4th Quarter 2009 A Quarterly Publication of the Texas Vehicle Club CouncilWebsite: http://clubs.hemmings.com/TVCC/

We encourage your Newsletter Editor to reprint articles from the TVCC News in your local club's newsletter. Please contact SunShine Jackson for an MS Word file to assist in that situation.

Please give TVCC authorship credit.Please give TVCC authorship credit. ****

TEXAS VEHICLE CLUB COUNCIL BOARD ELECTIONS

In the coming months leading up to the scheduled Texas Vehicle Club Council meeting in January 2010, member clubs may nominate a club member to serve on the TVCC Board. Nominations can be made to any TVCC Board member prior to December 31, 2009. Those nominated and elected to the TVCC Board will take office on February 1, 2010 for a one calendar-year term.

At the present time, our quarterly meetings are held in Buffalo, TX, on the third Sunday afternoon. Specific meeting dates are published in this newsletter. Attendance at these meetings is open to members of our TVCC Member Clubs as well as other interested individuals.

We look forward to seeing everybody there!

COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL CHAIRPERSON

As the seasonal car events of 2009 wind down and our TVCC Member Clubs prepare to “shift gears” into the “Winter Mode,” I certainly hope that everybody has had an enjoyable time with their vehicles—of any vintage—this year. I also hope that what remains of your respective club schedules continues to be positive in orientation!

“CASH FOR CLUNKERS”As we all know, the Cash For Clunkers program met or exceeded any expectations for the program. A larger number of vehicles came into the United States Government-funded program than was projected, which also resulted in a similarly larger number of new vehicle sales. Some had some reservations about the program—especially the initial program—and some new information has tended to diminish the real benefits of the environmental orientations of the program.

Initial media information focused on the number of cars that were sold, which met the mandates of improved fuel efficiency of the purchased vehicles compared to the traded-in vehicles. As you might recall, light trucks did not have to meet the same exact fuel economy improvements as it was felt that a newer light-duty truck would be more economical (even marginally so) and have cleaner tailpipe emissions than the

vehicle it was replacing (a concession to encourage businesses to update their company fleets). Still, initial media attention was focused on the number (plus brand and model) of cars sold.Later information has revealed that, as some newspaper headlines recently stated, the most-traded-in vehicle was a Ford F-150, which was traded in on a new Ford F-150. The Detroit News website had an interactive map of the USA, where you could see many statistics of the Cash For Clunkers program, state by state. www.detnews.com/article/20091109/SPECIAL01/91106001 should get you there, which will indicate the “Most Traded-In Vehicle” and the “Most Purchased Vehicle” for each state. In a few states, Ford light-duty truck models were traded in for similar Chevrolet models, whereas results from other states indicated that the Ford light-duty truck models were traded in for smaller cars. It’s kind of interesting to see how it changed from state-to-state and even region-to-region.

Two more articles also appeared on the www.detnews.com website, both similar articles from Ken Thomas of the Associated Press. www.detnews.com/article/20091024/AUTO01/910240365 and www.detnews.com/article/20091029/AUTO03/910290385 which brought to light a new facet of the Cash For Clunkers program—that each vehicle coming into the program has a clock ticking away on it. From the October 29, 2009 article, “Under the federal trade-in program, the cars are required to be crushed or shredded within six months of the date the vehicle was transferred from the dealership. Recyclers say the deadline – even a few months away – will be difficult to meet as they try to remove spare parts such as transmissions, front and rear axles, starters and alternators.” I had previously predicted that SEMA’s “win” of getting the vehicle recycling provision added to the final Cash For Clunkers legislation would move the judgment call of when the particular vehicle would, ultimately, end up being crushed from the government’s arena to the arena of the individual salvage yard operator – same result, just a different entity making the decision of “when to crush.” Therefore, the “Six Month Rule” (as I term it) was not expected and would make the implementation of the TVCC’s prior “Crusher Response Team” difficult.

Also, from the October 29, 2009 article . . . “True recycling is using something to its fullest potential and then recycling it over again by making it into steel and sending it out to become another engine or transmission or car,” said Jeff Cantor, an auto recycler in Candia, NH. ‘We’re breaking the circle here

by crushing good quality parts. We can’t process them quick enough in six months.”

In the various articles on this subject, one recycler stated that when a vehicle went into his “Pull Your Part” section, it was generally “done” in about one month. In this scenario, a Cash For Clunkers vehicle’s cycle in that facility would fit into the “Six Month Rule” just fine, but I also suspect that in a more rural Texas salvage yard, for example, it would be different. Overtures from the American Recyclers Association toward Cash For Clunkers operatives regarding extending the deadline criteria to “12 Months” were made in September 2009, but no final ruling on this request has been noted by the news media (by mid-November 2009).

“CAP AND TRADE” . . . we’ve been hearing that term more and more of late, but the initial use and orientation of this strategy to decrease total environmental emissions loads has been around for quite some time. Remember when the first “Cash For Cars”-type program was initiated (and allowed by federal legislation) in California? Where an older vehicle was “sold” to an entity for (about) $600.00, then this purchase of the more-polluting vehicle (being taken off the road) resulted in emissions credits for “big industry,” which used these “Emission Reduction Credits” to allow them to delay making costly upgrades to their operations to comply with newly emerging emissions laws? Highly similar! Only problem with the earlier California system was that non-registered vehicles were coming into that program, in many cases, which had not emitted tailpipe emissions for quite some time. In other words, according to a computer model, the total emissions load was decreased, but the specific point-source emissions were decreased very little—until the particular industrial operations were updated to comply with regulations.

In doing Google searches on the subject of “Cap and Trade,” I discovered news articles detailing many successes of such a program, in local regions. The programs were termed a success in getting the industrial emissions in line sooner and at less total cost to the industrial entities. All of this sounds great, but I also sense that “Cap and Trade” might have motivated such upgrades before they became mandatory (and the upgrade-provider vendors might have been opportunistic in the pricing of said upgrades). Hence, the more localized “Cap and Trade” programs motivated industries to act, but without the trading of credits per se. These are the signals I, myself, see in this situation.

Several years ago, when there was much concern about some atmospheric emissions from industrial entities, plus the earlier move toward more electric-powered household implements for

outdoor use, it occurred to me that it was not about reducing the total emissions atmospheric “load” per se, just moving it around to reduce its concentrations – one reason that many large electric-generating stations were in more remote areas of the country, rather than in the middle of metropolitan areas. What they produced “out there” was not measured, typically, in the metropolitan regions (many of which are in ozone non-compliance areas, by federal EPA standards). For example, driving an electric/plug-in hybrid vehicle on your 30-mile daily commute would produce no pollution where you might be, but any pollution to make that electricity was “elsewhere.”

In the November 14, 2009 edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, automotive historian and writer Ed Wallace had an excellent commentary entitled “Cap and Trade.” This article contained some interesting observations on the most recent program being advocated by our Federal Legislators, without seeming regard to how a similar program in Europe has been suboptimal in real environmental quality improvements. It might be that as Europe instituted “Cap and Trade” first, they are perceived to have shown leadership which the USA did not, which seems to be an orientation driving the current urgency to act to pass some sort of “Cap and Trade” legislation in the USA. It would also seem, with all due respect, that “Why” the European system has not seemed to provide the desired benefits would have also been studied so that the USA did not make the same mistakes or miss-steps over here.

As with the current health insurance discussions, studies, and projected costs thereof, the results of these studies can be highly influenced by how the particular study’s parameters are configured – what is desired to be proven, or not proven, for example. This could well be why there seems to be so much “correct” data floating around in the media, but “correct” data that is different from other “correct” data on the same subject. Many want to quote these studies as proving what they might prove, but in our modern “sound byte” orientation, we typically don’t get “the whole story” of how the study was done or where the funding for the study was obtained (offered). Once “the money trail” might be discovered, the validity of the particular study’s findings might be better considered.

Now, lets step back several years, to the original Kyoto Protocol on “global warming” due to greenhouse gas emissions – which was an emerging issue at that time. Prior to this meeting, Mr. Al Gore had been elected as Vice President and William Jefferson Clinton as President of the United States of America. Vice President Gore was an acknowledged environmental advocate, which many of the

environmentalist orientation felt very good about. With the emerging issue of greenhouse gas emissions, many initial studies of the economic impact of limiting such emissions were done by many private and public entities. There was a general consensus upon how much greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced without resulting in great economic harm to the particular countries of the world. There was also a general consensus that many smaller countries could not limit such emissions in their struggling and emerging economies, which would result in large, industrialized nations to be the primary signers of the agreement – this was something of “a given.” As I recall, there was a particular percentage of decrease that was concurred upon in all of the various economic impact studies, that was a doable situation.

As I also recall, Vice President Gore was sent to the meeting to represent the United States and our stake in the issue. As all of the attending nations’ representatives were stating what their particular country could offer in the way of greenhouse gas emissions reductions, V-P Gore stated that the USA would strive to do “double” what anybody else could do . . . with everybody there knowing full well the result of the various studies of economic impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It seems like that was the last time V-P Gore went to such a meeting “without an approved script.” The environmentalists might have lauded his statement, but it also seemed to impress others differently.

The Kyoto Protocol has a few more years before a new agreement will replace it; progress toward such a new agreement (with greater participation by growing world powers) has been problematic. The current Copenhagen meeting is part of the process leading up to a desired, legally binding agreement among the world’s nations for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

From those earlier years when “global warming” was more of a “fringe” subject, there is growing concurrence on “both sides of the science” that it is an issue which needs a plan to deal with. There is a general agreement that once “the tipping point” is reached, it will be much harder to reverse the perceived situation. With such general agreements, there are still many discussion points.

Over the years, scientists have agreed upon how the concentration of various “items” in the earth’s atmosphere will affect the atmosphere and the protective ozone level of the atmosphere. Several decades ago, for example, the propellants in aerosol cans were changed to not damage the upper ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere. As I recall, a main concern was the “ozone hole” over the earth’s Polar Regions, at that

time. I also seem to recall that the ozone hole was later observed to open and close in something of a cyclical orientation. In later years, decreases in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions have also been achieved.

With respect to greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide, there is a similar “acceptable” value, in addition to what I understand to be a “reason for concern” level and then “high enough to cause irreversible damage.” From what I recently heard on an NPR panel discussion, the current atmospheric CO2 levels are about 3/4 of the way toward the “high limit” of the “reason for concern” section. It is this advancing level that is adding urgency to the issue of global warming. A serious point of discussion seems to be that, although the upper limit of the “reason for concern” segment has been generally agreed upon, there is only speculation that the upper limit of this segment really IS the upper limit, past which the “tipping point” will have been exceeded.

Mr. Gore, now a private citizen, has been a strong advocate of issues related to greenhouse gas emissions and their alleged influence upon the global warming issue. It is one thing to be a strong advocate of a particular issue (global warming and the related “Cap and Trade” proposal, in this case), but when such an advocate has also been connected to a business enterprise where carbon credits will be traded as a part of “Cap and Trade” . . . as a 10% investor . . . that might be a cause for concern.During the George W. Bush Presidency, his administration’s orientation on global warming was “follow the science.” This approach might tend to have the orientation of “one science” rather than “many sciences.” When looking at situations, it is generally better to use an unemotional “scientific” approach rather than an emotional “issues of the heart” approach, yet somewhere on that continuum, there can, hopefully, be some points of agreement from which progress can be made. Unfortunately, each side now has “their respective science” as compelling evidence of the validity of their respective orientation . . . which greatly muddies the waters, so to speak.

“ETHANOL IN FUEL”In researching this subject, I discovered some interesting information via Google. In the course of this research, I found many search results which were from the boating industry. It is known that ethanol will attract and absorb moisture, as many “water dispersant” fuel additives have alcohol-based formulations. When this happens in a storage container, it is known as “phase separation” as the moisture is absorbed by the ethanol and the combined mixture then will “separate” toward the bottom of the fuel tank. In the case of marine vehicles (i.e., larger boats), such vehicles typically had fuel

tanks constructed of plastic or fiberglass . . . which ethanol would “react to,” resulting in additional “gunk” in the bottom of the fuel tank. As all fuel pickup tubes are at or near the bottom of the fuel tank, when the engine was first started, it would draw the affected fuel into the boat’s fuel system. End result, the loss of a significant amount of compromised gasoline (with disposal protocols for such gasoline), the need for fuel system clean-out, and the ultimate replacement of the fuel tanks with tanks more resistant to ethanol-enhanced fuels.

From early gasoline formulations, ethanol has been used for various reasons in gasoline. Typically, though, the concentration levels were not 10% in the USA, but less.

You might recall that when Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) was introduced, there were some stories about how it damaged vintage vehicles. All we heard was that damage to the engine happened as a result of the RFG, but not what the particular damage was or what it took to fix it . . . or if the engine rebuild to fix it was needed before the use of RFG. A key issue with the use of RFG was that it affects all rubber fuel system parts, degrading them in the process, which would require their replacement for trouble-free operation. As a result, rubber fuel line hoses and similar have been rated for RFG use since the early 1990s. What we might not have known, at that time, was that ethanol was probably the culprit.

In, again, my Google searches, I found much interesting information on ethanol and RFG. In areas where RFG was needed, the ethanol specification for the blend was approximately 5.67% by volume. In non-RFG fuel, the specification was not listed, probably being left up to the individual refiner/retailer/marketer to determine in achieving the desired performance attributes of their product. Therefore, increasing the ethanol content to 10% (E10) would not really be an issue for many road vehicles, considering getting past the earlier rubber fuel system issues of RFG. Yet with ethanol having “cleaning and degreasing” orientations, there have been some emerging issues with fuel tank/line rust being dislodged and also the failure of some fuel tank sealers (which might have some bearing upon how well the tank was cleaned prior to sealing OR the quality of the sealing operation). In some cases, adding an in-line fuel filter on the supply-side of the fuel pump might be advisable should problems arise.

On some earlier carbureted vehicles, with the use of oxygenated fuels can come a need to slightly enlarge the carburetor’s main jets from what their factory specifications might have been. On newer fuel-injected vehicles, they should be able to adjust via their on-board computer-

controlled fuel systems . . . at least up to E10/RFG fuels unless they were factory-produced as “FlexFuel” E85 vehicles.

From the outset, there has been concern that the production of corn for ethanol as a gasoline oxygenate/extender will produce more CO2 emissions than they will save in the end-users’ vehicles. As significant as these concerns might be, they seem to not be as significant as the “renewable fuels” orientations of ethanol-in-gasoline advocates.

Part of the Federal Legislation on renewable fuels was a gallons-used mandate. The specified number of gallons of ethanol produced will increase in future years, per this legislation. This might not seem like a serious issue, but with E85 fuel sales not quite what was predicted and sales volumes of E10 having decreased due to people driving less, ethanol use will have to be expanded in other ways. One way is to increase the ethanol percentage in gasoline from the present 10% to 15%. This change has been lobbied by several legislators from the upper mid-western regions of the USA . . . corn-producing states, it seems. Unfortunately, there is much information that such an increase will harm every vehicle which is not FlexFuel or E85 compatible. Many vehicle manufacturers have specified the upper limit of ethanol concentrations in gasoline which their products will safely tolerate . . . many at 10% maximum. You can find more information on this subject at the www.fueltestkit.com website, plus an online form you can send to the Federal EPA organization (plus other contact information for EPA operatives). The stated end of public comment on the issue of the “E15 Waiver” was July 2009, but this could be a situation where you could submit the online form to oppose the E15 waiver and also email your Congressional Representatives to state your views on the E15 Waiver to allow ethanol-in-fuel concentrations to be 15%. I also need to state that I mention this particular website as an information source and nothing more.

GASOLINE IN THE UNITED STATESAs a part of my research on ethanol in gasoline, I discovered a map of the United States and which fuels are used in their respective areas to meet Federal EPA environmental guidelines. To my surprise, there are many different fuel specifications for particular regions/areas of the country.

In Texas, the part of the state which requires “different” gasoline is generally east of the I-35 corridor, from the Oklahoma border to San Antonio, then southward toward the Gulf of Mexico. In a few situations, the western boundary will be one county west of the county I-35 passes through, where population levels and similar levels of daily traffic into

the designated area would dictate their inclusion. There is also an area including the El Paso region, too. This US Fuels Requirements Map can be found via a FAQ for Fuels on the Exxon website (www.exxon.com/USA-English/GFM/Products_Services/Fuels/Gasoline_FAQ.asp, but clicking the map’s link will be www.mobil.com/USA-English/GFM/Files/US_Gasoline_Map.pdf. There are also links to other gasoline and fuel-use websites on the FAQ.

One thing became very clear, though, with respect to gasoline with ethanol as a part of the fuel’s blend – do not use an alcohol-based fuel additive in it, period. The orientation is that as ethanol already will attract and “react with” a certain amount of moisture in the vehicle’s fuel tank, no further additives for water disbursement are needed when using E10 gasoline. To add them would only increase the concentration of alcohol in the fuel, which many do not like anyway.

PROPOSED TARIFF ON CHINESE-PRODUCED TIRESRecently, there was a proposal to put a tariff on tires imported into the United States from tire producers in China. Normally, this might not be very significant . . . except that General Motors and Ford now use tires sourced from Asian tire companies. As a result, there was much initial opposition from the affected vehicle manufacturers on this issue. A key point is “Chinese-produced” tires rather than tires from “Chinese-owned” tire companies.

How might this affect the vintage vehicle hobby? As things have progressed from 14” tires to 15” tires to the more current 16” tires on passenger cars and light-duty trucks, the earlier tire sizes have been, basically, abandoned by the USA tire companies, slowly, but it’s happened over the years. Goodyear, Firestone, BFGoodrich, USRoyal/Uniroyal all used to build an H78-14 size tire for many middle-1960s cars, with one of the last vehicles to use that tire size being a middle-1970s Ford Torino station wagon, but by the early 1980s, finding a radial tire in the similar P225/75R-14 whitewall size was a difficult task from these mainstream tire companies. Usually, though, the vehicles which used that size tire also had a factory option for a H78-15 tire, which would include the later P225/75R-15 radial tire size . . . which, in more current time, has become hard to come by from USA companies.

As with other things vehicular, when the USA brands tend to vacate a product area, the Oriental companies usually move in to fill the void with products they build. This is what I’ve observed to happen with tires. As the USA brands have discontinued their larger-size 14” tires, the Oriental companies have viable alternatives for those tire sizes—similar with the

P225/75R-15 whitewall sizes. Therefore, the additional tariff would affect the “normal-priced” tires for many of our vintage vehicles to some degree. Otherwise, the alternative would be “repro” tires from a reputable reproduction tire supplier at considerably more money per tire. Therefore, the owner of a larger American car who likes to drive and enjoy their vehicle regularly (with “normal” license plates and registration, rather than “antique/exhibition vehicle” registration) might think twice about spending about $900.00 for a set of tires, (which used to cost about $350.00 in prior times) just to reliably drive and enjoy the car reasonably often.

In some miscellaneous rambling around car videos on YouTube the other night, I ran across some car commercials, with many from the 1950s and 1960s. It is amazing how automotive advertising has changed from 1965 (in one commercial for 1965 Chevrolets, the video used the set of downtown Virginia City to showcase the new 1965 Chevrolet cars, with the help of actors of the television shows which Chevrolet sponsored — Bonanza, Bewitched, Man From U.N.C.L.E. — to present the vehicles. I also found a commercial for the 1960 Thunderbird and other vehicles. In that earlier timeframe, vehicles were special, and what made them different from each other was readily apparent and similarly special. In almost every case, there was some compelling reason to recommend your purchase or adoration of (think “dream car” or a car that was “aspired to own, someday”) the particular vehicle or brand of vehicle. Their family styling and engineering was specific and readily recognizable, whether between a Ford, Chevy, or Plymouth or their parent companies (Ford, General Motors, or Chrysler), for example.

A hallmark of the USA vehicle “market” has seemed to be built around one word . . . choice (at least after other colors were added to Henry Ford’s “black paint”). It was these differences and diversity which helped the USA vehicle market grow and prosper to what it used to be. Different models, trim levels, colors, optional equipment combinations, engine choices, transmission choices, suspension options, tire and wheel adornment choices, and body styles. Not to forget the choice of where you bought them as there were usually enough new vehicle dealers in your area that “market-based competition” would allow the purchaser to find that “best deal” rather than having few choices. The successful dealer won, as did the vehicle manufacturers! Although this business model worked, and worked well, few seem to understand “Why” it worked and produced profits with so many potential combinations that would add complexity (and alleged costs) to the production process. But it worked, with a few bumps, and it worked well for decades!

As we prepare to end the Year 2009 and begin to formulate plans for Year 2010, we have witnessed many historic events over the past months. By observation, few have directly affected the vintage vehicle hobby as such, but several have presented issues which can affect our personal lives in many ways. Ways in which our personal lives have been or might be impacted such that our orientations and desires to “play cars” can be adversely affected. Yet it is hoped that your desire to “play cars” remains an integral part of your lives, possibly delayed, but still there.

The health insurance issues can affect our respective disposable income (and funding for car activities) just as some proposals regarding global warming can affect other areas of our lives and employment (especially in the highly-concentrated energy production parts of our state!). Not issues which are related to the vehicle hobby as such, but issues that can affect our participation in and enjoyment of the vehicle hobby and the particular vehicles which are special to us. These daunting issues do have solutions, just as other similar prior issues usually resulted in a “re-grouping of the forces” to find innovative ways to enjoy our automotive activities and still satisfy environmental considerations.

In modern times, “being in-network” is a term that is used more and more over time. From the earlier use, with respect to health insurance coverage and related health care providers, the phrase has really grown in use and orientation. From what might have previously been termed “a circle of friends,” social networking websites have exploded in popularity and use. Unfortunately, some of those in the “circle of friends” might change with time, but some will remain for extended periods of time.

In the vehicle hobby, being “in-network” can be very important, whether it’s being a member of a local club organization, the local chapter of a national vehicle organization, or a national vehicle group, having a network which can be tapped into and supported for information, technical repair assistance, and other information. In some situations, having somebody to “talk cars” with can be important, whether or not your particular vehicular tastes might coincide, having another human being that shares similar vehicular passions can be important.

The Texas Vehicle Club Council is a network that member clubs can tap into for information or concerns regarding legislative issues which can affect the vehicle hobby. In some way, current and future environmental regulations were empowered or created by existing legislation, many being

based upon the original Clean Air Act of years ago. Unlike in prior times when a more direct threat to the hobby was perceived with particular legislative proposals, the issues in the future may well include learning how to deal with emerging environmental issues and how they relate to the

enjoyment, repair, and maintenance of our vintage vehicles. Just because a vehicle might be old enough to proudly display an “Antique” license plate does not mean it will be exempt from emerging issues in the future—which might also be different issues than in the past. We appreciate your club’s past membership and support and hope this relationship will continue into 2010 and beyond!

Willis BellGeneral Chairperson

2010 TVCC BOARD MEETING DATES

First Quarter, 2010 January 17, 2010Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Buffalo

Second Quarter, 2010 April 18, 2010Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Buffalo

Third Quarter, 2010 July 18, 2010Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Buffalo

Fourth Quarter, 2010 October 17, 2010Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Buffalo

Starting Times for each meeting will be 1:00 p.m. as noted in the TVCC NEWS and on the website: http://clubs.hemmings.com/TVCC/. Any changes to the venue or starting times will be updated on the website during the week prior.

Electronic (Soft Copy) Newsletters Requested

Greetings from your TVCC Calendar of Events Chairperson; if your club publishes electronic copies of your newsletter to your membership, please consider sending the TVCC Calendar of Events Chairperson a copy. Having an electronic copy will make it much

easier to include your events in the TVCC Calendar of Events. We can use any file type, PDF, Word Document, ASCII text, etc. My email address is SunShineJ@jackson57.net. Thank you,

SunShine JacksonCalendar of Events Chairperson

Opinions anyone?Did you know that the TVCC has a web site? Well, we DO! It is located at: http://clubs.hemmings.com/TVCC/. Do you have any particular opinion about it in any direction? I’d LOVE to hear your feedback! Please email your ideas/opinions about the organization OR newsletter OR website to SunShine Jackson at SunShineJ@jackson57.net, ANY of our Board Members or go to the Contact the TVCC link on the website. Thank you for your time and consideration!

SunShine JacksonNewsletter Editor and Webmistress

TEXAS VEHICLE CLUB COUNCIL Minutes

Board Meeting October 18, 2009

Board: Willis Bell, Nick Harper, SunShine Jackson, Wendall Spreadbury

Minutes of 19 Jul 2009 meeting – moved, seconded and approved.

Treasurer’s report – moved, seconded and approved.

Board Member ReportsSunShine – Morris Stewart requested we

not send newsletters to both him and his wife (officers in the same TVCC Member Club). We

may consider sending newsletters by e-mail to certain member clubs. Renewal applications included in third-quarter newsletter. Send to Nick with check. Would like an offsite backup site for all TVCC files. Will send disk copy to Wendall. More information will be made available to member clubs on website. TM = trademark at State level. ® = registered trademark at Federal level. Purchase font software used on original logos via Ron’s Trophies – Cleveland, TX: moved, seconded, approved.

Nick – Renewals will be sent by U.S.P.S. in November. Fourth-quarter password will be scrambled letters for one of the earliest American car marques. Future passwords will be cryptic.

Willis – Don’t display copyright symbol until its official. Investigate making e-mail TVCC newsletters forwardable only two times.

SEMA and Legislative ItemsCash For Clunkers – All dealers have

money now. All clunkers have been disposed of.

Ethanol Level Increases – Legislation mandated incremental increases in ethanol use. Some legislators want to increase ethanol percentage in gasoline from 10% to 15%, which can be highly detrimental to many newer vehicles. Very few people buying 85% fuel with ethanol. Mandated guidelines: 5.4% with MTBE (prior RFG), 10% without MTBE (current RFG). DFW four-county area opted to use oxygenated fuels. Rubber fuel lines manufactured since 1990 are supposed to be impervious to ethanol. Fiberglass boat fuel tanks disintegrate when using fuels containing ethanol. Water phase separation not an issue in cars, according to some sources.

Climate Change Issues – Al Gore has been reported to have a 10% interest in carbon credit trading exchange. A climate change summit will be held in Denmark next month. China is experiencing a massive population shift from rural countryside to

cities, which can affect when they address environmental issues.

Old BusinessUpdate on trademark/copyright items – a

work in progress awaiting TVCC logos.

New BusinessProposed meeting dates for 2010: Jan 17,

Apr 18, Jul 18, Oct 17. The possibility of holding TVCC Board Meetings on Saturday afternoon was entertained. Almost everyone had Saturday conflicts preventing move to Saturday TVCC meetings.

Future Agenda Items – would you like to receive your newsletter as a PDF file? Nominations for 2010 Officers: need to be in by 31 Dec 2009.

Next Meeting: Sunday 17 Jan 2010 at Dickey’s conference room, Buffalo, TX, 1:00 p.m.

Nick Harper, Secretary

Logo for TVCC MembersThe TVCC Member Logo is available as a digital file from me via email – SunShineJ@jackson57.net. Feel FREE to ask!

SunShine JacksonNewsletter Editor and Webmistress

Membership Renewals/Additions

We have openings! New clubs may submit a membership form and dues to Nick Harper, our Membership Chairperson. Please forward a CURRENT TVCC Membership Application (http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/TVCC/Application.html) [Page 13 of this edition] to me with your membership renewal check. Please contact Nick Harper via snail mail, telephone or email:

8415 Old Moss Rd.Dallas, TX. 75231-1610

(214) 349-6584harper1425@sbcglobal.net

You can check your club’s membership status by contacting Nick Harper. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Nick.

SCHEDULED EVENTS

SunShine JacksonCalendar of Events Chairperson

TVCC CalendarPolar Brrr!! Get out the blankets, anti-freeze and such! Here comes the SNOW in Texas!! There are some die-hard events for you to attend, listed below. Please send a copy of your Club’s Newsletter to the TVCC Calendar of Events Chairperson upon each publication, in order to have ‘your’ events current in this publication. Here are the current categories: EAST (East Texas), WEST for West Texas and PAN for Plains/Panhandle locations, Dallas – Fort Worth (DFW), Houston – Gulf Coast (HOU), and Central (Austin/San Antonio) (CEN).

Happy Cruisin’SunShine Jackson

Calendar of Events ChairpersonONGOING EVENTS

Weekly: HOU Friday: Space City Cruisers host the Cruise to the Park in League City from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.

HOU Friday & Saturday: Home Depot Parking Lot on FM 518 and Dixie Farm Rd. in Pearland – 7:00 p.m.

Monthly:HOU 1st Saturday Morning: Coffee ’N Cars -Uptown Park shopping center near

Starbucks (1151 Uptown Park #12 - Houston, TX 77056 -- Post Oak Blvd @ Loop 610). The events will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month. [New Date and Time.] All Car Guys and Gals, Clubs and Spectators are welcome. Your cars need to be driven and shared. Questions and suggestions, email PhilBres@att.net. http://coffeencars.shutterfly.com

HOU 3rd Saturday: Wings and Wheels Saturday Hobby Airport (West Side) 1940 Air Terminal Museum, off Telephone Road fly-in, drive-in, antique planes and cars. Cars displayed in front of original terminal building - 8325 Travelair Rd. 713-454-1940. Ticket price includes lunch, Static Aircraft Tours, Special programs in the Starliner Theater, Museum Tours, and admission to the museum. Ticket prices: $10 Adults, $5 Kids (12 and under). Free lunch for car owners, come and go, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Contact Allen Moore @ 713-204-6570. http://www.wingsandwheels.org

STAR-TELEGRAM EXTRAS

Parker County classic-car museum hitting the brakesPosted Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009

 BY CHRIS VAUGHNcvaughn@star-telegram.com

Pate Museum of Transportation, Cresson, TX, will be closing before Christmas, 2009 (as reported in the Dec 12, 2009 Fort Worth Star-Telegram).  The vehicle collection will be sold and proceeds from the sale will go to the Pate Foundation (which helps fund many local charities).http://www.star-telegram.com/600/story/1825517.htmlIf the cars are auctioned off, the money will go to the Pate Foundation — the nonprofit that operates the museum — to support charities in Fort Worth, she said. Other museums are supposed to come get the remaining aircraft.If you go, The Pate Museum of Transportation is on the east side of U.S. 377, just north of Cresson. It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and Noon to 5:00 Sundays. It is closed on Mondays. Its last day will be December 24.

##################################################################################################### Holiday Parades ###################################################################################################

[From the Space City Cruisers Calendar of Events web page]

December 12th – Saturday - Eagle Lake Parade Of Lights --- Entry Due By Dec. 1st. (Read Flyer) Click here: 12-12-09 Eagle Lake Parade Of Lights Flyer

December 12th - Saturday - Christmas In The Park At The National Oak Park In Alvin, Tx 10:00 AM Holiday "Hero" Parade

11:00 AM Christmas Concert, Car Show, Food, Fun Festivities, Magic Show, Silent Auction & Pictures with Santa - A MUST -- READ FLYERS

Click here: 12-12-09 Christmas In The Park With Parade & Car Show In Alvin FLYER Click here: 12-12-09 Christmas In The Park Alvin Entry Form

December 18th – Friday - Santa's Kingdom Christmas Parade in Santa Fe. TxLine Up Starts at 5:00PM & Parade at 7:00PM.

More Info Contact Kevin Salter At - Also CAR SHOW December 19th - Sat. (see below) kevinsalter@yahoo.com or 409-526-4798

Click here: 12-18-09 Santa's Kingdom Christmas Parade and Festival In Santa Fe. Tx.Click here: Santa Fe Parade Line Up Map

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SCHEDULED EVENTS

December 200923 - 25 DFW The Annual Autumn Trails Tour - Winnsboro

January 201017 EAST Texas Vehicle Club Council Board Meeting will be in Buffalo, Texas at Dickey’s

Barbecue Pit at 1:00 p.m. [Eat at Noon or sooner.] Phone: (903) 322-5248. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is located on the west side of Interstate 45 at the Highway 79

exit (Exit 178). For more information, contact your local TVCC Board Member. The TVCC encourages all members and guests to attend.

27 - 31 HOU Houston Auto Show At Reliant Center In Houston Tx. (NEW CARS)Wed – Sun Debuts Major New Cars - Kids Under 12 Free - Plus-- Arena Of Classic Cars by VanNatter Houston Auto Show - Jan 27 - Jan 31, 2010

30 HOU Mardi Gras Parade In The Gettegast Community on North WaysideBeginning at St. Peter Claver Church - 6005 North Wayside (MUST READ LETTER)01-30-10 Mardi Gras Parade In The Settegast Community

30 HOU First Annual Towne Lake Classic Car Show at Heritage at Towne Lake Lodge12:00 PM to Dusk (Rain Date Jan. 31st.) Contact jincognito@cmsin.com01-30-10 First Annual Towne Lake Classic Car Show Flyer

February 201026 - 28 DFW Decatur Swap Meet - Decatur, TX

27 HOU The Hellions Present The Texas Hotrod Hoedown Car Show & Swap Meet atAlvert Sallas Park - 21675 McClusky Re, New Caney, Texas. More Info: 832-563-3529 www.thehotrodhoedown.com

March 201019 - 21 HOU The 21st Annual Joy Ride at Freeport Texas Municipal Park (covered pavilion)

Rain or Shine, Pre-Register to Win $100 - Easter Egg Hunt - MUST READ FLYER March 19th.20th.21st. 21st Annual Joy Ride Freeport, Texas

20 HOU New Day! RAIN or SHINE! Enjoy the 27th Annual Old Car Picnic AROUND the Monument at the San Jacinto Battleground SHS — [What a GREAT Photo Op!] and see hundreds of classic cars, none newer than 1980 models. Bring your picnic basket and enjoy good food, folks and fun!  Sponsored by the Special Interest FORDs Car Club. Accessible for the mobility impaired. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. and awards are presented at 2:00 p.m. Vehicle registration fee is $5.00 donation for those entered for the show; spectators are free.  Park admission of $1/person applies to all.  For more information about the annual Old Car Picnic, contact Old Car Picnic Committee members: Lynn Taylor @ lynnspring@att.net / 281-851-5104 or Don Hamil @ dhamil@toast.net / 713-725-5253 or SunShine Jackson @ SunShineJ@jackson57.net / 281-381-6211. 

20 - 21 HOU The 32nd Corvette/Chevy Expo at George Brown Convention CenterThe largest Indoor Corvette & Chevy Event in Texas - Show Cars, Cars For Sale, Swap Meet; The Texas Chapter NCRS Will Flight Judge 8 Corvettes & Several More In Sportsman Display 32nd Annual Corvette/Chevy Expo 2010 Web Site

26 - 28 HOU The Spindletop 2010 26th Annual Rod & Classic Car Show At Boston Avenue (Shopping District) in Nederland, Texas - More Info: John 409-752-3327March 26 th --28 th Spindletop 2010 26 th Annual Rod & Classic Car Show

27 HOU North Houston Krewzers Car Club Spring Show

April 20103 HOU Space City Cruisers Spring Extravaganza Car Show, 4 X 4 Show & Shine,

Swap Meet and  Arts & Crafts -  35 Classes - Reg. 8:00 a.m. till Noon - $25 Awards at 3:00 PM - 04-03-10 Space City Cruisers Spring Car Show Flyer

8 HOU Texas Tour – College Station -- If you haven’t yet reserved a room, you’ll want to after you see where we’re going. Thursday’s optional tour will take us on a poker run around College Station/Bryan. Our opening social event will be an ice cream social that evening. On Friday we’ll have car judging, a ladies’ event, and a tour of theBush Library. After lunch, we’ll go to Calvert to drool in a chocolate factory, among other things. Our style show will be that evening. Saturday will start off with our going to Washington-on-the-Brazos to go through the Living Farm and the museum. After lunch there, we’ll head back to A & M for some car games, going through Anderson. Before our awards banquet that night, we have the opportunity to tour the Aggie Museum. If you haven’t yet, here is the hotel number to reserve your room for the April 8-11, 2010 tour. Ramada-College Station 979-693-9891. From the Gulf Coast Region AACA newsletter/TRAACA newsletter – Volume 51, Number 12.

10 HOU Bayshore Fine Rides Car Club 22nd Annual Car Show on Texas Avenue in BaytownReg 9:00 a.m. to Noon – Awards at 3:30 PM – Top 30 Participants Choice plus special awards – T-Shirts and Dash Plaques to 1st 100 - $25  www.bayshorefinerides.net

17 HOU San Jacinto High Roller Motorcycle Club Car & Bike Show benefiting theMontgomery Co. Women’s Center for abused women and children.

17 HOU Northside Mustang Car Club & Gullo Ford in Conroe are having an All FordShow – 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM -- Benefiting the Local Food Banks Robert Helmer 832-661-4620

18 EAST Texas Vehicle Club Council Board Meeting will be in Buffalo, Texas at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit at 1:00 p.m. [Eat at Noon or sooner.] Phone: (903) 322-5248. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is located on the west side of Interstate 45 at the Highway 79 exit (Exit 178). For more information, contact your local TVCC Board Member. The TVCC encourages all members and guests to attend.

24 HOU The Alvin Rotary Club Frontier Day Car & Bike Show

24 HOU Open Run Car Show in Claiborne West Park in Vidor, Texas (Rain or Shine)Participant Judging, Sponsor Plaques, Cash Drawings, Door Prizes Jonnie 409-769-7599 04-24-09 Open Run Car Show At Claiborne West Park, Vidor, Tx

25 CEN 18th Annual New Braunfels Swap Meet and Car Show. Comal County Fairgrounds,801 E. Common Street - New Braunfels, Texas.  For more information please see our web-site: www.newbraunfelsswapmeet.org 

30 - 2 HOU Gator Drag Custom Car & Truck Show – Montgomery County Fair Grounds - This

year we will be bringing back the Burnout Competition and LEGAL DRAGGING on the Show Grounds as well as Our $100 Cash in Prizes Bikini Contest For More Information: Brandon @ 936-203-7216.

May 20101 - 2 HOU The 15th Annual Keels & Wheels Concours D'Elegance Classic Car & Boat Show at

Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, Texas. (fill out form for an invitation) May 1-2 2009 The 15th Annual Keels & Wheels Concours D'Elegance

1 HOU United Way Bud Classic Car Show - Budweiser Houston Brewery, 775 Gellhorn Drive - All makes, models and years welcome. $25 Pre-registration and $30 day of event for participants.

8 HOU The Aeros & Autos Car Show at Ellington Airport

16 HOU Gulf Coast GTO's 13th Annual Grazin' With The Goats Car Showat Traders Village

June 201011 - 13 DFW AACA - LSR Swap Meet at Trader’s Village

12 - 13 HOU 19th Ever Bluebonnet Open Rod Run - Central Park, 1000 Krenek Tap Road, College Station, Texas - 8:00 AM Registration, Entry Fee $20.00 if registered before May 1, $25.00 after May 1 *Proceeds will go to Still Creek Ranch More Info: Bill McIe (979) 779-8443, Eddie Ryan (979) 776-2808 or Ric Ploeger (979) 693-3624 www.bluebonnetstreetrodders.com

13 HOU The 7th Annual Classy Chassis Concours D’Elegance at Reliant Stadium10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  Contact Joe Linbeck at 713-266-9696 -- jlinbeck@wardandames.com or you can download an exhibitor application below. Don't Pass This One Up, Folks!! If You Have An Original Classic Car, Or One Of A Kind, That Is What They Are Looking For!! Classy Chassis 2010 Exhibitor Application 7th. Annual Classy Chassis Concours D'Elegance (Benefiting Shiners’ Hospitals)

19 HOU Santa Fe Chamber 4th Annual Cruise-In, Car & Bike and Swap MeetMore Info:  Chamber 409-925-8558 or Roy 409-256-2025 - Entry $20 - Rain or Shine 06-19-10 Santa Fe Chamber 4th. Annual Cruise In & Car Show Flyer

26 HOU Wharton Freedomfest Car Show - Car and Motorcycle Show in DowntownWharton, TX - Show Registration 9:00 AM - 12:00 - Awards 2:00 Freddie Pekar 979-532-5805 06-26-10 Wharton FreedomFest In Downtown Riverfront Park

July 201018 EAST Texas Vehicle Club Council Board Meeting will be in Buffalo, Texas at Dickey’s

Barbecue Pit at 1:00 p.m. [Eat at Noon or sooner.] Phone: (903) 322-5248. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is located on the west side of Interstate 45 at the Highway 79 exit (Exit 178). For more information, contact your local TVCC Board Member.

The TVCC encourages all members and guests to attend.

October 20102 HOU Friendswood Car Show in Friendswood TX - 40 Classes - Best Engine, Best Paint

and Best Upholstery. For More Info: BILLY 281-330 4867

9 HOU The 5th Annual Pattison Car Show at Royal High School Campus

16 HOU Space City Cruisers Fall Extravaganza Car Show, 4 X 4 Show & Shine, Swap Meet and Arts & Crafts.  35 Classes - Reg. 8:00 AM till Noon $25 - Awards at 3:00 PM ALWAYS THE THIRD SATURDAY IN OCTOBER.

17 EAST Texas Vehicle Club Council Board Meeting will be in Buffalo, Texas at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit at 1:00 p.m. [Eat at Noon or sooner.] Phone: (903) 322-5248. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is located on the west side of Interstate 45 at the Highway 79 exit (Exit 178). For more information, contact your local TVCC Board Member. The TVCC encourages all members and guests to attend.

30 HOU 7th Annual Halloween Poker Run by Texas Gulf Coast Corvette Club in Conjunction with The Space City Cruisers Car Club.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/TVCC/

Membership Application/UpdateThe Texas Vehicle Club Council, TVCC, is an organization dedicated to preserving the vehicle hobby. In order to do this, we need your help! The TVCC sends out newsletters to the TVCC member clubs. Each newsletter contains information concerning any local, state or national legislation that could adversely affect the vehicle hobby. Also included is a quarterly calendar listing of our member clubs’ events. The TVCC will send the TVCC newsletter to the two contact persons you list below. In return, we ask that you send the TVCC one copy of your club newsletter to the person listed below. The cost of Membership in the TVCC is $1.00 per club member or member family from January through December of each year. They are due by January 1st of each year. The TVCC is a non-profit, all volunteer organization. So please remember to renew your club’s membership each year. This is a small amount to pay for such a large amount of information. The TVCC is working for all of us to help ensure our enjoyment of the vehicle hobby for years to come. We welcome and encourage your support and participation in our efforts.

Occasionally, the TVCC may need to contact individual club representatives with information updates or other important information. To assist in getting this information to the club representatives of record, please be sure to include your club contacts’ current email addresses and phone numbers. The TVCC will use this information only for the stated purpose. Thank you for your help.

Please send your club newsletters to:SunShine Jackson, TVCC Calendar Coordinator - 19251 Spanish Needle Drive - Houston, Texas 77084-4343 (SunShineJ@jackson57.net)

Your Organization’s Official Name: _______________________________________________________

Would you like to receive your newsletter via email in PDF format vs. hard-copy format? Yes No

 Designated TVCC Contact Person for Your Club

Name and Title:________________________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip:_________________________________________________________________

Telephone Number:______________________________________________________________

E-Mail:_______________________________________________________________________

Your Club’s Newsletter Editor

Name:________________________________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip:_________________________________________________________________

Telephone Number:_____________________________________________________________

E-Mail:_______________________________________________________________________Please fill out the application and mail it to: Texas Vehicle Club Council Membership

8415 Old Moss Rd. - Dallas, TX 75231-1610

If you have any questions concerning the TVCC, please contact your local TVCC Boar Board Member. Revised 12-11-09

Please check your Newsletter Address Label for the expiration date of your club’s membership.FROM:Texas Vehicle Club Councilhttp://clubs.hemmings.com/TVCC/19251 Spanish Needle DriveHouston, Texas 77084-4343

Next TVCC Board Meeting

The next TVCC Board meeting will be January 17, 2010 in Buffalo, Texas at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit at 1:00 p.m. [Eat at Noon or sooner.] Phone: (903) 322-5248Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is located on the west side of Interstate 45 at the Highway 79 exit (Exit 178). For more information, contact your local TVCC Board Member. The TVCC encourages all members and guests to attend.

TVCC Board Members 2009:

General ChairpersonWillis Bell (817) 594-3558220 E. Second Street C-BODY@webtv.netWeatherford, TX 76086 Membership ChairpersonNick Harper (214) 349-65848415 Old Moss Rd. harper1425@sbcglobal.netDallas, TX 75231-1610 Secretary Nick Harper (214) 349-65848415 Old Moss Rd harper1425@sbcglobal.netDallas, TX 75231-1610

TreasurerWendall Spreadbury (936) 564-06207437 E. St. Hwy 21 wendall@suddenlink.netNacogdoches, TX 75961

SEND TO:

SEMA Government Relations Office1317 F St., NW, Suite 500Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 783-6007      FAX  (202) 783-6024

Steve McDonald: VP, Government AffairsStuart Gosswein:  Director, Federal Government Affairs

Jason Tolleson: Director, SEMA Action NetworkBen Burdick: Research Coordinator

For more legislative and regulatory information, check out the SEMA website:http://www.semasan.com

Co-Chairperson Gary Butler (713) 862-4686 315 W. 17th Street gtbtlr@cs.comHouston, TX 77008

Newsletter Editor andWebmistressSunShine Jackson SunShineJ@jackson57.net

Calendar of Events ChairpersonSunShine Jackson (281) 381-621119251 Spanish Needle Drive SunShineJ@jackson57.netHouston, TX 77084-4343