January 2017 Omaha, Nebraska Volume 49, Issue 1 President's Message My term as President is winding down, so this will be the last time for a President s letter from me. I have enjoyed the time I spent as President, but I am also willing to turn over the leadership reins to Esther. I am quite sure she will do an excellent job and especially at keep the renegades in line. Dues were due on the 1 st of December, you can still pay them, but you must pay the late fee of $6.00. Also your mileage should be sent to Dale Jergensen, I sent mine. I m looking forward to the Pizza night out on February 19, 2017. On December 18, after a good meal at El Aquila, some of us went to the Lauritzen Garden to see the Poinsettia show and all of the beautiful lights in the Conservatory. The lights were highlighting many of the different plants/trees/landscaping. I think all those in attendance were impressed with the displays. Do not forget the annual banquet on January 14, 2017, at the Lo Sole Mio Ristorante, 3001 S. 32nd Ave, Omaha, We will start to meet at 4pm for Social Hour/Getting to Know You 2017 Officers and Board to be installed at Banquet Time with Cash Bar with Dinner at 5PM. There is variety of food items to select from, so no one should go hungry. There will also be fun and games for entertainment. Keep your Model A rolling, Ken Grigsby Happy New Year Esther Miller President 402-593-2009 daemiller@cox.net Bob McKinney VP/Pres-Elect 402-332-3993 MaryBobMcKinney @cox.net Sue Dellinger Secretary 402-298-8549 suened@jagwireless.net Janet Graves Treasurer 402-453-7166 janet@omahaneb.org Don t Forget! No regular meeting at Douglas County Health Center this month. The banquet at Lo Sole Mio takes its place. Howard Denker Board Member 2017-2018 402-333-1393 Popoutomaha @centurylink.net Don Graves Board Member 2017-2018 402-453-7166 janet@omahaneb.org Lee Hendrix Board Member 2016-2017 402-895-2432 leehndx@gmail.com Anne Krueger Board Member 2016-2017 402-393-8274 akru@cox.net Karen Noodell Board Member 2017-2018 402-234-6110 Dn20256 @windstream.net 1
Upcoming Events Volume 49, Issue 1 January 14 Annual Banquet (see p. 3) January 19 Eat-out at Mama s Pizza (see below) January 22 Board Meeting (see below) February 11 General Meeting February 19 Mileage Goal Pizza Party Big Events Coming Up - June 3 Skills, Grilles, and Grills Car Show in Gretna June 5-9 REGIONAL MEET in OMAHA August 20 Vintage Wheels at the Fort Car Show January s Board Meeting will be Sunday, January 22 nd, 2017, from 2pm-4pm at Papillion s Sump Library, 222N. Jefferson St. It is below the old County Courthouse. MONTHLY EAT-OUT NEWS December eat-out was at China Road in Bellevue. Ken Grigsby reports: We were able to enjoy a good atmosphere and excellent food. Unfortunately, they closed on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2016, after over 25 years. January eat-out : Mama's Pizza 8146 S. 96st (96th & Giles) Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 PM http://www.mamaspizzaomaha.com/ menu.html Be sure to sign up if you plan to attend an eat-out. Or, you might not get a seat! If you can t sign up at a meeting or have a change of plans, please contact Anne Krueger (402-393-8274, akru@cox.net) Eat-outs coming up in 2017: February: Bay Hills Golf Club House in Plattsmouth; FRIDAY, February 17 at 6:30 PM Do you have a good idea for an eat-out? If so, please tell Anne Krueger or add it to the list at a regular meeting. These are the features of a good eat-out place: Yummy food Not too expensive Large enough to seat 15-20 at one table in a private room, if possible Willing to give us separate checks Willing to make a reservation Usually let us order from a menu Usually not a national chain Preferably somewhat centrally located 2
Upcoming Events Volume 49, Issue 1 Don t Miss the Annual Banquet! January 14, 2017 Lo Sole Mio Ristorante, 3001 S. 32 nd Ave, Omaha Meet at 4pm for Social Hour Getting to Know You Time with Cash Bar Dinner at 5PM The Buffet Menu sounds great: Roasted Garlic Chicken, Lasagna, Alfredo Italian Style green beans, Tossed green salad, Tomato Basil Starter Homemade Bread and Roasted Garlic Cloves Coffee and Iced Tea included Lots of fun is planned, including a Gift Exchange Bring a $10-$15 wrapped gift, labeled for a man or a woman Cost : $15.00 per member If you have not made your reservation, check with Karen Wickey to see if you can still be added. 402-217-5342 Don t know how to get to Lo Sole Mio? See the map on page 7 3
Upcoming Event Our 2017 Regional Meet Volume 49, Issue 1 The Regional Committee is continuing to plan the events for our June 5-9 Regional. We plan to have the registration information available on our website in early January. We are seeing new hotel registrations each week, and the hotel renovations appear to be on track to be complete before our event. We have received calls from as far away as New Mexico and California from folks planning to attend, so there seems to be a lot if interest in what we are planning. We will continue to have a volunteer sign-up list at our general meetings. Our success will depend on the participation from the entire club. If you have any questions about any aspect of what we are planning, ask Greg or Dale, or any committee member. TECH TALK: Clogged Radiator Tubes Copied from the Quail Call newsletter of the San Diego Model A Club. They reprinted it from the MAFCA website Tech Q&A - Engine Cooling System - Les Andrews, 1998 Technical Director Question: My 29 Roadster pickup has had the radiator boiled out twice, (once with the gilletts lye process covered in the Model A Restorer-Victor Page), and still will occasionally overflow, not always on hot days but more often at high speeds. My analysis is that the radiator tubes are slightly restricted or obstructed by deposits and do not let the coolant pumped to the top of the tank drain down quickly enough when pumped at high volume. Is the only repair to remove the radiator tanks and rod the tubes? What is the proper rodding tool? Should the deposits be softened up with either lye solution or dilute muriatic acid first? Is there a suggested process for rodding? Answer: I was reviewing past messages and I do not believe I finished answering your question on radiator problems. I would first test your radiator for flow rate. It should have a flow rate of about 36 to 38 gallons per minute. You can test the flow rate by plugging up the top goose neck and the bottom outlet and then fill the radiator. It should hold about 1-1/2 gallons in the radiator. If it takes less than 1-1/2 gallons then you have clogged tubes. Remove the plug from the bottom outlet and the 1-1/2 gallons should drain in about 4 seconds or less. If it takes longer to drain it indicates you have restricted tubes. If the flow rate is good or close, the other problem of overflow at higher speeds could be caused due to a missing baffle in the top tank of the radiator. This baffle was placed inside the top tank about 1 inch down from the top of the filler neck. The baffle prevents the water from being pushed out of the filler neck by the high pressure of the water pump pushing water into the top tank. Sometimes when the radiator is repaired at a repair shop they forget to reinstall the baffle or the baffle could have rotted out. When you look inside the filler neck you should be able to see the baffle. This must be in place to prevent water pushing out when driving at higher speeds. Rodding the tubes is a job I have always had done by an experienced radiator repair shop. I know they boil the tank first in a hot caustic solution before removing the top tank for tube rodding. 4
Past Events Volume 49, Issue 1 December 18: Ah, bitter chill it was! We kept warm and had a good time anyway. Those attending were: Mike & Marilyn Cahalane, Barney and Patty Deden, Ed & Susan Dellinger, Don & Janet Graves, Jeff Graves, Ken & Melody Grigsby, Don & Karen Noodell. John, Kristy, Dan, and Emily Leddy joined us for dinner. Dinner at El Aguila Warming up in front of the fire just after arrive at Lauritzen Gardens. One of many displays with model trains, Omaha buildings, and, of course, poinsettias. Barney and Sue in front of a lit-up elephant. 5
Volume 49, Issue 1 Do you want to plug in your cell phone or GPS in your Model A?? Here is a site that describes in detail a 6-volt to 12-volt Power Conversion: http://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/power-inverter- Files.pdf Or, do it the easy way and buy an inverter from Snyder s. See http:// www.snydersantiqueauto.com/power-converters Sorry, but you can t use this to add an air-conditioner to your A. Stuff to check out on the web: Building a Model A in 100 hours from parts found at the Hershey Swap Meet (Thanks, Greg) http://autoweek.com/article/car-life/success-hagerty-successfully-builds-ford-model-using-only-swapmeet-parts-100-hours Model T Assembly Line: https://safeshare.tv/x/shbgvwazcz (Thanks, Ed. J.) I wish our club would do THAT! Here is a way you can help out our club, even if you don t have time to be on the board, etc. Be a Club Browser! Browse around to see what other Model A Clubs do. Look for: Club activities and social events Tours Technical Information/ Tech Talk ideas Newsletter Features Web page format and content When you find something you would like the board to explore, let someone on the board know. See page 1 for contact information. Note that the two sites above were found by two seasoned Meadowlark browsers. Here are some great starting places: https://www.mafca.com/chapters_list.html http://model-a-ford.org/regions/region-list/ This one is just for fun: Check out the web site of the Model A Club of Brazil! http://www.clubedofordinho.com.br/si/site If you don t read Spanish, your browser will probably translate it for you. But, you don t really need to be able to read. The photos and graphics are fun in themselves. While you are South of the Border, you might want to check out Model As and other vintage autos in Cuba. Check out: http://www.cubaautos.org/ford-cars-in-cuba/1930-models http://www.cubaautos.org/ford-cars-in-cuba/1929-models Or, if you want to take an auto tour in Cuba, see http://www.oldcartours.com/american_car/ford-a-1929- convertible-green-black-tour 6
Volume 49, Issue 1 Thanks to Orsi pizza! In November, the 2016 and the 2017 Boards had a joint transition meeting. Several delicious pizzas were provided by Orsi s Italian Bakery and Pizzeria thanks to persuasion by Ken Grigsby. We owe them a big thank-you, but their facility is not set up for an eat-out. So, if you need some pizza or Italian breads, meats, and cheeses, check out Orsi s. See what they sell at http://orsibakery.com/. Did you save the Meadowlark Calendar from 2006? If you did, you can use it for 2017! For those of you who were not members in the last decade, the Meadowlarks made and sold calendars featuring paintings of Model A Fords by Dale Freyer for several years. Dale just pointed out that the dates on some of those calendars are now being recycled. If you want to see what years use the same calendars, go to https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/repeating.html Directions to Lo Sole Mio: From the West: Take I-80 to the 42nd ST exit. Go North on 42nd. Turn Right on Vinton, then Left on S 32nd Ave. From North, South, or East: Take I-480 to Martha ST exit. Go West on Ed Creighton Ave, Turn Left on S 32nd Ave. 7
Member News Contact Karen Wickey (402-217-5342; rednailsantoes1955@yahoo.com) if you have any member news, good or bad, that you would like to share. Our condolences to Ken Grigsby and Linda Crisman on the death of their mothers. Lee Hendrix had elective surgery in the week after the December meeting. He needed to have a revision of the scar tissue from his gall bladder surgery. The bad news was that he couldn t drive for two weeks. At least it wasn t Model A driving weather. He says I'm feeling fine, but had a very eventful past two weeks. An Irish New Year Blessing: May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night. Volume 49, Issue 1 Birthdays and Anniversaries January Day Name Event 2 Bob McKinney Birthday 2 Bill & Barb Patterson Anniversary 9 John Schmid Birthday 9 Verl & Shizuko Chase Anniversary 11 Dale Jergensen Birthday 11 Barb Patterson Birthday 12 Ken & Anne Krueger Anniversary 25 Priscilla Bowden Birthday 28 Charles Leddy Birthday 29 Ingrid Holm Birthday 31 Brian Gernandt Birthday February Day Name Event 14 Gene & Barb Partridge Anniversary 18 Bob Benton Birthday 19 Lucy Lorence Birthday 23 Leroy Rima Birthday Everything will be OK in the end. If it s not OK, it s not the end. Hens Nest Since this is banquet month, we won t have a separate Hens Nest meeting. Next month we will get back on track. Deden s Travels Barney and Patty returned recently from a 6 week cruise in the Mediterranean. The trip started and ended at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and stopped at 20 ports. Highlights visited included the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Michelangelo's statue of David in Florence, the Montserrat Monastery and the Alhambra Fortress in Spain, Herculaneum, near Naples, Italy, The Acropolis in Athens, the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, and a brief tour in some of the 32 miles of tunnels in the Rock of Gibraltar. The trip across the Atlantic took 6 days each way and most days were sunny with very smooth seas. This was our 5th long ocean cruise and each one made us want to see more of the wonders of the world. What's next? Who knows? 8
Volume 49, Issue 1 Members may place FOR SALE or WANTED ads in this newsletter for free space permitting. Send the information to the newsletter editor, Janet Graves (janet@omahaneb.org). Business card ads (like those below) are $12 per year for members and $24 per year for non-members. If you would like to place one of these ads or know a business who would like to, contact our Treasurer, Mike Cahalane. We could use a few more ads to support the newsletter. If you know of a business that might like to advertise here, please ask for a business card. We will put the ad in for one month and send a copy to the business to help them decide if they want to continue for a year. To advertise in our newsletter, please contact our ad manager at Meadowlark Ad Manager, PO Box 6011, Omaha, Nebraska, 68106 or MeadowlarkModelAFordClub@winstream.net Please patronize our advertisers. 9
N 42 nd ST The Meadowlark Club is a chapter of both national clubs. This is the official publication of the Meadowlark Chapter. Members may publish at no cost, ads for items wanted, for sale, or trade. They are also invited to submit technical Model A information and other interesting tidbits. Material should reach the editor by the last Saturday of the month. The Newsletter Editor is Janet Graves (janet@omahaneb.org, 402-453-7166) MAFCA http://www.mafca.com/ MARC http://www.modelaford.org/ Club Address: PO Box 6011, Omaha, NE 68106 2016 Officers President Ken Grigsby 402-296-3690 jayhawksne@aol.com VP/ Pres. Esther Miller 402-593-2009 daemiller@cox.net Secretary Marilyn Cahalane 402-298-8496 mdcahalane@windstream.net Treasurer Mike Cahalane 402-298-8496 mdcahalane@windstream.net 2016 Board Members Lee Hendrix 402-895-2432 leehndx@gmail.com Anne Krueger 402-393-8274 akru@cox.net John Leddy 402-706-8140 dobyleddy@hotmail.com David Miller 402-593-2009 daemiller@cox.net Mike Tritsch 402-217-5341 easyrider_47@yahoo.com Monthly meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month (except January) at 6:30PM at the Douglas County Health Center in the Town Hall. 42 nd & Woolworth Ave. in Omaha. Guests are welcome. See map and directions below. Our regular meeting place (Woolworth is 5 blocks north of Center ST): Enter on the south side of the building at ground level, go past the reception desk, and take the elevator to 1 st floor. Our meeting is in the Town Hall. Membership dues for the Meadowlark Club are $24.00 per year prorated monthly for new members. Membership in one of the national clubs is required. You may join both national clubs if you wish. MAFCA dues are $40.00 per year and MARC dues are $45.00 per year. Prospective Members: Please call Membership Chairman, Don Graves, (402-453-7166) for more information. Club web address: http://meadowlarks.omahaneb.org Club web master: Janet Graves (janet@omahaneb.org) Newsletter editor: Janet Graves (janet@omahaneb.org)