DIRECTOR’S THOUGHTS, SEPTEMBER, 2024

HAPPY SEPTEMBER to everyone.  WOW!  Can you believe it is SEPTEMBER already!!!  Why, the Hershey Region AACA Fall Meet is just around the corner!  It always seems to me, that once Das Awkscht Fescht is over, it’s all downhill from there when Hershey rolls around.  

HEAR YE, HEAR YE!!  Remember, the September dinner meeting will be held at the Trivet Restaurant, 4549 West Tilghman Street, Allentown, PA.   Please join us for dinner @ 6:00 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.  They offer a room, Senior menus, separate checks, and is HANDICAP accessible.   Please attend this new venue!

By the end of this month, the 48^th Annual Old Car Show with Outdoor Flea Market will be held at the Phifer’s Ice Dam, 880 Main Road, Lehighton, Saturday, October 27, 2024, with a rain date of Sunday, October 27, 2024.  Some car pre-registrations have been coming in the mail.  Place this date on your calendars for many volunteers will be needed to full fill parking of cars, placing flea market vendors, help with THE day of show registrations, 50/50 selling, and tallying ballots for award presentations.  The DJ has been contracted and the Franklin Township Lions will be providing food selections.  An ad was sent to the Buick Bugle and Sally will be placing multiple ads on multiple internet web sites.  

I would like to “THANK” Bob Miles for recruiting a new advertiser.   He goes by “RAPP Parts”:   A large collection of cars and trucks located up in the Northeast (starlite, Pa). It’s owned by Dave Rapp who used to be in the car business in Long Island, New York.  Dave purchased 300 acres spread across two farms some 25-30 years ago and began filling the landscape with what could be as many as 800 vehicles.  Most of this accumulation is vehicles produced from the 1920s through the 1960s. Dave seems to have skipped the muscle car period of the 1960s, but there is some iron out from as recently as the 1980s. While there are tons and tons of cars sitting outdoors, some of the nicer ones and parts have been placed indoors on the farm.  

       Many “THANKS”  Bob!!                                                                                

                                                                                                                                           Your Elected Director, Sally

“Free Spirit” Meeting Minutes – August 2024

      No meeting held during August.   Das Awkscht Fescht was held, Macungie Park, August 2 – 4, 2024.  A BUICK coverlet has been sold to a National BCA member from Texas.   

2024 BCA National Meet, Strongsville, Ohio

Isabel and I decided to attend the 2024 BCA National Meet that was held July 11th to July 13th in Strongsville, Ohio. We didn’t go to enter the show car display, and we didn’t go to search for needed parts in the flea market. We went because it was an opportunity to spend some time with friends we have made over the years who live in various parts of the country. 

We wish we could say that it was a wonderful meet, and a good time was had by all. We don’t feel that way. The host hotel was a Best Western Plus whose parking area also was the site of Saturday’s Buick display. This hotel was chosen because during the Covid 19 pandemic, the BCA was forced to cancel a National Meet that was scheduled for this location. The hotel would not refund the deposit the BCA had made. So, to avoid the loss of funds, the 2024 Meet was held there. 

We saw upon our arrival that the parking area was too small for both Buick show cars and the cars that belonged to hotel guests not part of the National. This created a situation that if you moved your car to go to lunch or dinner, you were certain to lose your parking spot. The hotel, which is way overdue for a remodel and/or refresh, offered a complimentary breakfast buffet but no food service beyond that. For those who might want a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, they had better have brought their own because the hotel bar never opened. The hotel missed substantial revenue because of its lack of food and beverage service. So, for fear of losing a parking place, most BCA members were captives at the hotel. The hotel is also located on a very busy highway without an exit controlled by a traffic signal. 

During Saturday’s show there was one food truck at the hotel. How far in advance did they reserve their parking place?

It has been a very long time since Isabel and I attended a Buick club or AACA awards banquet. We did attend this event to support our friends who were showing a freshly restored 1956 Super convertible. As expected, the banquet was less than good, not counting the fun we had at our table of wonderful dinner mates.

After some delay, those at our table who ordered Salmon were served. About thirty minutes later, those who ordered chicken were served. Thirty minutes later, those who ordered beef were served. 

After a very long awards presentation, we were happy to see our friends, Joyce and John Dale Williams of Charleston, Illinois receive a Gold Senior Award for their ’56. After the BCA National was finished, we took part in the Buick Driving Enthusiasts’ “After Tour” that was centered in Wooster, Ohio. That was five days filled with great drives and a lot of fun.                                                                                  Ed Lenny BCA # 7534 BDE # 222

Das Awkscht Fescht

On August 2 – 4, 2024, Das Awkscht Fescht was held at Macungie Memorial Park, Macungie, Pa.  On that Sunday, August 4, show cars were parked according to their makes.  This chapter was responsible to park the BUICKS that attended.  There were 6 dedicated volunteers from this chapter who volunteered to perform this task.  Many “THANKS” to the following members:    Lisa/Steve Chappelear, Eric Hunsberger, Michael Nester, Chuck Mason, and Dan Reiniger.  

Upon arrival that early morning, we were inundated by an older couple who said they were volunteers to park the Buicks using a “NOODLE” to space out the cars!  They were not part of the Ontelaunee Region AACA group, nor the Borough Park committee.  “We are just volunteers doing what we are told.  To use the “NOODLE” to space the parked cars.”   Well, for all the years many of us have attended this event on Sunday, NEVER have we come across anyone else to park cars!  It was always told we, as a chapter, had to provide our own persons to park cars.  Furthermore, as far back as I can remember, the area of which the BUICKS are parked, there was/is plenty enough room for the BUICKS.  

It was made known there were 36 pre-registered BUICKS.  21 BUICKS were on display ranging from 1940 – 2005.  Of those 21 BUICKS, 12 BUICKS were of members’ cars!  17 members/spouses were present. Despite the warmer weather, the clouds were present for most part of the day.  Everyone should have made it home without rain!  

NO Ways n Mean items were sold.  But 3 membership renewal dues were accepted.   Till next year………..    

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all of us!  This month, 48 years ago, this Buick chapter was born.  Of the 11 original founding members, 2 are still with us today:  Charlie Arnold and Janice Rosetti.  This chapter has held many Regionals and a few National meets.  It has also participated in many many other events over the years!  

Taking Officer/BOD Nominations, October

Please try to attend the October meeting for nominations will be taken for the following officers:

• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Membership Chairperson
• Activities Director

2 nominations will be taken for the Board of Directors.  (Thomas Duckett and John Malone will stay on for another year.)

CALENDAR of EVENTS, 2024

SEPTEMBER 2024                                            HAPPY LABOR DAY!

• 1 – Slatington Car show, Slatington Airport, Rt 873, Slatington, Pa
• 3 – Monthly chapter dinner/business  meeting, Trivet Diner, 4549 West Tilghman St., Allentown, Pa.  Dinner @ 6 pm, meeting @ 7:30 pm.

OCTOBER 2024                                                HAPPY FALL/HALLOWEEN!

• 1 – Monthly chapter dinner/business meeting, dinner @ 6 pm, business meeting @ 7:30 pm.  Trivet Diner, 4549 West Tilghman St. Allentown, Pa. 18104
• 6 – Becky’s Drive-In Car show, Berlinsville, Pa 
• 7 – 11 – Hershey AACA Region Fall Meet, Hershey, Pa.
• 26 -48 th Annual Old Car Show, Phifer’s Ice Dams, 880 Main Rd., Lehighton, PA, rain date 27^th.  
• ********27 – Old car show RAINDATE 

NOVEMBER 2024                                            HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

• 5 – Chapter dinner/business meeting, Trivet Rest., 4549 West Tilghman St., Allentown, Pa, dinner @ 6:00 pm, business meeting @7:30 pm.

CARS/PARTS FOR SALE

 1948 Buick Super Convertible 56C  Full restoration necessary or parts car. Serial # 64981161. Style # 48-4567X. Does not run.  Price, $1,500.00 OBO. Photos via Google drive available upon request.   Alan Babp at aababp@gmail.com or 610-657-0015. 

1955 Buick Special  2 door htp:  cascade blue and temple grey, 264 Nailhead engine, 4 BBL carb, power steering, original front/back seats, headliner and working am radio.  Show condition:  top 40 winner Wildwood Boardwalk 2019 Classic Car Show.  Asking $37K.  Contact Rich Eberhart FMI (215-409-5195  Pennsburg, Pa.) 

Rapp Parts – Parting out 75    1920’s to 1970’s BUICKS, plus other antique cars/trucks, David Rapp, Starlight, Pa 18461        570-798-0390.  (PLEASE CALL FIRST)

BUICK WHEELS:             

• #110         15 x 7, code K499 /BHE (silver) have 1, center hole = 3”
• #112         15 x 6, code 768 (NOS Manufactured sticker = OEM Precision, X-40168   MW35984,    have 1      
• #113         14 x 7, code UD   painted CAMARO Wheels,    have 2 
• #225         15 x 7, code 903WS, set of 4 Buick “A” Body 4 ¾ bolt pattern     #226         14 x 6, code 813, set of 5 ’66-67 Buick Skylark, 4 ¾ bolt pattern 
• #226         14 x 6, code 813, set of 5 ’66-67 Buick Skylark, 4 ¾ bolt pattern
• #847          15 x 6, code 768 LI vs F, GM Steel, black, 5 bolt, 5” circle, contour brake drum, 1969 Electra, LeSabre, Riviera.    1970 Electra, Estate Wagon, LeSabre

 CHROME RALLYE WHEELS:       

• #122   5 – 14 x 6, code 813, 1966-67 Skylark w/ drum brakes,  4 ¾ bolt, 
• #149     14 x 6, code 813,  have 1 = BENT on outer rim  
• #123     14 x 6, code 810, 1968-69 rims,   have 1
• #221     15 x 6, code 895, have 3,  1971 and FS Buicks, 5 x5 bolt pattern, 3 ¾ back spacing