volume 2, issue 12 the accelerator 2, issue 12 - december 2014" page 1 the accelerator kansas...

Antique Automobile Club Of America Volume 2, Issue 12 - December 2014

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The AcceleratorKansas City Region

Everyone Needs a “Little Goodness” at Christmas

A Step back in tim

e to 1959 . . .

At my grandparents' picturesque farm in north-central Kansas, scrap metal and various antiquated pieces dot the landscape. To some folks, like me, this

Junior Member Profile ~ John CaryWhat young person wouldn’t dream of this for Christmas?

President’s Message Every month our members participated in one or more events and our membership has grown to 162 because you have invited others to join!

The last event of the year, our Christmas Party at Bass Pro Restaurant, Islamorada Fish Company was enjoyed by over 50 members.

Thank you to all who sent wishes of concern for Bill after his accident. We appreciate your caring friendship! See you next year,

Bonnie Johnson


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Junior Member Profile ~ John Cary ~ 1959 Buick LeSabre 4-door hard-top

"treasure collection" provides an ever-present source of entertainment; on a boiling-hot summer afternoon, a treasure-hunt is a perfect distraction! On one such exploration venture, I discovered a forgotten automobile: a '59 Buick LeSabre 4-door hard-top, the old car that sparked my interest in antique automobiles. At once, I became fascinated in the Buick, which had survived a

flood and a fire, as well as serving as target-practice for some not-so-virtuous friends. It was a "diamond in the rough" to me, and I had great hopes that someday it would be mine.

On Christmas last year, one of my uncles - on the brink of selling the car to a scrap metal dealer - decided to give me the Buick for a

The Wishbook gives us a glim

pse of clothing in 1959. What did you w

ish for?

Location of where car sat for past 20 years a"er it was pu#ed $om a burning building.

Wheels would not spin $eely a"er sitting a# those years.

Continued page 3

John and his ’59 Buick LeSabre


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present.... perhaps as a joke. But, I was thrilled and was serious about efforts to restore it. Soon after, I named the car Car was dra&ed $om its location to the farm shop to work on the wheels.

Someone shot out the back glass of my Buick!.

The car is now on a trailer a#owing it to be moved easily in and out of the $arm shop.

"Little Goodness" because it needed just that. The very early stages of my car restoration began shortly thereafter.

On a bleak, frigid day in

January, two of my uncles and I strained to roll the car out of its position. After several unsuccessful attempts, we decided to drag the car out of the ground that held its frozen wheels captive.

In 1959, were you picking out your favorite holster, building set or do# house?

Continued page 4


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With a heave, the Buick finally rose out of the earth. Our next step was to drag the car to my grandparents' shop. After prying off two of the brake drums, we removed the gas tank and drained out the ten

Junior Member Profile ~ continued

Continued page 5

Tiny Tears, transport trucks and lots of wheels w

ere on some of our lists.

remaining gallons of watery gasoline.

My dad and I have taken several short trips to the farm to further work on the Buick. On our most recent visit, we tackled opening the trunk - without a key. In the 1990s, my cousins bent the lock and handle in a futile attempt to discover treasure. As the dented trunk was impossible to open from the outside, we went in from the back

1959 Buick LeSabres used the 364 CID version of engines $om the 1958 Special

now ca#ed the 'Wildcat V8.

Adding a special mix to the 'stuck' engine to let it soak for several weeks.

seat with a long wrench. At last the rusty bolt screeched, and the trunk popped open! Treasures galore! Among the valuables were a dilapidated bird


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feeder, a mint-condition stainless steel pan from the 1970's, a rusty shovel and pitchfork, a never-used tire from who-knows-when, a tattered hat, and a still-runnable GE fan from the 1960's.

We then faced another monumental car restoration challenge: finding a clear, wrap-around back glass to replace the original that had been broken out. My dad and I struggled to find a replacement. In fact, it ultimately led to the point of driving to Maine to purchase from a seller who would not ship. When we returned home, we figured out that we had made a "speed run" and had made the trip in just under one hundred hours. Some highlights of our trip include a visit to the Hershey chocolate factory, a visit to the AACA museum, and a visit to another classic car museum- the Northeast Classic Car Museum of New York. We arrived back home safely, and the back glass was safely stored in a shelter.

We are currently working on transforming an unused garage into a future car shop. Hopefully, the Buick will soon be transported from my grandparents' farm to our garage, where restoration can be continued. Written by John Cary

HISTORY OF 1959 BUICKS

In 1959, all Buicks were completely restyled to new designs, and new names were chosen to make the buying public believe that all Buicks were brand-new. Specials were renamed LeSabres, Supers became Invictas, Roadmasters were turned into Electras, and top-of-the- line series Limiteds were transformed into Electra 225s. In addition, the puffy styling from 1958 bowed to the bold new “Delta Wing” styling: sleek rooflines, graceful bumpers, and less chrome. Road test reports were also very complimentary.The Motor Trend magazine named the Invicta four-door hardtop as "Best Looking Car Overall" and the Invicta Estate Wagon as "Best Looking Wagon" for 1959.

Dream

ing of View-M

asters, a Deluxe Flightliner Bike and a Betsy M

c Ca# Do#.


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Mecum Auto Auction ~ Club Participation A total of approximately forty participated in the Mecum Auction at Bartle Hall including friends and family of members.

Members included: Jim Streeby, Harry Owens, Wayne Lanam, Jim Hlacha, Ally and Jim Edwards, Jerry Young, Ron Schafer, Jerry Shield, Jon and Martie Kernodle, Dave Field, Ken and Trish Lee, Jon Cooper, Carol and Richard Barker, Janice and Maurice Cox, Dennis Hedberg, Dennis

and Linda Radford, John Smith, Gary Austerman, Bob Hickman, Dennis Roberts, Gary Crispin, Dave and Dana Noble.

For many members, this was their first time at an auction. I talked to first-time pushers and they said they enjoyed the event and really got a first hand experience. When pushing cars through the auction, you get a good idea of the cars’ condition vs. what you see on TV. Shiny paint is always important, but many had chrome that was compromised and weather stripping that was very worn. It could make you wonder what condition would the vehicle’s mechanicals be in. It appears that the cars are prepared mostly for a good visual appearance.

Reliving history with toy soldiers, tw

o train trestle sets and a P-40 Flying Tiger.


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Who found a trailer truck fleet, a stereophonic phonograph or a party skirt under the tree ?

I’ve attended the Mecum Auction for over 10 years. I think the numbers were down this year. Talking with others, (and I agree), that it was a buyers market. The rare cars are still in orbit but many practical good cruising vehicles were available. More than ever before it is a fact…you can’t build it for that…meaning the selling price.

This is a televised event that is shown world wide. This is a good activity for us to be involved with this time of year. There will be a Spring Mecum Auction in April 2015. I would encourage you to be a “pusher”. Our club not only gains additional community exposure, we also add additional funds to our treasury.

It was a good time and fun!

National Dues Deadline 12/31/2014 Club dues should be given to Connie Lanam. AACA headquarters will be sending out reminders to all members in your January-February magazine. If you are not paid up by March you will not receive your March-April magazine. Make your $60 check out to “AACA-KC Region” and we will mail in your national dues for you.

Thank you for helping keep us current. We do value your membership and enjoy your friendship in the club. We have 162 individual members! We are in the running for the Kirkham Award a third time in a row! We don’t believe it’s ever been won three times in a row by any club in the organization!

Thank you for bringing in new members. Our club is so much fun and we love our cruises, short trips and garage tours!

Reported by Ken Lee and Connie Lanam


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Readin’ Writin’ and Wrenchin’By Ken Lee

This and That:•Many years ago, I looked at a ’65 Corvette for a new owner. The previous owner said the mileage was 100

percent correct with 78K. I inspected the front-end and the ball joints were very, very worn out. The front-end was typical of a

GM of that era…it was very well designed. On average, 100 to 120,000 miles was the life of a front-end. The problem with this Corvette was that the ball joints and the front-end had all been replaced at least one time. So, it’s easy to say that this car had over 200,000 miles. Remember, this was many years ago. How many miles does that Corvette have on it today?

• Our classic cars are not driven every day. Your tires may have low miles, but may have dry rot. This could be an invitation for a blow-out. Check the date on the tire (can be on either side). Here is how to decode your tire on the sidewall: DOT _________. Many production numbers are first but, you are interested in the last four. The last two digits are the year of manufacture.

• For safety and tire life checking tire pressure with a good accurate tire pressure gauge is

important. Tire pressure should be checked when the tire temperature is cool. Seasonal temperature changes will affect tire inflation pressure. For example, for every 10 degrees F change in ambient temperature, the tire pressure will change one pound per square inch. I always inflate my tires to what the max pressure is rated. This does cause a little harsher ride, but steering and cornering is enhanced plus, my tires definitely run cooler. The life of your tire will also be extended if you inflate to the max pressure. Goodyear claims that a 4psi decrease in inflation pressure below the recommended limit can result in a 10 percent loss in tread wear.

• If you’re interested in reading material, years ago some manufacturers participated in the Mobil Gas Econo Run. This was, of course, about fuel mileage which was a big concern for the buyer. The book is entitled: THE MOBILE GAS ECONO RUN. The author is, Dave Hermanson…it’s 324 pages soft cover. Cost is $45.00. Telephone number: 800-253-2187. Who wanted one of these?


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December Meeting Minutes - Trish Lee

December 14, 2014

Our Christmas Meeting and Party Dinner was held December 14 at the Independence Bass Pro Restaurant, Islamorada Fish Company. And, if you didn’t attend, you missed out on a good time, good food and good socialization with other club members!

Approximately, 51 people were in attendance. Special thanks to Ken Lee for giving us a positive talk while we dined about the past, present, and future ideas for our club. He encouraged everyone to help participate in

our national 2015 event in June…and to startpreparing our vehicles “now” for this event. In reflection of our 2014

events, it is evident that this club knows how to have fun! It can only get better with more events being planned for the future! Connie “Santa” Lanam’s personal generosity surprised everyone! She provided several automotive related door prizes! Thank you Connie because it added so much fun to the good time that we were already having! …

Your fellow officers appreciated all the nice things being said on their behalf…they hope to be of service to you in the future and look forward to our 2015 Central Spring Meet in KC!

Respectfully submitted,

Trish Lee Secretary

Permission granted for Sears Wishbook images $om WishbookWeb.com

The Lees and the Radfords!

. . . for a Portable Typewriter

Trish did you wish in 1959 . . .


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Club ChairpersonsMembership: Dave Field Home: (816) 537-4766Cell: (816) 289-4447Email: [email protected]

Touring: Jon Cooper Home: (913) 681-5963Cell: (913) 744-9575Email: [email protected]

Webmaster: Monte Kottman Home: (816) 697-3757Cell: (816) 210-3467Email: [email protected]

Newsletter: Carolyn Young Home: (816) 524-2083Cell: (816) 835-5447Email: [email protected]

Yellow PagesAACA-KC

Our Club CalendarAdvertiseAdvertise in our newsletter. This is a great way to help offset the cost of our newsletter and club expenses.

Be creative, advertise cars, trucks, parts or automobile accessories.

The cost is as follows:

• $3.00 per line item (ad)

• $5.00 photo and 20 words

How can you make our newsletter more interesting? Share your . . .

Please contact your newsletter chairperson, Carolyn Young.

• [email protected]

• Or cell - 816-835-5447

Newsletter Production: Carolyn Young

Newsletter Editor : Laura Streeby

Your newsletter will be emailed to all members and also be available on our website. Look for the link to the pdf file.

http://www.aaca-kc.org

Ideas for Articles

Officer Contacts

President: Bonnie Johnson Home: (816) 353-4114 Email: [email protected]

Vice President: Jim Streeby Home: (816) 554-0810Cell: (816) 729-8513 Email: [email protected]

Secretary: Trish Lee Home: (816) 356-7019Email: [email protected]

Treasurer: Connie Lanam Home: (816) 373-1933 Email: [email protected]

Mark your Calendar! Sunday, January 11th, 3-5 PMat Paradise Park in the 2nd level conference room - 1021 NE Colbern RdLee's Summit, MO

At our 1st meeting of the year we will be introducing 16 committee chairman for the 2015 Central Spring Meet. Each chairman will be give a brief description of their responsibilities, and their individual need for volunteers.

This is your opportunity to hear all the volunteer opportunities available. Hosting, show field layout, trailer parking, seminar coordinator, sign making, traffic control, handy helpers, apparel sales, shuttle drivers, judges breakfast, awards banquet, registration, trophy assembly, and more! We even have a 'floater' team that will be available to fill in where necessary for any 'surprise' needs during this 3 day meet.

This will be a 1st class-3 day event. Let's show National AACA members we are a top-notch club!

Let's pack the room with a huge turn-out of support!

Merry Christmas, and a very safe a Happy New Year to everyone.

See you in January!

Jim Streeby2015 Central Spring Meet ChairmanPh: 816-729-8513 email: [email protected]

WE NEED YOU !

January 11, 2015 - 3-5 PMMonthly meeting - Paradise Park LS, MOFebruary NO general meetingas all officers will be in Philadelphia for the National Meeting promoting our June 2015 MeetFebruary 22, 2015 - 12 Noon -Central Spring Meet Planning MeetingPBI Indeustries Inc. - 11 SE 2nd StreetLees Summit, MO 64063February 13-15, 2015World of Wheels - Bartle HallMarch 8, 2015 - 3-5:30 PMMeeting & Annual Club Auction - ParadisePark - set-up begins at 2:30 PMPlease note: Our monthly meeting location is at Paradise Park in the 2nd level conference room - 1021 NE Colbern RdLee's Summit, MO

ANNUAL AUCTIONMarch 8, 2015 - 3 - 5:30 PMMeeting & Annual Club Auction - Paradise Park - set-up begins at 2:30 PM

Start Cleaning out the garage, basement,shop and attic! This is our largest fundraiser of the year. Jerry Nail will be our auctioneer with Jim Streeby as his assistant 'Yelper" We always laugh hard, spend a little money, and have a wonderful time! Items do NOT have to be 'car' related!

Deadline - 12/31/2014$60 to Connie Lanam

NATIONAL DUES !

2015 Meet

mailto:[email protected]
























volume 2, issue 12 the accelerator 2, issue 12 - december 2014" page 1 the accelerator kansas...

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