirty-nine people braved the freezing temperatures on February lOth to socialize and enjoy the Annual Pizza Party at Jake's Pizza. Len Keil conducted the short meeting during which, Doug Rogers explained the 2011 Budget which will be voted upon at the March lOth Membership Meeting at Russell's BBQ.

Len asked those present to visit the Club's website and see the Tech-Tips and also, the many photos and articles that Joel Greenberg has been uploading. Len also highlighted events on the CTCC calendar.

Birthday wishes were extended to several members. There was more socializing after the meeting officially adjourned.
- Liz Werth

CTCC BRUNCH and PLAY EVENT


Sunday morning, January 30th, was a cold and gloomy day - until we stepped into the vast and beautifully decorated entry of the Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook Terrace. IL.

In spite of the weather, 31 members of the CTCC arrived for brunch and a play. Once we were all as­sembled, we entered the large banquet hall where we were seated at our assigned tables and served endless orange juice and champagne. 1, and a few others at the table, immediately made mimosas. We were now ready to choose our feast.
The brunch was fabulous with 13 stations of food to choose from - too many to list. Whether you wanted breakfast, lunch or dinner, the choices were bountiful with desserts "to die for". Absolutely scrumptious! Not a soul left that room hungry. If they did - shame on them!

Completely content, we moved on to the theatre where we saw the Tony Award winning musical. Monty Python's SPAMALOT, which is based on the classic comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

The play is a hysterically funny spoof with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table on their quest from God to find the Holy Grail. During their adventure, they encounter some rude Frenchmen, killer rabbits, flying cows and continued countless silly antics of sidesplitting laughter. The acting was great and their singing voices superb.

Everyone enjoyed the play and left the theatre with a song reminder to "ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE."

Marylu & Pete did a great job of picking this play.

The members who enjoyed the afternoon were: Pete & Marylu Kramer, Bill & Liz Werth, Karen Kelly, Len & Irene Vinyard, Bob Sroka, Lloyd & Joan Schellin, Ken & Kathy Smizinski, Len & Mary Keil, Bob & Sue Wenderski, Gary & Debbie Smithe. Joe & Jeanette Wintz, Doug & Soon Rogers. Laura Hascek & Mike Cielinski, Gail Hascek, Ron & Donna Pavlak, Ed Levin & Rose Kovalenko. Jerry & Doreen Michna,
- Rose Kovalenko