LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 1 PRESIDENT FRED MESTRICH / VICE PRESIDENT DARRYL NIEMI /

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1 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 1 DECEMBER 2018 these ways you can simply call me. All members should have an updated phone list, if not call Dorothy Gillies for one. Fred Mestrich President From the Prez. Happy Holidays! Just about finished off another year and looking forward to Dorothy and the Riley s just finished updating the registration form for the swap Meet and looks pretty good. Speaking of the Swap Meet, both Doug and my trailers are still packed with Swap Meet stuff and the 40 ft. container to store them in is sitting in place. The shelfing and bench are in place and I will send an out soon to move the STUFF in. The Club Christmas Party is set for December 8th at the Long Shore man s Hall in Astoria. Jul has a good menu set up and says there will be plenty for all. Bring a toy and food for the needy. Elections for next year s officers will take place. But you will be stuck with me for one more year. The New Year s Day Cruise is being organized by Doug Gillies and we will the departure time and place. We might even announce it at the Christmas Party. If you don t get the message either of "Well it's here.. time to renew membership in Lower Columbia Classic Car Club. Yahoo! Another year of friendly people in classic cars, eating out, sharing stories, traveling together, and helping our local community educational programs. Remember, monetary support to the Educational programs comes from The Swap Meet, (March 9), and the Car Show (June 1st). Members are "Always" needed to help with both of these fund raising events, in order to be successful. So be sure to volunteer and be part of the fun when the time comes. If you did not pick up your renewal information letter at the Christmas Party, information on how to activate your 2019 membership, your membership card, and a current roster will be mailed to you. Please return your dues payment before January 15, (Reminder, members 80 years and older are considered lifetime members and no longer required to pay dues to be a member.) Safe Travels to you and yours! Dorothy Gillies, LCCC Membership

2 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 2 Lower Columbia Classic minutes minutes of regular meeting November 15, 2018 Steve Jordan's shop, Helligso lane,astoria,oregon The regular meeting of the Lower Columbia Classic Car Club was held November 15th,2018 at 7:00p.m. At Steve Jordan's shop. President Fred Mestrich called the meeting to order. It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes as printed in the BACKFIRE the motion carried. The treasurer Burt Young distributed the reconciliation and profit and loss statements for review by members Judy from the sunshine committee reported Polk Riley is recovering well from surgery. Phil Chamberlain is not doing very well. Diane Matthews is having surgery. Please keep her in your thoughts. Dorothy announced club membership renewals are being sent out. Dorothy took over for Rod Dawson on the swap meet. She is working on changes for the flyers and such. We are still looking for items for our booth at the swap meet. There will be a meeting for the 50's cruise to finalize the artwork on November 28 th. Ross asked for people writing the articles in the news letters to please turn them in by the 1 st. Darryl Reported that there are 15 students attending the high school program. They will be touring the Lum's automotive department. The Clatsop Community College committee met, and finalized outreach guidelines. Those guidelines have been approved. If you would like to look at the guidelines, contact Oliver. The Christmas party will be held on December 8th,at the longshoremen's hall. The party starts at 5:30, and dinner will be served at 6. We will be serving pork roast, chicken with mushroom gravy, Mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, and a veggie lasagna. We will be having an ornament exchange, and a toy drive. Bring unwrapped gifts. Wrapping paper and tape is always needed. Also bring nonperishable items for the food drive. Elections will be made at the Christmas Party. The nominations are as follows: Vice President-Jul Grandbois, Secretary-Judy Jordan, Treasurer Burt Young. Fred will remain president for one more year. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 Patty Getchell won the attendance drawing. Margot Gittins Secretary

3 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 3 Ramblin `Round With Steve

4 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 4 By Jim Wood Back in 1968 Roger was at work at the local Oldsmobile dealership when a customer walked in the door and said " I'm going to buy a new car." The gentleman happened to be Roger's father. So Roger says " well, which one do you like?" Mr. Hynen says " I like that blue one over there." Roger had to laugh because his dad just picked the hottest muscle car on the lot, a brand new '68 Cutlass 442. " No, you need something more sensible and economical" "recommended Roger. "Nope" said Dad "I want that Roger is making these same modifications and will have a Hurst, or should I say Hynen-Olds 442. Absolutely correct down to the 455 cu.in. engine, trick air induction and paint scheme. Only the Hurst cars were painted silver with black accents. I don't remember the exact number of these made, but very few. Roger has been working on the transformation for about 3 years. He hopes to have it one." Well, Mr. Hynen bought the car of his choice and enjoyed it to the tune of about 35 years and 204,000 miles. About 15 years ago Roger fell heir to the 442. I imagine he's glad he couldn't talk Dad out of buying that car. So as fate would have it Roger has an awesome muscle car project with an old family member. Roger is a pretty handy mechanic and has always been a hot rod guy. His very favorite 442 in '68 was the Hurst-Olds 442. The Hurst- Olds was actually a 442 sent over to Hurst where they made some modifications. Well,

5 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 5 By Jim Wood 370hp. Seems Roger couldn't resist messing with the internals. Here's a list that adds up to at least 500hp. Edelbrock aluminum heads, forged 10:1 pistons and a lumpy camshaft. Oh yeah, it also grew to about 468cu.in. I think he said he was going to use some sort of electronic fuel-injection system on top. It's going to be a tad faster than your average Hurst-Olds 442. on the road by next summer. I hope he gets it done by the time of our Camp Rilea Show first Saturday in June. This thing is gonna be awesome. Also, calling this motor a 455 is a bit of a misnomer. I believe the ' was rated at There are well over one hundred cool cars in this club and only two 442s. The other one belongs to my wife Sonia and me. Here's the weird coincidence. Sonia's father bought our 442 in Portland in We fell heir to this car in 1985 and it will always be in the family. We have grandchildren waiting. So we understand Roger's connection to his dad's car. These cars carry memories and are a connection to our fathers. I had a great time meeting Roger and checking out his project. I didn't get a chance to meet Kathy but maybe next time. Roger and Kathy have been members for about ten years and we are glad to have them. Jim Wood

6 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 6 FROM THE BACK SEAT THE GAL S PAGE Club Members who need a little Sunshine The names below have been submitted by the Sunshine Committee. Those listed are our fellow members and need you. Phil Chamberlain, Diane Matthews Someone not up to speed let Judy Jordan, Sunshine Committee Chair know. Judy s Phone number is: (503) By Diane Matthews If I had a Christmas car story I would share but, I don t. So please have a merry, merry Christmas and resolve to drive your car (at least one of em) more in the new year! And now, a not-christmas story... Mike and I have never owned a new car. And, while some may not have qualified as antique, they have all been quirky. You know what I mean, the kind of car you can t loan to anyone without a list of adorable (or not) do s and don ts; our 56 Chevy had em, the 63 Impala had em, Mike s 50 Ford had/has em. But today, my little Santa s helpers, I m going to tell the tale of my 65 LeMans, BEFORE her upgrade! We ve had LeMoms since 1985 and she perked along quite well for many years. But somewhere into the 2000 s, 250,000 miles rolled up on the odometer and the car started to slow a bit. Our trips were limited to the range of a short tow. So she sat, and when she sat, she didn t start well. A quick-disconnect battery ground solved the problem, then it too aged. Since Mike often started the car to back it out of the shop (you wouldn t believe how it s squeezed in there) he did the jiggling when the ground failed to make contact. And it only happened in the garage, first thing. On a lovely summer day, I was heading for Astoria with good friend Stephanie. Mike mentioned the battery ground was dicey but only-in-the-garage-first-thing. He told me what to do, just in case, and we were off. Whee!! flying through the sunshine in my LeMans, life was good. First stop was downtown Astoria. Coming back from some retail therapy, we spotted a couple of men admiring the car. They asked if they might buy it and even started a bidding war, at 15K I insisted it really wasn t for sale. With lots of backward glances they left. We got in, I turned the key and... click, nothing. What?! But this only-happens-in-the-garage-firstthing! Up went the hood (while I wondered if the offer of 15K was still on the

7 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 7 (continued from previous page) table), Steph tightened the cable, I turned the key. The engine caught and the hood went down. Next stop, the hood dropped, but any more speed and the incredible, floating hood returned. a visit with a sick friend. Back in the car from our visit, I turned the key and... click... what?! Whatever happened to only-in-the-garage-first-thing? So Steph popped the hood (no one can be my good friend without a basic mechanic s background) and did her thing. LeMoms fired up and off we went to Warrenton. Whee!...sorta. Crossing the new Young s Bay bridge I was getting up to cruising speed when what s that? The hood was starting to lift! I crept off the bridge onto the causeway shoulder, whew. I got out, slammed the hood, got back in, turned the key and... click. For the love of...! Steph popped the hood and jiggled till we had ignition, then, down the road we went... no whee. Shopping done, we loaded the trunk and Steph stood by while I turned the key... whoopee, it started! Ahhhh, no more stops and we re flying home in the summer sun. Yessir, life is good! We sailed back across the Young s Bay bridge, through town and onto the Astoria bridge. We d crested the arch when, holy smoke!, here comes the hood again, wafting up ever so slightly but threatening mayhem. I slowed to 25mph, Cars, and trucks streamed by, honks and dirty looks abounded. The north shore looked so very far away at 25mph, would I get rear-ended before I made it? Help! Then, I saw a break, no cars behind me and in the oncoming lane, just a dot. So I braked, rammed it into park (you thought I d turn if off again, didn t you?), jumped out, slammed the hood, jumped in and punched it, beating the next car behind me. The hood stayed put. Next day, Mike bought a new ground cable and battery tender then readjusted the hood latch. Steph? Well, we re still friends but her husband objected to her riding in LeMoms for awhile. But-it-onlydoesn t-start-in-the garage-first-thing! Uh-huh. Now LeMoms sports a new, re-built engine, new battery, new just-about everything so no more adventures in town. I can t say I exactly miss them but when I get back home these days, the stories I have to tell just don t quite have the drama and suspense they used to, know what I mean?! Well, that s my story. Along with it comes our wish for a very Merry Christmas to all! And a Happy New Year!! Peace and Joy, Diane, Mike Matthews and LeMoms

8 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 8 New Year s day cruise Need something else to do January 1 st besides watching football? Why not join your friends from L.C.C.C. on the 15 th annual New Year s Day Cruise. This year we will meet at DMV in Astoria and leave at 11:30 a.m. to tour the north coast on a route of about 45 miles. We have a group reservation for 1:30 at a well-known location in the area and will be able to order off the menu. There will be a split the pot drawing with two winners sharing equally. Bring a $5 bill with your name on it and we will place them in a box, drawing two lucky winners. Drive your classic or the family ride and join us for some fun. This is not a club sanctioned event, so come one and come all. RSVP to Doug Gillies, so we can give the restaurant a head count. See you there!

9 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 9 FOR SALE LOT & ANNOUCEMENTS This 1955 Buick Century owned and restored by Steve Jordan is For Sale. Spread the word. Questions, call For Sale 1954 Ford 1/2 ton SNB 312 V8-c.4 Trans. $ OBO Jon THEFT ALERT All Members of Lower Columbia Classic s Stolen from behind the Warrenton Lumber, just off S.W. 10 th in Warrenton, OR., on Tuesday July 24 th. Twenty-four foot, dual axle trailer (no plates) with a four post hydraulic hoist (disassembled) on it. Hoist is painted red and black. (was purchased from Les Schwab Tire) The trailer had not been painted so is rust colored raw steel. If you see this unit or see someone in the area putting in a four post hoist that looks as if it may be this unit or trailer, please call member Darryl Niemi at or his cell phone or report it to the Warrenton Police Dept. Thank you Steve Jordan This Hot Rod is For Sale Give Mark Gittins a call if your interested

10 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 10 LONNIE ACORD 12/29 CHARLIE CLAYTON 12/29 DAVID GETCHELL 12/2 SANDRA HERGENREDER 12/2 LOUISE KALLSTROM 12/22 BARBARA NIEMI 12/4 TIM O'BRYANT 12/20 ERIC RALLS 12/16 CINDY YOUNG 12/11 WEBSTER 12/16 YOUNG 12/17

11 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC CAR CLUB 11 LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC S CAR CLUB P.O. BOX 1259 ASTORIA, OREGON BACKFIRE LOWER COLUMBIA CLASSIC S