Columbia CrierA Publication of the Columbia Basin Model A ClubTri-Cities, Washington

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• Hat Rock Rendezvous • Fashion Feature • Member Projects • True or False?• Restoration Projects • MAFCA News

Reata Springs Baptist Church2830 Leopold Lane, Richland, WASeptember 13th, 7:00 p.m.

Volume 48 Issue 9 September 2018

Calvin and Vernita Coffey are waiting for the Prosser States Day Parade to start. They are driving a 1929 Model A Ford Tudor.

Adventure, something we all need occasionally to keep life interesting. Sue and I are about to strike out on a month long RV trip across the country. The destination is known and the people to be visited have been notified of an approximate schedule but the stops are to be determined. Drive each day until tired and then look for a camping spot. This in a used RV that is new to us. We have not even spent one day in it previous to the trip. Wish us luck.

This adventure pales in comparison to the first cross country trip in an automobile. Many people thought in 1903 that automobiles were a passing fad. Dr Horatio Jackson made a $50 bet that he could drive from San Francisco to Vermont despite not owning a car at the time, having limited driving experience and no mechanical experience. He teamed up with a young mechanic and chauffer, Sewall Crocker for the trip. There were no cross country road maps at the time, many dirt roads that dead ended in the middle of nowhere, limited gasoline availability, even more limited car parts and poor reliability of the current generation of automobiles. They set out with sleeping bags, a camera, a rifle and shotgun, tools, spare parts, a block and tackle and a few other camping supplies. Along the way they adopted a pit bull named Bud for a companion. Our adventure in a modern RV with buddy our Chihuahua mix doesn’t seem too daunting thinking back to what it was like back then.

Adventure is what I like about a model A. Travelling in a modern car that always starts and runs for over a 100,000 miles with very little maintenance is not the same level of adventure as driving even a short distance in a 87 year old car.

Larry Campbell

January: CanceledFebruary: Larry & Sue CampbellMarch: Tom & Robin Eldhardt/ Mary Fraser April: Bruce & Shelley ClarkMay: Rick & Janet BudzeckJune: John & Thora Trumbo/ Pete & Grace JacksonJuly: Club Members - PotluckAugust: Dave HannahSeptember: Calvin & Vernita CoffeyOctober: Jan & Mara JacksonNovember: Blaine & Bev McGillicuddyDecember: Christmas Brunch

President: Larry Campbell 783-5864 Vice President: Marshall Hauck 783-1444Secretary: Janet Budzeck 943-2522Treasurer: Blaine McGillicuddy 627-1254Historian: Tom Eldhardt 967-3081Correspondence: Mara Jackson 967-2801Sunshine: Bev McGillicuddy 627-1254Editor: Jan Jackson 967-2801Web Master: William Sperry 572-2459Restorer: Robin Eldhardt 967-3081

Leadership

Meeting Schedule

Larry’s Lessons

BirthdaysLinda Porter 8thSue Campbell 15thMarti Meyers 17th

Calendar of EventsStates Day Parade September 3Hat Rock Tour September 22International Model A Day September 22Veterans Day Parade November 10MAFCA Natl. Awards Banquet Nov 27-Dec 1Christmas Brunch December 8

Ladies LunchThe September ladies lunch will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 12:30 PM, at the Edge Steakhouse & Sports Lounge at the Tri-City Country Club. The address is 314 N. Underwood Street, Kennewick.

Please let Robin know if you’re planning to attend by Wednesday, August 29, so you can be included in the reservation.

Saturday – SEPTEMBER 22

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

HAT ROCK STATE PARK

• Wind up the touring season with a day at beautiful Hat Rock State Park!

• Join your hosts, Blue Mountain Model A’s of Pendleton, and vintage Ford buffs from other area clubs.

• Please bring your own table service, beverage, and a dish to share.

ADD A FOOTER

MULTI-CLUBPICNIC

Columbia Basin Model A Club members, Jim Bader and Jan Jackson, are waiting for Jan’s Sport Coupe to heat up. Jim is trying to unclog the Model A’s radiator which was boiling over at the National Model A Convention in Sparks, Nevada.

Fashion FeatureFashions of the Model A Ford Era

Fashion 101Floppy and close-fitting hats were in fashion as noted in the pictures opposite. Also, above the shoulder and close-cropped haircuts were seen around town.

Submitted by Robin Eldhardt

True or False?1. The Ammeter should read about 8 – 10 amps

“CHARGE” when the vehicle is running at normal speeds.

2. Driving with the Headlights ON in the daytime can keep the Battery from overcharging on long drives.

3. Although there is a grease fitting/zerk on the Steering Sector it is to be filled with 600W oil and not grease.

4. Rotating the moveable brush in the Generator in a downward direction will lower the amperage output of the Generator.

5. The firing order of the engine is 1-2-3-46. The Intake Manifold is attached to the Exhaust

Manifold with two bolts.7. The rubber pads attached to the Body Blocks were

installed to help cushion the ride.

ANSWERS1. TRUE. The Generator is normally set for this

charging rate to re-charge the Battery after an Engine start

2. TRUE. For long outings it will add a load to the Generator, which lowers the current to re-charge the Battery.

3. TRUE. Originally Ford had a grease fitting (Zerk) installed on the Steering Box although it needed 600W oil.

4. FALSE. Moving the moveable arm downward (counter-clockwise) actually increases the Generator’s amperage output.

5. FALSE. The firing order is 1-2-4-3. The shape of the three-bearing Crankshaft is such that when #1 and #4 pistons are at their Top positions, the #2 & #3 pistons will be at their bottom positions. Listed below is a table of the four strokes of the engine during two clockwise rotations of the Crankshaft.

#1 – Gas In, Compression, Power, Exhaust#2 – Exhaust, Gas In, Compression, Power#4 – Power, Exhaust, Gas In, Compression#3 - Compression, Power, Exhaust, Gas In

6. TRUE. There are two bolts that mount the Intake Manifold to the side of the Exhaust Manifold. (There are four studs, washers and nuts used to attach the two manifolds as a unit to the engine block.)

7. FALSE. The rubber pads were installed to help lessen metal-to-metal squeaks.

Submitted by Tom Eldhardt

September EventsProsser States Day ParadeWe will meet at the parking lot at the Benton City Conoco Station, and leave promply at 8:30 a.m. We’ll roll into Prosser at about 9:00, take our places and wait until the parade begins at 10:00. Let Mara know if you’re coming so we can make lunch reservations.

Hat Rock Rendezvous/International Model A DayWe’ll leave the HAPO building on the corner of Clearwater and Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick at 9:30 a.m. We’ll travel south on Clodfelter and South Plymouth roads, cross the bridge and exit at Umatilla.

Bring your own table service, beverage and a dish to share with the other clubs.

Please let Mara know if you’re planning to attend the rendezvous so we don’t leave without you!

Restoration Projects Model A Ford Repair & Restoration – Are You Unbalanced?Just because you own and drive a Model A Ford does not make you unbalanced. Although some people may think that is true. This month’s article is about properly balancing your Model A when you put it on a Car Trailer. Using a Car Trailer to haul your Model A Ford a long distance to a meet or after a breakdown is not different than loading any other car. Although your Model A may weigh a lot less, the same principles apply as to where to place the vehicle on the trailer and keeping the trailer level. This article will look at your vehicle weight, the Car Trailer’s weight, the Tow Vehicle, the Car Trailer’s tongue weight, Car Trailer leveling and centering the vehicle weight, and remembering to check that the Car Trailer lights operate. Vehicle weight – The basic Model A chassis weights 1,600#, a Roadster body weighs 465#, the heavier Town Sedan body weighs 810#, a spare wheel carrier/wheel/tire/tube at 52#, throw in some tools at 14#, etc. and you can easily get to over 2,500# pretty quickly. Car Trailer weight – Car Trailers come in either enclosed or open models with two axles rated at 3,500# each for a combined Car Trailer loaded weight of 7,000#. The enclosed trailer protects your vehicle better during travelling, but has the disadvantage of being a lot heavier. Tow Vehicle - Most SUVs and Pickup Trucks can tow some kind of trailer, but not all can be used safely to tow an unloaded much less a loaded car trailer. Many large SUVs and Pickup Trucks come with factory installed trailer hitches. Read your vehicle manual for manufacturer’s details and information concerning trailer weight capacity and trailer tongue weights allowed. Also, some Tow Vehicles will need to have an additional Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) installed, transferring the tongue weight away from the ball towards the trailer’s front axle. Tongue Weight – The industry standard is usually 10%-15% of the loaded Car Trailer weight, or about 300#-500#. Level when sitting empty – Car Trailers are designed to sit level front-to-back and side-to-side when empty. Therefore, the trailer hitch ball on the Tow Vehicle should be at about the same level or slightly higher than the tongue of the Car Trailer. When coupled together the weight of the Car Trailer is transferred to the Tow Vehicle at the trailer hitch ball. Level when towing – The Tow Vehicle and the Car Trailer should both be pretty level when driving down the road. This includes being level side-to-side, so center your car.

If the Tongue weight is too HEAVY it will cause the back of the Tow Vehicle to sag. This will raise the front of the Tow Vehicle which can lead to trailer swaying, poor braking and Tow Vehicle headlight misalignment (shining towards the stars). If the Tongue weight is too LIGHT then the Car Trailer will try and lift up the back of the Tow Vehicle while also trying to disconnect and lift itself off of the trailer hitch ball. This will lower the front end of the Tow Vehicle which can cause hard steering, poor braking and Tow Vehicle headlight misalignment (shining too far down on the road). Ready for the Road? – Not before you verify the Car Trailer lights are working correctly and the emergency braking battery mounted on the Car Trailer is available to stop the Car Trailer should it become disconnected from the Tow Vehicle.

Submitted by Tom Eldhardt

MAFCA NewsPresident’s Message:Doug Linden, 2018 MAFCA President

The Aces & A’s Convention in Sparks is over and I’m happy to say everyone had a great time. I have to congratulate the members of the Northern California Regional Group for all their hard work they put into planning such a successful meet. Under the leadership of Chairwomen Trudy Vestal and Co-Chair Jim Costello, they and their team had all areas under control. I am happy to report that Trudy was able to attend the entire convention after an amazing recovery from a medical condition that could keep anyone else on the sideline.

The weather was great, the tours very scenic and interesting, the cruises on Lake Tahoe were spectacular, great technical seminars and fashion boutiques. The Fashion Show and Tea was a hit and the cars participating in the various judging classes were top notch. The Raffle and Hospitality room was always crowded. The flea market had some great parts and the repair tent always had something to work on.The other benefit of attending a national convention is reconnecting with members from around the country and world. We enjoyed spending time with our friends from New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Great times for sure.

I’m sure your club is similar to ours in that August is a busy month for touring. Our club has 7 events scheduled this month. That should keep us out and about and adding mileage to our Model A. Speaking of mileage, do you know that MAFCA has a National Driving Award? It is a mileage award program and information can be found on the MAFCA website under the National Driving Recognition Awards (Policy P2S05-G). If you like driving your Model A, keep track of your mileage and receive your award.

Do you have any plans to visit the MAFFI Model A Museum in Hickory Corners? I, along with other members of the MAFCA Board, will be at the museum to celebrate their Model A Day festivities. This is always a fun day with the grounds surrounding the museum loaded with Model A’s, era dressed visitors and programs. Please stop by and visit with us at the MAFCA event tables, we would enjoy talking to you.

MAFFI Minute:

ALL Aboard! When you next visit our museum on The Gilmore grounds, you may have the unique opportunity to take a ride in a 1930 AA stake bed truck. Through a generous donation made to MAFFI last year, we have a beautifully restored AA truck which has been fitted with an entry stairway and bench seats for visitor rides. The idea to use the truck for visitor rides was discussed with the MAFFI trustees and Chris Shires, Executive Director at The Gilmore. It was agreed the AA stake bed truck was ideal for offering visitor rides and provided another way for visitors to have fun and learn about the museum’s cars and trucks. Finding a way to safely enter the truck and to provide seating took some work, but through the efforts of Larry Wallace and Rob Mills (MAFFI trustees) and Innovative Access Solutions in Leitchfield, Kentucky, a design was developed. The powder coated aluminum components were shipped to Rob Mills’s farm where he completed the installation onto the truck bed and tailgate and delivered the truck to the museum. Randy Czubko, also a MAFFI trustee, developed magnetic signs which will help promote both the hobby and the museums. The signs will be installed on the truck doors when completed. The truck is on loan to The Gilmore so that rides can be given year round. Marsha Quesnel, MAFFI Trustee

The purpose of the club shall be to serve as a medium of exchange of ideas, information and parts for admirers of the Model A Ford, and to aid them in their efforts to restore and preserve the car in its original likeness. Membership in the Model A Ford Club of America is a requirement to joining the Columbia Basin Chapter. To join MAFCA, see the web site at <www.mafca.com> and click on the “Join MAFCA” tab. Requirements for membership in the chapter shall not insist upon the actual possession of a Model A Ford, merely an interest in the objectives of the club and a desire to take an active part in club activities shall be the primary requirement for membership. (Excerpt from Columbia Basin Model A Club Bylaws dated February 2015.)

Meeting MinutesAugust 9, 2018

The monthly meeting was opened by the president Larry Campbell and attended by Jan and Mara Jackson, Tom and Robin Eldhardt, Sue Campbell, Mary Fraser, Rick and Janet Budzeck, Blaine and Bev McGillicuddy and Dave Hannah. The minutes from the July meeting were approved and the treasurer’s report was provided by Blaine.

Correspondence Mara reported on the following: (a) letters from Andy Scheer, editor of The Restorer, and Doug Linden, MAFCA president, thanking Jan on his ‘Touring the Oregon Trail’ article, which was published in the July/August edition of The Restorer; (b) registration for the Prosser States Day parade on Labor Day, which Mara completed and returned, and (c) MAFCA Board of Directors campaign letters from Mike Kelly, Dave Libbey, and Bill Truesdell.

Sunshine Bev stated she sent a card to Vernita Coffey as she recovers from blood clots in her lungs. Bev will send a card to Debbi Hannah wishing her a quick recovery after her hip replacement surgery on Wednesday, August 15th.

ToursThose planning on participating in the Prosser States Day parade should meet at the parking lot behind the Conoco station in Benton City at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, September 3rd. Due to the extremely hot weather, Jan and Mara canceled the ‘Hotter Than Hades’ tour to Boardman. Bev is trying to set up a time for her and Rick to meet with a representative from Corwin Ford to plan how we can join with them to celebrate International Model Day, which is September 22nd. Since our club members will be meeting other clubs at Hat Rock for a potluck on the 22nd, it was suggested we ask Corwin Ford if the celebration could take place the day before.

Old BusinessRick and Janet were thanked for hosting the July 4th get-together.

New BusinessLarry received a call from a gentleman offering a pair of 1930 Washington license plates for $250.00. Give Larry a call if you or anyone you know is interested. Mary cautioned members to be sure their license plate numbers are included on all forms when adding or removing individual’s names. She also read a letter she is sending to the museum in Hood River where the 1929 ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Depot Hack she and Fred owned is now on display.

ProjectsJan stated he ordered a new radiator after continuing to experience overheating in his Model A whenever he took it for a drive during triple digit weather.

AnnouncementsLarry congratulated those members who had birthdays and/or anniversaries this month and thanked Dave for providing the refreshments for this evening.

With no further business, a motion was made, seconded and passed to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted by Janet Budzeck, Secretary

Columbia Basin Model A Club703 S. 48th Ave.West Richland, WA 99353

The Columbia Crier is a publication of the Columbia Basin Model A Club. For questions or submittals to the Columbia Crier contact Jan Jackson by email at: j-m.jackson@frontier.com or by phone:(509) 967-2801.