Director’s Thoughts
Golden Years!!!
Several days ago as I left a meeting at a hotel, I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat-down. I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing. Suddenly I realized I must have left them in the car.
Frantically, I headed for the parking lot. My husband has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. His theory is that the car will be stolen.
As I burst through the door, I came to a terrifying conclusion. His theory was right. The parking lot was empty. I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.
Then I made the most difficult call of all, “Honey,” I stammered; ( I always call him “honey” in times like these.)
“I left my keys in the car and it’s been stolen.” There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard his voice. “Are you kidding’ me, ” he barked, “I dropped you off!!!” Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, “Well, come and get me.” He retorted, “I will, as soon as I convince this cop I didn’t steal your car.”
Yep, it’s the golden years…………….
Has this happened to you? I lost the car once in a parking lot, forgetting where I parked the car. It is not funny at the time, but is funny afterwards that you laugh at yourself! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Your elected Director, Sally Getz
“Free Spirit” Chapter Meeting Minutes, September 6, 2016
Director Sally Getz called the meeting to order @ 7:25 pm. There were 20 members & 1 guest present. The guest speaker was Mr. Ed Tremba from the North Central-East Penn Region AAA. He has played, & continues to partake in an important role in teaching “Driver Improvement” classes to both the young & the older drivers. He has thoroughly enjoyed doing this for the past 22 years! As research has found, over 40,000 people/year have been killed in auto accidents on highways. That number has decreased to 35,000/year on highways! There are many distractions of a driver: shaving, putting on makeup, using/texting on cell phones, programing GPS’s, reaching for something, radio, singing, & others in the vehicle. BE AWARE of your immediate vehicle surroundings both inside/outside the vehicle. DO’s of being a driver: Sit in the seat, adjust the seat, put on seatbelt, fix your mirrors, program GPS, if playing the radio have it on the soft side, etc. Do all this BEFORE you begin to drive! FYI: DO NOT use cruise control on ANY type of wet road surface. When stopped @ an intersection & you will make a turn, keep wheels straight, turn when it’s your turn. At intersection, look LEFT, then RIGHT, then Left. If you are involved in an incident of Road Rage & you stop & the other person comes to you, STAY in your car & call 911. DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT!! Stay CALM! When buying new tires, ask to see the Manufacturer’s Date on the inside wall of the tire(s). You should see something like the following: CODE 2409. To interpret this, it means the tire was made in the 24th week of the year 2009. Tires have a shelf life of approximately 6-7 years. So, they may already be worn out before they get on someone’s car!
Treasurer’s report – Motion to accept August report Don Sterner, seconded by Isabel Lenny, so carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Historian – summer event pictures on web site.
B. Kempton – flyers available. Registered cars = 50, indoor spaces = 4, outdoor spaces = 4.
C. Membership – 7 new members. To date: 58 members.
D. Newsletter – no report
E. Programs –Sept. 24th tour to Bloomsburg, Pa
F. Publicity – no report
G. Ways and Means – Sold 21 blankets, many other items & took in 3 new members during Celebration in July. Sold many items & took in 4 new members during DAF event in August.
I. OLD BUSINESS:
To recap: May = QVC tour
June = Annual Chapter Picnic
June 18th = Frackville, Orwigsburg tour
July = 50th BCA Anniversary Celebration. Mr. Howard Kriebel suffered heat stroke during his duty of volunteering w/ the Model A Club activity. Upstate NY Chapter Director, Mr. Jim Jakubiak fell ill & died on Friday during the event. Prewar After Tour cancelled due to lack of interest. Sally encouraged members to go to BCA web site under General & Meets tabs to view pictures of event. Might see your car in some of the pictures! Anniversary Celebration issue will be in November’s bugle. Buick display @ AOW will be there on display till end of October if you did not see it! Kathleen & Sally heard many + remarks about this display.
II. NEW BUSINESS
Upcoming BCA Nationals: 2017 = Brookfield, Wisconsin
2018 = Denver, Colorado
2019 = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2020 = NE Ohio
“Thank You Notes” = Received from LVHN Street Medicine, Kathleen Arnold Family, Cancer Support Association of Newark, Delaware, Bernard Boback Family, & Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge.
Show = Flyers were handed out on the Uppr Salford Township 275th Anniversary Car Show event, Upper Salford Park, Skippack, Pa on October 15, 2016. Gary Hiller is involved w/ this event.
BCA Membership Roster: Look for future forms to be thoroughly filled out on your cars for the New, UP-To-Date BCA Membership Roster. Will be collecting information up to February 2017, to be completed & ready for you by May 2017.
AACA Grand National: held @ Nicola Bulgari Automotive complex, 2019.
2017 “Free Spirit” Membership Roster: To receive form also to be filled out w/ specifics, for UP-TO-DATE 2017 membership roster. Please return to Sally Getz.
2017 Upstate NY Regional: Upstate NY Chapter will be holding a 2017 Northeast Buick Regional, September 29-October 1, 2017 @ Saratoga auto Museum, Saratogoa Springs, NY. Watch on www.unybca.com for upcoming details. This might be a nice short travel event for this chapter to think about attending! Motion made to adjourn by Dolores Kennedy, seconded by Stacy Sterner, so carried @ 9:12 pm. Respectfully submitted, Thomas Duckett, Secretary
BOD Meeting Minutes, September 6, 2016
Director Sally Getz called meeting to order @ 5:30pm. 4 officers, 4 BOD & membership chairman were present. First discussion = should we continue to give out badges to new members? Discussion held, results = continue give new member & their spouse their badges, however, they will receive them when they attend their first meeting. For existing members, as of January 1, 2017, wear your badge to each meeting. Dolores will monitor the wearing of the badges. If you do not wear one, you pay $1.00. Motion to accept John Moore, seconded by Kathleen Duckett, so carried. Second discussion = should the “Free Spirit” Chapter hold a 2018 Northeast Buick Regional? Much discussion held, results=location = Phifer’s Ice Dams, Franklin Township, Main & Penn Streets, Lehighton, Pa in September 2018. Exact date to be determined. Pictures of the grounds were passed around. Local hotels, restaurants, gas stations, highways, judging, finances, etc discussed. A day tour to Penn’s Peak, Jim Thorpe Memorial, Jim Thorpe itself w/ Asa Packer Mansion, train ride, Old Jail, etc. discussed w/ local bus transportation available.
Motion to accept Don Atwood, seconded Kathleen Duckett, so carried. Motion to adjourn Don Sterner, seconded by Kathleen Duckett, so carried @ 6:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Thomas Duckett
Please Welcome New Member
Robert & Betty Dare of 312 Green Street, Royersford, Pa 19468. 610-608-3105, bdarecars@aol.com, BCA #48724. Please “WELCOME” them when you meet them!
Kempton Show, Sunday, October 30, 2016
Are YOU registered for this show? What are you waiting for? If you, as a member of this small but energetic group of Buick Enthusiasts, want to say, “What can I do to enjoy this chapter?”, come out & volunteer your time in assisting in full filling the many duties it takes to run a successful show! This is when this chapter really can use you, & YOU, can feel VERY GOOD ABOUT yourself!! You helped out a good cause, the “Free Spirit” Chapter, BCA! Contact Clarence/Sally Getz @ 610-377-6130/ csgetz@ptd.net to volunteer your services! Please call before Thursday, October 27th.
Koziar’s Christmas Village, Bernville, Pa, November 28th
On this Monday evening, Sally Getz will be taking the group to supper, followed by a tour to the Koziar’s Christmas Village, Bernville, Pa. This is an early evening tour due to what makes this a special place to see, will be the lighting!! The following is a bit of history on this village.
William M. Koziar, the creator of Christmas Village, began decorating his home & property in 1948 for the pleasure he & his wife, Grace, & their four children derived from the unusual display. People appreciated & applauded the beauty of the Koziar home & began to refer to it as the “Christmas House.”
Mr. Koziar added new & unique items & lighted displays to the original layout each year. He began decorating the lake, walkways, trees, fences, & buildings, as well as continually adding to the barn & house. By popular demand visitors were granted access to the premises for a closer look. Thus, Koziar’s “Christmas House” became known as Koziar’s “Christmas Village.”
Christmas Village, celebrating its 68th anniversary in 2016, has received many awards, including Best Outdoor Christmas Display in the World. The village has paved & lighted walkways & is wheelchair accessible. The tour is unguided so you can walk at your own pace. Please dress appropriate to the conditions as there are both outdoor and & door displays.
We will meet @ CVS Pharmacy, 5801 Tilghman Street, Fogelsville, Pa 18104 by 4:00, leaving promptly @ 4:15 pm. Dinner will be @ the Blue Mtn. Family Restaurant, Shartlesville, Pa, then to Koziar’s Christmas Village, Bernville.
Members = _______________________________________$5.00 per person
Member child(ren) (4-10)=___________________________$4.00 per child
Non-Members/Guests=______________________________$9.00 per person
Non-Members child(ren) (4-10)=______________________$8.00 per child
Submit to Sally Getz, check payable to “Free Spirit” Chapter, 1060 Main road, Lehighton, Pa 18235. Please remit by November 23, 2016.
January 2, 2017
As of January 2, 2017, when attending the monthly chapter meetings, be sure to wear your BADGE! When you became a “Free Spirit” Chapter member, you received a badge with your name on it. Be sure to find it to wear to each & every meeting. If you are a recent new member & you did not receive your badge yet, please ask Dolores Kennedy for one. If you are a member & your spouse does not have a badge, please see Dolores Kennedy.
Dolores Kennedy will be collecting a dollar from anyone who attends the meeting NOT wearing their badge. This money will go towards the September 2018 Northeast Buick Regional to be held @ Lehighton, Pa.
2018 Northeast Buick Regional, September, Lehighton, Pa
During the September 2016 BOD meeting, a 2018 Regional was discussed. Much discussion took place as far as the month, grounds, pavilions, access, grass & macadam, protection from inclement weather, space, local hotels, local restaurants, both fast food and dining, day tour/trip on Friday, judging, food accessibility, highway accessibility, finances, etc. Majority vote was 8 to 2 in favor for this event to be held. Please keep abreast of the future newsletters to be kept in the loop about this event!
Name Your Car Day
Date When Celebrated : Always October 2
Name Your Car Day is October 2. Does your car have a name? Lots of people name their cars. People with big boats, name their boat, and we think nothing of it. So, why not name your car or truck!?
Every car has character and personality. We spend a lot of time in our cars, and caring for them. So, its only fitting that each car gets its own name.
Selecting a name should be made with care and consideration. Give your car a name that properly reflects its character. What you name you car should be a proper reflection of its character and performance, and your desires for your car. In general, guys names are for guys’ cars, and girl names are for the cars that you ladies drive. Aside from that, selection of a name is wide open. But, be careful….cars have feelings, too.
Here are some of our thoughts in selecting an appropriate name for your car:
Don’t select wimpy names. That might give your car a personality complex and it will perform accordingly.
Do give a strong, aggressive name to sports cars and cars with powerful engines.
Sleek, sexy feline-like cars savor names that begin with “lady”.
Old junkers are proud just to be around. You can call them just about anything. Try “Tramp”, or “Old Yeller”, “Old Blue”.
Pick names to reflect your personality.
“Pickemup” trucks must have country names.
Don’t give common names (like Joe, Mike or Sue) to luxury cars. They beam over names like Reginald, Archibald, and Crystal. What’s the name of your car?
Who Invented Car Insurance?
Some people have often wondered how car insurance came about. Did we really need car insurance? Exactly when did people have to start carrying car insurance? Who invented car insurance? Despite what we might like to think, there was not one person or one company who suddenly had the brainstorm to make money by insuring people’s cars. Basically, car insurance came about from the need to protect drivers and pedestrians because of the increasing usage of the new invention known as the automobile. You might say that car insurance naturally evolved. But if you want to know who invented car insurance, there are some other questions you need to answer first.
Who Invented The Car? You can’t look at who invented car insurance and why without first knowing who invented the car. Why is it important? Because of the timeline. The automobile did not come into wide usage until the early 1900’s and it was soon afterwards that car insurance followed. Car insurance might not have come into being unless there was an abundance of automobiles trafficking down the roads and city streets. After all, if there were not that many cars on the road, why insure them? The inventor credited with the first vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine was a German inventor named Karl Benz (who later went on to form Mercedes-Benz). In 1893, Frank and Charles Duryea became the first American manufacturers of the automobile. However, it was not until 1913 when Henry Ford set up an assembly plant to effectively mass produce the automobile that the vehicle came to be widely available to the consumer. The automobile was now affordable, anyone could afford one, and the way that roads operated were suddenly and drastically changed.
At the beginning of the automobile usage, there were no regulations or laws to dictate how drivers operated on the road. There were, however, private agreements between drivers and companies that would cover any claims to a motor vehicle. Once it was deemed that owning and driving a vehicle was a ‘privilege’ then laws were enacted to protect pedestrians, animals, and other property from damages caused by a vehicle. These private companies were some of the first insurance companies. Car insurance policies actually evolved from maritime insurance hundreds of years earlier. The policies were to cover any losses and damages that might occur to property that was transported by ship. When the automobile was invented, these marine policies acted as a blueprint for car insurance. The first car insurance policy offered only liability coverage to protect any property that might be damaged by a motor vehicle. This first policy was written by an English insurance company back in 1895. In the U.S., the first liability car insurance policy was not written until 1898 and the first policy holder was a Dr. Truman J. Martin. It wasn’t until 1927 that Massachusetts became the first state in the U.S. to pass the first mandatory insurance law. Once cars were in mass production and Henry Ford’s methods were used in plants all across the world, the car became the most popular method of travel. This led to the need for more laws to govern how drivers could behave on the road. The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to instigate these new laws. In 1930, they created the Road Traffic Act which included provisions for third party insurers.
Early Car Insurance Policies When the first insurance laws were finally enacted they legally bound all motor vehicle owners to obtain auto insurance. With the growing popularity of the automobile, this gave birth to a thriving auto insurance business that literally came into being overnight. Some of those first companies offered policies that were quite expensive. However, as more companies entered the industry, it created more competition which lowered premiums. The addition of more insurance companies also allowed for different types of policies which covered different conditions. It was not long before car insurance became affordable for everyone.
Buick Logo History, Buick Emblem
In 1902-1903, when the Scotsman David Dunbar Buick founded his car company, the Uncle Sam, who was walking on the Earth planet and was pulling the engine on a cart, was represented on the “Buick” logo. Thus David showed off his world-famous products. Since 1905 the inscription «Buick» in its different variations had been serving as a logo. In 1911, the designers played with the words, making a large capital “B”, with “uick” inscribed inside it. But the logo was so clumsy and not clear that lasted not long. Already in 1913, the well-readable labels in italics were returned, but it had been done on a blue rectangle background. In 1930, the figure 8 had appeared in the logo, it pointed to the eight-cylinder power of the Buick cars. At the same time the logo had been dramatically changed – instead of writing there was used the coat of arms of the Scottish aristocratic Buick family. Over the years, the coat of arms changed its shape and framing, but the basics remain the same. In 1960, the coat of arms was “duplicated” and now there are three of them, representing the three models of cars produced by the company: LeSabre, Invicta and Electra. There were red, white and blue colors at the heart of each of the “shields”. In 1975, the logo was changed into the image of a hawk with the wings spread, it was associated with the release of a new Skyhawk models line. But in the late 80s, this model was removed and the familiar tri-shield logo was returned.
The shields of the coat of arms were gradually transformed and moving away from the true Scottish coat of arms: the color was changed, the small elements and patterns on the strip that crosses the shield were removed, the metallic elements were gradually added, until the logo became fully metalized and maximum simplified in 2002. Now this is only the outlines of shields inscribed in a circle.
2017 Buick Emblem
December 6, 2016 Chapter Holiday Gathering
Starlite Diner & Lounge, 233 North Rt. 100, Allentown, Pa. Cash Bar/Happy/Social hour 5:00pm, dinner 6:00pm on Tuesday, December 6th. The infamous “CRAZY BINGO” will once again be played & enjoyed by everyone after dinner. Remember: EACH PERSON must bring a wrapped, $10.00, gift. Watch future newsletters for more information.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OCTOBER 2016 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
2 – 29th Annual Lehigh Township Festival & Car Show, Becky’s Drive-In, Berlinsville, Pa. 610-767-8434.
3 – NOTE DAY CHANGE!!Monthly chapter business meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 100/78, Allentown, Pa. Supper @ 6 p, business meeting 7:30 pm. NOTE DAY CHANGE due to Hershey Show. Nominations will be taken for Secretary, Treasurer, membership chairman, & 2 BOD.
5-8 – AACA Hershey Fall Meet, Hershey, Pa
15 – Upper Salford Township 275th Anniversary Show. Schwenksville, Pa. cordhaven@aol.com
30 – 40th Annual Old Car Show, Kempton, PA (CHAPTER EVENT)
NOVEMBER 2016 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
1 – Monthly chapter dinner meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 100/78, Allentown, Pa. Dinner @ 6:00 pm, meeting @ 7:30 pm. Nominations go to vote.
6 – David Markel Car Collection tour w/ Ontelaunee Region AACA
6 – “Fall Roll Out” Show, Riegelsville, Pa
28 – Koziars Christmas Village, Bernville, Pa tour, tour master, Sally Getz.
DECEMBER 2016 HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
6 – ANNUAL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY GATHERING, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Rts. 100/78, Allentown, Pa.
CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”
1939 Buick Special (41) 4-DR Trunk back Sedan, unrestored original car, Straight 8, manual transmission. Runs well! Rebuilt engine & components,
brake system, drive train, transmission. Upgraded carb, electronic ignition, oil filter, NEW exhaust system. WW tires. Pics available. $16,500/negotiable. Ken Davis, 610-489-1649. kwmcdavis@verizon.net
1951 Buick Super (51) 4 dr. Excellent condition. Everything works, drive anywhere. Original paint interior. All mechanical things have been replaced or
improved. 59,000 original miles. $11,500. William@ 610-970-7183, 484-948-6213.
1962 Buick Skylark Conv. Overall GOOD condition. Various NOS chrome installed. Runs/drives nice! Transmission, rear, top & rear window good. Dave’s Int. restorations, 525 Chestnut St., Emmaus, Pa 18049
1975 “Free Spirit” Buick Super Rare. Has the whole package minus the pace car script. T- tops bucket seats & console floor shift. Tilt wheel w/ original brushed aluminum three spoke wheel. 1800 made. This car is 100% complete minus trim rings & center caps. Comes w/ four original wheels & 4 appliance spoke wire wheels. 350 Buick 4 barrel & t-350 automatic. Needs complete restoration. CLEAN TITLE! $3500.00 obo Paul 605-9960.
1979 Buick Riviera 32,000 miles call Michael Spitzer at 215-255-5768
1981 Buick Regal 4 DR dark green, garage kept. 75K mi. 717-576-7588
1987 Buick GN, T-Top blk w/ grey/blk int., orig parts, EXCELLENT condition, 3200 ORIGINAL miles. Stored in heat controlled garage. $28,500 (OBO), gbrentano@verizon.net
1996 Buick Riviera Diamond White w/ excellent burgundy leather interior. 106K miles. Supercharged, chrome wheels, Astor roof. Garaged kept. New tires 9,000 miles ago. Super clean; not driven in winters; used for BDE Tours. Cold AC. Well maintained Buick. $7000. Ed Lenny BCA # 7534 Allentown, PA. lugnuts36@icloud.com, 610-751-7700
1958 Super/Limited Chrome & stainless trim, rear Ltd. Bumper end. 610-509-2061.
1964 Buick 300 V-8 w/ factory aluminum heads, complete w/ fan, carb, air cleaner, etc. TH 400 auto trans #BU-64-23582. Eng. #4K5029219, $700.00. 610-509-2061.
In Search Of
1948 Buick Special 2 door back chrome. Doug @ 570-573-0948.
1951-52 Buick Mustache Bar to be rechromed, very hard to find! $400.00. William, 610-970-7183, 484-948-6213.
1951-52 Buick Roadmaster RH grille bar extension. C. Wenger, 433-710-6624, crewzn@broadstripe.net
1967 Buick Electra Conv. 610-730-4599, dwebster80@gmail.com