Director’s Thoughts, February 2018

Valentine’s Day History

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and friendship. The idea of Valentine’s Day seems to have originated during the Middle Ages, somewhere around the 14th or 15th century. The holiday derived its name from two Roman martyrs for love, both named Valentine.

The first Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, but not before leaving a note signed from your Valentine for his lady. The second Valentine was supposedly a bishop who secretly married young couples, an act that was forbidden by the Roman Emperor who wanted young men to first serve as soldiers before marrying. Valentine ignored the law and was beheaded on February 14. An ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, a celebration for which young men randomly chose the name of a young girl to escort to the festivities, has also been linked to the origins of Valentine’s Day. Since then, the custom of selecting a sweetheart on February 14th has spread through Europe and its colonies and transformed itself into the celebration of love and friendship that we know today.

Valentine’s Day Facts & Quotes

1. Symbols for Valentine’s day include hearts, chocolate, flowers, and Cupid – the Roman God of Love.
   52% of US consumers will send out at least 1 Valentine’s Day card, 47% will send candy, and 34% will send flowers.
2. In 2012, consumers spent over $13.19 billion on Valentine’ Day.
3. 180 million Valentine’s Day Cards were sent in 2012.
4. Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind. And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind-William Shakespeare

Valentine’s Day Top Events and Things to Do

1. Send someone you care for a Valentine’s Day card. Take the time to write a small note or love poem inside. Sign it, from your Valentine.
2. Go to a special romantic dinner with your sweetheart. Tip: Book early as this is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants.
3. Watch the movie Valentine’s Day (2010) or the Notebook (2004). Both are romance movies with star casts.
4. Send a Secret Valentine to someone several days before, and then reveal your identity on February 14th.
5. Remember other important people in your life, such as your parents, grandparents and old friends. Send them a small card or gift to remind them of how much you care.

What will you do for your SWEEHEART??

Why Are There Only 28 Days in February?

Each month in the modern Gregorian calendar consists of at least 28 days. That number would be a nicely rounded 30 were it not for February. While every month besides the second in the calendar contains at least 30 days, February falls short with 28 (and 29 on a leap year). So why is the most widely used calendar in the world so inconsistent in the lengths of its months? And why is February stuck with the fewest number of days? Blame it on Roman superstition.

The Gregorian calendar’s oldest ancestor, the first Roman calendar, had a glaring difference in structure from its later variants: it consisted of 10 months rather than 12. In order to fully sync the calendar with the lunar year, the second Roman emperor, Numa Pompilius, added January and February to the original 10 months. When he reorganized the calendar’s dates to fit the new format, Numa tried to avoid having months that consisted of an even number of days, as Roman superstition held that even numbers were unlucky. But in order to reach the 355 days of the lunar year (354.367 to be exact, but he rounded up to keep it odd), 1 month out of the 12 needed to contain an even number of days. This is because of simple mathematical fact—the sum of any even amount of odd numbers will always equal an even number. So Numa chose February, a month that would be host to Roman rituals honoring the dead, as the unlucky month to consist of 28 days.

Your Elected Director, Sally Getz

“Free Spirit” Chapter Meeting Minutes, January, 2018

Meeting called to order @ 7:33 pm by Director Sally Getz. All were “Welcomed” to the meeting. 14 members in attendance.

Treasurer’s report –December report given by Sally Getz, motion to accept Dolores Kennedy, seconded by Isabel Lenny, so carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Historian – Holiday Gathering pictures on web site
B. Kempton – will there be a 2018 show? Sally to contact manager. Is
difficult to get a response. Final decision to be made @ February meeting. As a chapter member, please attend Februarys’ meeting to voice your opinions/concerns/+/-, etc. This is your chance to be heard.
C. Membership – Monies were collected from those who forgot to wear their chapter badge.
D. Newsletter – printing costs to increase as of January 1, 2018.
E. Programs – Sally has received only 1 response out of 4 thus far. Debbie Brady looking into a possible guest speaker.
F. Publicity – the NE PA ALL BUICK REGIONAL ads have been placed on many free web sites.
G. Technical – Dave gave a brief insight to an “Approved List of Full Classic Cars Built During the 1925 – 1948 Classic Era.” Buick = All 1931 – 1942 Series 90; all 1931 – 1933 & 1936 – 1939 Series 80; 1940 Series 80 Limited;1940 – 1941 R/ Master Series 70. Sorry, NO OLDSMOBILES.
H. Ways and Means –Buick blanket sold to Columbus, Ohio & to WI.
William “King” Schaedel was the proud winner of a raffle, a book called “A Place Called Buick.”
I. OLD BUSINESS: Many “THANKS” to all those who sent their love, support, prayers & thoughts to the Getz family during their time of despair from the passing of Clarence on December 10, 2017. Also, “THANKS” for the beautiful vase of red roses sent to the Getz family from the “Free Spirit” Chapter, BCA. Memorial contributions have been coming to the Chapter in honor of Clarence, THANK YOU EVERYONE!! Clarence really loved his BUICKS & this Chapter membership! Thank you, again.
II. NEW BUSINESS: Sally asked for the officers & BOD to meet briefly after tonight’s meeting. Auditing of the books will be completed once the weather breaks. Sally to man a table during the Hamburg Swap Meet in March to promote the upcoming Regional.
Sally shared parts of a letter from John Scheib, Regional Chapter Coordinator, from November, addressed to the 9 chapter directors in the NE region. J. S. is looking for a replacement. He has held this position for a long time. It is now time for someone else to “Step up to the plate”. The main responsibility is to be the liaison between each chapter in the region & the BCA office. It was discussed & voted upon during the Director’s meeting held during the Saratogo, NY Regional, that each of the 9 chapters give $20.00/year to the Regional Chapter Coordinator to be used to promote any chapter activities, meetings, etc., such as travel expenses.
Dave Brady talked about his invitation to attend the AACA Philadelphia meet in February to give a seminar on convertible tops & upholstery.
Motion to adjourn, Isabel Lenny, seconded William “King” Schaedel, so carried @ 8:20 pm. Respectfully submitted, Don Atwood, Secretary

Chapter Badges

Please remember to wear your chapter badge that has your name on it. Wearing it to the monthly chapter meetings is a must, or you will owe $1.00 to Dolores Kennedy. Also, please wear it to the periodic chapter events, thus everyone can get to meet/greet you if you are a new member. If you do not have a badge w/ your name on it, please contact Dolores Kennedy & she’ll be more than happy to see you receive a badge!

Everyone Is Welcomed!

Now that 2018 is finally here, I am extending a “WARM WELCOME” to any member who would like to send me information, articles, etc. for in the monthly newsletter. I am open to ideas, articles, clippings, stories, etc. If you would like to share something w/ others, feel free to send your information to me via e-mail, U.S mail, phone call, visit, or however you want. If you would like to hear from a group or person of an organization, make this year a fun-filled year!

Northeast PA All Buick Regional, September 20-22, 2018, Lehighton, Pa

WOW! Can you believe we are in 2108 already? It just seems like yesterday we just got started in 2017!! The time is going by quickly, don’t you agree? This means it is now, only 7 months away from the 2018 NE PA ALL BUICK REGIONAL!! Can you believe it. I am so excited of being a part of this Buick chapter in hosting such an event. For you, the members, is what makes this chapter the GREATEST!!
A NE PA All Buick Regional will be held @ Lehighton, Pa @ Phifer’s Ice Dams, September 20-22, 2018. There are 2 local hotels, 1 = 0.5 mile & 1 = 1 mile away. The PA turnpike is only 1 mile away for those who travel! View the web site, www.buickfreespirit.org, to be kept in the loop about this exciting event, & to register your BUICK(s)!!!

How to Store a Car

If you are going away, staying with someone, or simply participating in a large event, you may not be using your car much — or at all. In this case, you may simply forget about your wheels and leave your vehicle gathering dust — and bird poo — in the driveway. However, if your car is going to sit around for an extended period of time, more than perhaps a few weeks, you should take steps to store it properly. Otherwise, mechanical problems can arise from disuse.

Change the oil and filter. If the car is being stored for an extended period of time, measured in years, talk to a mechanic about using oils without additives, which may include slightly caustic detergents.

Fill the fuel tank with fresh, premium fuel. Condensation in the tank is a problem in stored vehicles, and it is widely suggested that you fill the tank completely with Premium non-alcohol fuel in order to avoid any empty space where water can accumulate. However, the gasoline can become “gummy” over time, so it is useful to add a gasoline stabilizer, which is available for lawn mowers and other seasonal yard equipment. In some areas, premium gas does not contain ethanol which is corrosive and can release water when stored for long periods. Check with gasoline company distributor.

Make sure coolant levels are proper.

Inflate the tires to proper pressure. If you are storing for the winter in a cold climate, check the manual for proper pressures. Over inflation while in storage may help to prevent flat spots. After storage expect some thumping tires until they are driven 10 miles (16 km) or so.

Clean and wax the car. Be sure to wash under the car to remove any dirt, especially from the wheel wells. Clean the interior extensively, being especially vigilant about all food scraps and particles; these can attract small animals. Removing the carpets for heated indoor storage will prevent them from becoming musty. Do not use Armor All® or similar products; these contain water, which may become trapped inside the car.fact

Consider placing a sheet of vapor barrier plastic under the car on the floor if being stored indoors. This will prevent water vapor buildup in an unheated garage, and also makes it very easy to spot fluid leaks when the car is removed from storage.

Open a window slightly if stored indoors, but not enough to allow small animals inside. Put the top up if it’s a convertible. Stuff a rag into the air intake and exhaust to prevent animals from nesting, covering this with a metal screen (1/4 inch square screen is useful here). Some suggest using strong-smelling chemicals like soap or mothballs to keep animals away, but these can leave a smell in the car.

Use a battery maintainer if the car will be stored for more than a month. These are basically “smart” battery chargers that only turn on periodically. For short times, a few months, the maintainer can be attached to the battery while still in the car. For extended periods, if you are comfortable with basic mechanics, removing the battery and attaching the maintainer to it outside the car is a advisable. If you choose to do this, be sure to contact the car’s manufacturer to ensure that this will not confuse the on-board computers, and that you have written down any needed access codes for devices such as the stereo or alarm.

Place a piece of plastic wrap on the windshield under the wiper blades, to prevent the rubber from sticking to the glass. Better yet, remove the blades completely and store them in a warm place (perhaps beside the battery and carpets). If you remove the blades, be sure to pad the ends of the wiper arms, which can scratch the glass if inadvertently turned on. You can also leave the wipers in place and just wrap them with plain plastic wrap. This can be gently scrubbed from the window if it sticks. Alternatively, if your car has the windshield wiper arms that pop out and away from the windshield, you can store them in the “out” position.

Remove the spark plugs and spray a small amount of oil into the cylinders to prevent rusting, then insert the plugs again. Do this only if you are comfortable with basic mechanics. Special “fogging oil” is available for storing boats, and will work well here. Use of a spark plug anti-seize lubricant on the threads is always advisable, as to prevent the threads from sticking. It will make disassembly easier, when it’s time to change the spark plugs. If you wish to pass on this procedure, there are fuel additives (non alcoholic) that can be added and then driven to coat upper engine parts.

If the car will be stored for extended periods of time, it is advisable to jack it up on axle stands to avoid flat spots in the tires. “Extended” in this case depends on the type of tires; bias-ply tires need to be jacked up sooner than radials, and high-profile sooner than low-profile. A “classic” car with fat bias-ply tires should be jacked up if stored for more than a month, a modern sports car with low-profile radials should be fine for a winter.

Release the handbrake. If the brake is left on, the brake pads can stick to the rotors. Place chocks under the tires to prevent movement, which is even more effective than the brake, anyway.

Place a note to yourself on the steering wheel outlining which optional steps above you carried out (rag in exhaust, rag in intake, carpets removed, battery removed, etc). When returning to the car in the spring, ensure all of these steps are reversed, checking them off as you go down the list. The list should contain every item separately; “rags in openings” may lead to one being left behind.

Lock the doors. It will help in case someone tries to steal something from your car.

Use a car cover only for outdoor storage, or in very dusty locations. Leaving the car “open” indoors allows water vapor to leave the car after humid weather.

Tips

Before removing the spark plugs, be sure to use compressed air to blow any foreign matter away from the spark plug holes to prevent dirt and other abrasives from entering the combustion chamber.

Lead acid batteries should not be stored inside homes. Under certain conditions they may discharge toxic or explosive gases.

When applying anti-seize lubricant on the spark plugs, try to get the Lubricant only on the threads, and not anything else. Also, a little dab of anti-seize lubricant goes a long way; be sure not to apply too much.

If you have access to the car during the storage period, exercise the brakes and clutch once a month to help prevent sticking of the seals inside the hydraulic components.

If the car has been sitting for more than 3 months, change the oil and filter again before driving. Oil breaks down over time, even when the car is stored.

Placing a battery on concrete will not cause it to discharge any faster than any other surface. A battery will self-discharge slowly over time regardless of the surface. An unused battery should never be allowed to sit over 6 months without a recharge.

If you must use a cover, typically only for outdoor storage or very dusty locations, use a cover that is ventilated and allows water vapor to escape. Wicking materials, similar to those used on sporting “technical wear”, is widely used in high-end covers.

It is not uncommon for the brake rotors to develop surface rust during storage. This is most often just a cosmetic problem and can be eliminated during a few driving stops. Heavier surface rust can be burnished off the rotors by performing 15 moderate stops from 35–40 mph (56–64 km/h) with cooling time in between.

Warnings

Be mindful of leaving wiper arms extended. If they snap back on the glass, the arms can break the windshield, especially in colder conditions. Instead, Wrap the arms in a washcloth and bind with a piece of duct tape, then lay the arm back on the windshield. This will protect the arm from rusting to the windshield.

Be sure to add stabilizer to the gas. If you don’t, you will be seeing engine problems and possibly car stalls. This can be minimized by leaving only a small amount of gasoline in the tank, adding stabilizer to it, and upon returning to your car — adding fresh gas to mix with the older gas. But this course of action needs to be weighed against the possibility of condensation in the gas tank.

Be aware of rodents and other pests that may choose to make a home in your vehicle. Consider placing baits around the car, and if possible have someone check the vehicle (and the baits) periodically. Rubber belts and hoses are particularly susceptible to chewing damage. Inside seats and within ventilation ducting make great homes for vermin. Another option is to scatter strong smelling dryer sheets around the inside of the car; rodents dislike the smell.

Calendar

FEBRUARY 2018 “HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY!”
6 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa. Dinner = 6 pm, business meeting = 7:30 pm.
9-11 – Classics in Atlantic City, Atlantic City, NJ 1-800-227-3868
17-18 – Motorama, Harrisburg, Pa 717-359-7056

MARCH 2018 “HAPPY ST. PATRICK’s DAY!”
4 – Hamburg Swap Meet, Hamburg, Pa
6 – Monthly meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa. Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting 7:30 pm.
22-25 – LV Auto Show, Bethlehem, Pa.

APRIL 2018
3 – Monthly meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, PA. Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.
7 – Spring 2nd chance Auction & market, AACA Museum, Hershey, Pa
29 – Sticks & Slicks Show, Grantville, Pa. 717-215-1755

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.

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
1965 Buick Electra 225 4 dr, hardtop, Black. 62,634 original miles. 465/340 HP V8 engine. AM/FM radio. UNRESTORED, ALL ORIGINAL CAR! Garage kept! Needs transmission & exhaust work. $8,000.00. 610-377-6130.

1967 Buick Special Deluxe Sport Coupe 2 dr, Forest Green exterior w/ black interior. 68,305 original miles. 300 engine, V-8. AM/FM radio. Spinner wire wheel covers. UNRESTORED, ALL ORIGINAL car!! Garage kept! Runs good! $8,500.00. 610-377-6130

1972 Chevrolet Caprice 2 dr coupe, Brown. 75,800 original miles. Garage kept!! AM/FM radio, Comfortron, Alloy Wheels w/ locking lugs. UNRESTORED, ALL ORIGINAL CAR!! Garage kept! Needs brake work. $8,000.00. 610-377-6130

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Convertible 2 dr 350 V-8. Bronze exterior w/ Saddle Brown leather interior. Garage kept! $25,000.00. 610-377-6130

1976 Chevrolet Impala 2 dr. Green w/ tan Landau top w/ tan leather interior. 92,092 original miles. UNRESTORED, ALL ORIGINAL CAR!! Runs GREAT! Garage kept. $7,000.00. 610-377-6130
BUICK BUGLES – 30 years of “Buick Bugles” FREE for the taking. Must take ALL! 610-248-1638.

In Search Of

1948 Buick Special 2 door back chrome. Doug @ 570-573-0948.

1967 Buick Electra Conv. 610-730-4599, dwebster80@gmail.com