Jeremy and Esther Page

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1903 Kalamazoo
by Michigan Buggy
Logo Designed by Norm Knight
VOLUME XLVII; NO. 11
November 19, 2013
Jeremy and Esther Page-Wood's 1978 Pacer
Visit us at www.kaarc.org
PRESIDENT
Stan Rakowski 269 375-3669
[email protected]
VICE-PRESIDENT
Ben Barber 269 567-9336
[email protected]
TREASURER
Gary Hawkins • 269-496-9596 •
[email protected]
SECRETARY
Sue Forrester • 269-349-4442 •
[email protected]
WINTER SWAP MEET
Stan Rakowski 269 375-3669
[email protected]
RED BARNS SPECTACULAR
Stan Rakowski 269 375-3669
Jim Holland, Jr. 269 377-7756
Paul Van Stratton 269 344-5714
[email protected]
Gary Willoughby 269-323-9532
MEMBERSHIP REGISTRAR
David Long 269 649-4494
[email protected]
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
- 2010 PAST PRESIDENT
Cody Sarenius 269 720-8616
[email protected]
John Lacko 269-344-4764
[email protected]
Bill Binning 269 -345-7837
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor: John McLellan
[email protected]
INSIGNIA & APPAREL
Steve & Kalli Inman
8980 East EF Ave.
Richland, MI 49083
269-629-5383
THE KAARC MEETS AT 7:00 PM THE THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT THE ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 2122 BRONSON
BLVD., KALAMAZOO, MI except for the JUNE meeting/club picnic which is held at the Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners, MI.
COVER CAR:
Jeremy and Esther Page-Wood bought this 1978 Pacer as a tribute to her parents, Roy and
Lucy. The story is on page 4.
NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT:
AS OF NOVEMBER 19TH, 2013, WE WILL BE AT A NEW LOCATION
ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH • 2122 BRONSON BLVD.,
SOUTH OF HOWARD STREET. SAME TIME AS IN THE PAST---7 PM
• MURRAY AWARD MEETING Dave Lyon has scheduled the Murray Award meeting for 6:00 pm on Wednesday,
October 30, 2013 at the Main Street Pub north of Mattawan.
• BUS TOUR TO CHICAGO, December 7th, 2013, Leave from McDonalds on M-43, east of 131 at 8 AM. Cost:
$15.00 per person-----Contact Bob Williams--269-383-7868 for more details.
• MARCH WINDS TOUR – Saturday, March 29, 2014, we will be touring The Henry Ford Museum. The cost is
$10 per person. A signup sheet will be passed around at the November meeting. If you want to reserve a spot
before that contact Fred Bierlein at 269-806-1430 bierleins@ sbcglobal.net or Don Gladstone at 269-352-2072
[email protected]. We will need to know if you are under 62 or 62 and older. Make checks payable to KAARC.
If you want to follow the bus in your private vehicle let us know, the price will be the same. If you are a member
of the Henry Ford Museum please indicate, that will help us out.
• 2014 RED BARNS SPECTACULAR "PLANNING MEETING" Thursday November 21st 6:00-8:00 PM TGI Friday's
on West Main. This will be a kick off, planning meeting for the 2014 RBS. Topics will include: Changes at the GCM
that will affect the RBS, Hits and misses of last year, Special displays, Budget proposals, Advertising proposals.
Any KAARC member is invited… Bring your ideas!! Jim Holland
Page 2
KAARC MEETING MINUTES
Stan announced the passing of Frank Papierz and
Dick Hoard. He asked for a moment of silence
MARCH WINDS TOUR – Chairman, Fred Bierlein
has plans set for March 29. We will be going to Henry
Ford Museum. There is a new “Driving America”
exhibit and interactive displays. $10 per person. He
passed around a sign-up sheet. Please indicate if
you are under or over 65, because Senior admission
rates are available.
Also, we heard that Dr. Bob LaPenna, a club member,
sustained multiple injuries when he fell off roof. He
broke his hip, and injured a shoulder, wrist and eye.
NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICER
KAARC October 2013 Meeting called to order at
7pm by Stan Rakowski, president.
SECRETARY’S REPORT – Approved as written.
TREASURER'S REPORT – Approved as read.
GUEST – Fred Coldren was welcomed. Fred is a past
member of KAARC. He retired from KCHS this past
June and is interested in renewing his membership.
OVERNIGHTER TRIP- Chairman, Ken Maxam
reported that 35 club members toured through
southern Michigan an into Wawasee, IN. They went
to Bell Aircraft Museum, had lunch at Teel’s Family
Restaurant, supper at Benninghans, spent the night
at Holiday Inn Express, breakfast at the hotel, then to
Bob Kline’s miniature railroad museum, and finished
the tour at the Frog Tavern for lunch. As usual, Ken’s
directions were great and the views of the northern
Indiana countryside were wonderful.
MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE NOW
DUE! $20 REGULAR MEMBERSHIP.
LIFETIME MEMBERS $10.
NEW BUSINESS
COLOR TOUR – To be held on Sunday, October
20, whatever the weather brings! Ken Maxam is
tour chair and has stated that we will meet at Birch
Park in Schoolcraft. We will tour for approximately
2 hours, then have lunch to be followed by a 2 hour
cruise of Lake Wawasee on the SS Lilypad. After
boat cruise we will tour back to Michigan. The cost
is $10 per family.
DECEMBER BUS TRIP TO CHICAGO – Chairman,
Bob Williams has been making the plans.
DECEMBER POTLUCK – Reminder to bring a nonperishable food item for the Loaves and Fishes
Collection.
JANUARY 25th WINTER BANQUET – Chairman,
Cody Sarenius, indicated plans are progressing.
Social Hour will be 5-6 pm, Dinner 6-7 pm, Awards
and activities 7-8 pm.
FEBRUARY SWAP MEET – Chairman, Stan
Rakowski explained that approximately 150 letters
have already been mailed to vendors. Member, Steve
Schullery attended an event where vendors donated
items to be auctioned at the end of the event.
Page 3
Stan opened nominations, which will also
be open at November’s meeting. The list
follows:
President – Stan Rakowski
Vice President – Ben Barber
Treasurer – Gary Hawkins
Secretary – Sue Forrester
Two board members were re-nominated:
Jim Holland, and Paul VanStratten
Stan announced that we need a membership
chair.
NEWS FROM GILMORE CAR MUSEUM AND THE
GARAGE WORKS Fred Colgren announced that the
Gilmore museum will soon be building a stock car
track. The Model T driving class held last summer
was so popular that it will repeated again in 2014.
Garage Works is for high school age kids that are
interested in working in the garage on a variety of
different projects. Class times are Tuesdays and
Thursdays 4-6pm. Currently there are 25 students in
the program.
BY-LAW REVISIONS The By-law Committee will
meet next week to finalize all revisions.
TIPS & PLUGS John Lacko is teaching a photography
class this Sunday, Oct. 20 at Gilmores Museum. He
will be teaching “how-to’s” on getting great photos
of your cars.
Steve Turner has found someone in central Ohio that
does outstanding radio repair.
Two other members traveled to Car Shows or Swap
Meets. Doug McFarlan went to Madisson, Wisc. Dan
Kamerman to a car show in Newberry. He enjoyed
the contest on “How long an engine would run” after
all fluids were removed. Everyone got to select their
time in one minute increments, for $1 each.
COFFEE POT HONORS – Gary Willoughby
ON THIS MONTH"S COVER
"KEEPING PACE" WITH THE PAGE-WOODS'
1978 AMC PACER WAGON
by Jeremy Page-Woods
I have loved station wagons ever since my Dad's last car purchase, a 1949 Ford Woody Wagon. It was
this car that my mother continued to drive after my Dad died in 1953. When Esther and I had been married
3 years, before any kids, our second new car purchase together was a yellow 1973 Ford LTD Country
Squire, which we drove for 19 years. We towed a prowler bunkhouse travel trailer with it for several years
until we got the van. In 1977, Esther's parents got a new yellow Pacer woody wagon and a Scotty travel
trailer. That began several years of tandem trips around Michigan. We looked cute together. Years later,
after Esther's folks were gone, the kids were through school, and I was more seriously collecting full-size
cars we began looking for a Pacer as a tribute to Esther's folks, Roy and Lucy. I shopped for several years
and finally found this car in Owensville, MO. We stopped and checked it out on our way to vacation at a
resort in Arkansas., in August of 2008. I bought it and made arrangements for some repairs in preparation
for picking it up.
The Pacer was the original "wide small car." American Motors had designed it to meet NHTSA proposed
roll over standards, that were then rescinded at the 11th hour, and to accept a GM rotary engine that also
got dropped at the last minute. They ended up with a very sturdy structure with their trusty 232 c.i. straight
six shoe-horned into it.
The Pacer wagon sat on a 100" wheelbase and was fitted with rack and pinion steering. The passenger
door is 4" wider than the driver's door to facilitate back seat entry from the curbside. It was introduced in
1975 as a 3-door hatchback sedan and the wagon was added in 1977. AMC also added the 258 c.i six and,
in '78, raised the hood and made the 304 c.i. V8 available. In '75 there were 72,158 Pacer hatchbacks sold.
My wagon is one of 13,820 wagons built in '78. An upscale "Limited" trim level, featuring leather interiors,
was added for both models. The six year production run of the Pacers ended in 1980.
My car was originally a Florida car, then moved to New Jersey, and then on to Owensville, MO. The seller
had gotten it in New Jersey after it had suffered an engine fire that resulted in melted wires, hoses and
heater and a/c components. Also, the windshield was broken and the hood was damaged. The owner
repaired the underhood components and the car ran well, but the hood was bent and blistered and the
glass still compromised. He had already priced getting the windshield replaced,as it was leaking rain onto
the front carpet, doing it no favors. I had the windshield and turns signals fixed before I picked up the car.
On 9/22/08, I took an overnight bus to Rolla, MO where the seller met me and took me to the car. I drove
it back to Michigan, stopping in Staunton, IL, along historic Route 66, to visit Country Classic Cars for a
tour. Their sales lot and buildings are like going to a museum, with over 600 classic and special interest
cars on display. When I got home on September 23, I couldn't get to my house because the police and fire
departments had the street cordoned off because our neighbor's house was on fire.
Our Pacer has the 258-6, a 3-speed Torqueflite, power steering and brakes, air conditioning, AM/FM
radio, a blue velour interior and it is finished in Wedgewood Blue with simulated wood trim exterior. It had
52,000 miles on it when I picked it up. In the summer of 2012 I drove it to Detroit to the Telegraph/M24
Cruise-In on July 28. I met up with other members of the American Station Wagon Owners Association. I
had the only Pacer, wagon or otherwise, at the cruise-in. It was also at the Red Barn Show in August.
Page 4
A ROAD TRIP TO THE
INAUGURAL NEW ENGLAND HOT ROD REUNION
by John McLellan
Ever since the National Hot Rod Association produced the first California Hot Rod Reunion in 1992, the event has become
a mecca for fans of vintage drag racing. Dedicated to the "Golden Years of Drag Racing" - generally agreed upon as those
years from 1955 to 1975 - the annual event takes fans back to an era when cars were mostly home-built and there were
no professional racers.
In 2001, the California event spun off a similar event in the Midwest. The National Hot Rod Reunion, as it was called, took
place in Bowling Green, Kentucky at Beech Bend Raceway Park. Every year since, with the exception of 2007,when the
event temporarily moved to Columbus, Ohio, nostalgia drag race fans have made the pilgrimage to Kentucky for this event.
Last year, NHRA decided that the East Coast needed their own reunion and as a result, the New England Hot Rod Reunion
became a reality this year. Held in Epping, New Hampshire, the inaugural event came off without a hitch despite nasty,
rainy weather for the first day and a half.
My wife and I have driven to several Bowling Green events, and last year we flew to Bakersfield, California for the Hot Rod
Reunion. It was only natural that we visit the East Coast for the New England reunion and make an eight day drive out of
the trip so we could take in as many sights as possible along the way.
To add an interesting perspective, our granddaughter, Tess, accompanied us. We spent a few days in Pennsylvania before
moving on with Maine being our next destination. Thoughts of sumptious lobster dinners were foremost in our minds as
we drove up the coast to Maine. A bumper crop of lobsters this year yielded very affordable prices at many restaurants.
In fact, individual meals with two lobsters and all the trimmings were $17.95 per person in many places. Needless to say,
we enjoyed several lobster feasts.
We arrived in Epping for the reunion on Thursday September 11 in the midst of a heavy rain which pretty much washed
out the entire day. Friday was not much better with rain again shutting everything down by about two o'clock. Saturday
dawned sunny, but cool. Racing moved along well and the entire schedule, with some minor readjustments, came to a
conclusion Saturday night. A highlight for me was driving the push truck for the Barnes and Gladstone fuel dragster during
the evening's Cacklefest.
Billy Lynch's classic Chrysler powered
East Coast fueler.
A novel approach to street rodding a
Model T truck.
Page 5
This '61 Plymouth represented Chrysler's
super stock efforts back in the day.
Another angle for a typical front engine
fueler in the late sixties.
Typical example of a true AA/Fuel
Altered roadster.
The staging lanes at Epping filled quickly
each time the rain stopped.
JOHNNY'S INCREDIBLE MACK ADVENTURE
by John McLellan
From my somewhat twisted perspective, a trip to the east coast should include a dedicated side trip to the
Mack Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania. While not right on the way, the museum is close enough to justify a
half day detour, at least in my estimation. I'm glad we took the drive and the museum was well worth the time
it took.
Mack AB from the mid-20's was a shaft drive instead of
the usual chain drive. Note pocket doors.
Taken over by Mack in the 50's, Brockway maintained its
own identity for thirty years.
The B81 Mack was the toughest workhorse of the breed.
The FM Mack as a brutish wrecker. Cab has been widened.
The Mack ED replaced the REO built Mack Jr. in 1937.
Page 6
Many Mack toys have been built over the years.
SELL AND SWAP
TW Lane has heard from, Jim Gregart who now
resides in the UP. He has his Lincoln for sale. Norm
Jones attended a barn auction near 2nd St & D Ave.
There were two 1971 Mustangs, a ’70 Chevy Malibu
Convertible with a torn top, a ’77 Chrysler New Yorker
hardtop. A dump truck, ’67 Ford Pick Up, and a barn
full of equipment.
For Sale: Fiberglass cap from Ram pickup or
equivalent, cost $800.00+ new, selling for $300.
Excellent condition. Steve Turner 269-965-4247 or
[email protected]
For Sale: Used 18' x 7' 6" overhead garage door.
$250.00 Fred Bierlein, 269 806-1430
Wanted: 1933-34 Ford rear differential, also brake
backing plates, brakes, drums, etc. for 1933-34 Ford.
Scott Wolfe, 269 626-3425
For Sale: 1929 Chevrolet Coupe, mostly restored,
needs some interior work. Always stored indoors.
For sale by owner's widow. Call Judy Fuessel 269
434-6426
For Sale: 1956 Packard Patrician. Allen Forrester,
269 327-8594
For Sale: Four American Racing Torque-Thrust 14x7
wheels. $500.00. John Lacko 269 344-5588
For Sale: Two G-78x15 tires with 3" wide whitewalls.
$30.00 pr. Bob Anderson 269 375-9619
For Sale: Four BFGoodrich 225x70-14 tires 500
miles, $125.00. John Lacko 269 344-5588
For Sale: Ford V8 60 engine and transmission,
$800.00; 1949 Whizzer, Schwinn with heavy duty
wheels, twist grips, chrome belt guard and chrome
exhaust, $3,500.00 Call Mel Taylor 269 673-2578
new engine, rims and tires, 1929 Chevy mechanical
parts, Cushman parts, Shophand Tools - Align boring
bar, Cylinder boring machine, 8 HP Wheel Horse. Call
Lew at 269 327-5522
For Sale: 1986 Buick Regal V/8 coupe . This car
got awarded Elite Status in the Archival Class at the
National Buick Club Show in July. Scored 390 points
out of 400. The 10 points in question had to do with
the ignition wires. Soon to be fixed. Just replaced the
valve cover gaskets. ($200.00). Still priced at $4,500
to club members. Includes shop manual, some extra
parts, and lit. Specific to the car. We will also purchase
you a membership to the Buick Club. It is the best club
of its type.
For Sale: My 1940 Chevy. Car runs and drives good.
Includes about a PU load of parts including good used
frame, rebuilt "warmed up" '54 235 engine, and good
used '54 235 engine. Members price $7,000. Doug
McFarlen 1-269-345-5667 before 9 PM.
For Sale 1931 Chevy 2 Dr. sedan,many new parts and
lots of spares. Ken Maxam 269 330-5362
For Sale:1981 Lincoln Mark VI, 2 dr. $1,800 OBO; 1990
Chevy G20 Van conversion, 200,000+ miles,but runs
good, rusty but trusty. $700.00. Fran VanderRoest 269
382-4573
Wanted: Parts for 1930 Model A 4 Door, Mike Wolthuis
269 254-6078
For Sale: 1962 Thunderbird, 390, 4 bbl., 9” rear end,
new exhaust, new carpet, runs good, needs brakes,
project car, interior stripped. $1,000, Rich McCracken
269 207-4765
For Sale: 1955 Chevy Bel Air, 4 door 6 cyl., power-glide.
Restored, rebuilt engine asking $12000. Jerry Anderson
269 383 3959
For Sale: 1959 Ford Fairlane 2 dr hardtop,paint,
everything like new, very nice, show car, or drive
$14,500. Call Ray at 377-8582
For Sale: 1983 Imperial, $3,200.00; 1977 Cadillac
2-Seater Convertible, $13,500. Call Bob Toothman
269 685-8434
For Sale: 1953 Chevy passenger car bumpers. (Briz
Bumpers). They are new! $400.00 Call Dave Hayes
(269) 659-4164
For Sale: 1953-54 Chevy instrument cluster. Roger
Meekhof 269 268-0356
Wanted: Model T Ford wire wheels and hubs, also
accessory wire wheels for Model T. Al Rohrstaff 3444571
For Sale: 1969 Mercury Comet, gold exterior,
150-200,000 miles, has been sitting in a barn near
Mattawan since 1992. Call Frank 372-3299
For Sale by Lew Clark:
1967 Chevelle Sport Coupe, 283, PG/
PS/PB, air, restored in 2001, $27,000
1946 Cushman Tep-Thru, 4 HP, never run
1953 Cushman Allstate Step=Thru, 5 HP
1930 Ford Air Compressor w/"B" engine,
Car Caddy, ready to go Speedway Mini-Bike,
Page 7
Wanted: Two Model AA 5-Hole 20" wheels. Will Pugsley
269 539-0149
For Sale: "Little Rocker" 10,000# 5th wheel hitch,
used 5 times, new $475.00, selling for $200.00 Doug
McFarlen 269 345-5667
For Sale 1958 Chrysler Saratoga 2 dr. HT. Some slug
stiffed me for three grand on ebay, now it is back for
sale again. $3,000.00 OBO. John McLellan 269 5802770
HOMETOWN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
5317 E. MICHIGAN AVENUE
KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN 49048
269 343-7533
Servicing All Makes & Models
Specializing in Classic Cars
Carl Meisel - Phil Weinreich
Owners/Operators
www.Hometownautomotivellc.com
KALAMAZOO ANTIQUE AUTO RESTORERS CLUB
P.O. BOX 532
OSHTEMO, MICHIGAN 49077
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