Director’s Thoughts, DECEMBER, 2018

As the Holidays are upon us now, our BUICKS are all snuggled in their garage spaces, tucked in for their long winters sleep. Now is the time for families to get together to celebrate the meaning of the Holidays in the many ways we do celebrate.

Here, in Pa, this is the time of the year we spend our time indoors, rather than outdoors, unless you live in Florida where car shows run all year round. It’s kind of nice to have a break from car events, isn’t it? Before you know it, April will be here & then the BUICKS will inadvertently come out of their long winters nap.

In the meantime, however, many car clubs continue to meet during the winter months’ to plan & to organize the year forth coming. The “Free Spirit” Chapter continues this activity too! We continue to meet @ Starlite Diner & Lounge for our monthly dinner meeting. Feel free to come to dine w/ us @ 6 pm, or loin in for the business meeting @ 7:30 pm. Our meeting usually only last 45 minutes to an hour, unless there is a guest speaker. It is a very short but nice time we have once a month during the wintertime. If there is inclement weather, naturally we do not expect anyone to come out that evening. If, at any time, you have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to contact me, Sally, to find your answer. I am available in the many ways of how we can communicate today: 1060 Main Road, Lehighton, Pa 18235, 610-377-6130, 484-364-3418, csgetz@ptd.net.

From my family, to your family, may you have the most Joyous, Memorable, Merry, & Blessed Holiday Season!!! Hopefully, may all of your Holiday Wishes come TRUE!!

Your elected Director, Sally Getz

“Free Spirit” Chapter Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2018

Meeting called to order @ 7:30 pm by Director Sally Getz. 14 members in attendance. All were “Welcomed” to the meeting.

Motion to accept October meeting minutes as printed in the November newsletter, Dolores Kennedy, seconded by Isabel Lenny, so carried.

Treasurer’s report – October report provided, motion to accept, Thomas Duckett, seconded by Shirley Schaffer, so carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Historian – no report
B. Kempton – Sally recognized the following members:
Setting up outdoor flea spaces, Saturday, in the rain = Thomas Duckett/John Moore
Outdoor flea assigned, Sunday, = John Moore/Dan Reiniger/Shirley Schaffer
Indoor flea assigned = Dan Reiniger
Entrance to show = Howard Kriebel/Michael Nester
Relieving duties = William Hallman
50/50 raffle = Bobbi/Alfred Paul
Parking of cars = Mike Aumann/David Brady/Ed Lenny
Registration = Laura Getz/Dolores Kennedy/Isabel Lenny/Sandy Reiniger/Mike Aumann
Ballot counting = Laura Getz/William Hallman/Dolores Kennedy/Shirley Schaffer
Clean up = Brent/Laura Getz/Dan Reiniger/Kathleen/Thomas Duckett
5 members who attended the show
MY APOLOGIES IF I FORGOT ANYONE! THANK YOU!!
C. Membership – Received 1 new membership and 1 renewal. Paul Schaffer is hospitalized @ Lehigh Valley Health Network, Cedar Crest, Allentown, Pa for 2 weeks now. Please drop him a “CHEERFUL” card, 2509 Clearview Road, Coplay, Pa 18037-2336.
D. Newsletter – no report
E. Programs – no report
F. Publicity – no report
G. Technical – no report
H. Ways and Means – Some way-n-means sold during Hershey.
OLD BUSINESS:
+ Don’t forget to sign-up by November 9th to attend the November tour, Boyertown Auto Museum, organized by Kathleen/Thomas Duckett.
NEW BUSINESS:
Elections of Officers/BOD = Nominations accepted:
Secretary = Laura Getz
Treasurer = Sally Getz
BOD = Howard Kriebel, John Moore, Alfred Paul
Activities Director = Shirley Schaffer
Membership chairperson = Dolores Kennedy CONGRATS EVERYONE!
+ “Holiday Gathering” = December 4th. Remember to send in your reservations to Sally Getz by November 26th!!

KEMPTON = Will there be a 2019 show @ Kempton, Pa?? Will it be held at the KCRC, Kempton, Pa, or will it be held at another venue location? Are you an active participant to help support the ongoing success of this show? If you haven’t been an active supporter, are you willing to become an active supporter for 2019? Tune in!!

Those members who belong to the National Buick Club, you most likely have read about the Book’s, Nancy/Mike, are going to retire. They have been the National managers in Columbus, Ohio for many many many years. If you would be interested in applying for this position, please follow the directions printed in the November Bugle. Good luck!!

Motion to adjourn, Isabel Lenny, seconded bt Kathleen Duckett, so carried, 8:30 pm. Your elected Director, Sally Getz

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!

“WELCOME NEW MEMBER”
Please welcome Alan/Lynne Babp of , Easton, Pa 18045-1914.  aababp@gmail.com. They own a 1948 Super 2-Dr Convertible Coupe, 56C and a 1955 Special 2-Dr Riviera, 46R. “Welcome”.

“Holiday Gathering” Tuesday, December 4, 2018

The annual “Holiday Gathering” will once again be held @ the Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, PA, home of the monthly “Free Spirit” Buick meetings. Social hour = 5 pm w/ sit down dinner being served @ 6 pm. “Crazy Bingo” will once again be played & enjoyed by all!! Don’t forget, EACH PERSON brings a wrapped $10.00 gift, only to go back to home with an unwrapped $10.00 gift!!

Dinner = soup/salad/bread bar, entrée, side, coffee/tea/soda/water, dessert.
Broiled Haddock, Black Diamond Steak, chicken Pamigiana
Member = ___________________ entrée choice_________________=$6.00
Spouse = ____________________ entrée choice_________________=$6.00
Member child(ren) (6-12) = ___________________, child menu choice, free
Non-Member = _________________, entrée choice = ____________$25.00
Non-Member child(ren) (6-12) = ____________________, child menu price
Submit your entrée choice(s), reservation(s), & check made payable to:
“Free Spirit” Chapter, to sally Getz, 1060 Main Road, Lehighton, Pa 18235 by November 26, 2018. Hope you can attend this ABSOLUTE FUN event!!!

Kempton Old Car Show, October 28, 2018

Our yearly car show is, once again, down in the history books still as a successful show!! Despite the chilly, breezy, cloudy, misty day in the 50’s, car enthusiasts still came out to participate in this fall show. While there were 76 pre-registered cars, there were 76 day of show car registrations!! Can you believe that one?
The following is the list of award recipients:

Class A (1920 – 1939)

• 3rd = Matthias Staack, Coopersburg, 1937 Desoto Business Coupe
• 2nd = Al Grohowski, Northampton, 1924 Jewett Roadster
• 1st = Carson Krause, Lenhartsville, 1931 Ford Coupe

Class B (1940 – 1949)

• 3rd = Kevin Hartman, Broomhall, 1948 Buick Convertible
• 2nd = Barbara Reppert, Breinigsville, 1949 Ford Club Coupe
• 1st = Cameron Smith, Catasauqua, 1946 Chrysler Sedan

Class C (1950 – 1959)

• 3rd = Bruce Krial, Revere, 1959 Chevy Impala
• 2nd = Ken Hendricks, Coopersburg, 1955 Chevy Bel Air
• 1st = Peter/Maureen Gipprich, Reading, 1955 Buick Special

Class D (1960 – 1969)

• 3rd = Ralph Reichenbach, Bedminster, 1964 Buick Coupe
• 3rd = Joseph Yurko, Kempton, 1961 Plymouth Sedan
• 2nd = Larrisa Barachie, Jim Thorpe, 1967 VW Beetle
• 2nd = George Reppert, Breinigsville, 1965 Ford Fairlane
• 1st = Jerry Detweiler, Birdsboro, 1964 Ford Fairlane Special Coupe

Class E (1970 – 1979)

• 3rd = bill Lang, Doylestown, 1970 Buick GS 455
• 2nd = Rick Tomolowski, Coplay, 1972 Chevy Malibu
• 1st = Harry Lewis, Andreas, 1970 Buick GSX

Class F (1980 – 1990)

• 3rd = Al/Bobbi Paul, Bethlehem, 1988 Buick LeSabre
• 2nd = Keen Beltz, Slatington, 1984 Buick Regal
• 1st = Dolores/Leroy Bogert, Germansville, 1980 Triumph TR7

Class G (Streetrods)

• 3rd = David/Connie Vanim, Zionsville, 1936 Ford Coupe
• 3rd = Thomas McArdle, Lehighton, 1932 Chevy Sedan
• 2nd Dale Klein, Red hill, 1946 Ford Coupe
• 1st = R. Keith Weller, Reading, 1966 Chevy Corvair

Class H (Trucks)

• 3rd = Dan Oswald, Lehighton, 1994 Ford Bronco XLT
• 2nd = Charles Kern, Jonestown, 1942 Dodge WC-52
• 1st = Benny Kohl, Mohnton, 1958 Ranchero

Director’s Award = Debbie/Joe Curran, Lehighton, 1968 Olds Cutlass Sup

• 50/50 Raffle = Donald Sassaman, Ferndale, Pa

Wright Brothers Day

The Wright Brothers Day is on Monday December 17th, 2018. Wright Brothers Day is held on December 17th annually each year and celebrates the first successful flight of their mechanically propelled airplane made by Orville and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903 near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Celebration\ Observance People will celebrate by visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial on top of Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina. Kids in school are told about the Wright Brothers story of flight and aviation history. Many aviation museums offer information and details about the two brothers and their flight.

History Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled airplane flight which lasted 12 seconds and went about 120 feet on December 17, 1903. They are credited with being the first to have a fixed winged controlled flight that eventually paved the way for the aviation industry to make huge advancements in flight.

5 Reasons December is the Best Time to Buy a Car

Take advantage of uncrowded dealerships and looming quotas for the best price on a new vehicle.
December is here and so are the biggest car deals of the year. For car buyers, December has the year’s highest discounts and best incentives, according to the automotive experts at Edmunds. Between dealerships hustling to achieve quotas for the end of the year, and consumers looking to find a luxury vehicle at a lower rate, December is the best month to find a good deal on a car.

Like with any major purchase, preparation is important in car-buying. It’s easy to want the car of your dreams during the warm temperatures of summer and early fall, but that may be the least ideal time to buy. Instead, it’s a smarter move to utilize the earlier months of the year to do your homework and then, when the time is right between Black Friday and New Year’s Eve, find the best deal for you.

Here are a few reasons why December is the best time to buy a car.

Buying a car is a little like going to see a magic show. In each situation, you expect to be tricked. With a magic show, of course, you’re disappointed if you’re not. When buying a car, you do everything you can to avoid it.
The sleight of hand that goes on at dealerships and with private owners is not always intentional. Everyone understands that if you’re going to buy a car, you’re going to lose an arm and a leg (like the female sidekick climbing into the magician’s box). But nobody wants to buy a car with hidden costs and spend hundreds or thousands more than intended in finance charges, fees and mechanical problems.

Entire books are written about buying a car, so what follows isn’t a complete list. But if you’re in the market for a car, consider these hidden costs before signing on the dotted line.

New models. September, October, November and December are the months that manufacturers are typically trying to make room for new models on dealer lots, according to Auto Cheat Sheet, a car-buying guide and expert source on the retail car business. Especially in September, many automakers launch the upcoming year’s new models, which drop the value of the current year’s models substantially. Come December, prices will hit a low for the year. For a buyer, these factors work in your favor to save money. For car manufacturers, a lot is riding on the line to make quota. Car dealers make the most money on the newest vehicles. The longer a car remains unsold on the lot, the more buyers can expect big savings off the sticker price.

Holiday shopping. When the holidays come around, planning your annual shopping list is on top of the to-do list, and buying a new car might be the last thought on your mind. However, during the holiday shopping season, cars continuously lower in price as dealerships monitor retailer sales in order to compete for shoppers’ dollars. Dealerships have since joined in Black Friday deals and continually lower prices into December.

Holiday bonuses. The hard work you put in all year may come with a generous holiday bonus. This year, 63 percent of U.S. human resources professionals or hiring managers say their company plans to give employees a monetary end-of-year bonus, according to a 2017 survey by Accounting Principals. The combination of a holiday bonus and more reasonable prices on cars means December may be the best time all year to reap the benefits of a boosted income and a great deal.

Smooth commuting. There might be a sense of worry about whether your older vehicle can make it through another tough winter. Year after year, you may be concerned about the money you spend on the same repairs caused by wear and tear and stress about your lack of reliable transportation. As the threat of snow and freezing rain in many areas starts lurking in December, that’s yet another concern.

Better decision-making (and leverage). When traffic at dealerships slows down in the colder winter months, salespeople can usually take more time to explain in depth about a car you are interested in, show you similar models, review features, safety concerns and more. You will also have leverage you might not have had during earlier, busier months alongside eager car buyers. Use the empty dealership to your advantage and ask every question on your mind, and don’t be afraid to haggle.

If you had a new car on your wish list for 2019, it’s not too late to make your dreams come true. In fact, waiting until now might really pay off. If it’s not in this year’s budget, don’t rush the decision. Instead, start planning for a trip to the dealership this time next year.

CONGRATS to HERSHEY PARTICIPANTS!!

The following “Free Spirit” members are to be congratulated on their achievements during this past Hershey fall meet event:

• Bernard Boback (deceased), 1955 Buick, 43, Repeat Preservation
• Loren Hulber, 1949 Cadillac Series 62, First Junior
• Michael Nester, 1978 Buick Electra, Repeat Historic Preservation
• Martin Zimmerman, 1933 Plymouth Deluxe, Repeat Preservation

Calendar of Events

DECEMBER “HAPPY HOLIDAYS!”
4 – “Holiday Gathering” Starlite Diner & Lounge, 5-6 pm social hour, dinner = 6 pm. Each person brings a $10.00 wrapped gift = CRAZY BINGO. Then you go home w/ an unwrapped $10.00 gift!!
JANUARY 2019 “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!”
8 – Monthly chapter meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa. Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.
18 – 20 – Automania, Allentown, Pa

FEBRUARY 2019 “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY”
5 – Monthly chapter dinner meeting, Starlite Diner & Lounge, Allentown, Pa. Dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.

CARS/PARTS “FOR SALE”

1965 Buick Electra 225 4 dr, hardtop, Black. 62,634 original miles. 425 engine. Aluminum valve covers, chromed air cleaner. Vacuum trunk release, PS, PW, PB, power seat & antenna. AM/FM radio. Chrome wheels, remote mirror. UNRESTORED, ALL ORIGINAL CAR! Trim code 642. Needs headliner & has slow trans leak. Garage kept! $8,000. 610-377-6130.

1967 Buick Skylark 2 Dr Coupe, black on black, ALL ORIGINAL. 85K original miles. Garage kept. $10,000. Has won Archival Award @ Buick nationals. 610-377-6130

1967 Buick Skylark 4 Dr Sedan 340 2-barrel, ST 300 Switch Pitch, PS, manual brakes, cassette player, no air. 70,100 original miles. Maroon color ext., cloth maroon/int. Was repainted. Interior still original! Garage kept! $10,000. 610-377-6130

1967 Buick Skylark Special Deluxe Sport Coupe 2 dr, 300 2-barrel. Spruce Green exterior w/ vinyl top, black interior. 68,305 original miles. Power steering, manual brakes. RH mirror, AM/FM radio. Spinner wire wheel covers. UNRESTORED. Garage kept! Runs good! $8,500. 610-377-6130

1987 Turbo Regal HT, 73k original miles, 100% rust free, original dark blue ext & int, chrome trim, factory aluminum wheels, drums, & bumper inserts. A/C, PW, tilt, cruise, posi, original exhaust. $20k. Steve Perry 914-262-9965, Carmel NY. sep440@aol.com

1991 Chevy Suburban, 2500, Big block, 454 engine, 111.530 original miles. 2×2. Turbo 400 transmission. Black w/ gray interior, 3rd seat, AC (front/rear), AM/FM radio, tow package, cassette player, power door locks/windows, vent shades, tailgate window, in GREAT condition. Garage kept! Very powerful! $10,000. 610-377-6130

In Search Of

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

1976 Caddy Eldo 500 ci – Pete Stoki, 609-915-9948