P.O. Box 541, Waxahachie, Texas 75168-0541 North...

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North Texas Oldsmobile Club P.O. Box 541, Waxahachie, Texas 75168-0541 FIRST CLASS MAIL December 2017 Merry Christmas from the North Texas Oldsmobile Club

Transcript of P.O. Box 541, Waxahachie, Texas 75168-0541 North...

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Merry Christmasfrom the North Texas Oldsmobile Club

North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017 North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017

Send any articles or comments to:Lois Liconte

[email protected]

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President’s Trumpet ................................... 2

November Meeting ................................... 3

2017 Officers .............................................. 3

Meeting Minutes ........................................ 4

Donation Letter from American Legion .... 9

Bastrop Veterans Car Show Photos ........... 10

Lap around the World................................ 12

Fisher House Service Project..................... 15

For Sale/Wanted ........................................ 16

Sponsors .................................................... 18

Membership Application ........................... 19

The Rocket Page 19Page 2 The Rocket

Inside this Issue

by Joe Munoz

Presidents Trumpet December 2017

Seasons Greetings to all in the NTOC!

Sheri and I both want to wish you the best of holidays. We all have so much to be

thankful for, and being involved in a larger way with the NTOC has been a highlight of

our year. Getting to renew relationships, while building new ones as your President has

hopefully been mutually beneficial to all.

I’m knee deep in contacting recent club members who may have left the fold, and am

finding out it’s mostly just life getting in the way of people renewing. I will be working

with the Team to insure we develop a reminder system – hopefully automated – to let

people know when their membership expires. It’s a problem old as time, but we’ve got

some pretty smart people to deal with it. As of today, we actually have 102 confirmed

members in our club, and more old hands to renew shortly.

If have not yet done so, please make you Christmas party reservations a soon as pos-

sible. We’re looking to have a big turnout including some faces we haven’t seen in

some time. (I’m still trying to unload the traffic cone I got in the gift exchange many

years ago from Debbie Hirsch)

Lastly, I think it is vitally important the NTOC take no position in the latest round of

concerns that some OCA members have been expressing about the OCA’s finances.

Any comments, communications, and/or letters on the subject needs to be handled

directly between the OCA member and the OCA.

See everyone soon!

Joe Munoz

North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017 North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017

NTOC Meeting

NTOC Officers 2017President Joe Munoz (972) 418-7376 [email protected]

President Elect Troy Manges (214) 668-4662 [email protected]

Vice President Chris Dreiling (972) 245-1292 [email protected]

Treasurer Cindy Payton (972) 938-7430 [email protected]

Secretary Gene Crowdis (972) 690-5470 [email protected]

Newsletter/Website Lois Liconte (214) 762-9702 [email protected]

Activity Director Harat Manges (972) 400-0694 [email protected]

The Rocket Page 3Page 18 The Rocket

December 2017

ENGRAVINGDOOR PLATESDESK PLATESNAME TAGS-PLAQUES

RUBBER STAMPSSIGNATURE-LOGOSNOTARY & CORP.SEALSDATERS & NUMBERERS

JOHN & JODY LaMONICAOwners

J & J ENTERPRISESENGRAVERS - RUBBER STAMPS

972-986-5791

1222 GlenwickIrving, Texas 75060

Michael HornerPhone:

972-546-7377Cell:

972-754-0528

[email protected]

707 Shepherd Drive Suite 105Garland, Texas 75042 Clyde Fisher C><

Broker/Owner - ABR, CRS, SRES

Fisher Realty 7 47 Carlisle Drive Lake Dallas, TX 75065

Cell: (214) 212-6420

Fax: (940) 321-2517

[email protected]

www.clydefisher.com

� A

Sponsors

My name is Steven Young,I am a member of the South Texas Olds Club. I am seeking a specific vehicle for sale,If anyone in your club has info on a 1961 Olds 88 Bubbletop Coupe,or a 1964 Olds 88 or Starfire Coupe. I am looking for a semi-restored or completed vehicle. I also would like for the vehicle to be stock,with no modifications. Thank You, Steven Young #210-887-8011

403/350 Engine Parts2x 403 short blocks, 403 pistons, 403 rods, 2x 403 crankshafts, 403 flywheel, 403 harmonic balancer, 403 oil pan, 403 timing cover, Pair of 403 heads #4A, Pair of 1971-72 350 heads #7, Engine stand — Reduced to $150Call Bill Furnell at 214-673-2432

Fuel Injection Tank For Sale – A brand new Quanta GM-1213A fuel tank modified for in-tank fuel injection by Hector at Rick’s tanks. Fits 76-77 Cutlass 4-door, 73-75 Buick Century, 76-77 Buick Century 4-door, 73-75 Regal, 76-77 Regal 4-door. No station wagons. Have pictures. Email [email protected]

For Sale / Wanted

2017 NTOC Christmas PartySunday, December 10th, 2017

Marriott DFW Airport North

8440 Freeport Parkway, Irving, TX 75063

(972) 929-8800

• There will be a short Club meeting before the party at 5:00 - 5:30 PM

• Cocktail Reception 5:30 - 6:15 PM , Dinner starting at 6:15 PM

• Bring one gift for each person in your group who wants to participate in

the Gift Exchange. Try to bring things that will make the game interesting.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS DECEMBER 6th

Contact Cindy Payton for Reservations

(972) 938-7430 or [email protected]

North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017 North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017

November 2017 Monthly MeetingThe November 2017 NTOC monthly meeting was held November 19 at the El Fenix Restaurant on Skillman Avenue in Dallas. President Joe Munoz called the meeting to order at 2:00 and welcomed everyone. He then led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. (Thank you Glenn for bringing a flag.) There were 33 members and no guests present.

Joe passed out the remaining inventory of current NTOC business cards. A brief dis-cussion about the new business cards included recommendations for the content and design. Proposals were made to only list the website address and not a mailing address. There was a recommendation that the cards have a place on the back for members to put their name and contact information so prospective members would have someone to contact if they had questions. Another recommendation was to have a ”folding” card that would provide additional information and be more impres-sive. Lois said she would get pricing on the recommendations and report back to the members in December.

Joe said that he had not started contacting previous members from the 1990, 2000, and 2005 rosters because he would like for Gene and Chris to review them to elimi-nate names that we should not call before he and Gary started making any calls. Joe presented some statistics related to the percentage of current members based on the 1990 roster, (19%), the 2005 roster, (37%) and the 2010 roster, (60%). Approxi-mately 60% of our membership have been members for 7 or more years.

Gene reported that Cindy, Lois and he had worked together to update the current roster. There are some questions related to the membership renewal dates, and we are going to try to have the questions resolved by the end of the year so we can pub-lish a membership roster next year for all members.

Treasurer’s Report NTOC continues to be financially sound. In September, NTOC members voted to send $1000.00 to the American Legion Post where Pat Yancey is a member to help with the Hurricane Harvey relief effort. A letter from the American Legion Post 658 is included in this Rocket. They put the donation to very good use.

A donation $542.00 was made to the Arlington Women’s Shelter. This donation is in the form of Christmas presents for women and children who have sought shelter from abuse by moving into the shelter. The shelter provides information about the family, (number of children, ages, gender, and the needs for clothing or other ar-ticles) and some NTOC members shop for the items and deliver them to the shelter for distribution. Gayla and Stewart Stephenson head this up every year. Thank you

The Rocket Page 17Page 4 The Rocket

Meeting Minutesby Gene Crowdis

(continued on next page)

1970- 80- 90 Numerous Service manuals, Technical Bulletin Binders/serv. guild issues and technical training manuals for almost all car mechanical components. Call for needs & pricing 214-583-7277. - 1968-70 Toronado parts, including dash cluster assy, wiring harness, rear window defroster w/wiring harness & all components, many small parts for interior.

WANTED: 1-wheel cover/cap for my N24 option aluminum wheels on the ‘90 Custom Cruiser, photo available. Call for needs and/or pricing. John Bock - 214-583-7277 or email [email protected]

Service Manuals for years ’35,’38,’40,’42,’43,’49,’52,’58 thru 65,’69,’73,’75, and later models, also ‘73-’75,’78 Service Guild Binders, also have some sales brochures, dealer sales books, owners manuals all in excellent condition. Other Oldsmobile memorabilia and some die cast models, 1/64, 1/25th and 1/18 scale. Call or e-mail with your wants and needs! – Bill Szelag, Bastrop, TX, 512 985-6502 - [email protected]

I am the owner of this ‘67 442. It is in great running condition. Because at this time I am unable to restore the body or interior back to original, I am looking for a buyer who is. It is a great car and difficult to let go!My contact information is: David Quine - 469-222-5149

• 1964-1967 Cutlass parts.• OCA License Plate Frames $25.00• 1966 442 Documented L69 Black With Parchment Buckets 4-Speed $16,000.00. Complete Details: http://www.hmcoldstuff.com/our-cars/1966-442-black/• 1964-1987 Cutlass 14” Disc Brake Steel Wheels With New American Classic 1 “

WWTire P 205/75/R14 Set Of 5 Mounted & Balanced $780.00• 1967 330 Rebuilt Unleaded heads $350.00• 1968 14” Wire Caps $50.00• 1991 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser parts Front & Rear Bumper Covers,

Side Body Trim, Front, Center & Third Blue Cloth Seats, Vista Glass, Rear Side Windows Complete, Drivers Door, Passenger Front & Rear Door, Tail Lamps, Rear Hatch Glass. Call for your needs.

• 1988 Mazda RX7 Anniversary 1 of 1,500. As new with 5,211 miles https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/mazda/rx7/2033108.htmlCheck www.hmcoldstuff.com for a list & info on the Oldsmobiles we have for sale. Richard Hirsch - 1-512-924-9490 — [email protected]

For Sale

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The Rocket Page 5Page 16 The Rocket(continued on next page)

Gayla & Stewart for representing NTOC in this program.

A donation of $542.00 was made to the Fisher House at the Dallas Veteran’s Hospital to help maintain the facility where veteran’s families can stay at no cost while their loved ones are receiving care at the Veteran’s Hospital.

A discussion was held about fundraisers to rebuild the Helping Hands Fund. Sug-gestions such as a monthly 50/50 pot, holding an annual car parts, etc. auction at a meeting during the year, and providing an opportunity to make a donation to NTOC charities on the Zone Show entry form were made. A committee was formed to de-velop some recommendations for “fundraisers” to be presented to the club. Com-mittee members are Harat Manges, Ginny Hargrove, Juju Nance, Pam Furnell and Gene Crowdis. Suggestions are welcomed. Contact one of the committee members if you have an idea.

NTOC Officers Policy ManualA brief discussion was held about the Officer’s Policy Manual. Joe said he has read the document and it appears to be very general in addressing the officer’s duties. He suggested that the current officers might review it to see if there were some needed changes, otherwise it should be included as part of the NTOC procedures.

NTOC Member Dues IssuesThere was also some discussion about how members are reminded that their mem-bership is due for renewal. In the past the renewal date was published on the hard copy of the newsletter, but since many members don’t receive a hard copy this meth-od won’t work now. Gene Crowdis stated that he would take over the responsibility of updating the roster and notifying members when it is time to renew. This will be by email, phone call, or a post card. Approximately 39 current members needed to renew in March of 2016 or 2017, but have not been notified. Those members will be contacted before the end of the year so they can renew under the old dues rates. NOTE: If you aren’t contacted before the end of the year your dues will expire on March 31, 2018 or March 31, 2019. You will be contacted before the end of February each year to let you know if your dues expire for that year.

2018 NTOC Zone Show — Dates May 4, 5, 6, 2018

Joe asked for an update on the 2018 NTOC Zone Show activities. Kendall reported that he and Vince are working with the Resort catering staff to select the options for the Saturday evening awards dinner. They will have the registration form completed for the January Rocket publication.

Vince reported that they are working on a different Judging format and sheet. The goal is to simplify the judging points and make it easier to use.

Meeting Minutes (continued)

Enclosed, 25’ car hauler; mounted spare tire, front and side escape doors; built in ramps to allow driver’s door to clear opening; four tie-downs included. Purchased new in 2016 for $6000. Has high sheet metal puncture damage caused by bike rack. Asking $4500 as is or best offer. Bob Kaman (817) 925-8470; [email protected]

1970-1972 442, W30, W31, SX conv. or hardtop OCA and NTOC member looking for true collector car. The more original and documented the better. Prefer numbers matching.Any condition – from restorable car to showroom condition. Also looking for any NOS parts for these cars.

John Bumb, St. Louis, Mo. (314) 713-3444 or email me at [email protected]

1955 Starfire 98 Convertible46K original miles two owners since new • Pwr Steering, Pwr Brakes, Pwr Windows, Pwr Seat, Pwr Antennae, Pwr top• Factory A/C, Spinner Hubcaps, WSW, skirts, dual exhaust, fully refreshed to

original condition. Rare Coral & Cream. $69K OBO• I have a hood and front fenders for a 1955/56 Olds and

324ci engine and 4 speed tranny if any members would like them.For more info contact: Troy Stimson 817-343-7556 — [email protected]

Four matched 15 x 7 Rally Olds wheels with beauty rings and center caps. $190.00 for set. I can send a picture to your phone.Gary Thompson — 972-741-0320

GM Corvette factory Targa roof for C4 - Like new........BEST OFFERLarry Robbins - 214- [email protected]

For Sale/Wanted

North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017 North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017

The Rocket Page 15Page 6 The Rocket

The room rates are $139.00 per night plus 6.0% tax and 12% Resort Fee. This rate includes two breakfasts for each room night. Driving time is estimated to be 10 – 15 minutes from the resort to “other dining options” and the resort has various venues for eating.

Vince and Kendall thanked John Lamonica and John Bock for the work they have done for the raffle items in previous Zone Shows. John and John also made their notebook of contacts available to Vince and Kendall so they could work on getting raffle items for the 2018 Zone Show.

Kendall and Vince will be looking for some help in doing the work that needs to be done between now and early May. If you are willing to help, please let them know. Lots of jobs available.

2019 NAOC Joint event with NTOC Zone Show—June 2019

Joe asked Harat for an update on the 2019 NAOC nationals planning. Harat had contacted Sam Pack’s Car Museum to determine if we can schedule a tour of the Sam Pack collection during the NAOC/NTOC event in June of 2019. Harat has a response from the Sam pack Car Collection. They don’t schedule anything out further than four (4) months. At this time we are looking for an alternate Car Collection in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to discuss touring their facilities. If you have any information about a Car Museum or personal collection that might be a candidate please contact Harat with that information. Harat said she is also open to other suggestions for activities during the event.

Harat will be looking for NTOC members to participate in the organization, promo-tion, and support of the 2019 event, so if you are interested in participating be sure to let her know.

Car Shows & EventsCar show announcements included:The Fall Veteran’s Day Show in Bastrop, TX - November 10 – 11 – 12 (12th Annual Honor the Veterans Show)

Several NTOC members joined in a cruise to Bastrop, TX for the Veteran’s Day Car Show held by the Bastrop Area Cruisers. This year, again, the Oldsmobile Club won the Club Participation Award, with approximately 20 Oldsmobiles present. This event hosted nearly 450 entries of all makes and kinds so the award is pretty significant. Individual member awards were presented to Lois & John Liconte, ’83 Hurst Olds, Glenn & Ginny Hargrove, ’54 88 Convertible, Joe & Sheri Munoz ’70 442.

For those of us who could not make the trip I am told we missed the first appearance of Mike and Melodie Bunzel’s 1975 Hurst Olds. Congratulations Mike and Melodie;

Meeting Minutes (continued)

(continued on next page)

THE NEXT

NTOC SERVICE PROJECT SATURDAY, January 13, 2018

10:30 AM to 2 PM

Lunch for the Residents and Staff of

THE FISHER HOUSE

Located on the campus of the VA Hospital

4500 South Lancaster Road, Building 79 Dallas, TX 75216

Menu to be Determined

Sign-Ups Forthcoming

THANK YOU! FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017 North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017

The Rocket Page 7Page 14 The Rocket

Meeting Minutes (continued)

the reports are that you did an outstanding job on your car!! A very good time for all who attended. Try to make it next year.

NTOC AutoRama

John Bock is beginning plans for the 2018 AutoRama in February 2018. He is looking for six (6) representative cars to enter in the show. If you are interested in entering your Oldsmobile contact John Bock. Or if you just want to help with the set-up or car watching let John know.

NTOC State Fair of Texas Display Day – Saturday October 14

Joe is preparing an article for both national club magazines based on the attendance and activities at the State Fair Car Corral Display on October 14. Watch for an article in the national club magazines about our participation in the State Fair of Texas Clas-sic Car Corral.

NTOC 2017 Christmas Party Dinner and Gift Exchange - DECEMBER 10

The 2017 NTOC annual Christmas Party and Gift Exchange game will be held on December 10 at the D/FW Marriott Hotel on Highway 114 in Irving. Make your plans to attend this really fun NTOC activity. Who knows, you might just go home with the best gift of the evening. Also, watch out for the gift that keeps coming back!!

Short business meeting 5:00 – 5:30 Social 5:20 – 6:15 (Cash bar) Dinner 6:15Adult dinner $20.00 Child 12 and under $10.00 Non-member $37.00

Selections for dinner are Sautéed Chicken or New London Broil Beef. Desserts will be Italian Crème Cake and Chocolate Cake. There will be the usual Chicken Strip dinner for children. Deadline for making reservations for the dinner is Wednesday Decem-ber 6th. Make your reservations with Cindy Payton.

Fisher House Schedule

Helena Isbell and Harat Manges are working on a schedule for NTOC members to go to Fisher House to provide a meal for the families of veterans who are in the Veteran’s Hospital. Date has been set for January 13, 2108. The menu will be decided at the December meeting and listed in the next Rocket. If you haven’t participated in this event, mark your calendar to join with many of the NTOC members in paying back the families of our veterans.

Cindy asked that we all save toiletry items that can be used to leave at Fisher House for families who arrive without the basic items, toothpaste, tooth brushes, shaving supplies, lotions, shampoo, etc. If you have any of these items please give them to Cindy and she will make up the gift bags.

Sadly, like an old soldier the Oldsmobile brand and the fabled “88” nameplate faded away. From its high point in the ‘50s when it was a flagship GM brand and second only to Chevrolet for sales it increasingly became homogenised in progressively more quotidian and unworthy daily transporters badge-engineered from the lowest rungs of the GM stable. The last “88” badged car slunk off the assembly line exactly 50 years after the first exploded onto the market and Oldsmobile itself was killed off by GM in 2004 – at the time the oldest surviving American car brand.

Although one of the longest lived and most produced car brands in history only one Oldsmobile (from 1928) has taken part in the Peking to Paris or been campaigned more generally in ERA events. Cars from the ‘50s, and American cars from that era in particular, seem to be signifi-cantly under-represented in ERA rallies, and I am looking forward to helping right that balance in some little way.

My car is being restored, rebuilt and painted along the lines of an amalgam of Herschel McG-riff’s Carerra winner and an early NASCAR ‘strictly stock’ car. When I bought it, unbeknownst to me, it already had a later bored-out version of the first generation engine; when finished the engine capacity will be as bored and stroked in ’57 or ’58 to 371 CID rather than a 1950’s 303.

The frame, steering, suspension, and brakes will be essentially stock except for strengthening where necessary and as recommended by the ERA.

Although my particular car has no special history, in 1950 the Rocket 88 was a technological marvel and excitement machine of its day and deserves to be better known and appreciated. Conceived at a time when America’s highway network didn’t really exist, it’s success as a basi-cally stock vehicle on the punishing roads of Mexico, the rough cinder race tracks of the South and the sand of Daytona Beach suggests that it might be a good fit for ERA adventures.

I look forward to the odysseys ahead.

The most iconic car you’ve never heard of (cont’d)

North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017 North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017

The Rocket Page 13Page 8 The Rocket

Lincoln-Tech Car Show

We have been contacted to attend the Lincoln-Tech Car Show in Grand Prairie, TX on Saturday December 2. The show is hosted by Lincoln Tech. Time 9:00 Am – 2:00 PM Location: 2915 Alouette Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052 Phone: (972) 660-5701

Member Information

No member information related to illnesses or other problems were reported.

Note from the Secretary: If you are aware of any health or family issues related to NTOC members please send an email to [email protected] so we can include the information in our monthly report.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – December

Donna Acreback Kendall WorkmanGary Thompson Carole Ann Bateman

Ken’s Corner

Joe presented some car detailing tips:

Wood Paint stirrer sticks can be wrapped with cloth to help reach those narrow hard to reach engine and under car areas.

Pipe Cleaners make great tools for reaching those interior areas where fingers or Q-tips won’t reach, and the Q-Tip is needed

Use old soft bristle tooth brushes for cleaning out small cracks

Joe found some chrome fingernail. Says it is easier to use that spray cans and pro-vides better results.

Secretary Gene Crowdis announced that the club had received a letter regarding OCA finances. The letter was not read, but was offered for anyone to read after the meeting if they were interested.

Meeting Info

December Meeting: Annual December Christmas Party and Business Meeting. Marriott D/FW Highway 114 in Irving.

Time 5:00 until all of the gifts are exchanged.

Meeting adjourned at 3:35 pm. AM. Respectfully submitted Gene Crowdis

Meeting Minutes (continued)that stable - and at the launch of the ‘88’ was the empire’s ‘technology’ division. Two things in particular made the 88 the performer that it was. The key component in the 88 was its high-compression, overhead valve ‘Rocket’ V8 engine developed by another iconic figure in US au-tomotive engineering –and Time Magazine cover-boy, Charles Kettering. The original Rocket was a recognisably modern engine giving an extraordinary 30% jump in horsepower over its American flat-head contemporaries, and the second break from tradition cemented its status. Before the 88 an American manufacturer’s large engine only went into its large car; but for the 88 Oldsmobile overturned the conventional approach and shoe-horned its biggest most-powerful engine into its smallest car.

With a high performance V8 in a small body at an affordable price the quintessentially Ameri-can ‘muscle car’ was born with the Rocket 88. When other manufacturers leapt to compete with the Rocket’s output it kicked off the horsepower wars of the 1950s and ‘60s. From its launch as a 303 cubic inch engine producing 130 hp the same engine block was bored & stroked until the early ‘60s by which time it was well over 400 CID.

This was also the dawn of that most American of motor sports – NASCAR; whose genesis was moonshiners racing each other on weekends, it became a formal series in 1949 and unlike now the cars that raced were the cars you bought in the showroom. The Rocket 88 completely dominated those early years of NASCAR, often driven by young men who learned their skills in the backwoods at night. Although regarded outside America as a technologically unsophisti-cated form of racing, the 1950 88 had coil springs at each corner and often raced with that 21st century petrol-head’s obsession - aftermarket air bag suspension.

The NASCAR version of the multiple carburettor setup offered on the ‘Golden Rocket’ late in the decade was so powerful NASCAR immediately brought in a prohibition on multiple carbu-rettors that lasted until NASCAR moved to fuel injection as recently as 2012.

Affordable performance combined with the marketeers’ rocketry symbolism (including nascent tail fins presaging the Harley Early over the top styling era of that era) meshed perfectly with the dawn of the space and atomic age. The Rocket 88 became part of the American cultural fabric and was a significant contributor to the zeitgeist at a time of monumental social change.

For a decade the Rocket engine conceived and created by GM’s greatest engineer was the number one choice of musicians, drag racers and custom car builders, and placed the car at the centre of the great 1950 step-change that produced high octane everything – not just gas, but atomic power, rock and roll, hot rods and a raised finger to authority.

So wildly was it embraced by the post WWII generation and so desirable was it that Ike Turn-er’s ode to it ‘Rocket 88’ was recognised in 1991 by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the first ever rock and roll song – a song since covered by countless of the greats and not so greats of modern music; from Bill Haley, Muddy Waters, & Fats Domino to Charlie Watts. Little Richard sung about ‘cruising in my 88’, an 88 is sighted in over 100 movies and there was even a song referencing its transmission!

The most iconic car you’ve never heard of (cont’d)

North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017 North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017

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Sadly the car wasn’t ready for my planned attendance at Albuquerque and partici-pation in the ‘Dustball 3000’ from NYC to LA in the summer. It is now ready to go (I hope) looking a lot different to when it came off the truck from Florida. Trying to get Texas title, insurance and registration from a distance has been a nightmare. So far it involves 2 trips half way around the world, 4 visits to the DMV, 2 insurance companies and a hurricane – and I still haven’t got it. I’m having to fly this weekend from Cairns, Australia and back for 40 hours in economy class just to spend 20 min-utes at the Collin County courthouse DMV to present my papers ‘in person’. The work itself has been challenging and is another saga entirely but the car has been out for a few test runs and should now just need final fettling.

I am currently scheduled to kick off my lap of the world from under the ‘Traveling Man’ statue in Deep Ellum on the weekend of 18/19 November and if any NTOC members would care to join me for a sort of grand depart please drop me an email at [email protected] and I can keep you posted with more details. From Dal-las I’m first heading to San Diego and up the SoCal coast to Oakland to ship the car to Singapore. I drive from there to Saigon in a competitive rally in February 2018, then it’s down to Australia, and back to China in June 2019 to drive from “Peking to Paris” in one of the great classic rallies before finishing off with the US East Coast and back to Dallas in late 2019 or early 2020. I’m exhausted just thinking about it!.

Also enclosed is a bit of a blurb I did about the original 88 just to let people participat-ing in the rallies in their exotic machinery how great the original ‘Rocket’ was!

Cheers, Erik

The most iconic car you’ve never heard ofThe Carrera Panamericana was one of the great road races of the mid 20th Century. Huge money sponsored by the Mexican government attracted the finest road racing cars and drivers in the world until carnage brought the curtain down in 1954. The list of winners is a roll call of some of the greatest cars produced in miniscule hand-built numbers by the most famous and accomplished sports car manufacturers in the world; with one notable exception.

The champions were Ferrari (twice – with a 212 Vignale & a 375 Plus) Lancia’s magnificent D24, a 1-2-3 finish for the original gullwing Mercedes 300SL, and….. a 5-seater Oldsmobile 88!

In competition, not only did the original ‘Rocket’ 88 win the Carrera, it absolutely dominated NASCAR in its initial years, competed at Spa and set records at Daytona Beach. It was a technological marvel that introduced the recognisably modern OHV V8 to the masses, helped push high octane fuel into the market, and kicked off the ‘horsepower wars’ of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Oldsmobile was a marque from the dawn of the automobile. Founded in 1897 by pioneering genius Ransom E Olds it became part of GM and was second only to Cadillac in prestige in

Update on erik andersen’s Lap the world - in a 1950 olds 88 project

North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017 North texas oldsmobile Club deCember 2017

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The BasTrop VeTeran’s Day show 2017By Joe Munoz

Once again, the NTOC showed up in force at the Veteran’s Day Car Show in Bastrop Texas. With 19 cars making the journey down, we once again won the Club participa-tion award, with another 6 non NTOC Oldsmobiles showing up for good measure. The event set a new record for car attendance with 411 registered and 370 judged. Award winners included Glenn Hargrove, John Liconte, and Joe Munoz. Also, this show featured the debut of Mike Bunzel’s beautiful 1975 Hurst Olds after a 5-year restoration. The traditional after show dinner party event was once again held at Harry & Cheryl Green’s house with many NTOC members donating gifts for the char-ity raffle. More than 230.00 was raised, and Bill Szelag, after having once again been the ramrod in organizing this superbly managed event, was empowered to contribute the funds to whichever charity he deems most appropriate in the area.

A great time was had by all, and most importantly, no one was hurt or had a car stolen in Bastrop – quite the change from the Wild West that is Albuerquerque nowadays. Special thanks again to Bob Kaman for keeping the flock together on the way down, and Stewart Stephenson for headng up the caravan to the show (at 6:15AM!)

Begin making plans for next year – it’s one we don’t want to miss!

Bastrop Veterans Day Car Show Photos

submitted by John & Lois Liconte

Bastrop Veteran’s Day Car Show (continued)

For additional photos from the show go to our website under events

http://clubs.hemmings.com/ntexasoca