Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska. Tinkering Times. A Chance to Melt the Ice, Blow out the Cob Webs

Transcription

1 Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Volume 57, Number 4 A Chance to Melt the Ice, Blow out the Cob Webs On Saturday, May 13 the Auto Mushers will head out on the season s first planned driving event. The tour will take us to Raven s Perch at the Knik River Lodge, located at the end of East Knik River Road ten miles past the Knik River Bridge on the Old Glenn Highway. We will meet at Northway Mall at 11:15 AM in front of the former Office Depot at the east end of the parking lot. We leave promptly at 11:30. We will drive north on the Glenn Highway and exit at Eagle River. We continue on the Old Glenn through Eagle River and on towards Chugiak. If the skies are clear, watch for a good view of Denali as we pass the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Station. Continue on to the Peters Creek exit area (the stop sign at Ski Road). Turn Left then make an immediate Right onto the Glenn Highway onramp. Continue north on the Glenn Highway beyond Eklutna and exit onto the Old Glenn, continuing on this road until just before the Knik River crossing; turn Right onto East Knik River Road. Continue on this to the end. The restaurant plans to have an area cordoned off for us to park. Join the Cleanup Remember to come and help with the Northern Lights Adopt-ARoad at 9:00 AM, May 6th at the Muldoon Carr s parking lot. More food! Marcy Cresap will provide breakfast goodies. What a way to brighten up your Saturday morning, and you get a little exercise to work off some calories, too. Reese Raven s Perch will be the destination for our first official tour of the season. This provides a chance to blow out the cob webs, to see how our rides weathered the winter storage. Lunch is planned for 1:00. home as you desire. Return If you have any questions about details, call Donn Reese at AAMA s Annual Adopt-A-Road Project April Meeting The AAMA Adopt-a-Road program was the brainchild of the late Lorraine Foster. In 1992, She worked with the Municipality to make it happen, and in June 1993, we were assigned Northern Lights Boulevard from Muldoon to Boniface. The first official cleanup was on April 16, AAMA joins the Municipality of Anchorage in an agreement to pick up litter 3 times a year. We renew this contract every three years. To recognize AAMA s commitment and efforts, the Municipality has placed an Adopt-A-Road sign at each end of our adopted section. Our April 12th meeting will be at the Day Break Center in South Anchorage. This time of year is a sort of slack tide, but it is the calm before the storm of the raucous summer activity. So come and get your two bits in on the planning for the many activities. Oh, and there will be some nice food, too. Milt Tanora and Mark Graber will provide the snacks. We offer cheers to the folks who supplied the 5-course dinner at the last meeting: Michael Campbell, Terry Young, Doug Nolte, Gwyn Wiedmer and David Jensen. Wow! (See p. 2, Adopt-A-Road )

2 2 Running Board Reflections 2017 Officers President: Gwyn Wiedmer Vice President: David Jensen Secretary: Scott Hulse Treasurer: Milt Tanora Sergeant at Arms: Dutch Overly Members at Large Wiedmer President Gwyn poses in the Wiedmers 1949 Ford convertible at the 2014 AAMA/VLNAAC Joint Meet car games at Majestic Valley. Spring is definitely in the air these past few weeks and I don t know about all of you, but I am really starting to look forward to this year s driving season! We have a great schedule of events happening this summer. If you have never been to one of the Joint Meets with the Fairbanks club, you should really think about going this year. One of the best things about having the meet in Fairbanks is that we get the opportunity to tour the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. That alone is worth the trip, but we have so much fun with these folks and they always take great care of us. So I hope you will think about taking that road trip north with us from July Beginning in May, we will be starting our meetings at 6:30 and then proceed with our drive-arounds. At last glance we were still in need of a few volunteers to lead those drive-arounds, so if you have a good idea for a route to drive and a place for us to end up for dessert or dinner, please sign up. I m looking forward to seeing you all at the April meeting! Gwyn Adopt-A-Road History (Continued from p. 1) The event coordinator chooses the three dates for litter cleanup. The dates are usually in first part of the months of May, July and September. The coordinator picks up litter bags and safety vests from the Public Works Department at 4700 Elmore Road and provides a tailgate breakfast. It s fun, we get breakfast, and the job is usually complete by 11:00 AM. Cresap Donn Reese Howard Hansen Brian Anderson Past Presidents (10 years) Brian Anderson ( ) Mike Wiedmer ( ) Howard Hansen (2012) Donn Reese ( ) Jeff Hassler/Donn Reese (2008) Jim Fredenhagen ( ) Staff Editor: Tom Cresap Proofing, scheduling and keeping the old man in line: Marcy Cresap Send correspondence to: Tom Cresap, Editor P.O. Box Eagle River AK or tmcresap@mtaonline.net The is published monthly by Alaska s premier classic and antique automobile club, Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska, P.O. Box , Anchorage AK Opinions expressed by authors of including references about how wonderful we are are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska or any facsimile of reality, for that matter.

3 One Man s Treasures Our ads are intended for members and others who wish to sell cars and related items. There is no charge, and the ad will run for three consecutive issues before being removed. To pull an ad, extend it or to place a new ad, contact Tom Secured EnclosedStorage West Downtown Anchorage location 9 x18 x7-1/2 high space $125/month for single 2 spaces $225 Dave Syren, Homer Trip by Jim Fredenhagen Yes, we re planning our annual Stout Memorial Homer tour for May 20 th -22 nd. We plan to leave Carrs Huffman at 8 AM on Saturday, May 20 th. Dinner in Homer will be at Don José s. We ll stay at Ocean Shores Motel. The number is or Call for Antique Auto Musher discount. You can t get it when you reserve online. Sunday, the 21 st, we ll have our annual car show at the Wells Fargo bank parking lot next to the Safeway store from 10 AM to 3 PM. Afterward we ll parade to the Spit to checkout any new shops. Dinner will be at AJ s Steakhouse. Monday, the 22 nd, we ll have a leisurely drive home with a stop in Sterling to see Reger s Model A garage and homestead. 3 Schedule of Events April 12 7:00 PM Meeting at Day Break Center (Milt Tanora and Mark Graber) May 6 9:00 AM at at Muldoon Carr s, Adopt-a-Road (Marcy Cresap, ) May 10 6:30 PM, Rolling Meeting at Day Break Center (Host?) May 13 Shake Down Cruise, Knik River Lodge (Donn Reese, ) May 20,22 Stout Memorial Homer Tour (A Model A event: Jim Fredenhagen, ) June 14 6:30 PM, Rolling Meeting at Day Break Center (Host?) June Long Distance Tour to Kodiak (Jim Fredenhagen, ) July 4 Anchorage and Chugiak Independence Day Parades July 12 6:30 PM, Rolling Meeting at Day Break Center (Host?) August 9 6:30 PM, Rolling Meeting at Day Break Center (Host?) September 13 6:30 PM, Rolling Meeting at Day Break Center (Host?) September Denali Lottery Tour (Tamea Isham, ) October 11 7:00 PM, Meeting at Day Break Center (Host?) November 8 7:00 PM, Meeting at Day Break Center The September 17, 1994 Adopt-A-Road Cleanup Cresap The September, 1994 Adopt-A-Road crew: Rich Golding, Bill Foster, Bill Chase, Marcy Cresap, Victoria Bennett, Jim Swanson, Jerry Horton, Dave Beck, Dennis Allen, Lorraine Foster, Ralph Centoni and Tom Cresap (behind the camera.) The photo on p. 2 shows one of the signs announcing who does the cleanup.

4 Denali Trip: Attention: Get Reservations NOW This year we will drive through the Park on Sunday, September 17th. We head north on Saturday, the 16th and return on Monday, the 18th. Nord Haven, at , has very few rooms available on September 16th and 17th. Denali Park Hotel, , still has several vacancies. If you make reservations on line at you will receive a $10 discount off the regular price of $129 plus tax. If you plan to make the trip this fall, I recommend that you make reservations RIGHT NOW. The only time to enter the lottery is the month of May. You can enter at or call (6 AM to 8 PM Alaska time). Request dates in this order: September 17 (Sunday), 18 (Monday), 15 (Friday), 19 (Tuesday). Saturday has been reserved this year solely for active military. You will be charged a $10 application fee. If drawn in the lottery, a $25 fee will automatically be charged on a credit or debit card. All of these fees are non-refundable. You will be notified of your status via early June. Tamea will have a sign up sheet at Cresap Jim Fredenhagen prepares to be blown off Stoney Point Overlook, along with his 1954 Ford, during the 2016 Denali Tour. We are, of course, hoping for better weather for the 2017 Tour. meetings starting in April. Remember that you can go whether you get a lottery permit or not, but I need to know your plans. Details of the trip will be sent later to those who are interested. I suggest that if you plan to go, you make reservations now. You can always cancel if your plans change, but lodging gets tight as September comes near. You can make reservations where you please, but Denali Park Hotel at (907) and Nord Haven at 1 (800) are good bets. Any questions, please call Fredenhagen At the 2017 Stout Memorial Homer Tour, the AAMA cars lined up in front of The Deadliest Catch boat, The Bandit, which was in dry dock at the time. This is a Model A event. Tam Isham at or isham@gci.net. AAMA Meeting Minutes General Membership meeting March 8th, 2017, at Day Break Center 9210 Jupiter Drive Anchorage, Alaska 7PM Meeting Called to Order by President, Gwyn Wiedmer. Gwyn noted that there was an error in the President s column in the Tinkering Times this month. She was thanking Bill Brown for his support of the Fur Rondy Car show. On review she found she slipped and typed Bob Brown later in the column. Again, many thanks to Bill Brown and all the people at Bob s Services that helped make the show a success. Gwyn called for a round of congratulations for Tom Cresap, (for the Master Editor Award) and Donn Reese for the Web Site Award of Excellence. OLD Business Status of the club Donn Reese reported that he is working on the initial draft of a welcome letter for new members. (See p. 5, March Minutes )

5 March Minutes (Continued from p. 4) Scott Hulse, (secretary), reported the annual membership and officer reports have been submitted to National AACA Headquarters. There are seven members that do not appear to have AACA membership numbers. The secretary will generate a letter to these members to resolve the issue. TREASURERS REPORT Milt Tanora presented the treasurer s report, including proceeds from pin sales and popcorn sales at the Rendezvous show. The RONDY PARADE report was provided by Kurt Rein. Four cars were needed for Rondy Royalty and dignitaries, (including the Rondy Button designer). Kurt thanked everyone that turned out for the parade. The RONDY CAR SHOW report was provided by Art Isham. Twenty-three or twenty-four cars were included in this years show. While this made a respectable display, as many as 30 to 34 cars can be shown. Lessons learned this year included too much food being brought for the grazing table this year. Next year we will attempt to reduce the amount of leftover food. Bill Brown won the Most Popular Car award. People attending the show voted for Bill s small BMW Isetta. Bill was awarded the gift card along with the award. This years attendance was down slightly from last year based on the number of ballots cast for the most popular exhibit. We had 250 this year and about 350 last year. A discussion followed on how to improve attendance next year. Advertising in the Rondy booklet will be investigated. Art Isham will look into Advertisement costs and possible sponsors. Other items discussed included: Putting signs on the parade cars to advertise the show, Placing a sign at the Snow Sculpture exhibit and arrows from there to Bobs Services. NEW BUSINESS Name Tag fine: Our President, Gwyn, proposed increasing the fine for not wearing 5 your name tag from 25 cents to one dollar, starting at the April meeting. This was seconded and approved. Dutch Overly suggested having a Scarlet Letter like sign that people should wear when they forget their name tag. Scott Hulse made a motion to ignore Dutch Overly s suggestion. This was seconded and approved. The 2017 EVENT LIST was reviewed by David Jensen. Each event was discussed and chairperson for the event confirmed. Volunteers were found for a number of events. Any Event that does not have a chairperson, and needs one, may be dropped from the list. JOINT MEET 2017: Wilma Vinton, past president of the Fairbanks club, has been working with our president, Gwyn Wiedmer, to set the date of this years Joint Region meet. The Joint meet with the Fairbank Region is now scheduled for July 28 th -30 th in Fairbanks. Scott Hulse agreed to be the point of contact for this event. The list of 2017 events was voted on and approved. KODIAK TRIP REPORT: Art Isham confirmed he was working on a tour of the Rocket Launch center on Kodiak Island along with a tour of the USCG base in Womens Bay near the town of Kodiak. SPECIAL FUND RAISER EVENT: David Jensen reported there will be a Humor by Rich Golding Now get this straight; I know jeans! I m from the jeans generation. In fact, I believe I still have every pair of jeans that I ve ever bought. You never know when those faded, torn at the knees bell bottoms are liable to come back into fashion. Pairs that ripped out in the thighs were cut down and made into shorts. When they ripped out, they were cut into shorter shorts. My current everyday pair, which my wife insists I have owned since before we were married, are getting a little long in the tooth. The pocket liners are full of holes, and the bottom seams are all stringy. One of the back pockets ripped off sometime during the Reagan administration. But Friends of Pets fund raiser at the City Diner March 28 th. Parking will be provided. Plan on being there about 6:00 PM if you want to attend. WEB SITE REPORT Donn noted work is still planned to resolve the bad links to some photos on our site. MODEL A CLUB INVITATION: An invitation to join the Model A club on this years Homer trip was extended to AAMA. The trip departs Anchorage Saturday, 20 May at 9 AM. There will be a dinner at Don Jose restaurant, a car show on Sunday, and perhaps a tour to a local winery. Kurt Rein brought up a discussion to start having entertainment or guest speakers at our monthly general membership meetings. SPLIT THE POT was won by Debbie Hanson. $32 went to the club and $32 went to Debbie. An additional $4.50 cents was collected for missing name tags. A round of thanks was given to the providers of the evenings refreshments. Doug Nolte, Michael Campbell and Terry Young were thanked. Additional snacks were contributed by Gwyn Wiedmer and David Jensen. No one went hungry. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM. Submitted 30 March Scott Hulse AAMA Secretary One Leg At A Time damn, whilst staring at myself in the mirror, they still look good! Look Honey, I can still fit into my ol jeans! I announce proudly to my wife, who is sitting on the bed with her arms crossed over her chest, carefully weighing the situation as I give her a private fashion show. Don t you think it s about time you got rid of those ratty things and buy a new pair? she scowls. Hey, they re just about broken in, I retort with a bit of a pout. They re gonna fall apart the next time I wash them, and probably get stuck in the washing machine and ruin it. A new (See p. 7, One Leg at a Time )

6 6 When Scott Hulse s mother moved to Alaska in about 1989 she frequently introduced herself as Scott s mother. Clare Batchelor: She had a short marriage after Scott s father died and never changed her name back to Hulse. Hulse Clare Batchelor, Scott s Mother, with her mother, Bessie Strain, Scott (her son), Cindy (her granddaughter), and Allen (her Grandson) Hulse. The truck, a 1939 International also known as Bessie, was purchased new by Clare s dad, Floyd Strain, in Hello to all our friends in Alaska It s the end of March and we are currently in Santa Fe, New Mexico waiting for an alternator from Texas. When last we wrote we were heading south on Interstate 29 in North Dakota and that s where we will pick up the story. The temperature was 16.5 degrees F. We got passed by a semi pulling a low boy with a very large red McCormick tractor; good that we were on a wide road. We cross a railroad overpass with a train of tank cars heading west, so many cars we can see neither the engine nor the caboose (probably doesn t have one of those). Still on I-29 we pass into South Dakota and start looking for a good place to spend the night. Although this is mostly flat country we find a good campsite at Union Grove State Park on top of a small mountain. We are the only campers and enjoy the solitude and the great view of the valley below. It s Tuesday, February 7 th, and by mid morning we are in Iowa. We arrive at our home for the next several days in Papillion, Nebraska. We are staying at Walnut Creek Campground, and there is a large flock of Canada Geese here for the winter. Daughter Jennifer comes by and we have a good visit before going with her to pick up a rental car in Papillion. On Wednesday we manage to get to the library, the laundry, and Mexican dinner at La Mesa with Jennifer. We take time to visit The Brass Armadillo antique store. In our rental car, we drive on to see Jennifer s son, Travis, and wife, Amanda, who live in Omaha. They both work and they have three children: Aiden (7) Jennifer (5) and Ryland (3). We spend Saturday afternoon and evening at their house, getting acquainted. This is the first meeting with these two great-grandsons and granddaughter-in-law Amanda. Almost sixyear-old great-granddaughter Jennifer has not seen us in over 4 years. We eat pizza, take lots of pictures, and play games until it s time for kids to tuck in. On Sunday we pick up daughter Jennifer at her home in Bellevue and drive into Iowa to visit Hooves & Paws Rescue Shelter and Sanctuary, where Jennifer volunteers. Most of the horses and dogs at Hooves and Paws have had very sad lives but now they have found a very good home, where they are loved, nurtured, and In what now seems like a slower time, Clare and the family managed to Square Dance several times a week and still make the most of the AAMA activities, as well. During Fur Rendezvous, this often proved to be a real challenge, when the Square Dance festival and the Rondy Car show were on the same weekend. Clare was active in the Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska for several decades, holding the treasurer office at various times. AAMA frequently celebrated her birthday during our Hope Weekend trips. She enjoyed the AAMA family and friendships, remaining active in the club until about her 90 th birthday. Clare left this earth early Saturday morning, April 1 st In her papers she left this quote from an unknown author, If by chance you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do, I will be remembered forever.... And the Vagabonds Report Yet Again cared for. We brought a large supply of carrots, which didn t last long! Monday morning comes and we are on the road again heading for Texas. By afternoon we are in Dennison Kansas and Dennis spots a car wash where there is an outdoor setup for large vehicles. It is above 50 degrees and it s a good time to shed the road grime from 3600 miles of winter travel. We spend the night at Crossroads RV in Lyndon, Kansas. Before leaving the following morning Dennis changes the dump valve on the Black water tank. It had been dripping inside the compartment onto a lamp we use to keep the valves from freezing and caused quite a stink. We finally arrive in Gilmer Texas and find Watt s RV Park. The next morning we call granddaughter, Melissa, to let her know we have arrived. Melissa, husband Ethan, and baby Wyatt come for a visit. They have a car to spare, so we have transportation. We pick-up great-granddaughter Marleigh (5) from her pre-school and go to lunch at La Finea Mexican restaurant. We visit some more at their home and then drive back to the RV Park in (See p. 7, Vagabonds Report )

7 One Leg at a Time (Continued from p. 5) washing machine costs a lot more than a new pair of jeans! Reluctantly I surrender to her pecuniary logic and agree to buy a new pair. I hop into my car and head for the mall. May I let you in on a fact of life that was just recently revealed to me: there is nothing more pitiful in this world than a 64 year old man trying on and buying jeans at a mall. First of all, I am easily the oldest person in Old Navy. It is over populated with pimply faced adolescents who giggle and stare incessantly at their cell phones, texting one another from within the changing rooms. The store provides WiFi in all the changing rooms, as stickers on their walls proudly proclaim. Clutching an armful of jeans, comprised of several different styles, I approach the fitting rooms. Since there are about forty different styles of jeans to choose from, I have gathered a selection of straight cut, boot cut, skinny, slim, athletic, and stretch-fit jeans to try on. I passed on the pre-washed, acid etched, and something the young sales girl referred to rather ominously as mom jeans. Another young lady, who very much resembles a Barbie doll, raises her arm outward to her side and blocks my entering the row of fitting booths. She is wearing a headset, and is speaking into its tiny microphone. She is the changing room traffic cop. Red shirt into number three. Tall girl out of number eight, she murmurs into a little felt ball hovering over her lips. She turns towards me, and making eye contact, she exhibits an almost bewildered countenance. Will you need help getting those garments to your grandchild in one of the booths? she asks in a saccharine sweet voice. Ah... uh... no, these are for me, I respond innocently (although I was very seriously considering delivering her a ten minute lecture on how I was buying jeans before she... er, her mom... er, her grandmother, was born). Traffic Cop Barbie points towards a vacant booth. Will you be needing the WiFi password? she queries smugly. Gee, that might come in handy, I snap back, I might be needing to check on 7 my Medicare status. Well, if you need any help Sir, just let me know. I think I can probably manage to try these pants on by myself, thanks, I say as I shut the fitting room door behind me. Just to be on the safe side, I bolt the door. From within my pastel formica-lined enclosure I could hear Barbie whisper into her headset s microphone something that sounded very much to me like Methuselah in room six. Alone now in my tiny cubicle, I struggle to get my shoes off. There is not a lot of elbow room. I have to hop from foot to foot, and loosing my balance, smack a wall with my hip. Everything alright in there? Barbie chirps. Are you sure you don t want some help, Sir? No, no. I m fine, thanks. I respond, though in all actuality, I m seriously wondering if I have broken my hip. Of course, I keep this to myself, as I would rather pass out from pain than give her the satisfaction. I m trained in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver, comes a syrupy response. Everything s fine, just fine. I m straining to get my left leg into the first pair. Apparently, I m not a suitable candidate for the skinny variety of denim drawers. Peeling back out of them is even more of a challenge. Finally managing to extricate myself from that pair, I optimistically switch to the slim-cut pair. That s no good either, unless I plan on starting a starvation diet. The boot-cut version is way too tight around my knees, The Vagabonds Report (Continued from p. 6) the borrowed car. Later Ethan drives us all to Longview for dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Saturday is Wyatt s first birthday party. Aunts, uncles, cousins, moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, and greats are all present. We counted 38, who have come for this special day. We are surrounded by Texans! We enjoy good snacks and birthday cake, and then it is time to open presents. Wyatt thrives on all the attention. We have enjoyed this visit and look forward to our next, but now it is time to move along. Dennis & Diane as are the athletic jeans in relation to my thighs. I guess my sighing in disgust was a bit too loud, as Barbie again knocks on my door. You still okay in there, Sir? Peachy. Well, okay. Remember, the store closes at 8:00 tonight. I glance at my wristwatch. It s half past three. Smart-ass! In about thirty minutes I emerge holding a large pile of wadded up pants, and deposit them directly into Barbie s arms. I won t be needing any of these, thank you, I snicker, as I trot up towards the front of the store and the check out register. There are three customers ahead of me. They are all on their phones, talking or texting. A quick appraisal of the situation reveals to me that I am most assuredly older than all three put together. Crestfallen, I lay my pair of stretch-fit jeans on the counter. Another young Barbie doll, with a headset and microphone over her blond hair gazes at my purchase and asks did you find everything, okay? Well, I forgot my seeing eye dog at home this morning, but somehow I managed to muddle through, I respond with razor wit and aptly sardonic sarcasm. But she isn t listening to me. She s too busy holding a conversation with someone over her headset. She drags the tag on my purchase over a scanner, and it responds with a beep. That will be $65.99, please. Credit or debit? (See p. 8, One Leg at a Time ) Villa While Dennis and Diane Allen were waiting for an alternator for their motorhome in Santa Fé, New Mexico, they were able to visit Tom and Marcy Cresap in the beautiful adobe home of José and Clare Villa in nearby La Villita. It was a meeting of old friends, since José and Clare, doublerelated to Tom and Marcy by marriage, had visited Alaska in 2006.

8 8 One Leg at a Time (Continued from p. 7) Uh, I think those are fifty percent off, I snap back with great satisfaction. Barbie II looks directly into my eyes, and with a disingenuous smirk announces proudly that the half-off discount is only on a second pair, that the first pair is at regular price. Oh, I surrender, as my voice lowers, The General s Car The April edition of Hemmings Classic Car magazine features an interesting article on General Is that what the sign said? You guys ought to consider printing the wordage larger... for... for people who have trouble seeing... such... such small print. My words trail away, as I abandon my purchase on the counter and make my exit, slipping ever so silently out the store and into the parking lot. I climb into my car and head towards the appliance store, to check out new washing machines. MacArthur's 1942 Packard, and how several times it narrowly escaped destruction after the war. That inspired past-president, Bryan Anderson, to send this photo that his father took while on maneuvers in southeast United States (possibly Tennessee) showing a 1941 Packard One Sixty that he labeled the "general's car." Because of his father's clerical experience before he entered the army, he served as staff to highranking officers throughout WWII. April Birthdays Brian Leinon 4th Linda Neslund 6th Marcy Cresap 7th Kathy Centoni 12th Diane Allen 14th Leonard Kelley 14th Joanne Overly 20th Anniversary Carolyn & Jack Rathert 3rd Anderson AAMA P.O. Box Anchorage AK