Spring Tour to Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Thank you to the 24 members who participated in our Spring Tour.  We hope all enjoyed.  We certainly don’t want to get swelled heads, but the weather was near perfect.  Saturday and Sunday were warm and sunny. Our activities for those days took place outside and, being we had no “plan B” if it rained, there were two very relieved trip leaders!

The Iowa-80 Kitchen at the World’s Largest Truck Stop reserved a private room for our group to gather for lunch. Once done we cruised I-80 for about a half hour drive to the Herbert Hoover Museum. Inside the museum our group watched a 20 minute overview of Herbert Hoover’s life, presidency and life after the White House.  Our docent, Matt, took questions and added quite a bit of historical knowledge.  We definitely could have listened to him for hours.  After a too brief look at the galleries, we took off for our Cedar Rapids Hampton Inn. 

We had an early departure time the next day and needed to leave at 8:30 Saturday morning for Maifest at the Amana Colonies. The Ronneburg Restaurant allowed us to park in their event space.  We had a prime front row to show off the T-Birds. After the shortest parade I think any of us have ever seen, the group went their separate ways to explore the town, wineries, and shops.  And some more wineries.  There was beer and oom-pah bands and beer and brats and more beer.  The Millstream Brau Haus had a sunny deck, the best brats in town and, you guessed it, beer!.  Afterwards, Everyone reconvened in the hospitality room for our Derby Party.  Thanks  to Kathy and Mary for being our mixologists and providing the mint juleps.  

Sunday had a later start for our drive to the small town of Mount Vernon and their Chalk the Walk festival.  Again, we had reserved parking thanks to Big’s BBQ and Brew.  And again, it was warm and sunny.
Both the professional artists and the amateurs chalked very impressive works on the streets.  Some of the works were so good it was hard to believe they were done in chalk.  

They had musicians providing entertainment, a few food trucks, antique stores, and wineries
 A thunderstorm blew through just before dinner but ended just as we  started to leave for Granite City Brewery. 

Monday morning came and we departed a little earlier than planned.  But that was just fine.  The only activity on the schedule was driving home and recouping from, what we hope, was a fun filled and enjoyable weekend.

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By

Karen Kelly

15th Annual CTCC Tech Session

Thirty-eight CTCC and AACA members gathered on Saturday, April 13

at the garage and antique car collection of  Frank Troost in Hillside, Illinois. 

The visit was arranged by Dick Murray from  AACA. 

The cars are in a former machine shop with a wooden floor,

surrounded by lumber yards. 

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  As we munched on coffee and rolls Frank explained each of his cars. 

His Maserati which he drove in,  Starmist Blue ’57 Thunderbird,

a Desert Sky Blue ’03 ‘Bird, eight ’55 – ‘ 61 Imperials and Chrysler's, 

a ’55 Dodge three tone, ’70 Plymouth wagon, ’48 yellow Studebaker,

and a two tone ’55 Oldsmobile with factory air conditioning.

Ken Smizinski began the Tech Session. He is a Master 3 CTCI judge and has worked on 600  ‘55 – ’57 Thunderbirds.  The first topic of discussion was adjusting transmission bands which must be done with the trans. out of the car. There is an access plate with the seat out of the car but this is insufficient.

   The next topic was the correct mounting of the engine front  to rear which is absolutely necessary to eliminate vibration.   There is a steel plate on the front of the timing chain cover which mounts to a hole in the frame in front.  The rear engine mount is to the transmission.  ’55 and ’56 ‘Birds have two mounting holes offset, while ’57 has two holes next to each other.  The ’57 needs a metal plate which sits on the frame.  The rear engine mount is on the trans. bracket, same for ’55-’57 ‘Birds.  The circle of the nut must be in the center of the hole in order to have the spacing correct.  The steady rest bracket mounts on the frame and engine to take up torque.  An  extra washer with a lip is needed.  The bracket should be adjusted with the nuts off, bottom raised up, then tightened.  One inch play is needed in the steady rest mount.  On the bottom of the steady rest  the second washer centers in the hole.  The spacing plate for the engine mounts is different on a Thunderbird from Ford passenger cars.

   The final topic of discussion was the dying of padded dashboards, which only come in blue.  Casco has vinyl  dye in the correct colors.

   At the conclusion of the Tech Session 30 of us went to lunch at “Q’s Restaurant” which featured Italian specialties. 

CTCC and AACA members in attendance were: Dan Anderson,  Jay Ayares,  Sean Bickerton,  Laura Cielenski, Mike Cielenski, Joe Esdale,  Pat Flynn,  Kurt Frederick,  Charles Freund,  Gordon Gluff,  Pete Hauser,  Len Keil,  Barry Konigsford, Pete Kramer,  Joe Kraatz, Sandy Kraatz, Bob Markert,  Jerry Michna, Dan Mrozek,  Dick Murray,  Tom O’Donald,  Bill Parks,  Ron Pavlak,  Rich Peterson,  Dave Pogorski,  Dan Pritchett,  Frank Racyvinski,  Lloyd Schellin,   Ken Smizinski,  Darlene Sobczyk, Dan Sobczyk,  Bob Sroka,  Len Vinyard,  Bob Wenderski,  Liz Werth,  Jim Wilson, Tom Wolfe,  and Kami Woody.

 
 
 

By Jim Wilson

Spring Field Trip 2019

Dan Pritchett organized an early morning tour on April 6. The Illinois Region Model A Club provided donuts and coffee for the car enthusiasts who gathered at Baltria Vintage Auto Gallery where numerous antique automobiles were on display. It was a great Saturday morning and the eleven Model As and two TBirds toured together, the short distance, to Powermaster Performance. At Powermaster the owners led tours to view their starter, generator, alternator restoration and manufacturing plant. Approximately 56 members of the Classic Thunderbird Club, AACA, CAATS and Model A Restorers Club broke into small groups and toured the plant. Following the tour, most of the attendees congregated at Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar and Grill for a great post-tour lunch. 

Club members attending included : Dan and Melinda Pritchett, Jim Wilson, Len Vinyard, Ken Smizinski, Bob Wenderski, Mike Cielenski, Darlene and Dan Sobczyk

Pizza party and election of Officers 

The Annual Pizza Party/Election of Officers Meeting was held on March 14th at the Little Villa Restaurante & Pizzaria in DesPlaines.

Twenty-nine members came out to enjoy some great pizza and conversation. After everyone ate, Ken held a brief meeting to approve the 2019 Budget and to discuss the calendar of events for the year. Dan Pritchett spoke about the upcoming Spring Field Trip on April 6th and Ken spoke about the Tech Session on April 13th. He mentioned that all those who wanted to go to the tech session should call Bob Wenderski. Karen Kelly spoke about the upcoming Spring Tour in May to Cedar Rapids with more information to come. Lloyd Schellin spoke about the Hayride\Bonfire event to be held on June 22nd with some other activities to be thrown in. Larry Kelly talked about the 15th Annual Cars Time Forgot at Lake Lawn Lodge in July. Ken briefly talked about the Mt Prospect Car Show and Lloyd Schellin briefly spoke about the Picnic. Laura Cielenski gave a brief description of the Fall Tour to the Quad Cities the end of September. Len Keil said that the October event would most likely be back up to Cedarburg, WI. November brings the Turkey Dinner and Year in Review Meeting as December brings our Annual Holiday Party.

Before the meeting ended Ken said that there were 3 director positions available. He mentioned that Len Vinyard and Lloyd Schellin were willing to stay on in their positions. Ken opened the floor to any nominations. Len Vinyard nominated Mike Cielenski which was seconded by Karen Kelly. All were in approval for the two current directors to continue and for Mike Cielenski to become a director. After the vote, the meeting then adjourned.

Those in attendance were: Dan Anderson, Marci Burhop Mike & Laura Cielenski, Gordon Gluff, Art Hahl, Gail Hascek, Len & Mary Keil, Larry & Karen Kelly, Pete & Marylu Kramer, Dean & Beth Molburg, Dan Mrozek, Dan Pritchett, Bob & Barb Sroka, Lloyd & Joan Schellin, Ken & Kathy Smizinski, Len & Irene Vinyard, Liz Werth, Jim & Jane Wilson and Tom Wolfe. – Submitted by Laura Cielenski

General Membership Meeting 
February 14,  2019

 Ken Smizinski welcomed the 27 members and guests in attendance at Fuddrucker's. 

 

Dudes and Divas Dinner 2019

Dudes and Divas Dinner

THE WHOLE GANG!

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The Dudes and Divas Dinner on January 25th 2019 at the Palm Court Restaurant brought out thirty-three members on a cold snowy night.  Everyone enjoyed each other’s company and of course a delicious meal.  As always, a great gathering to help break the winter blues. A big thank you to Ken and Kathy Smizinski for  planning the evening.

Those in attendance were: 

Dan & Karen Anderson, Bill & Jane Balogh, Tom & Judy Bruin, Mike & Laura Cielenski, Joe & Barb Esdale, Gail Hascek, Peter & Katie Hauser, Larry & Karen Kelly, Len & Mary Kiel, Pete & Marylu Kramer, Ed Levin and Rose Kovalenko, Dan Mrozek, Bob & Barb Sroka, Lloyd & Joan Schellin, Ken & Kathy Smizinski, Len & Irene Vinyard, Liz Werth and Tom & Alice Wolfe.       

– Submitted by Laura Cielenski