May June 2012 Volume 40 Issue 3 - Indiana Region Classic Car

Transcription

Hoosier
Horn
A publication of the Indiana Region Classic Car Club of America
May June 2012 Volume 40 Issue 3
Hoosier Horn Volume 40 Issue 3 May June 2012
Page
INDIANA REGION CCCA
Table of Contents
Page 2– Board of Managers
Page 3- “From the Director” by Andy
Wolf
2012 BOARD OF MANAGERS
Director
Andy Wolf
Assistant Director
Larry Pumphrey
Secretary
Cliff Vogelsang
Page 4- “Wally at the Wheel: A “Danny” goes
undercover in a ‘41 Caddy” by
Jeffrey Shively
Page 7- “Foreign Cars will be featured at
2012 CCCA Museum Experience”
By David Schultz
Page 8- “The Palladium” by Cliff Vogelsang
Page 10– “Steel Ponies” by Cliff Vogelsang
Treasurer
Marsha Clapper
Board Members
Ed Dalton, George Maley, Bill Miller,
Helen Vogel, Mark Webb
2012COMMITTEES
Activities
Chairman: Larry Pumphrey
Members: Marsha Clapper, Helen Vogel,
Susan Phenicie, Carol Pumphrey
Membership
Chairman: Bill Miller
Page 14- “Midnight in Berlin” by George Maley
Page 16– Centerfold “1937 Mercedes Benz 540
Special Roadster”
Page 22– “A Mid-America Adventure” by
George Maley
Page 26- “Operation of a Borg-Warner Over
drive” by Larry Pumphrey
Page 28- 2012 Grand Classic®, Greensburg
Projects
Ed Dalton
Publications
Chairman: George Maley
Hoosier Horn Editor: Jeffrey Shively
Technical Chairman:
Jeffrey Shively
Webmaster
Shawn Miller
Page 13- “What’s a Classic?” by Bill Greer (1981)
Page 29- Glenmoor Gathering
Page 30–
“Editorial
Musings”
Page 32“Mercedes
-Benz” late
1930s
On the cover: The Blue Goose in repose in rural Virginia
Page 2
From the Director
By Andy Wolf
I am not normally a political person.
However, I believe that the items that I am about
to present need to be given to the membership
for their review. Is a perfect storm on the horizon
or is it a tempest in a teapot? Well, that is a question that the Board of Directors of CCCA is grappling with as we now have entered the 21 st century. The problem is this. The Bylaws of the
CCCA allow for the directors of the various regions to have a vote when attending a Board
Meeting equal to that of a Board Member.
Rarely has a Regional Director attended a Board
Meeting. Now that we are in the electronic age,
conference calls, e-mails, not to mention Skype,
have made decision making faster and cheaper
since the physical presence of a Regional Director or Board Member would no longer be necessary at a Board Meeting, assuming that the
CCCA Board goes modern and starts using modern electronics. The catch is this. Should Regional
Directors start using electronic means to enter
the decision making process of the Board, will
the Board of Directors lose its power to control
the organization? Some think so and want to
amend the bylaws eliminating an e-mail function
and or eliminating entirely the vote of a Regional
Director, in person or online.
The Board does not want another divisive
Chrysler Town and Country issue. There is presently a movement afoot to extend the classification years both backward in time as well as forward in time to include years through 1959. The
Board has the responsibility of making tough decisions about the destiny of the club, recognizing
that our culture has changed from joiners and
participators of yesterday, as Frank Wemple
wrote in the CCCA Bulletin, to observers of the
present era. Yet time moves on. The beauty and
styling of Full Classics® does not appear to carry
the same degree of awe as seen in the eyes of
the present generation.
Circumventing the
problem by rejecting modern electronics is like
the French Army building the Maginot Line after
World War I. It was obsolete the day it was completed. Come what may, the Board has to face
up to its responsibility, even though the outcome
may be distasteful. May history look back to this
coming moment in time and say, “This was one
of their finest hours.” Recognizing the gravity of
the situation, we of the Indiana Region will always support courageous decision making. Anything less is not acceptable.
2012 CCCA Events
May 5: Judging Seminar at the Clapper’s
June 18: “Jukeboxes, bobbie socks, and a
stroll down memory lane”- Bloomington
July 28-29: Illinois Overnight Trip
August 10-12: Clem Lange Collection
September 21-22: Grand Classic®,
Greensburg
October 12-14: Clifty Falls Overnight
November 4: Annual Meeting at
the Garrison
December 8: Holiday Party at Wolfsonian
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Page 3
Wally at the Wheel: A “Danny” goes undercover in a ‘41 Caddy
By Jeffrey Shively
In mid-February, Shawn Miller gave me a call wanting help in contacting as many
people in the Indiana Region as possible regarding a symposium entitled “Wally at the
Wheel.” Immediately, my ears perked up a bit. For the initiated, a “Wally” is an undergrad or alumnus of Wabash College, located in Crawfordsville. Wabash is one of the
few remaining all-male liberal arts colleges in the United States. Shawn went on to explain that the organizers of this symposium needed antique cars to display indoors, and
he’d prefer that some of them be Full Classics®. I agreed to help and volunteered my
1941 Cadillac. Displaying your car indoors in the
middle of winter and being treated to dinner may
not sound like much of a sacrifice for a car guy.
However, as a “Danny” it takes a little consideration. Even the passage of 17 years since leaving
the hallowed halls of DePauw University does not
dim the words “Wabash College Little Giants.” I
would be a stranger in a strange land.
Of course, I exaggerate a little. Unlike most
DePauw grads, I was admitted to Wabash and won
an excellent scholarship based in part on my writing
ability. I warmly remember the trips to Crawfordsville as a prospective student, the dinner at Kappa
Sig, attending a class on ancient Greece, and
spending President’s Scholarship Weekend at Beta
Theta Pi. The campus itself is beautiful, with almost Ivy League look to it. It is composed
of great old buildings, much like DePauw was when I was an undergrad. The only thing I
really don’t like is the football field. More on that later.
I started out early on Friday morning, February 24. The trip to Crawfordsville took less
than 45 minutes from Greencastle. It was raining, and the wipers decided this was a
good time to cut out. The underseat heaters kept the cabin toasty and the defroster
made it so I could see out the windshield. I pulled into the McDonald’s on the south side
of town for a cup of coffee. The ’41 caused quite a stir among the patrons and the employees. Before long, I was on campus and had
located the Allen Athletic and Recreation Center
where the cars were to be displayed. As I pulled
in, a group of eager undergrads descended on
the car to dry it. I was then directed into a parking
spot next to Beuford Hall’s 1930 Buick (NC). My ’41
was the only Full Classic® present, kind of disappointing considering that I had e-mailed everyone
in my CCCA and CLC contact list. The cars assembled were an eclectic assortment of non-Classics
spanning 1930 to the present. There was a nice
’46 Hudson, a ’30 Model A Ford, a ’59 Edsel, a ’64
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Studebaker, several military vehicles, and a number a late model performance cars. The
keynote speaker was the current Treasurer of General Motors, Jim Davlin, a 1985 Wabash
Grad. He brought a new Camero, a Volt, and a stunning ’55 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible
(NC) from the G.M.
Heritage Collection.
“Wally at the
Wheel” was the third
symposium on popular topics hosted by
Wabash College. In
previous years, the
topics have been
baseball and food.
Alumni, faculty, and
undergrads all work
together in planning
these
symposiums,
which helps bond the
college
community
together. I was quite
pleased and surprised
when
the
undergraduates came by
and asked questions about the ’41. One of these fellows was Scott, a freshman from the
Philadelphia area, who made himself my guide for the day.
The lectures began after lunch. I attended one on the physics of car crashes,
given by a member of the physics department, and a second speech on advertizing
from the point of view
of a communications
professor. Shawn Miller
and Dennis Horvath
gave the final presentation of the afternoon, on the importance of Indianapolis
and Indiana in general
to the development of
the automobile. The
attendees were a nice
mix of alumni and undergrads.
Everyone
appeared to appreciate the efforts of the
presenters.
Dinner was a
1950s affair, with waitresses in poodle skirts
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and waiters in jeans and white t-shirts. I was originally expecting steak……but we had
ground steak. No complaints here, as I appreciate a great burger, which these were.
Throw in a chocolate malt and some old 45s as centerpieces, and you have the making
for a great time. I have to admit it was fun being the only “Danny” at the table. The rest
were alumni ranging from 1956 to 1979 and my helper Scott, Class of 2015. Conversation
was lively until the keynote address. Mr. Davlin informed us of some of General Motors’
future plans. It seems like they are going to shrink cars even further while trying to capture the emerging markets in China, India, and Russia. Still it is good to see that my favorite automaker will be around for the long term.
After the crowd dispersed, I took one more walk around the fieldhouse. The collection of Wabash sports memorabilia was quite impressive. And then I saw it….the Holy
Grail of Division III football, perched in plain sight above the main entrance to the facility.
The Monon Bell. The trophy given to the winner of the November
gridiron showdown every year since 1932. (The first game was held
in 1893, making it the oldest college rivalry west of the Alleganies.)
I’d walked under it several times without noticing. I marveled at
how small it was, as I’d seen it up close only during my freshman
year and again in 2007 when DePauw won it and I happened to
be sitting in with the pep band. On my way back to the ’41, to
start it up and head out, I ran into one of my tablemates and commented how vulnerable the Bell seemed. He replied , “We have
the Gentleman’s Rule at Wabash.” With a grin I said, “True, but I
have a really big trunk and didn’t go to Wabash!” We parted with
a laugh and a hearty handshake. My assistant Scott was waiting
for a ride in the ’41. I thought, this is what we all must do when
asked. Take that kid for a ride. Spend the time to explain the car’s history to the person
at the gas station or the waiter at the restaurant. If we don’t, the hobby dies with us.
The drive home was uneventful. The night was clear and my headlights were as
bright as any 12 volt bulb. There was a lot to consider about the day. More colleges
should hold events like
this, not just with cars,
but with any topic that
would have mass appeal. It builds connections between today’s
undergrads and the
alumni, which gives the
younger people a feeling of place. Even
though I was an outsider, the people at
Wabash made me feel
right at home, and I appreciate that. Indeed,
this was a worthy first
outing for my Classic
Cadillac coupe.
Page 6
Foreign Cars will be featured at
2012 CCCA Museum “Experience” June 3
Foreign automobiles will be featured at the Classic Car Club of America Museum’s
2012 “Experience,” scheduled for Sunday, June 3 on the campus of the Gilmore Car Museum—home of the CCCA Museum—in Hickory Corners, Michigan. Both Full Classic® and
non-Classic foreign automobiles through 1965 will be welcome. Car owners need not be
CCCA members to display their foreign cars at the “Experience.” In addition to the Experience on Sunday, a CCCA Grand Classic® will be held on Saturday, June 2. Only Full Classics® owned by CCCA members may be displayed. The public is welcome at all weekend
events.
Many Full Classics® were foreign-built—
Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Horch,
Renault, Daimler, Peugeot and Panhard—to
name just a few. In addition to foreign-built
cars through 1965, Full Classics® owned by
CCCA members may be displayed on the
show field on Sunday. “For CCCA members
who have not visited the CCCA Museum and
Library, this is an excellent year to do so,” said
Howard Freedman, CCCA Museum president.
“There is really nothing else like it in the world;
this is the only museum devoted solely to Classic automobiles.”
The weekend events will start on Friday evening with a “Get Acquainted” barbecue
on the museum grounds. On Saturday, there will be a CCCA Grand Classic and automotive
art show. The latter will be held throughout the weekend and will include an introduction to
automotive art by artist Tom Hale. That evening a gala dinner will be held at the Radisson
Plaza in Kalamazoo, preceded by cocktails and a silent auction. Sunday events, in addition
to the Classic automobiles on display, will include junior judging and a silent auction of
unique automobile-related items. A narrated awards presentation will take place on Sunday
afternoon, followed by a post-show farewell supper hosted by the Gilmore Car Museum in
recognition of their 25 year association with the CCCA Museum.
2012 “Experience” attendees will also see the new Gilmore Car Museum conference
center and library. In addition to viewing the Classic automobiles and foreign motorcars on
display that weekend, attendees can visit the CCCA Museum, the Gilmore Car Museum, the
H.H. Franklin Museum, the Pierce-Arrow Museum and the Tucker Archives. The CCCA Library
and the Gilmore Car Museum library are also available by appointment. The CCCA Museum
contains a fine collection of Full Classic® automobiles as well as a world class radiator mascot collection. The Cadillac-LaSalle Museum and the Model A Ford Club of America club
have presented plans for their new museums on the Gilmore campus. The Lincoln Motor Car
Foundation has chosen the Gilmore Car Museum campus as the site of its museum.
Host hotel is the Radisson Plaza-Kalamazoo Center located in downtown Kalamazoo.
All weekend events are open to the public but an entrance ticket to the Gilmore Museum
campus must be purchased. Tickets are also available for individual weekend events. Contact: David Schultz. Phone: 330 904.6289. E-mail [email protected]
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The Palladium
By Rev. Cliff Vogelsang
On an overcast Saturday morning, the
of March, nine members of the Indiana
Region of the CCCA gathered at the west
entrance of The Palladium, part of the Center for the Performing Arts, for a tour of the
Palladium. Our gracious guide, Dana Randall, spent nearly two hours with us taking us
to the various levels of the facility.
The Palladium, completed approximately two years ago, is home to the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, and the Indiana
Wind Symphony. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra also gives pop concerts here on
Sunday afternoons. Andrea Palladio was a 16th century Italian architect whose style was
used in the design of the building. The interior design is patterned after designs of a 16 th
century Scots designer, Robert Adams. Even though these designs are five centuries old,
the facility is very modern in many ways. There is an acoustic cloud, constructed of steel
and glass, which can be raised and lowered for acoustical effect. The walls are plaster
over wood. Every entrance has an antechamber to exclude external noise. There are
also curtains around the walls that can be opened and closed to aid in modulating the
sound.
The carpet is made of goat hair, for softness and durability. Eighty-five hundred
square feet of marble were shipped from Italy for the flooring outside the auditorium itself.
Fifteen thousand pieces of Indiana lime stone were used in the construction of the exterior. The Palladium seats sixteen hundred people. The total cost was one hundred fifty
million dollars.
24th
Hugh and Sally McKnight’s 1941 Lincoln Continental
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Across the plaza from The Palladium is a building containing the Booth Tarkington
Theatre and the Studio Theatre. The Tarkington seats 500 and the Studio seats 200. The
Studio is quite flexible and can be configured into several different arrangements, including, round, rectangle and square.
Following the tour, we met at Ted Montana’s Grill in Clay Terrace for lunch. Those attending the tour were: Tom and Paula Hartz, Hugh and Sally McKnight, Larry and Carol
Pumphrey, Steve and Alice Tarr, and Cliff Vogelsang. Many thanks to the Pumphreys for
a delightful morning.
COLUMBUS, OHIO WEEKEND PLANNED FOR JULY
The Ohio Region CCCA extends a cordial invitation to the Indiana Region to join in a
gathering on July 6, 7 & 8, 2012 in suburban Columbus for a weekend of automotive activities. On Friday evening a dinner will await our group at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the
Dublin Metro Center which is the venue for the 30th year of the big Arthritis Foundation
Show founded by the late Len Immke. We have rooms and parking reserved there both
nights. Friday features a 1,500-car Cruise-In with entertainment well into the evening. Saturday is the all-day 47-class auto show. There is a CCCA class in which we will have our
"Show within a Show." If you bring something else there's probably a class for it as well. After the awards and parade we will drive the short distance to Tom Sutphen's fire truck
plant where we'll have a barbeque among his 50-car collection which includes many Full
Classics®. Sunday's elegant brunch will be at the nearby Scioto Country Club where Jack
Nicklaus learned to play golf. Descriptive brochures along with registration and reservation information will be available in late Spring for those indicating interest.
Make your plans today!
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Steel Ponies
By Rev. Cliff Vogelsang
When we think of the “Old West” we
probably think of cowboys and Native
Americans. We visualize these men on their
horses, rounding up herds of cattle or fighting with each other in the conquest of the
west. Danger was ever present and daring
was a necessary quality for survival. The
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and
Western Art presents another view of the
West in its exhibit, “Steel Ponies.” It is not just
a view of the West, but an exhibit of the development of the motorcycle and its design.
In this article I will take you on a brief
tour of the exhibit and hopefully trigger
lyn, N.Y. to San Francisco, CA with her
enough interest for you to visit the Eiteljorg. mother in the sidecar. Another female moPlease follow me. The first motorcycle
torcyclist, Sandy Couture, wrote: “Riding a
motorcycle is like an Annie Oakley thing.
When they first settled the West, women
had to have guts and not be pretty little
things. That is what it takes to ride a bike.
You have to get your manicure dirty.” Effie
and her mother probably got their mani-
viewed in the exhibit is a 1948 Indian Chief
Roadmaster. Hendee Mfg. of Springfield,
MA chose the name Indian because it conveyed something genuinely and uniquely
American. Our tour then takes us to a 1936
Harley-Davidson EL 1005 Knucklehead. It
was called a knucklehead because the
motor resembled a human knuckle. Step
over here and look at this 1915 HarleyDavidson Three-Speed “Effie.” Effie Hotchkiss was the first woman to drive from Brook-
cures dirty. Step back this way and you will
see a Pierce 4-Cylinder. Yes, there is an arrow through that Pierce. This was manufactured by Pierce Cycle Co., a subsidiary of
Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Co. This way,
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bike is from the last scene of “Easy Rider”
and was ridden by a young Peter Fonda.
Next to it is a Harley-Davidson “Dragon
Bike.” This bike is reconstructed and was ridden by Peter Fonda in “The Wild Angels.”
please, and you will see a 1908 Indian
Racer. This cycle was driven to victory in a
race in 1909 at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway by Erwin George “Canon Ball”
Baker.
Perhaps the most famous daredevil in cycling history was a man from Montana, Evel
Knievel. Step over here and see the 1972
Harley-Davidson XR 750 ridden by Knievel
at Wembly Stadium in London. He attempted, unsuccessfully, to jump over thirteen single deck buses.
Come this way and we will view some
famous motorcycles. Here is a 1968 Harley
Davidson “Captain America” bike. This
Come over here, folks, and see some
real “Injun” bikes. This is a 2010 Custom
“Great Spirit” bike. To your right, there is a
2009 Custom Saginaw Chippewa . This was
seen in the television series “American
Chopper.”
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Walk into the last gallery and we will see the “arty” motorcycles. In 1998, the Guggenheim Museum in New York had an exhibit entitled, “Steel Canvas, the Art of the Motorcycle. The purpose of the exhibit was to show that motorcycle design, as auto design, is
truly an art form. The exhibit at the Eiteljorg
concludes with two “arty” bikes. The first is
a 2006 Custom “Art Attack” built by Russ
Hess. He spent eight hundred hours building
this
motorcycle. It has forty-seven engraved
overlays and one hundred fifteen gold
pieces. Turn around and you will see a 1947
Knucklehead Custom “Untouchable.” This
was designed by Arlen Ness.
Finally, step over this way and “wow.”
This is a not a cycle for viewing but for
climbing on. Put your pretty lady in the
sidecar and have your picture taken. The
exhibit “Steel Ponies” will close on the 5th of
August. Don’t miss it!
*Editors Note
All motorcycles mentioned in this article are
classified as “Non-Classics” or (NC) by the
Classic Car Club of America.
Page 12
Page 13
Midnight in Berlin
By George Maley
In January of 2012 a short email was received by me to be a part in a T.V. film, revisiting the 1937 Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster originally owned by Hermann Goering, Hitler’s chosen successor of the Third Reich. The T.V. documentary was being done
by Mark Steward Productions of London, England. The email curtly stated that the filming
would take place on location in Washington, Virginia in the middle of March. Jan, representing the Goering Mercedes, said I was needed as a consultant on Goering and this
particular Mercedes, since I had written an extensive article a number of years back for
“Automobile Quarterly” Volume 46 Issue 2. Checking with my calendar and my wife B.J., I
emailed Jan a positive reply to be a part of the project. Hotel reservations were to be
made according to Jan by “Alli”. I verified these reservations shortly before we left as well
as to get a fix where Washington, Virginia was. It was not easy to find on a map. Suffice
to say Washington, Virginia is located some 70 miles west of Washington D.C. It is in the
scenic horse country abutting the Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains. With little other information I took my research material and the two of us took off
by car for the Fairlea Farm Bed and Breakfast in Washington, Virginia. We drove because
I had a board meeting at Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida the following week.
Arriving first at Fairlea Farm we had the pick of rooms. Susan and Walt, the innkeepers, were great hosts for the next few days. As the film and project crew started to arrive
a sense of family developed. The project leader introduced himself as Simon. Patrick, his
cohort, was known as Paddy to the crew, but to me as Patrick. Alli, twenty three years of
age, was the T.V. project’s “girl friday”. Simon is English and lives in Switzerland. Patrick
was born in the Ulster district of Northern Ireland. Alli came on the project from her native
country Australia. Lastly, is Jan, who is Swedish.
As for the Goering Mercedes, Chris Charlton of Classic Auto Services of Oxford
Maine did the preservation of the Mercedes. He brought the Special Roadster down in his
van from Clifton, New Jersey, where the car is stored. Tuesday evening our group went
out for dinner to become acquainted. A rapport was immediately established. After
breakfast the following morning a
plot for this section
of the film was put
together by Simon
and Patrick. Not
only was I a consultant, but now I
picked up an acting role as a part
of the film. First, a
little history about
this Mercedes and
the
man
who
owned it.
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A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
Hermann Goering, Deputy Reich’s Fuehrer, President of the German Parliament,
General of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe), as well as a
host of other titles was an ardent collector of automobiles primarily of the high-end Mercedes of his time. In
addition, he collected art for his magnificent estate,
Carinhall, which is Northeast of Berlin. Most of his art
came from the collections confiscated from German
Jews. In addition, he purchased art at his prices from the
Louvre Museum in Paris after the German occupation of
France. In 1935, he purchased his first Mercedes Benz
500K Special Roadster. On February 20, 1937 while touring
the new exhibition hall for the Berlin Automobile Show,
Goering saw the more powerful 540 K Special Roadster
with its increased 180 HP super charged engine. Upon
meeting Wilhem Kissel of Daimler Benz, AG, Goering
started the negotiations for a newer Mercedes with custom built modification to hold his 220 pound frame. In
addition he wanted the Mercedes to be reinforced with
armor plating and bullet proof glass around the cockpit
of the car. Fuel capacity was increased thanks to a reserve tank located on cowl of the car. The total modification brought the weight of the Mercedes to an even 6,000 pounds. The paint scheme
was aviation blue, the color of
the German Luftwaffe uniforms.
Goering took delivery in July of
that year. From that time on,
Goering’s 540 K Special Roadster was his premier plaything
that massaged his super driven
ego. However, over a period of
three years the metallic blue
paint started to fade. Upon consultation with Daimler Benz, Goering had the Special Roadster
sent back to the Daimler Benz
plant in Sindelfagen, Germany
for a repaint as well as a modification to the driver’s back seat
cushion, a cut down of its depth
because of Goering’s increased
weight to 260 pounds. Rather than having the Special Roadster send back to Berlin, he
had it sent to Berchtesgaden in the Obersalzberg area at the foot of the Alp Mountains.
This is where Hitler had built his famous “Eagles Nest”. For the duration of the war the Special Roadster stayed in the Waffen SS garage with a Mercedes Benz 770 TourWagen. This
garage was at the base of the homes of the Nazi elite next to Hitler’s home, the Berghof.
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THE CAPTURE OF GOERING’ S MERCEDES SPECIAL 540K ROADSTER
The above two Mercedes were still in the Waffen SS garage as a 326 Engineering
Company of the 101st American Airborne division descended on Berchtesgaden on May
4, 1945. Captain Joe Crilley led the charge to liberate the two Mercedes in the garage
without meeting any resistance. The European War ended shortly thereafter on May 7,
1945. Goering was captured almost simultaneously 30
miles south in the Obersalzberg area. Major General Maxwell Taylor, operational commander of the American
forces in the southern German sector, spotted the liberated Mercedes Special Roadster. Thinking that both cars
belonged to Hitler he took the Special Roadster as his staff
car. The boys of the 326 Engineering Company had nicknamed the Special Roadster the “Blue Goose” due to its
turned up rear tail section and unique metallic blue color.
Taylor told his adjutant to take his two-star plate off of his
jeep and put it on the slightly damaged Blue Goose Special Roadster. Overall the Blue Goose was in excellent
condition except for damage sustained when several bullets were sent into the driver’s window glass and left front
fender by Captain Crilley’s outfit to ensure that the car
was not booby-trapped by the fleeing Germans.
THE BLUE GOOSE COMES TO THE UNITED STATES
In August on 1945 General Taylor was transferred from his operational command in
Southern Germany to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Simultaneously the two “Hitler Mercedes” were requisitioned by the United States Treasury Department to be the center pieces of a pair of War Bond rallies, the first starting in Washington D.C. in November 1945 and ending in Indianapolis the later part of December. The
second rally was to start in Chicago in January, 1946 ending two months later in Omaha,
Nebraska. After the War Bond rallies, the two “Hitler Mercedes” were put into storage.
In August 1946 the
st
101 Airborne Division had
its first annual reunion in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, under the new ownership of Anton “Tony” Hulman, invited the veterans
to the famous race course
for several simulated trophy
races involving 500 Mile
Race cars. The Blue Goose
was brought to the Speedway as part of the festivities. Tony Hulman paced
the Indy Racers in the Blue
Goose around the famous
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oval. The next day, the Indianapolis Star newspaper featured a major story on the
Speedway event and included a picture of the Blue Goose flanked by U.S. Senator
Homer Capehart, Major General Maxwell Taylor and Mayor Robert Tyndall of Indianapolis.
After the August 1946 reunion the two “Hitler Mercedes” were taken back to Aberdeen, Maryland and placed in storage. Prior to this it was determined that the Special
Roadster was not a “Hitler” car, but rather belonged to Herman Goering after it became
apparent by observing the family crest on each of the two doors.
THE BITGOOD ERA
In 1956 the two Mercedes along with a host of military equipment were auctioned
off on a sealed bid base by the 101st Airborne Division.
Jacques Tunick of Greenwich, Connecticut was the high bidder for this Special Roadster with a bid of $2, 167. He did very
little to the Special Roadster. In 1958 he sold the Blue Goose
for approximately $10,000 to Dr. George Bitgood, a veterinarian of Middletown, Connecticut. Over his lifetime, Bitgood collected a sizable number of 500K and 540K Special
Roadsters and Cabriolets.
As the years wore on, Bitgood started to sell off his collection. He contacted Herbert von Fragstein formerly of Dayton, Ohio, presently of Belleair Bluffs, Florida to sell two of the
Special Roadsters, one being the Goering Blue Goose Special Roadster, and a third car, a 1938 Mercedes 540K Cabriolet B. Upon Bitgood’s death in April 1998, Jim Champion,
son in law of Bitgood, husband of Annette Bitgood, and executor of the Bitgood’s estate, sued von Fragstein for possession of the three Mercedes. After a lengthy court battle in
Dayton, Ohio, the Bitgood estate won all rights to the three
automobiles. During the court battle, von Fragstein moved
the Blue Goose among various East Coast restoration shops
to avoid a possible repossession action before the final verdict was issued by the court.
At the conclusion of the legal proceedings Champion asked Chris Charlton to prepare the car for sale. Bitgood’s daughters had no interest in retaining these automobiles.
The work performed on the Blue Goose included rebuilding the brake system, cleaning
up the engine, and making the vehicle runable. Refurbishing and cleaning the radiator
and fuel system was also performed. Several dents and other minor damage were also
repaired. However, the black paint applied by Bitgood on the Blue Goose was left intact. Upon completion of the work Charlton had the Special Roadster
shipped to Champion, who lived in California. Prior
to its sale, the Blue Goose made one last stop to Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st Airborne Division. Driving the car was Jim Champion and his
brother-in-law. The Blue Goose once again was reunited with the memories of the soldiers long ago
Page 19
who liberated the Goering Blue Goose.
Subsequently, Champion found a buyer
for the Blue Goose. It was Carnlough International Ltd. Trust located in England.
This firm bought the Hermann Mercedes
Benz 540K Special Roadster and had
Chris Charlton perform a tedious preservation of the automobile as seen on that
day that the 326 Engineering Company
liberated the Goering Special Roaster
leaving in place the bullet hole in the left
front fender and the star mark in the driver’s
side glass. Most important was the task of determining the original blue color due to the
over paint of black. With the help of Captain
Joe Crilley, who was still alive, the correct color
was determined by his sharp eye, having spent
much of his life as an illustrated commercial
artist. After the preservation was completed
the Goering Special Roadster went on the
Concourse circuit. It has been maintained the
last few years in excellent condition; however it
is not in showroom quality.
THE FILM PROJECT STARTS
On Wednesday morning the 14th of March Chris Charlton unloaded the Goering
Special Roadster at the Fairlea Farms Bed and Breakfast from his van. Simon and Patrick
shortly after breakfast indicated that Mark Stewart Productions had done a great deal of
research on the Blue Goose all over the world. The final product of this potential one-hour
program was going to be the keystone video of five or six one-hour video productions
about famous cars and their owners. The market for these one- hour videos is the BBC,
Smithsonian T.V. Channel, Discovery Channel and international airlines that show movies
on long flights.
The story of the Blue Goose first had to be put together. Facts can be boring, but
facts can come to life if a good story line is created. After some discussion, the storyline
was formed was as follows.
Over the years, the Blue Goose has been kept in an old garage shed under my supervision. I have
asked Simon, and expert on classic cars, to make an evaluation of the Blue Goose to separate fact
from fiction. Then he is to come back to me and give his report. I then let Simon take the Blue Goose
out for an extensive drive under my supervision. Subsequently Simon comes back several weeks
later sensing I know more about the Blue Goose than I had let on. Simon pins me down and asks me
very clearly what my interest is and why? I then confess that I first saw the “Hitler Cars” during the first
War Bond rally in 1945 in Indianapolis, Indiana when I was a freshman in high school. At that time,
the rally had been advertising this Mercedes as a “Hitler Car”. I then told Simon that I again saw the
Blue Goose at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the first reunion of the 101 st Airborne Division in
August 1946. Living in Indianapolis all my life with my family business being involved in automobile
racing from 1930-1958 gave me access to the Speedway for the 101st Airborne Reunion.
Page 20
That was the plot. In retrospect the project was fun, but it was hard work. We were
up at 6:30am every morning and finished at 10:30pm every night. One eating highlight of
the work schedule was going to The Inn at Little Washington, Virginia. Jan treated the
group to a four hour meal of exotic food delights and wonderful wines. The Inn has been
written up in the New York Times newspaper as one of the finest gourmet restaurants in
this country and as well as in Europe. In addition the group had three meals together
every day and each one was a memorable experience. For three days we became a
family of great stories of the past and present. The majority of the shooting took place at
Caledonia Farm, a historic home constructed in 1812 with the Blue Ridge Mountains in
the background. The weather was perfect. The shots as the sun was rising with a mist still
on the ground was ideal; likewise the shots late in the afternoon gave an entirely different
impression driving through the forests in the area.
Reliving intimately a portion of the past thrusting myself into the atmosphere of prewar Germany and then the capture of the Blue Goose gave me a feeling of the storyline
in the recent movie, “Midnight in Paris”, written and directed by Woodie Allen. For three
days we immersed ourselves in the project. For me there was no television, newspapers,
computer, or cell phones. Washington, Virginia has limited cell phone service not compatible with B.J.’s cell phone carrier.
For me the great thrill was sitting in the Blue Goose where both Hermann Goering
and General Maxwell Taylor had sat, while Simon went through the gears pushing the
Mercedes as hard as he could on the back roads of Washington, Virginia. As the cameras rolled, Simon would depress the accelerator to the floor activating the screaming
roots-type super charger, which increased the horse power by fifty percent. The screaming sound and the throaty sounds of the exhaust of the engine made for a rare experience that few Full Classics® can duplicate. The Blue Goose has an independent fourwheel suspension system with a light steering touch. Driving this car of 75 year-old technology at speed rounding sharp curves gave me the impression that German technology
at that time
was the window of the
future. As I
traveled
in
the
Blue
Goose with
the
top
down I journey back to
those years
of 1937 to
the summer
on 1945 in
my own version
of
“Midnight in
Berlin.”
Page 21
A Mid-American Adventure
by George Maley
Pictures by Author, Larry Pumphrey, and Cliff Vogelsang
Larry and Carol Pumphrey mapped out a super overnight tour for the April activity
of the Indiana Region of CCCA. The delightful town of Versailles, Ohio lies close to the
Indiana/Ohio state line. Located a short distance from New Bremen, Ohio, the prosperous burg, with its ethnic German population, boasts of the Inn of Versailles. Accommodations are first rate with a delightful gourmet restaurant, ideal for a Saturday night gathering for Indiana Region members. However, the center point of interest for the Saturday
event was a unique combination of specialty restoration shops, three in all, servicing the
needs of the great automobiles of ages past.
The journey to Ohio started early Saturday morning on the 14th of April at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Because of
a breakfast commitment in
Covington, Ohio, Larry had
the group on the road at
7:05 am. The weather was
threatening, so only a few
members drove their Full
Classics®. They were Larry
and Carol Pumphrey in
their newly acquired 1937
Packard V-12 limousine;
Hugh McKnight and his son
Steve in a 1941 Lincoln
Continental cabriolet; Gene and Sally Perkins in Gene’s 1946 Packard Club sedan. A
neat pre-war non-Classic was the 1941 Chevrolet convertible driven by Andy Wolf accompanied by his wife
Madonna. Other members
driving modern were John
and Elaine Klein, George
Maley and Cliff Vogelsang,
Bill and Sonya Miller, Chuck
and Roxy Morgan, Steve
Tarr, and Helen Vogel. Walt
and Ruth Reynolds were
passengers in the Klein’s car.
Non- members were Jerry
and Janice Dunn, who rode
with Pumphrey’s.
At 9:00am the group
pulled up in front of Buffalo
Jack’s Restaurant in Covington, Ohio. A full breakfast
was served to all at the expense of the club. Then on to the D & D Restoration Shop. The
Page 22
weather had been threatening all morning, following a light rain Friday night and early
Saturday morning. As the group was leaving, the heavens opened up again with a light
rain. Covington is a charming village/town with many antique shops. Most of the female members opted for a stroll around the area rather than touring the restoration
shops.
No doubt the highlight of the tour for the men was the stop at D & D Classic Auto.
Formed in 1985, the business employs twenty-seven people working in six buildings totaling 50,000
square feet.
The oldest employee is seventy-eight years
of age and the
youngest is
twenty-four
years of age.
They have an
average of fifteen years on
the job. Touring
their facilities,
one is amazed
at the computer technology and design
makeup used
to create working drawings
and forms to replicate antique automobile bodies, many of which are missing parts. Taking sheet metal and forming it into body panels, fenders and other parts is their expertise.
An array of Full
Classics® from
Rolls-Royces, Delahayes, and others were everywhere to be
seen, not to mention the more
modern iron. But
the centerpiece
of the shop was
Jim Edison’s 1941
Lincoln Continental coupe, undergoing a no expenses spared
restoration.
Page 23
From D & D the group ventured on to Brightworks, a quality service for restoring old
chrome to modern brilliance. Brightworks even does the restoration of cloisonné badges.
The firm is not large, but the space is adequate. Because of the toxicity of the chemicals,
a closed loop system of evaporation is used to clean the toxic
chemicals without pouring them
onto the ground. Leaving Brightworks, the group headed back
to Covington to pick up the
shopping ladies. We then traveled to Glazier Woodworks,
where Steve Glazier took the
group through the process of
building and restoring the bodies
of 1930s station wagons as well
as the Chrysler Town and Countries series from 1941 through
1950. Andy Wolf’s 1939 Packard
station wagon (NC) is having a
brand new body made. The old
body was used as a pattern in
creating the new body. With modern paints and wood finishes, the new wood now has
lifespan of many maintenance-free years as opposed to the original yearly sanding and
refinishing recommended by the
factory.
Leaving Glazier, members
drove to New Bremen, Ohio for a
brief luncheon stop. The community at one time in its history
had a lock for the Erie Canal system, which went from Toledo to
Cincinnati. New Breman also is
the home of the Bicycle Museum
of America. It is a great little museum which featured the first bicycle made out of wood. It was
designed in Germany in the early
1800s. For those who wanted to
see a movie after lunch, the
movie theatre was across the street from the little luncheonette.
On to Versailles the group travelled for dinner. Larry acted as the emcee. He
thanked his friends Tom and Roseanne Bayliff for helping out on planning the details of
the tour. Sunday morning was bright and beautiful. Overnight, a warm front had moved
into the area, bringing with it with lots of wind and, and later, sunshine. Larry had programmed an optional stop at the Bear’s Mill, which was built in 1849. The scenery around
the mill and the little creek was worth the stop. So ended another magical weekend for
the Indiana Region, thanks to the efforts of Larry and Carol Pumphrey.
Page 24
Page 25
OPERATION OF the BORG-WARNER OVERDRIVE
By Larry Pumphrey
The Borg-Warner overdrive was introduced in the early thirties and was offered by
twenty-two different car companies. B-W overdrives were last used in the 1973 Ford F-150
(NC). Even today, the overdrive portion of modern automatic transmissions is very similar
in design to the B-W unit.
Last summer, I installed a B-W overdrive on my 1938 Packard Twelve Limousine.
Long time Indiana Region member Bob Fischer has had an overdrive on his 1937 Packard
1500 for years, and convinced me that I needed one as well. I can tell you it made a
great driving car out of my Packard. A month or so before I installed the overdrive, I followed Bob Fischer and John Klein for an hour of sixty mph driving on an interstate highway on an IN Region tour in Kentucky. Bob had the overdrive, John had a 3:58 high
speed rear end, and I had my standard 4:41 rear end. To make a long story short, the
sustained high speed driving with my 4:41 rear end was a mistake. Although the car ran
fine with just a little overheating, when I changed the oil a couple of weeks later I found
flakes of babbitt in the oil pan. This little mistake on my part necessitated an in-frame
overhaul of my engine. My friend and fellow club member, Tim Stone, helped me with
the work and he installed modern insert bearings and new pistons and rings. Luckily, no
further harm was done to the engine. The overhaul gave me the opportunity to take the
side covers off of the block and pressure wash out the rust and muck from the cylinder
walls. I also removed the oil cooler and cleaned the inside. Now the engine runs cool as
a cucumber. After the engine overhaul I decided to install the overdrive. I wanted to be
able to run on the interstate once in a while without damaging my engine. (Most of all, I
didn’t want John Klein and Bob Fisher to outrun me!)
I bragged on my overdrive so much that Bill Miller decided to put one on his 1937
Packard Twelve Club Sedan. I offered to help with the installation, and the pictures with
this article were taken during that work.
A Borg-Warner overdrive increases the speed of a vehicle by 30 percent. This
makes your Full Classic® much more enjoyable to drive. Now you can keep up with
highway traffic while your engine rpm’s drop, saving fuel and wear on your engine. Best
of all, you keep your present gear ratio for city driving or hill country driving. If your present rear end is for instance a 4:41, multiply that by 0.7 to get your effective rear end ratio
with overdrive. 4:41 X 0.7 = 3.09.
Operation of overdrive is simple.
When you start your drive, the black knob
by the right side of the steering column
should be pushed in, the position which is
freewheeling. As you come up to a medium speed in third (high) gear continuing
to accelerate, around 30 mph or so,
reach down to the left side of the steering
column and push the silver button. The
green light beside the button will come
on, which verifies that the solenoid has
Page 26
been activated. Now, just let up on the foot throttle, and you will feel a very slight surge,
similar to an automatic transmission shifting, as the overdrive drops in. Now apply the
throttle and enjoy the drop in engine rpm as your speed increases. The overdrive will stay
in until you push the clutch at a stop, or at any other time you depress the clutch, at
which time the vehicle will go into freewheeling. To back up the car, push the clutch in
and pull out the black knob to the right of the steering column. This puts the unit in direct
drive. If you forget to pull the knob, no harm will be done, but the vehicle will not move.
After stopping in reverse, push the knob back in and you will be in freewheeling again.
The purpose of the black knob is to prevent you from inadvertently backing up in overdrive. The overdrive unit’s small planetary gears would not be able to withstand the huge
strain from moving a 6,000 pound car in reverse.
If you are tooling along in overdrive and see a good size hill coming up, you can
momentarily depress the clutch, press the throttle to coordinate engine rpm to match
your forward travel, and pull up on the black knob, which puts you back in direct drive.
This takes a little practice but is not that difficult. If you worry that you can’t be proficient
matching engine rpm’s to forward travel, just play it safe and shift to second when the
going gets tough. Remember, when you depress the clutch to make that shift into second, you will be back in freewheeling again. Any time you are stopped, you can push
the clutch and pull out the black knob and you will be in direct drive. If you don’t plan to
use overdrive for a while you can leave the knob out and you will just have your old rear
end gear ratio back, with no freewheeling. When in overdrive, if you let up on the throttle you will coast without any engine compression “hold back” until engine rpm matches
forward travel. Even then, the “hold back” will not be as great as it would be in direct
drive due to the higher gear ratio of overdrive. This
explanation of overdrive may sound a little complicated at first, but it very quickly becomes second nature after just a drive or two. Believe me, if
I can do it that easily, you won’t have any trouble
at all!
If you are concerned about the appearance of the controls mounted on the steering column there are ways to hide them and no one will
be the wiser. Bill Miller was very creative in hiding
the “on” light inside his cigarette lighter. His lighter
has a red jewel in the center and Bill doesn’t use
his lighter for cigarettes. His pull knob is under the
dash and is barely visible.
The overdrive unit described above was
modified to fit my vehicle and Bill’s vehicle by
Lloyd Young, 4915 Lithopolis-Winchester Road, Canal Winchester OH 43110. His residence phone is
(614)-837-7832 and his cell is (614)-560-4666. Lloyd
sells these units, is extremely helpful, and would be
happy to answer any questions you would have
concerning application, operation, or pricing.
Page 27
Page 28
In 2012, the Glenmoor Gathering will present another field of outstanding automobiles and motorcycles. Dates will be September 14-16. Featured classes in 2012 will include early supercharged automobiles, steam-powered automobiles, the Allard sports
car, automobiles designed by Zagato and the legendary Tucker automobile. The motorcycle class will feature classic 1930-50 American motorcycles and there will be a display
of “mini” cars. Leading the line-up of early supercharged cars will be a 1935 Duesenberg—the legendary “Mormon Meteor,” which was raced on the salt flats in the 1930’s
and recently restored to its authentic 1930’s condition. Another unique class for 2012 will
be the “American Bastards” class, which will feature European and U. K. coachwork with
American engines.
The 2012 weekend activities will include the Passport Transport Countryside Tour,
cocktail party and Gala Dinner, cooking demonstrations, a Junior Judges’ program and
other family activities. One of the weekend highlights will be an automotive design seminar hosted by artist Peter Maier. It is scheduled for Friday afternoon, September 12. During the 2012 concours automotive art by a variety of artists will be displayed and on sale.
Several automotive authors will also be in attendance to sell and autograph their books.
On Sunday, there will again be a display on the club’s front lawn of “World Class Performance Cars,” including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, and Porsches. Approximately
5,000 people attended the 2011 event, which included invitation-only vehicles from
throughout the U.S.—from as far away as California and Florida.
For more information on this year’s concours and weekend events schedule visit the
Glenmoor Gathering web site at www.GlenmoorGathering.com or contact David Schultz
at [email protected] or by phone at (330) 966.3600.
Friday, Sept. 14
Sunday, Sept. 16
9 am: Silent auction opens
1 pm: NFL Hall of Fame Pro-Am Golf Tourney
3pm – 5 pm: Automotive Design Roundtable
6 pm: Welcome party – Glenmoor Country Club
Saturday, Sept. 15
7 am: Cars enter show field
8 am: Judges breakfast and meeting
9:30 am: All show cars in place, judging begins
10 am: Concours opens to the public
10 am: Special events: chef cooking exhibition, automotive artwork display, authors’ book signings,
Glenmoor Garage. Junior Judges, coloring contest
11 am: Buffet luncheon open to public
12:30 pm: Ribbons placed on cars
1:30 pm-3:30pm: narrated drive-through/awards
presentation
4 pm: Concours concludes
4:30 pm: Afterglow Party
8 am – 1:30 pm: Passport Transport Countryside Tour
(concours exhibitors only)
12 noon-4:30pm: Grande Salon Antique and Classic
Car Auction – Glenmoor CC north grounds
5 – 7 pm: Cocktail reception for automotive artists artists’ tent opens, author book-signing
7:30 pm: Gala dinner in Glenmoor Country Club
Chapel
Page 29
Editorial Musings
By Jeffrey Shively
Leap Day 2012 brought with it warm
temperatures. It was the perfect day for
taking a Full Classic® out for a spin. Which I
did. My ’41 Cadillac Series 62 coupe had
just become roadworthy a week earlier, just
in time for the “Wally at the Wheel” symposium at Wabash College. On the 29th of
February, I headed south from Greencastle
to Cataract, Indiana. I pulled into a spot in
front of the Cataract General Store, looking
as if I were waiting for a fill-up on a warm
spring afternoon in the 1940s. Inside, I purchased an ice-cold Orange Crush from the
ancient Coca-Cola cooler. The clerk noticed the Cadillac, giving me a chance to
talk a little bit about the car. Before long,
I’d finished my drink and was ready to return to Greencastle.
The ’41 is still a work in progress. I’m
going for the late model used car look,
circa 1943-1945. Eventually, I’ll have a WWII
vintage gas ration sticker for the windshield
as well as a patriotic decal or two in the
back. The paint still needs a fair amount of
buffing and polishing to get it where I want
it to be. The temperature gauge stubbornly
refuses to work, but the other gauges and
the clock work great. The fender skirts still
need to be fitted. The front sheet metal has
some adjustments that need to be made,
and some chrome work is still in need of attention. That being said, I can finally drive
my Classic to a CCCA event, after 14 years
in the Club! It will never be perfect, because my pockets are not deep enough.
My ’65 Cadillac (NC) isn’t perfect either, but
somehow I’ve managed to enjoy 100,000
miles with it over the past twenty-three
years.
So far this year, the Indiana Region
has had some outstanding events. We’re
only a third of the way into the calendar, so
there is plenty of time for you to attend one
of the upcoming tours or dinners. As editor,
I notice two things about our region. For
the most part, the same people write articles every issue, and the same people appear in those articles. If you simply send in
your dues and never attend anything, you
are missing out on some of the finest people
you will meet. Don’t be a name in the director. Make 2012 the year that you become a participant. You will make great
new friends and have a wonderful time!
Correction
An apology from Helen regarding “DIAMONDS & DENIM: CLASSIC CAR CLUB OF
AMERICA 2012 ANNUAL MEETING “
There were two other Indiana Region members attending the Annual Meeting that I neglected to name, Tom and Connie Jones from Lexington, KY. How I could have forgotten
them, I don't know. Not only is Tom a National Board member and chairing the 2015
CARavan for the Indiana Region, but I helped Connie "shop" while we were in the stockyard area. Tom kept her away from me when we were in Neiman-Marcus.
Page 30
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May June 2012 Volume 40 Issue 3 - Indiana Region Classic Car

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