December 2018 Mass Cruisers Newsletter

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Mass Cruisers Auto Club Cruisin’ at the speed of fun

December 2018 Oct Cruise Winner: ‘48 Ford Lead Sled

Oct Cruise Winner: ‘02 Chrysler 300M

Wright’s Chicken Farm Cruise

Cruzin Around

INSIDE: In The Driver’s Seat Cruzin Around Upcoming Car Events We’re on the Web

Celebrating 27 Years of Cruisin’ Volume 27 Issue 12

www.masscruisers.com And Facebook

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Contact us by snail mail: P.O. Box 217, Wrentham, MA 02093 Or by email: HO350@comcast.net

We’re on the Web! www.masscruisers.com

Our clubhouse is located at 124 Main Street, Norfolk, behind Dunkin Donuts and across the street from the Police Station. Visitors, guests and those interested in joining the Mass Cruisers Auto Club are welcome to attend one of our monthly meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month.

DIRECTORY

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IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT

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Club Officers President: Ed Beatty Vice President: Diane Thornton

CRUISE WINNER 48 LEAD SLED

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CRUISE WINNER ‘02 CHRYSLER 300M

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Treasurer: Wayne Lestan Asst. Treasurer: Kevin Rushlow

CRUZIN AROUND

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At Large Board Member: Steve Huntington

CRUZIN AROUND PICTURES

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WRIGHT’S CHICKEN FARM CRUISE WRIGHT’S CHICKEN FARM GROUP SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS AUTO SHOWS & EVENTS

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Secretary: Patrick Touhey Asst. Secretary: Open

Special Assignments Webmaster: Steve Vining

Managing Editor: John Buchanan

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Newsletter Editor: John Guravage Facebook: Patrick Touhey

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New Member Liaison: Don Cole

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Sgts. at Arms: Rick Lawlor John Sturniolo Charity Coord.: Frank Bryant Food Pantry: Ralph Chadsey By-Laws: Wayne Lestan MAAC Rep: John Buchanan Cruise Nights: Steve Huntington Sponsors: John Buchanan Fred Tierney Club Events: Rich Armando Photographs: Steve Vining, John Buchanan

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In the Driver's Seat Vice President Diane Thornton

It’s December already and we’re winding down another busy year. This is a good time to thank the Mass Cruisers members who have helped this club become a recognized name in the area. Some members are in a more public view than others who work behind the scenes, but all deserve to be recognized and thanked. Truly, Mass Cruisers wouldn’t be regarded as a prestigious car club without all that our members contribute.

Thank a member today!

Of course, it’s crazy to think that I would be able to list everyone individually to thank them – and you would be correct! But many of the members that contribute so much wouldn’t want me to list them because they do what they do for the camaraderie and spirit. Some of the club’s endeavors are also carried out as group efforts to which individuals are usually happy as part of that group’s success. Regardless, this club has wonderful participation – whether it’s for “the club” or for “the fun” – or any number of other reasons…Mass Cruisers members are the best!

December also brings us into our voting season! Our entire roster of current Club officers are all up for replacements. At our November business meeting, nominations were made for President (Mark Crichton), Vice President (Larry Nyborn), and Treasurer (Kevin Rushlow, current Asst. Treasurer). The Secretary position is still un-nominated.

To that point, nominations are still open for all positions. On the December 18 member meeting at Bass Pro Shops, voting will take place for all Club officer positions. All active members are encouraged to vote, in person, at that meeting.

Another change in club positions which are not voted on: Our long-time Membership Chair, Don Cole, an original member of the Mass Cruisers, is putting down his silver briefcase of membership business at the end of this year and Zeke Sawayer has accepted the duties. I don’t know how many years Don has been the membership person, but it has been quite a while. Just about all of us were welcomed into the club by Don – isn’t that something?! Thank you, Don! Mass Cruisers Auto Club has had a busy 2018. Thank you, members, for everything you do for the Club! I am sure I am expressing the sentiments of all members when I wish everyone a happy December of holiday fun filled with laughter, friends, and good health!

Thank you for the friendship and fun. I, for one, am looking forward to even more Fun Stuff in 2019!

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October Cruise Winner

By John Buchanan

The first thing everyone noticed when Tom Walker drove his 1949 Ford Lead Sled into our October 25 Halloween Cruise was the “What Big Teeth You Have” grille. Of course, this car’s stance and its 1969 LeMans Blue paint in satin finish also grab your attention noting this is not your ordinary ‘shoe box’ Ford lead sled. Tracking it down in the back row up against the Route 1 berm in Lot 16, I learned that Tom is the car’s new caretaker and that it was a six-year build project out of Kingston, R.I. There are too many modifications to this former Ford two door business coupe to list so we’ll begin with removing the posts when performing the 5½ inch chop. Next comes that unusual looking grill comprised of 1951 Ford F1 grille pieces turned upside down with 1940 headlight buckets reversed and fabricated at each end. Then, an upside down 1940 Ford rear bumper was added to the front and a reworked 1954 Mercury rear bumper added out back. The front was stretched 1 ½ inches and the hood was punched with 190 louvres to complete the look. The stance comes compliments of an air ride suspension. Oh yes, can’t forget the 2nd set of frenched tail lights out back. Motivating the Ford is a 1970 Chevelle 350 with a 700 R4 tranny and rear end out of a 1970 Maverick. The interior comes out of a 1966 Thunderbird with an added custom console to complete the ideal driver’s cabin. Surely this was a lead sled Ford worthy of being selected to receive one of the two Vintage Motorsports cruise award plaques at our final season Halloween themed cruise night.

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October Cruise Winner

By John Buchanan

With the rained out October 11 Halloween cruise, we had the opportunity to select two cruise vehicles for the Vintage Motorsports sponsored cruise award plaques at our final 2018 cruise on October 25. And every now and then a highly personalized and custom late model muscle car comes to our cruise that blows our socks off. Keith & Lindsey’s 2002 Chrysler 300M letter car did just that. To begin with, this particular 300M was current Fiat Chrysler Design Head Ralph Gilles design mule that he used to develop their new for 300M premium “waterfall” custom interior and, his signature is prominently displayed on the radiator shroud as evidence. After Keith took ownership of this special 300M he continued adding more creative touches that builds on the interior’s “waterfall” theme. So far he’s added a champagne bottle & bucket “waterfall” in the rear seat center console and a glassed enclosed “waterfall” wall between the rear seat and trunk.

The re-paint is a “flip-flop” Raven Alpha pigment that was applied by Landrick’s Customs in Fitchburg and it is complimented with greenish LED lighting that has been added inside and underneath the car. What makes this 300M really stand out in any parking lot is when it is bathed in the sunset twilight, as it was at our late October cruise, when all the added custom LED lighting can be fully appreciated. The standard 300M 18 inch wheels were replaced with custom Calloway 20 inch wheels with added LED lighting underneath along with air ride suspension giving this already slightly lowered ride height model a more aggressive performance look.

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Cruzin Around

By John Buchanan

The October 25 cruise wrapped up what was a super 2018 cruise season at Patriot Place. Unlike some other cruises we had only one rainout which happened to also be our original designated Halloween cruise on Oct. 11. I’ve included a few of the costumed participants and decorated vehicles.

We also enjoyed including the successful small engine build competition between the teams from Norfolk Aggie and Blue Hills Regional H. S. teams at our June 21 cruise that originated last year at our 2017 AutoFest Car Show. Although we already reported on this event in the July newsletter, this year’s build competition was recorded and posted

by RPM News Weekly on their website and on YouTube and here are the links that you can use to see the 5 minute 41 second clip: http://www.rpmnewsweekly.com/ Automotive/News/2018/10/31/2018-mass-cruisers-engine-build-off/ and https:// youtu.be/0Pvc0Gt77zw.

There are plans to promote this student engine build competition for 2019 to area vocational and agricultural schools due to the strong interest and support exhibited by MESH New England magazine and Sunoco Racing Fuels.

The ongoing cruise Valve Cover racing this year was also expanded to include a competition specifically geared for kids that built their own valve cover racers. Mike Rabbitt created build kits that included a valve cover, wheels, bearings, instructions and rules that were provided for a nominal donation to participants. The competition, along with evolving new track technical features created by Zeke Sawayer, proved to be a winning combination for those parents that saw their kids plan and execute a design of their own imagination. This is what one parent said about his son’s participation: “He was very excited when we went and they gave us the opportunity to get parts to make our own. He and I spent a lot of time together deciding how to build it, buying parts, and putting it together. He learned a lot about how to plan out a project, put something together, test it, and adjust it to make it better. It was a great experience, and we look forward to continuing to be a part of this great event. I hope that events like yours will help my children continue to grow their appreciation for history, automotive mechanics, and hard work.”

Our Mass Cruisers Car Club looks forward to hosting another season in 2019 of CRUIZN along historic U.S. Route 1 to the Bass Pro Shops at Patriot Place in Foxborough, MA. Thanks to our members that have worked tirelessly to make this the premier New England cruise that car owners and spectators have on their must attend at least once yearly check list.

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Cruzin Around

By John Buchanan

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Wright’s Chicken Farm

By John Buchanan

The annual season ending multi-club Wright’s Farm Restaurant http:// www.wrightsfarm.com/ cruise in Harrisville, R.I. on Sunday Nov. 4 enjoyed perfect fall weather and there was still plenty of fall foliage to enjoy as a dozen Mass Cruisers cars gathered at the Wrentham American Legion parking lot on Route 1A at Wampum Corners. As is the season practice of moving the clock back one hour for daylight savings time on the first Sunday in November, this cruise event is probably the last hurrah for many of these old timers before they are stored away for the winter until next spring. This year members of the Bay State Corvair club also joined our 12:30 PM seating in the restaurant when they learned all the early dinner seating times had been taken and we had space for a dozen more hungry auto enthusiasts. After watching arrivals of several Model T, Model A and fellow car clubs drive into the back parking lot, we all trooped into the fully booked 8,800 sq. ft. event function Carriage Room for the family style all you can eat chicken dinner. Following dinner we then cruised down R.I. Route 102 to the Purple Cat Winery for a wine & craft beer tasting only to learn the winery was in process of an ownership license change resulting in the tasting area being closed. So, it was off to the Chepachet antique shops and historic Brown & Hopkins General Store http://www.brownandhopkins.com/ shopping experience just around the corner on Route 44. After that it was back home to watch the Patriots televised Sunday night game with the Steelers.

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Wright’s Chicken Farm Cruise

By John Buchanan

A good time was had by all!

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December 2018 Member meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

P.O. Box 217 Wrentham, MA 02093