Volume 33, No. 4 Mid-America Packards, Inc. April 2015 The Data Plate is the Official Publication of Mid-America Packards A Region of Packard Automobile Classics Visit Mid-America Packards at www.midamericapackards.org 1
The Data Plate THE DATA PLATE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY MID-AMERICA PACKARDS, A REGION OF PACKARD AUTOMOBILE CLASSICS. OUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE, PROMOTE AND REPORT NEWS ABOUT MID-AMERICA PACKARDS IN PRIMARILY A 75 MILE RADIUS OF KANSAS CITY. TO BECOME A MEMBER OF MAP, ONE MUST ALSO BE A MEMBER OF PACKARD AUTOMOBILE CLASSICS. WE ENCOURAGE MEMBERSHIPS FROM OTHER PACKARD REGIONS. OWNERSHIP OF A PACKARD IS NOT NECESSARY. REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE HELD AT YOUR CLASSIC RIDE, 2711 WARWICK TRAFFICWAY, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI AT 7:30 PM ON THE FOURTH FRIDAY, EVERY ODD-NUMBERED MONTH, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED. ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS DIRECTOR -------------------------------------- TOM NORMAN (913) 649-8383 tnorman@everestkc.net ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ------------------------------ JON ROOT NOTICE! ALL MATERIAL FOR THE DATA PLATE MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE EDITORS BY THE 10 TH OF THE MONTH! 17704 PLATTSBURG ROAD, HOLT, MO 64048 OR EMAIL TO pachlj@hotmail.com (913) 381-4994 SECRETARY / TREASURER ----------------------- MIKE SNEED (913) 299-6133 msclippersuper54@gmail.com 8517 ANN AVE., KC, KS 66112 PROGRAMS & EVENTS DIRECTOR ------- MARSHA NORMAN (913) 649-8383 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR ---------------------- STEVE CHRISTY TECHNICAL ADVISORS: (913) 677-0593 shc2020@linkcity.org APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS PRE-WWII ----------------------------- BILL CARNEY (785) 272-9109 EDITORS, THE DATA PLATE --------------------- JEFF PACHL (816) 628-0003 pachlj@hotmail.com STEVE CHRISTY (913) 677-0593 shc2020@linkcity.org Directors Column Tom Norman April 2015 How I became the owner of a BMW 740I In 2013, Marsha and I went to the Packard National Meet in Michigan. We were planning to spend several weeks in Michigan before and after the meet. The weekend prior to the meet, we were visiting a childhood friend of Marsha s and went to the local farmers market. I found fresh rhubarb and Michigan cherries and purchased a quantity of both for use in pie making when we got home. The problem was how to keep them fresh or frozen for three weeks. We pitted and froze the cherries at Marsha s friend s home and kept the rhubarb in water. When we arrived at the National Meet, I had purchased dry ice for the cherries, but this was going to get very expensive before we returned to Kansas City. I soon discovered that Jon and Bonney Root were going directly home after the meet. Bonney very kindly offered to take the cherries and keep them in their freezer until we could pick them up. The day we went to pick up the cherries, Jon was working on his 1932 Packard and needed to go down to where he has the 1947 Packard stored. He asked if I wanted to go along and Marsha wanted to go to a restaurant located near the storage facility. We arrived at the shopping area in Westport, where Jon s car is stored in a garage below the center. I noticed as we pulled in a person driving a dark green BMW740I and he turned and followed us to the garage area. He was there to unlock the door for Jon. When we were ready to leave, he asked if we knew anyone who might be interested in a BMW. He was selling it for his father in-law. Marsha and I drove it around the block and we were sold! Just goes to show what a bowl full of cherries can turn into! We really enjoy the car, especially on long trips. Hope to see as many members as possible in Dodge City for the joint meet May15th to 17 th. If you haven t sent in your registration, please do so now! 2
MID-AMERICA PACKARD S 2015 CALENDAR May 1-3 AACA Swap Meet, Lawrence, KS Douglas County Fairgrounds May 15-17: Dodge City Joint Meet see details below and on pages 6, 7! May 22 Regular Membership Meeting Refreshments: Andrews/Dooley/Flick June 28 8th Annual Art of the Car Concours Kansas City Art Institute July 12 18 PAC National Meet in Reading, PA Hosted by Keystone Packards July 24 Regular Membership Meeting Refreshments: Macek/Ricker August Summer Tour - TBA September 25 Regular Membership Meeting Refreshments: Root/Sneed October?? Annual Chili Supper, TBA October 7-10 AACA Fall Meet, Hershey, PA October 11 The 29 th Annual Packard Truck Organization Meet, York Springs, PA December 4 Regular Membership Meeting Refreshments: Thomas/Ulam December Annual Holiday Banquet Membership Director Steve Christy and Treasurer Mike Sneed would like to invite all members to consider the renewal of your dues for 2015. Dues are still $25 for 12 months of our newsletter, The Data Plate, and 12 months of Packard fun. We have recently updated our Membership Directory, and would like to continue to list all of our Packard friends within its pages. If you have already renewed, Mid-America Packards thanks you for your continued support. If not, please consider doing so while at the next meeting or for your convenience to, by mail: Mike Sneed 8517 ANN AVE., KC, KS 66112 CHECKS PAYABLE TO: MID-AMERICA PACKARDS The national Packard Club would like to remind you that all members of PAC regions like ours are required to be members of Packard Automobile Classics. Don t forget to renew your PAC membership for 2013 as well! 3
Jack Beebe Packard... Revisited Research & Photos by Steve Hartwich Steve Hartwich loves Kansas City history, and especially Kansas City automotive history. During the goodbye ceremony for the Ulam s 1953 Caribbean a couple of years ago, Steve s curiosity got the better of him. While we were all looking at the car, and Dan & LaVon, he was busy looking at the site of Reid-Ward Packard, aka Jack Beebe Packard, aka Bill Neale s Downtown Chrysler Plymouth. Sure enough, there in the rough were some tell-tale markings. Bits of concrete, protruding metal, odd nooks and crannies in the topography. So he pulled up his photographic archive and did a little dimensional analysis. His photos below supply the rest of the story. The next time you are on the site, take a closer look in memory of those days. Thank you, Steve! Detail 1: Packard lot compare to Bill Neale Detail 2: Packard lot compare to Bill Neale Detail 3: Packard lot sidewalk 4
A Springtime Photo Report from Stuttgart! Photos courtesy of J.R. Oppermann J.R. Oppermann, our friend in Hannover, Germany, sends these photos of his Packard pride and joy, a 1954 Convertible. Recently he had it on display in one of the popular auto shows in Stuttgart, and submitted these terrific photos. The German love of American cars continues to grow! 5
NOT an April Fools Joke THE OTHER TWIN SIX Over the next few issues, we will be looking back at the original Packard Twin Six during the 100 th Anniversary of its introduction. But this being April, it might be fun to point out that there was ANOTHER Twin Six in 1915, as seen in the advertisement below. We wonder how the two cars stacked up and was there any litigation? 6
DODGE CITY JOINT CAR MEET MAY 15 17, 2015 INFORMATION SHEET Dear Car Enthusiast, It s registration time for the Dodge City Joint Car Meet. This is a multi-regional meet. Mid America Packards, Great Plains Packards, Rocky Mountain Packards, Packards North Texas, and The Professional Car Society are invited, as well as, all other regions. The meet will be held at the Hampton Inn and Suites Dodge City, KS, 4002 West Comanche. The hotel is located next to the Boot Hill Casino and provides 24 hour parking lot security and surveillance. Registration will be at the Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel. The registration fee is $25.00 per person. The fee includes the Saturday night banquet meal. This is a NON JUDGED event. Participants shall choose their favorite car in each classification. There will be a first and second place award for pre-war class and a first and second place for post-war class. Room reservations must be made directly with the Hampto Inn and Suites at 620-225-0000. Please mention the Dodge City Joint Car Meet for a discounted room rate. Please make your reservations as soon as possible. The alternate hotel is the Towne Place Suites Marriott, 2800 West Wyatt Earp, Dodge City. The phone number is 620-371-7171. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR REGISTRATION FORM AND REGISTRATION FEE OF $25.00 PER PERSON BY MAY 1, 2015. AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF $5.00 PER PERSON WILL BE ADDED TO LATE REGISTRATIONS. YOUR REGISTRATION FORM MAY BE EMAILED TO: mburk@fairpoint.net THE REGISTRATION FEE MAY BE SENT TO: Mike Burkhart, 2350 Matt Down Lane, Dodge City, KS 67801 620-225-5353 Your registration form may be sent to this address, as well. PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO DODGE CITY JOINT CAR MEET. Tentative Agenda Can Be Found On Page 9! 7
DODGE CITY JOINT CAR MEET MAY 15 17, 2015 REGISTRATION FORM NAME ADDRESS E-MAIL CITY STATE ZIP PHONE CLUB AFFILIATION SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER ADDITIONAL GUESTS CAR ENTRY YEAR BODY COMMERCIAL 1. 2. MODIFIED CAR HOW? REGISTRATION FEE PER PERSON THIS INCLUDES YOUR SATURDAY NIGHT BANQUET MEAL $25.00 BEFORE MAY 1, 2015 $30.00 AFTER MAY 1, 2015 $ SATURDAY NIGHT BANQUET MEAL PLEASE MARK YOUR CHOICE BEEF CHICKEN FISH THE MEAL INCLUDES APPETIZERS, SALAD, ENTRÉE, POTATO, VEGETABLE, BREAD, DESSERT, COFFEE, WATER AND TEA. A CASH BAR IS AVAILIABLE AT THE BANQUET. TOTAL $ PLEASE ENCLOSE CHECK, PAYMENT IN FULL (PAYABLE TO DODGE CITY JOINT CAR MEET), WITH THIS FORM AND MAIL TO: MIKE BURKHART, 2350 MATT DOWN LANE, DODGE CITY, KS 67801 PHONE 620-225-5353 mburk@fairpoint.net PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1, 2015. 8
DODGE CITY DRIVING TOUR - TENTATIVE AGENDA FRIDAY, MAY 15 Registration at Hampton Inn and Suites Dodge City Early Bird Tour Depart hotel at 1:00 pm destination to be announced Friday night dinner on your own SATURDAY, MAY 16 Breakfast at the Hampton Inn and Suites this is included with your hotel room 9:00 Depart for driving tour to Ft. Dodge 6 miles. Tour Ft. Dodge. 11:00 Depart for lunch at Mike and Mindy Burkhart s home. A BBQ lunch will be provide by the Burkhart s. 1:00 Depart for tour of Boot Hill Museum. 3:00 5:00 Car Show and Shine Hampton Inn and Suites Dodge City Parking Lot 6:30 Banquet meal at Knight s of Columbus, 800 Frontview, Dodge City, KS SUNDAY, MAY 17 Farewell complimentary breakfast at you hotel A MORE COMPLETE AND DETALED AGENDED WILL BE AVAILIABLE AT THE MEET! 9
THE DATA PLATE 8517 Ann Avenue Kansas City, KS 66112 Spring Is In The Air and a Packard Smile Is On Your Face! 10