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

IN MEMORIAM

Bert Eisenhour, 94, the last remaining founding member of our Club, died on March 3, 2018. Bert had not been involved in CTCC activities since he and Jane moved to Iowa in 2011, but he continued to produce Bird-News until July, 2017. Many of us spent some time with him at the Model A Restorers' Club Turkey Dinner in November last year. For those of you not familiar with Bert, here is a little history. 

Bert's love affair with the Thunderbird began in the fall of 1954 and when Ford added two new colors, Bert could resist no longer and a Goldenrod Yellow was his in May of 1955.  Bert was hooked.  In 1957 he traded in his '55 and bought a new Inca Gold '57 which he drove 160,000 miles even using it to participate in the Continental Divide Rally.  His infatuation with Thunderbirds continued to grow.  Finally, Bert owned two 1957 T-Birds, but his pride and joy was his Starmist Blue "E" 'Bird, which he bought from Roger Neiss in 1963 and drove to many international conventions.

Bert was one of the founders of CTCC.  The first organizational meeting was held on August 28, 1961 and the first issue of the Club's newsletter was published in March of 1962.  Bert was the editor of the newsletter, Bird-News, from September of 1970 until July, 2017. He devoted countless hours every month to writing and producing this indispensable heart of our organization. Bert's beloved wife, Jane, passed away on March 24, 2016. Staying true to his dedication to the Club, the April, 2016 issue of Bird-News was completed and in the hands of CTCC members on April 8.

In 1963 Bert helped arrange for CTCC to travel to Dearborn where the Ford Motor Company hosted a magnificent Thunderbird convention.  This event set the stage for the first international CTCI convention held in Dearborn in 1964.  Bert was the only CTCI member who attended every international convention in CTCI history. Bert was there at the start of CTCI.  He often joked with Vic Take, the founder of CTCI, that he had doubts about its future, but he had faith and told Vic he wanted to be member number 500.

Bert served on the Board of CTCI in the mid 1970s and he was President of CTCC in 1965-66.  

In 1973, Bert was the first recipient of CTCC's "Alogna Award".  The award honored a member who had willingly gone "above and beyond" to help fellow Club members. In 1998 Bert was again given the Alogna Award.  The "Alogna Award" was then retired and the "Bert Eisenhour Award" was instituted in recognition of his tireless dedication and numerous contributions and efforts on behalf of CTCC. That award was retired in December, 2015 with Bert and Jane being the final recipients.  

Bert was the driving force behind many international and regional conventions held in Chicago including CTCC's 50th Anniversary Celebration of the introduction of the Thunderbird in 2005. Bert had a wealth of information about Thunderbirds and CTCC. He will be missed. 

BERT  EISENHOUR ( 1923-2018 )

ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY 2017 

ALPINE HAUS

The Annual Holiday Party was held on December 2nd at the Alpine Haus Banquets in Westchester.  Forty-three club members came out on a very balmy December night to celebrate. The festivities began that evening with hot appetizers and drinks as members were able to mingle before dinner. Following Happy Hour was a delicious dinner which consisted of soup, salad, Pork Tenderloin, Beef and Chicken along with potatoes and carrots. To finish off the meal was Almond Cake and coffee.

After dinner Ken and Kathy pulled names for the door-prize raffle. Everyone went home with several gifts. Many thanks to Ken & Kathy Smizinski for planning the party, obtaining the wine and many of the door prizes, to Pete Kramer and his son, Steve, for the Year-In-Review DVDs, to Liz and Bill Werth for the cookies and to all those who donated items for the door prizes. A fun night was had by all.

                                                                           

    

                                       








Those in attendance were: 
Dan & Karen Anderson, Lee and Gina Bakakos, Bill & Jane Balogh, Sean Bickerton, Mike & Laura Cielenski, Bob & Pam Delucas, Art Hahl, Gail Hascek, Larry & Karen Kelly, Pete & Marylu Kramer, Bud & Cindy Krysak, Ed Levin and Rose Kovalenko, Dan Mrozek, Dan Mrozek Jr.,Bob & Barb Sroka. Gordon Gluff and Mary Ziemba, Madeline Zambon, Mike Pavlak, Jim & Jane Wilson, Lloyd & Joan Schellin, Ken & Kathy Smizinski, Len & Irene Vinyard and Bob & Sue Wenderski, Bill & Liz Werth, Tom & Alice Wolfe.        Submitted by Laura Cielenski