Inland Northwest Buick Chapter Kaleidoscope 2019_06 June

June 9, 2019

Volume 03 Number 06

Kaleidoscope

Inland Northwest Buick chapter Buick Club of America

from the collection of Ron Gerber NWC #00680

(Hysterical pictorial cartography maps and window decals by Lindgren-Turner Co. 1930’s-1955 Spokane WA)

Rendezvous

Special news

Third Thursday of each month at 6pm, (note: we usually eat dinner-self pay) Location: Conley’s Place Restaurant (12622 E. Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99216)

June 14-15 - Car d' Lane / Coeur d’ Alene ID June 15th - 26th Buick Open / Puyallup WA June ?????? Buick’s by the Lake June 12-15 - NATIONAL MEET / Midwest City OK July 18 - INCCC Downtown Scholarship Car Show Spokane, WA July 27 - Honor Flight Car Show & Shine / Spokane, WA August 17 - Touchmark Car Show / Spokane, WA September 15 - INCCC "All Clubs" Picnic / Spokane, WA

Date/Time:

Upcoming meeting dates: June 20th July 18th Aug 15th

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June 9, 2019

Volume 03 Number 06

Directors Message We had a wonderful time at our Chapter’s Gludt Family Picnic in Troy, ID on May 11th. In addition to our local Chapter members, we very much appreciated having Lee and Martha Davis along with Tom Skinner and his partner Kay Comin join us from the Puget Sound Chapter as well as Jack and Barbara Gerstkemper from the Portland Chapter. Many thanks for these folks making the trip to the east side of the state. I want to especially thank our terrific hosts, the Gludt family, Dad and Mom Dick and Doris, and sons Dan, Doug and Lisa, and Dave. We had wonderful weather and had a fun time caravanning through several small towns to Troy, ID. A description of the day’s events will appear later in this issue of the newsletter.

Stevie and I attended the 1950s themed 34th Lost in the ‘50s celebration in Sandpoint, ID, 16-18 May. It is the biggest event of the year for Sandpoint and runs Thursday through Saturday. It starts with a 1950s rock and roll concert at the county fairgrounds on Thursday night, followed by a vintage car parade on Friday night.

We participated in the parade when we attended in 2015. The parade route is several miles long running along many city streets, where people line both sides of the streets for the entire length of the parade route. In addition to a street dance, a 50s show and dance are held Friday night at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. This year featured Charlie Thomas and the Drifters as well as Freddie Cannon. On Saturday is the main event, the car show. It is very well attended and averages more than 500 cars, trucks, and rat rods and fills most of the city’s street parking areas. There were only a few Buicks entered this year and I was able to talk with some owners from Sandpoint and Whitefish, MT. I did enjoy talking with them and left them with information and literature about our Chapter. This year, the Saturday-night finale was a show and dance at the Bonner County Fairgrounds featuring Little Anthony & The Imperials. We did not take our 1951 Special DeLuxe this is year. Instead we decided to enjoy the other cars, trucks and rat rods as well as enjoy several friends we meet each year at this event. This celebration is a real fun event. The weather was stormy this year, but was still very well attended.

Each year, many Canadians attend with their cars.

I would like to welcome our newest Chapter members, our son Jeff Lewis and his wife Ellen. Even though they live in Michigan, they wanted to join our Chapter. There is a close relationship between Jeff and our 1951 Buick, alias “Ol Pig.” He has been around the car his whole life. He was 2 years old in the photo, which appeared in the May 2018 Bugle article describing the history and restoration of the car. Jeff recently reminded me that he was “working on the car since he was 6, even if only holding the flashlight.” While we were living in the San Diego area and when he was in high school, he would put his surfboard in Ol Pig and head for the Del Mar and Torrey Pines beaches. Stevie and I had to make a quick return trip from the 2018 BCA National Meet in Lone Pine, CO in order to host Jeff and his family from Michigan. They were able to join us for our “Buicks By The Lake” function at Jamie Wolff’s home on Liberty Lake and enjoyed meeting several of our Chapter members. Welcome Jeff and Ellen.

Richard and Gloria Stechelin will be attending the BCA National Meet in Midwest City, OK 12-15 June.

We hope they have a most enjoyable trip.

Greg Lewis BCA #5071 Director, Inland Northwest Chapter BCA

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A Ride in Ol’ Pig

By Jack Gerstkemper BCA #12331 BCA Pacific Northwest Region Director I followed Ol’ Pig for 1,100 miles from Spokane to Denver in June, 2018. I never got to ride in her. My enduring memory of Ol’ Pig was a view of her rear bumper thru my windshield or a similar view of her toothy grill in my rear view mirror. I was as surprised as Greg Lewis when Ol’ Pig won a big crystal trophy as the high point Buick at the BCA National Meet in Denver. It really surprised me when Greg turned around and drove home with just Stevie for company. Greg and Stevie were in a hurry to get home from Denver. They drove the 1,100 mile return trip from Denver to Spokane in a day and a half. Oh my. That’s some kinda Buick. A high point 1951 Special that drives 1,100 miles in a day and a half.

So, ten months later, I jumped at the chance to ride in her from Troy ID to Spokane WA at the conclusion of the Gludt Family Picnic. Greg was my chauffer. I rode shotgun. Stevie and Barbara followed in our 2006 Lucerne. It was a replay of our drive from Spokane to the BCA National in Denver: my Buick looking at Ol’ Pig’s rear bumper. Only this time, I was in Ol’ Pig and Stevie was in the Lucerne.

(image by jeff schindler #47629) heading west through the town of Palouse WA on highway 272

It’s too bad that the BCA National Meet does have a method to judge “Drivability”. Ol’ Pig would have got another 398 points out of 400 in “Drivability” judging. All the controls on the passenger side of Ol’ Pig worked smooth as silk. The window rolled up and down smoothly. The air vent controls slid smoothly in and out. Even the little locking latch on wind wing slid into place like a hot knife through butter.

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The Straight Eight was so quiet I am only assuming the car had an engine. I never actually heard it. No gnashing of gears. No squealing brakes. No flaws in the upholstery. No marks on the dash. Ol’ Pig was perfect. Just like the judges said in Denver.

We drove back roads most of the way from Troy to Spokane. Ol’ Pig jumped off line at the stop signs, cornered like she was on rails, and performed a couple of nifty U-turns when our navigator took us down the wrong road. (I was too busy checking out the interior and playing with the gadgets to pay much attention to the map.) It was a warm day, but the air vent let in a blast of cool air. When it got a bit hotter later in the afternoon, we rolled down the windows and drove through Spokane with our elbows hung out in the sun.

Ol’ Pig never missed a beat, driving through the Palouse like a young pup who slipped her collar.

The driver, however, may have been showing his age. No power steering. No power brakes. No air conditioner. No automatic transmission. Creaky knee joints in need of a lube job. Bad rotator cuffs. Eye sight was kinda iffy, (missed a couple of turns). All in all, the car may have been in better shape than the driver. Ol’ Pig never complained once and hopped up the hill into her garage, fresh as a daisy. Greg had some difficulty lifting his old bones out from behind the steering wheel, and needed a couple of beers to loosen up after the drive. Sore arms from steering. Sore left leg from clutch-ing. Sunburns on his left arm and face. Ol’ Pig handled six hours of driving like a champ and was ready to go another six. Her owner swore he was never going to drive that far again in just one day, and needed a good night’s sleep to recover.

But everything was back to normal the following morning. Greg and I cooked a Mother’s Day breakfast for Stevie and Barbara in the Lewis’s kitchen. At first, Stevie was a little possessive about her kitchen. But she relaxed after I assured her I knew how to wipe raw eggs off the kitchen floor. After a couple of mimosas, the girls retired to the living room while Greg and I played Chef-for-a-Day. Ol’ Pig sat in her garage, quiet as a little church mouse, eagerly awaiting her next road trip.

Images of the Palouse taken from Steptoe Butte State Park for more information on this beautiful area of Eastern WA check out these resources http://www.sevenwondersofwashingtonstate.com http://visitpalouse.com/

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Volume 03 Number 06

A regional Buick family gathering A first for our young Eastern WA Buick regional group was a spring gathering picnic, on May 11th at the home of Dick and Doris Gludt of Troy Idaho. Several members from Spokane meet up to drive down in a 5 vehicle caravan and stroll through South Eastern WA enjoying a communal experience together. We rendezvoused with a few members from Western WA who made the drive in Troy ID at a zip trip gas station, so we could meet up with a son of the Gludts and be shown the way to our guest house. We enjoyed the property tour of garages and shops and having many of the vehicles out in the sunshine to be viewed. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to talk, hangout and build on our friendships while enjoying some food and conversation. It was a wonderful experience on a beautiful property viewing a friends life’s work and interest in automobiles and not just Buick’s. A big, BIG, “THANK YOU” to our host for hospitality, food and conversations.

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Volume 03 Number 06

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June 9, 2019

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WILDCAT WANDERING

Jeff Schindler BCA #47629

How many of us use to pile into the family station wagon and go on roadtrip vacations, or use to travel by road in a station wagon to get to where the family was meeting up with other family members to vacation.

I can see that many of you have raised your hands as that is how it was. Did you ever stop into a gas station and purchase a pictorial cartography map of the area you were visiting, say Yellowstone National Park, or the Grand Coulee Dam? Did you know there is a Spokane WA connection.

You are correct that image to the right is not of an old family Buick station wagon loaded up and ready for the road, but it does illustrate my romanticized idea of back then. Its a Desoto, one of the many american automobile makers that no longer exist.

Back in the early Thirties in a little town on the edge of nowhere two brothers along with a friend formed a company and began being entrepreneurs.

Originally named Lindgren Brothers they began publishing maps of the area and the National Parks that were within a days drive from their town of Spokane WA, the gateway to National Parks.

At some point they renamed to Lindgren-Turner Company and this is the name I search for on google after I received a little package from a fellow National Woodie Club member. Mr. Ron Gerber NWC# 00680 has New Old Stock and Vintage decals available for sale (E: woodieten@aol.com) they do not sell for fifteen or twenty five cents anymore, try $20 - $40 dollars each. Yes I purchased a few for my windows. The article in part is from a blog RodBarronMaps.com and the article title is ‘The Lindgren Brothers of Spokane WA and their remarkable “Hysterical Maps” ’.

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June 9, 2019

Volume 03 Number 06

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June 9, 2019

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June 9, 2019

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Classifieds 1964-1970 Buick 300-340-350 water pump, $15 1965 Buick Special Convertible, V6, all mechanical has been done, Michelin tires, new dual exhaust, aluminum front drums, new windshield, chrome and stainless is great. Needs top, $6500.

Rich Elliff, 253-686-6620 (1/19) 1956 Buick Special 4-Door HT. Work in progress. Leon Gifford 360-301-0906 (3/19) 1962 Oldsmobile 4-Door F85. Aluminum V8, no title. Free come get it. Liam Riley 206-769-6376 (3/19) 1937 Buick Sedan. Body perfect from firewall to rear, all new glass and rubber, all new brake system, all woodgrain redone. One set of standard fenders, one set of sidemount fenders. New lacquer paint from firewall to rear, extra black lacquer paint. Engine redone. Reasonable Offer. John Thomas, 253-759-4863 (3/19) 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. "Barn find" rust free $ 2000.Buick Riviera parts. 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971 & 1972 call for complete list.

1963 1964 1965 & some 1966 Buick Riviera. Parts. Some trim, gas tanks, small items, side glass, window motors. Keith Bingham, 253-630-3465 (1/19) Buick Dealership Neon Sign, 9 foot long with individual letters that have new neon tubing. Looks good and lights up nice. Have some history and pictures. Came from a dealership in Oregon. $4500.00 Keith Bingham, 253-630-3465 (1/19) 1956 Buick Special, 4bbl manifold & carburetor. William kettle, 360-434-0695 (3/19) 1934 Buick Model 66S 3-Window rumble seat coupe. Dave Maxwell, 208-741-1594 (3/19)

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Classifieds 1947 1948 Buick sedanette & convertible, 1956 Buick Roadmaster Super Century Special convertible 4-door 2&4-door hardtop station wagon.

1963 Buick Skylark convertible, 1968 1969 Buick Convertible.

Chuck, 425-508-3545 (3/19)

Needs / Wanted to buy 1953 Buick 50/70 series grille and mustache bar with corner trim. Jeff 509-389-9400 (04/19) 1966 Buick Nailhead spread bore intake, or any 425 engine . Todd 509-999-9282 (04/19) 1964/1965 Skylarks. Keith Ladderud, 253-85BUICK (11/18) 1965/1966 Skylark Automatic Blue Console & 1965 Blue dash pad. Keith Ladderud, 253-85BUICK (11/18) Nice 1955 Buick Hubcaps. Need one two or more, what do you have? Keith Bingham 253-630-3465 (1/19) 1961 Buick LeSabre. Motor mounts. Marty Pendriss 253-854-0726 (1/19) 1956 Buick Special 2-Door HT. Grill & rear quarter glass assemblies. Mike Wrench 503-680-1229 (3/19) Buick ??? Need rear body/trunk bumper seal. Craig Hays 253-820-3113 (3/19) 1934 Buick Model 66S, Rumble Seat Coupe. All window garnish, front, side doors and roll up rear window.

Dave Maxwell 208-741-1594 (3/19) 1938 Buick. Right side headlight ring.

1941 Buick. Small series dual carburetor manifold, carburetors, etc... Complete.

Bill Zesbaugh 253-304-6285 (3/19) Buick 215, V8 parts, Duane Yarno 206-817-5760 (3/19)

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