Winter 2013
This bank has a long history in Oklahoma
muskogeephoenix.com
Cover photo by Mandy Lundy
on the cover Winter 2013
This bank has a long history in Oklahoma Vicky Spradling stands beside an original vault once housed in the Bank of Boynton.
Winter 2013
Issue 17
STAFF publisher editor photo editor advertising & Distribution Layout & Design
Jeff Parra Elizabeth Ridenour Jerry Willis Kim Maples Amanda M. Burleson-Guthrie
Slice of Muskogee is published quarterly by the Muskogee Phoenix. Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix. Slice of Muskogee, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee, OK 74402. e-mail eridenour@muskogeephoenix.com - Editorial: 918-684-2929 Advertising and distribution: 918-684-2804
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contents 4
12
4
Helping the helpless
11
Barn for hire
19
A living museum
26
Potluck passion
Rebecca Williamson has a passion for helping those who have been through traumatic experiences.
The Faulk family has transformed their property to a rustic event venue.
American Bank of Oklahoma has a long history in the Muskogee area, most of which is on display.
Potluck gatherings are back and are one of this year’s hottest trends in entertaining. Enjoy these tips and recipe to make your gathering wonderful.
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Advocate Abused for the
By Thad Ayers Photography by Mandy Lundy
P
EOPLE STOP, POKE THEIR HEADS in, and then dart away while Rebecca Williamson talks in her office. It seems as if these Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service employees want to speak with her, but don’t want to interrupt. She smiles and shakes her head to say that’s not the case. “I have the candy,” said the 48-year-old. Williamson then opens the metal drawer to reveal multitudes of Twix, Snickers, Butterfinger — the kind of candy
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stockpile usually found in homes around Halloween. The EMS compliance officer said providing these sweets helps morale at the Muskogee office, 200 Callahan St. She said people end up dealing with some pretty gruesome sights when they respond to calls, and a little sugar does its part to help. “We see people at their absolute worst,” she said. “We take them to the hospital, and it’s ungodly what these people go through.” Williamson’s job with Muskogee County EMS is to ensure everyone works according to federal rules and regulations. She’s
Left: Rebecca and her husband, Stephen Williamson. $ERYH 6KHOYHV ÀOOHG ZLWK FKHHUIXO VWXIIHG DQLPDOV JUHHW YLVLWRUV LQ WKH KDOOZD\ DW .LGVҋ 6SDFH
also president-elect of the Oklahoma chapter of the Ambulance Association, co-chair of the state’s Medicare regulatory committee and director of nurses for Kids’ Space. It is with Kids’ Space, or Muskogee County Child Advocacy Center, where Williamson is also a sexual assault nurse examiner, or SANE. With SANE, Williamson works with adults and children who have been, or have reported, a sexual assault. That part of her work hits close to home for her. Although she deals with situations which she describes as “absolutely horrifying,” she said her work is a necessary job and is part of why she became a nurse. SLICE OF MUSKOGEE
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“I like knowing in some small way that I’ve helped somebody,” she said, later saying she knows in her heart “that’s where I’m supposed to be.” Working with Kids’ Space is not just professional, but also personal. Williamson was sexually abused by an adult in a position of trust when she was growing up in Morris. She said that experience caused her to struggle with anorexia and bulimia for about 17 years. She realized at about 28 her eating disorders were rooted in
Rebecca Williamson.
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her traumatic experience. Those experiences helped prompt her to help abuse victims. Many times Williamson has to face situations she calls “absolutely horrifying,” but she has a theory about why she does this. “I do think God takes bad things and turns it into good things,” she said. “I think that’s why that happened to me.” The good thing that happened to Williamson was the adoption of her daughter, Krista Wiedel, now 28. Krista was the first person Williamson examined at Kids’
Space. Then 16, Krista had been sexually assaulted by her father. She testified against him, he was convicted and is now in prison. While going through the criminal proceedings, Williamson and Krista became close. Eventually, Williamson and her husband, Darrin Smith, who died in 2010, adopted Krista. She said they share a special bond because of what they’ve survived.
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“People tell us we look alike all the time. And we kind of do,” Williamson said. Williamson’s demeanor changes when she talks about Krista. She becomes brighter, giving each word a certain amount of passion. The same thing happens when she talks about her grandchildren. Between her five children and the two from her husband, Steve — whom she married in February — Williamson has nine grandchildren. “I collect children,” she joked. When she’s not working or chasing children and grandchildren at their home, Williamson fills time with her two passions — sewing and shoes. Williamson said she’s sewed her own clothes for years, made cheerleading uniforms, jackets and whatever is necessary. She learned the talent from her mother. “She taught my sister and I,” Williamson said. “You don’t get to be 6 foot 1 without learning to sew.” When it comes to shoes, she said that’s what she’s known for. Williamson estimates she has more than 200 pair of shoes. “It’s my big vice,” she said. “I have probably some of every shoes known to man.” But given the work she puts in at EMS and Kids’ Space, a few extra shoes may be OK. •
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SLICE OF MUSKOGEE
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Advertorial
Fitness - The Challenge Want to be sharper and feel less tired at home? Want to enjoy a cookie without guilt? If the answer is yes to these questions, exercise is the answer. Being physically active offers benefits far beyond the obvious. An improved physique and a clean bill of health aren't too shabby either. If you've been looking for the motivation to begin an exercise program, the following fitness facts may inspire you to get off the couch. t &YFSDJTF CPPTUT CSBJO QPXFS *U JODSFBTFT FOFSHZ MFWFMT BOE serotonin in the brain. t .PWFNFOU NFMUT BXBZ TUSFTT &YFSDJTF QSPEVDFT B relaxation response that serves as a positive distraction and helps elevate your mood and keep depression down. t &YFSDJTF HJWFT ZPV FOFSHZ %VSJOH FYFSDJTF FOEPSQIJOT BSF released into your bloodstream. t *UhT OPU UIBU IBSE UP ĂŤOE UJNF UP FYFSDJTF 8PSL TIPSU spurts of physical activity into your day such as jogging at the track, playing horseshoes, swimming, tag with your kids or simply a brisk walk outside.
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t 'JUOFTT DBO IFMQ CVJME SFMBUJPOTIJQT ɨJOL PG XIBU exercising with a partner can do for a relationship one to three times per week. t &YFSDJTF IFMQT QSFWFOU EJTFBTF 3FTFBSDI IBT TIPXO that exercise can help prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, arthritis osteoporosis and loss of muscle mass. t 'JUOFTT QVNQT VQ ZPVS IFBSU /PU POMZ EPFT FYFSDJTF IFMQ fight heart disease, it creates a stronger heart. (the most important muscle in the body). t &YFSDJTF MFUT ZPV FBU NPSF 1PVOE GPS QPVOE NVTDMF burns more calories at rest than body fat. So, the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate is. t &YFSDJTF CPPTUT QFSGPSNBODF :PVS NVTDMFT XJMM XPSL much more efficiently, and you will gain a greater sense of endurance. t 8FJHIU MPTT JT OPU UIF NPTU JNQPSUBOU HPBM )PXFWFS weight loss as a result of exercise will increase the level of functioning in the activities of daily living.
A Place to Gather By Travis Sloat Photography by Mandy Lundy
hen you first walk into the Faulk family home nestled in the valley of Gooseneck Bend, a sign greets you. “In this house, we do second chances,” it says. “We do real, we do grace...we do family.” These aren’t words normally associated with business, but Thomas Faulk, along with his wife Chandra and their four children, Nathan,
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A large sign greets visitors at the gate to the Barn at Gooseneck Bend.
11, Abbey, 9, Grace, 7 and Ruthie, 5, are trying to change that. The Faulk family recently opened The Barn at Gooseneck Bend, a highly customizable, rustic country venue for weddings, meetings and parties. It is located approximately six miles from the Muskogee Turnpike on Hancock Street, and is replete with parking space, a pond and the main attraction, a 6,000-square-foot barn with a dance floor, benches and space
for approximately 100 people. Chandra said they tried out a myriad of ideas on how to utilize the space. “We’ve lived out here for 17 years, and we’ve got this barn,” Faulk said. “We boarded horses before the kids were born, and we’ve even tried a boat storage, but we aren’t close enough to the water. We’ve only used about a quarter to a third of it. It’s always been on our mind that we’ve wanted to do something with this barn.” Chandra said inspiration came from an unlikely place. “In June of this year we went to Nebraska for my niece’s wedding, and she got married in a barn,” she said. “My sisterin-law leaned over and whispered in my ear, ‘Why don’t you do something like this? Your place is perfect,’ and it was truly like I felt God was saying ‘Bingo.’” In the months that followed, the Faulk family worked tirelessly to convert the barn into the perfect venue. Thomas said he’s not the type of guy who can come home from work
and just sit down, so the conversion was a perfect project for him and his family. “We don’t sit down very well at all, and neither do the kids,” he said. “I get antsy. I have to get up and do something. Our families taught us both a good work ethic, and this worked in our plan to teach them that nothing comes to anyone without work. It seems like there is a constant battle with kids and video games and television, and I want to divert our kids into positive pursuits — pursuits in which they can see a reward.” After three months of cleaning, concrete laying and decoration, Chandra said on the night they finished they all just stood there and looked at their handiwork. The goal for The Barn at Gooseneck Bend, she said, is for the customer to be able to choose how much involvement they want or need from the family. “His (Thomas’) mother is the queen of hospitality,” she said. “I came from a small family who didn’t entertain at all. When I married Thomas, she taught me how to entertain. We make
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a really good team. He is very outgoing and makes people feel welcome, and I am really good at organizing.” “We’ve learned from each other,” Thomas said. “I’ve learned there might be some logistics to a party, and not just the party, and she’s learned to be a little more flexible and a little more impromptu than she was in the past.” The Faulks are using that team mentality in their approach to attracting potential clients. The decorations inside the barn are family hand-me-downs and antiques from grandparents, put together in a schema that feels accommodating without being overbearing, by Chandra’s sister, Shavonne Cragg. “A lot of people who come out are interested in decorating themselves,” Chandra said. “We try not to interfere with that and just provide a base for them to work with. We do have information on very good vendors for them to use if they need that, and most of what we have in the barn stays there with a few minor seasonal changes.” Since the barn was finished a short while ago, the Faulks have had several people tour the facility for potential use when the weather warms up in 2014. The Faulks have a faith-based confidence that the calendar will fill up quickly. “We understand that this is a seasonal business,” Thomas said. “We’re primarily trying to court business in the good weather months of the year. Coincidentally, that’s when most weddings are, in the spring, early summer and fall. That fits in perfectly with our schedules as well.” “Of course, we as believers think that God has been opening doors for us,” he said. “He’s given us a lot of positive reinforcement. In my experience with the Lord, he confirms your plans as you go along, and opens doors for you along the way. So far, all we’ve had is open doors, and we’re walking through them.” Chandra said she is excited to help people achieve the wedding or party of their dreams. “We want to provide a fun, farm-family atmosphere,” she said. “Where everyone comes in, they can have a ceremony, a dinner and then we can provide them with a bonfire if they want. It’s a place where people can come and have an oldfashioned country farm event.” •
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Blast
from the
Past
By Wendy Burton Photography by Mandy Lundy
B
oynton in 1902 was a bustling little town, thanks to the oil industry. Although it never had a population of more than 1,400, it had two banks, a brickyard and
an oil refinery. The First National Bank of Boynton was organized by two prominent Muskogee citizens, A.W. Patterson and A.C. Trumbo. The bank was housed in a corner, two-story, red-brick building, with richly carved wood decor, Old West-style teller cages with iron bars and fancy marble fixtures until 1995, when it moved to Muskogee. Its name was changed to Territory National Bank and then Territory State Bank before becoming First National Bank of
Boynton. Today it is American Bank of Oklahoma, on West Broadway near 32nd Street. But when you enter the bank, it feels like walking straight into the wild, wild West. From the wooden teller cage with cast iron bars to the wooden floors, it’s all original, simply transplanted from one era to the next. Canceled checks and bank statements hang framed on the wall, many from shortly after the turn of the century, when the bank wasn’t in Oklahoma but Indian Territory. Among the historic documents on the wall are a promissory note for “H. Hughes, Mill Creek Co.,” bank statements from the 1920s to the 1960s, a sign that hung on the door of the bank announcing it was closed for “election day” on July 23,
Boynton Bank, now American Bank of Oklahoma, is located at 3300 W. Broadway.
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1946, and a canceled check from Chas. Ezell, dealer in general merchandise Boynton, Indian Territory. The $16 check was signed by an “X” with a name written in beside it. What can’t be found is any of the money the bank actually printed between 1902 and 1935, before the Great Depression. Collectors of historic money claim online that they’ll pay up to $6,500 for just one, good condition, $10 bill with “First National Bank of Boynton” printed on it. Why? Because the bank didn’t print a lot compared with banks in much larger areas. Just $420,370 worth of $10 and $20 bills bear the words “First National Bank of Boynton.” Meticulous national records reveal that 400 sheets of $10 bank notes bearing the 1902 territorial red seal were printed there. The current bank, however, has plenty of other museumquality mementos from the original Boynton bank.
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In 1995, after four bank robberies in three years amid a sputtering economy in the area, the bank moved to Muskogee and became Territory National Bank. It was owned by B.P. Sudberry III. His wife, Trudy, said in a Muskogee Phoenix article in April 1994 that they wanted to make customers “feel at home” by bringing the original fixtures to Muskogee. Trudy Sudberry said they also wanted the bank to have a museum feel, and bringing the old teller cages and safe along helped. “Everything in here has some sort of historical significance — to the bank or to the Indian Territory,” she said in a Phoenix article in 1996. “It wasn’t easy bringing all this stuff to Muskogee.” For example, the safe in the lobby weighs 3,000 pounds. Vicky Spradling, the bank’s vice president and retail division manager, remembers the move well. She’s worked for the bank
Left: Connie Lang and Vicky Spradling, vice president and retail division manager, talk about some of the old black and white photographs of the original bank and Boynton area that hang in the American Bank of Oklahoma. Top: Many antique items from the original bank, such as these typewriters, can be found throughout the American Bank of Oklahoma. Above: The old Boynton Bank vault has a prominent place in the new location. slice of muskogee 21
since 1978. “This safe has a combination lock and three timers,” she said. “It took six men to move it here, and they had to pour concrete under the wooden floor to support it.” The squat, round safe sits just inside the bank’s entrance. It reminds Spradling of one of her most difficult days at work in the 1980s. “I opened this safe once with a gun pointed at my back,” Spradling said, patting it. “I prayed. I remember seeing my hand on the safe, trembling,” she said. “The man told me I had three chances to open the safe or there was ‘going to be a homicide.’ He said it just like that. Then he shut us in the vault.” The bank’s original vault door was moved, too. It bears the name of B.P. Sudberry Jr., a previous owner. Joe Landon, American Bank of Oklahoma’s president and chief executive officer, said that when he saw the bank for the first time, he knew it had to stay the way it was. “I just loved it. I loved everything about it,” he said. “It’s everything banking has been about in Oklahoma for the past 100-plus years.” And it continues to be the place to bank for many Boynton residents — and for one Boynton native, a place to make a career. 22 WINTER 2013
Left: The original file cabinet from Boynton Bank was moved to the new location. Below: The original teller windows greet visitors when they step into the lobby of American Bank of Oklahoma.
Connie Lang, who began working at the bank in 1991 in Boynton, works at the bank and lives in Boynton. Lang got her first car loan from the bank when she was 16. Ironically, she is now its loan officer. The bank holds many memories for her. “I remember when my mom and I went in to get my first car and we went there to finance it,” she said. “I remember my grandmother banking there, taking me in with her. So when the bank left town, it was a sad time for me and the other people in Boynton.” But Lang was pleased when she saw the “new bank” in 1995 after the move. “I didn’t know until the very last minute that they moved everything over here, so when I walked in my mouth just kind of flew open,” she said. “When people from Boynton came in and saw they moved all this stuff, it was amazing. There’s a lot of history here.” 2
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&ORFNZLVH 2ULJLQDO FKHFNV IURP WKH )LUVW National Bank of Boynton are framed and KDQJLQJ LQ WKH WKH KDOOZD\V A hand-pressed perforator sits on a side table in a meeting room at the American Bank. 2OG %DQN QRWHV RI DFWXDO FXVWRPHUV IURP WKH %R\WRQ %DQN GHFRUDWH WKH ZDOOV RI WKH QHZ EDQN Vicky Spradling opens a heavy safe that once belonged in the Boynotn Bank. A collection of old rubber stamps sits on a shelf inside the bank.
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Potluckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Back - Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eat! CALL IT A SIGN OF THE TIMES OR just plain good luck for those of us yearning to swap fast food fare for some tasty home cooking. Potluck gatherings are back and one of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest trends in entertaining. Although these communal â&#x20AC;&#x153;luck of the potâ&#x20AC;? meals (where everyone brings their favorite dish) hearken back to the late 19th century, they found their footing in the mid-1950s when
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it seemed like every mom in the neighborhood was filling casserole dishes for church socials and family get-togethers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are three primary reasons driving the return of potluck â&#x20AC;&#x201D; our schedules, the economy and childhood memories,â&#x20AC;? says Chef Jeff Gillis, www.CelebratingHome.com. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We live such fast-paced lives that divvying up the cooking makes home entertaining more realistic than putting all of the burden on the hostess. Making one dish instead of several also helps stretch the budget â&#x20AC;&#x201D; something weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all looking to do these days. And, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it, after years of dashing through the drive-through, wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you like to sit down to some home-cooked food, even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only once a week?â&#x20AC;? Got potluck fever but not a clue what to do? Here are four tips thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make your next gathering both tasty and stylish, plus, a family-fave recipe thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll put your home on the map as potluck heaven. t 0SHBOJ[F QBSUJDJQBOUT Divide the meal by categories so guests will have a balance of appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts from which to choose. Cooks neednâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t commit to a specific recipe, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helpful to know up-front that a well-rounded meal is in the making. t "HSFF PO BEWBODF QSFQ All dishes should be cooked prior to arrival so only a quick re-heating is required. Everything should also hit your doorstep
$ VORZ FRRNHU OLNH &HOHEUDWLQJ +RPHŇ&#x2039;V 9HQHWLDQ +RPH 6SLFH %HDQ 3RW VKRZQ KHUH LV SRWOXFN SHUIHFW ,WŇ&#x2039;V VL]HG WR IHHG D FURZG DQG WR JR IURP NLWFKHQ WR WDEOH ZLWKout missing a stylish beat. Photo courtesy RI ZZZ &HOHEUDWLQJ+RPH FRP
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ready for presentation to avoid last minute searches for serving bowls and platters. t $IPPTF FBTZ ĂY DSPXE QMFBTJOH SFDJQFT To appeal to guestsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; varying tastes, save the exotic for later and dust off momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (or grandmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) cookbook. Traditional potluck dishes like casseroles, chili, soup, bread, and cakes are always popular and easy to make. t %SFTT VQ UIF UBCMF Remember the special tablecloth mom used for Sunday dinner? Create some memories for your own family with a pretty fabric tablecloth, cloth napkins (pretty and eco-friendly!) and some candles. A few minutes is all it takes to create a festive look thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make guests feel honored to have gathered around your table.
Bean Pot Beef Stew This twist on an American favorite yields a hearty, flavorful entree that takes less prep time because it slow cooks in the oven in a bean pot. *OHSFEJFOUT
QPVOE SPVOE TUFBL DVU JOUP CJUF TJ[FE QJFDFT MBSHF ZFMMPX POJPO SPVHIMZ DIPQQFE UBCMFTQPPOT PMJWF PJM DMPWFT HBSMJD DIPQQFE ĂOF DBO PVODFT EJDFE UPNBUPFT DVQT CFFG CSPUI PS TUPDL
Â&#x203A; UFBTQPPOT ESJFE UIZNF CBZ MFBWFT DVQT QPUBUPFT DVCFE DVQ DFMFSZ EJDFE DVQ DBSSPUT EJDFE 4BMU BOE QFQQFS UP UBTUF %JSFDUJPOT Rub steak with olive oil and coat with salt and pepper. Let steak sit at room temperature in bean pot while preparing all other vegetables. Chop and dice everything, then add to bean pot. Add beef broth (or stock), thyme, bay leaves, diced tomatoes and salt and pepper. Cover and bake in 375 F oven for 3 to 4 hours until meat is tender. *Recipe courtesy of www.CelebratingHome.com.
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Advertorial
28 WINTER 2013
Advertorial
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Calendar of Events Ǻ ("3%&/ 0' -*()54 dusk until 11 p.m., through New Year’s Day, Honor Heights Park.
dinner. Seats will be issues on a first-come, first-serve basis and are non-refundable. Cost: $75. Information: (918) 684-6363.
Ǻ $)3*45."4 7*--"(& The Castle of Muskogee, through Jan. 1. Inflatable Kingdom is nightly; other events include horsedrawn carriage rides, tractor-drawn hayrides, pony rides, camel rides, a petting zoo, gift shop, Royal Garden Cafe, Christmas merchants and a visit with Father Christmas will be through Dec. 31. Check the calendar at okcastle.com for information and a schedule of each night’s activities.
Ǻ %"''0%*- %": "/% 5&" March 29, Thomas-Foreman
Ǻ 8&45&3/ )*--4 5) "//6"- 8*/5&3 #-6&(3"44 '&45*7"- Jan. 16-18, Sequoyah Lodge,
Ǻ 01&/ 456%*0 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and
Historic Home. Cost: $5, which includes tea and home tour. The Muskogee Garden Club has planted 1,500 daffodils in the ThomasForeman Historic Home gardens. For $10 you can start your tour at Three Rivers Museum, 220 Elgin St., and take a trolly from there to the Thomas-Foreman Home to enjoy a plant sale, spring daffodils and a tea provided by Muskogee Garden Club members.
Sequoyah State Park. Tickets: $15 per day or $40 for three-day pass. Children 12 and under free with parent. Information: Don Thomas, (405) 308-0010 or donthomas@allegiance.tv.
Thursday, Muskogee Art Guild, 315 Court St. Artists who are 16 or older who want to create and enjoy the company of other artists are welcome. There is no charge. Bring your own supplies and projects. Instruction is available to beginners.
Ǻ 406- '00% $00,0'' Jan. 18, Muskogee Civic
Ǻ 5"* $)* "/% "35)3*5*4 '-&9 $-"44&4 5:15 to
Center. Get out the pots and pans and get ready to compete for that “Golden Spatula” and prize money! There are five categories to enter. Information: C. Gaines, (918) 684-6363.
Ǻ )*4503*$"- #-"$, 508/4 5063 Feb. 19. Tour will travel to Taft, Rentiesville, Clearview and Boley. 150 seats available. Tour includes history on the bus, snacks, breakfast and
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6 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturdays, Grace Episcopal Church; 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Okay Senior Center, Okay.
Ǻ 8"5&3 "&30#*$4 $-"44 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Muskogee Swim and Fitness Center. It is free for members, but non-members can pay $5. Instructor: Eve Whitney-Newton.
Advertorial
:0473, >(@:
[V HKK `LHYZ [V H ]LOPJSL»Z SPML Unlike a home or an education, few people take their vehicles seriously, all too often avoiding vehicle maintenance that can greatly increase a vehicle’s life expectancy. Drivers who want to keep their cars going strong for years to come can do so in a handful of ways.
7YL]LU[ WYL]LU[ WYL]LU[ Preventive maintenance might seem like a boring way to spend a weekend morning or afternoon, but the efforts will be well worth it. Oil changes and filter replacements are quick and easy jobs, but pay major dividends over the long haul. Routine jobs such as an oil change or air filter replacement are relatively inexpensive, and today’s vehicles can go much longer between oil changes and filter replacements. Each vehicle manufacturer is different, so drivers should consult their owner’s manual and adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule.
:[H` )HSHUJLK Balanced tires last longer. An out-of-balance tire will not only shorten the life of tires, it can also do damage to the rest of the vehicle and make riding in the car much less comfortable. When a tire is properly balanced, its mass is uniformly distributed around the axle, making for a smooth, vibration-free ride. However, an out of balance tire shortens the life expectancy of suspension components, including bearings and shocks. Repairs that result from an unbalanced tire can prove costly. Should a vibration occur as the vehicle accelerates (typically, this vibration will be noticeable when the car reaches speeds of 40-45 mph), chances are the tires are not properly balanced.
3VVR NVVK MLLS NVVK Washing and waxing a car regularly helps avoid rust under the carriage and in the wheel wells. The longer a car goes between washes, the more likely it is to rust, and the paint is likely to corrode as well. Routinely washing and waxing the vehicle can keep these potentially menacing issues from occurring. Preventing rust and corrosion is also a good way to ensure a car’s resale value does not diminish over time.
.L[ V\[ HUK KYP]L City driving with lots of stopping and going is very taxing on an engine. On a highway, air flow to the radiator, oil flow to the engine and everything that makes a car run is much more consistent, reducing the stress on the engine as a result. Constantly accelerating and decelerating is hard on an engine, while the consistent speeds of highway driving offer a welcome respite to the engine. City dwellers should get out and drive their car on a highway at least once a month for no less than 30 minutes. This is also a good way to get rid of potentially harmful condensation that can negatively impact engine performance.
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