November 2019 Mass Cruisers Auto Club Newsletter

Cruisin’ at the speed of fun

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Mass Cruisers Auto Club November 2019

September 26th Cruise Winner 1955 Chevrolet BelAir

Audrain's Concourse & Motor Week

4th Annual RI Veteran's Home Tribute Cruise-In

October 3th Cruise Winner ‘68 Chevy Custom CK-10 off-road 4 x 4

INSIDE:

Crusin in P-Town

PRESIDENT’S TAILPIPE CRUZIN AUTO SHOWS & EVENTS

We’re on the Web

Celebrating 28 Years of Cruisin’ Volume 28 Issue 11

www.masscruisers.com And Facebook

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

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We have moved all monthly meetings to the Bass Pro Shops Conservation Room at 1 Bass Pro Place in Foxboro, MA beginning in May. Monthly meetings will still be held the third Tuesday of the month starting at 7 PM, guests and visitors are welcome to attend. Business meetings will be held an hour earlier, club members are encouraged to attend.

Club Officers

DIRECTORY

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PRESIDENT’S TAILPIPE

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SEPTEMBER 26TH CRUISE WINNER

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AUDRAIN'S CONCOURSE & MOTOR WEEK

Secretary: Lesley Corda-Majeski Asst. Secretary: John Guravage

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RI VETERAN'S HOME TRIBUTE CRUISE IN

Treasurer: Kevin Rushlow Asst. Treasurer: Rich Armando

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At Large Board Member: Steve Huntington

OCTOBER 3RD CRUISE WINNER

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RTE 6 P-TOWN CRUISE

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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS

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RTE 6 P-TOWN CRUISE

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AUTO SHOWS & EVENTS

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President: Mark Crichton Vice President: Larry Nyborn

Special Assignments Webmaster: Steve Vining

Managing Editor: John Buchanan Newsletter Editor: John Guravage Digital Graphics Editor: Diane Thorton Facebook: Patrick Touhey New Members: Zeke Sawayer Sgts. at Arms: Rick Lawlor John Sturniolo Charity Coord.: Frank Bryant Food Pantry: Steve Fernald Bob Okerholm By-Laws: Wayne Lestan MAAC Rep: John Buchanan Cruise Nights: Steve Huntington Sponsors: John Buchanan Fred Tierney

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President’s Tailpipe

By Mark Crichton

Another month is almost over. Cruise nights are taking a hit with the rainouts. I am hopeful that our last Cruise Night will go off without a hitch. As the year winds down, it is time to reflect on the positive role each of us play as a team. Enjoying the cars and trucks, helping Food Pantries, and enjoying each other’s company at New England’s largest car show every other Thursday from April through October.

We are together through the happy times and the sad times. It is with sadness that I inform you all of the passing of Paula Lawlor. Paula was a longtime friend, helper at car shows, and a diligent worker behind the scenes.

She will be missed immensely. To Rick Lawlor and family, our condolences, God bless.

I regret to inform you all that I will not be hosting the Club Christmas Holiday party this year. I am hopeful that someone will step up to host this event.

Thank you, President, Mark Crichton

Paula Lawlor getting legendary WMEX D.J. Arnie "Woo-Woo" Ginsberg photo at the Old Timers Reunion

Paula presenting her Annual Starbucks Basket Award at the 2017 Car Show

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September 26th Cruise Winner

By John Buchanan

Tonight’s rain shortened Vintage Motorsports sponsored cruise award winner’s car story of began 18 years ago when Steven Longa was on a business trip to Georgia and was driving south from Atlanta passing through the town of Dallas, yes there is more than one Dallas in the U.S. of A. He spotted a 155 Chevy BelAir two door sedan for sale and he stopped to look at it. It was an unfinished project ’55 with no windows in it but the custom tan leather upholstery was completed, and the original paint looked in pretty good shape. The owner’s declining health was forcing the sale, so he bought it and brought it back home to finish it. He got it running and 6 years ago began a 23-month total body-separated-from-frame restoration in his garage and using his brother’s Trackside Auto shop’s lift in Mansfield when under carriage work was needed. He also repainted the car in 1956 Pontiac Hialeah Green & white the colors the previous owner had painted. The power train was updated with a 350 V8, 4 on-the-floor tranny and a ’69 Camaro rear end.

The rear quarters were mini-tubbed and leaf springs re-arched to accommodate Centerline Draglite 15 x 10 wide wheels & tires. Up front Steve added a 4-inch dropped spindle with 15”x 6 wide complete the proper raked stance for the ’55. Our web master and club photographer Steve Vining is from North Attleboro where Steven also hails from and commented that’s why he’s seen this car around town so much. It’s nice to have an opportunity like this to get up close to talk to the owner and photograph a car that you see tooling around town.

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2019 Audrain's Concourse & Motor Week

By John Buchanan and Bob Walton

The 1st Annual Audrain Concours & Motor Week held from Thursday through Sunday, October 3-6, 2019 in Newport was a major step in scope and stature from previous Newport Concours events. Because the Concours conflicted with our Annual U.S. Route 6 cruise weekend in Provincetown, coverage was split with John Buchanan attending the opening day on Thursday at the Concours Village at the Tennis Hall of Fame and Friday’s Gathering at “Rough Point”, William Vanderbilt’s mansion that was later owned by Doris Duke; while Bob Walton, Steve Vining & Sean Sullivan attended the inaugural Concours d'Elegance,” held on Sunday at “The Breakers”, a 70 room mansion built by the Vanderbilt’s in the 1890's that towered over the show field overlooking Rhode Island Sound.

The Sunday Concours was the culminating activity of Audrain's Newport Motor Week. For those of you who have never attended a Concours d'Elegance, this is no ordinary cruise-in car show. A concours is intended to present the “best of the best” from around the world. The stated goal of the Audrain Automobile Museum is to make this an annual event, and they are hoping it will develop a reputation as the “Pebble Beach of the Northeast.” In that regard, they have taken a giant step toward their goal. The Chairman of the Motor Week and Concours was Jay Leno who recently settled into one of the modern era elegant mansions along Ocean Drive with his wife Mavis.

The Chairman of the Concours d'Elegance was Donald Osborne, noted automotive appraiser, consultant, author and CNBC program host . The judges were a virtual “Who's Who” of the collector car world. To be invited to display your car at such an event is an honor in itself. Each entry is vetted and its pedigree examined. The more rare and significant your car is, the better chance you have of being invited. This year's entries ranged from a French made 1899 Marot-Gardon, 2nd place Historic Newport Class 1 award winner, to the latest limited production Aston-Martin unveiled at Friday’s “Ruff Point” Gathering . The bulk of the entries were brass era cars, sports cars and luxury rides. There were 13 classes. When was the last time you saw TEN Bugatti's in one place? . You can see the results of the Concours judging at https://www.audrainconcours.com/2019-award-winners One interesting sight was seeing one of our Bass Pro Shops cruise regulars, Dennis Jolicoeur’s 1936 Cord 810 Winchester Coupe, parked next to Wayne Carini’s 1938 Lincoln Model K LeBarron Coupe competing in their class.

Friday’s Gathering was more laid back and was where the major unveilings, like the 2020 Aston Martin DBS GT Zegato supercar, took place. Jay Leno and his wife Mavis were strolling around the Gathering enjoying the amazing cars on display. Among my favorites were a pair Koenigsegg supercars that were brought over from Sweden specifically for the Audrain Concours. One photographed here was the world record breaking 285 mph 2018 Koenigsegg Agera RS. The most interesting vehicle at the Gathering was a 1938 Lanz Bulldog, a German tractor with a 6.3L single cylinder two-stroke hot bulb engine that was happily idling away throughout the morning. Mark your calendar; next year's Motor Week will be October 1st through 4th most likely in direct conflict again with the 9th Annual Provincetown Cruise Weekend.

1938 Lanz Bulldog Tractor

2018 Koenigsegg Agera RS

Wayne Carini's 1938 Lincoln Model K LeBaron Coupe

Concours show field at The Breakers in Newport

Sean who?? & Jay who?? Selfie

2020 Audrain Concours October 1 -4

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4th Annual RI Veteran's Home Tribute Cruise-In

By John Buchanan

It’s been five years since the last Rhode Island Veteran’s Home Tribute Cruise-In car show in Bristol, R.I.. A brand new facility was built, the old one demolished and the entire 110 acre site was totally re-landscaped. It was the landscape maturation process that delayed holding this benefit event for two of those five years. Despite the 5 year gap and a totally new layout that limited the number of vehicles the new layout could accommodate, the show went off on Sunday September 29 as planned with just a few but hardly noticeable glitches. There are more than a dozen area car clubs and organizations led by Jerry O’Conner and the Bristol Country Street Rods of which the Mass Cruisers are included that pitch in to make it all happen. Coffee & Donuts in the morning was handled by the Cuz’s Car Club out of Westport with the brothers Bramwell, Uncle Ed’s Front Porch from Rehoboth provided the grilled food and also free homemade ice cream to any veteran in attendance. The front show car entrance was manned by the Bristol County Street Rods, show car parking was handled by members of the Eastern Mass Corvette Club; the military parade was organized and led by the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Assoc. and the Pacesetters Auto Club handled the award voting done by the Veteran’s Home residents.

The Downshifters D.J. John “Johnny Angel” Remedis provide music with additional live oldies vocal performances by Dougie Botelho & country artist Ben O’Connor. Greenwood Firehouse provided two antique aerial fire trucks to display the 30 ft x 50 ft. American Flag. There were about 400 cars and motorcycles that registered before the show car fields were filled to capacity. 100% of the proceeds from this event benefit the Veteran’s Chapel Fund which provides additional necessities and offsite event attendance to the 200 resident veterans at the home. This is but a small token compared to the price our veterans have paid for our freedom; ALL GAVE SOME – SOME GAVE ALL. On a postscript note: Club members John Buchanan’s 1961 Impala and Rich Mayo’s 1952 Chevy Sedan Delivery received “VETERANS SELECTION” plaques and all registered participants got a commemorative event dog tag instead of the typical dash plaque.

Show cars with American Flag

New Rhode Island Veterans Home front entrance

Rich Mayo with his “Veterans Selection” 1952 Chevy Sedan Delivery

Cruise in show cars entering

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Oct 3 Cruise Winner: ‘68 Chevy Custom CK-10 4x4

By John Buchanan

Mike Conlon, who lives in nearby Norfolk, MA, remodels homes for a living. Because his heavy work season mirrors the car cruise season, he’s never had the time to make it over to our Bass Pro Shops cruise in Foxboro with his custom 1968 Chevy CK10 offroad 4 x 4 until tonight. For those who went to the 2019 Barrett-Jackson Northeast Auction at the Mohegan Sun, it was located outside in Tent 1 and Mike had the winner bid at for this professionally done nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration truck. It was Lot #768 if you were curious. When you see the sticker price on a new run of the mill 2019 Chevy 4 x 4 then look at the auction results for this beautiful classic, it was an unbelievable bargain.

Selected for the Vintage Motorsports cruise award plaque on his first cruise visit to our October 3rd cruise, which saw less than 100 vehicles show up due to the cold 50 degree overcast and sprinkles, it did not diminish the honorable recognition this gorgeous 4 x 4 deserved. The 6-inch suspension lift kit showcased a super clean painted Titanium paint chassis & undercarriage, front end twin shock suspension, 12 bolt posi rear, transfer case and steering linkage. The twin quad carburetor stacks pocking through the hood and the off-road KC light bar mounted atop the bed mounted triple roll bar were all painted to match the Fusion Orange finish. The 35 x 12.5 on/off road Dick Cepek Trail Country tires are mounted on 15-inch Ultra Motorsports Mongoose gloss black with diamond cut accent wheels. The custom black leather interior sets off the comfortable cabin for what us 4 x 4 truck owners would ever want in a classic ride. If you get a chance to see Mike’s truck again at our cruise, be sure you give it a close-up look. You won’t be disappointed.

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8th Annual US Rte 6 P-Town Cruise

By John Buchanan

No rain forecasted for the 8th Annual multi-club cruise weekend in Provincetown along the 118 mile Massachusetts U.S. Route 6 segment of this historic transcontinental highway that stretches all the way to Bishop, California at the edge of the Mojave Desert. At one time, pre 1964 or so,, its original terminus was Long Beach California at the insect of the California coastal Highway making it the longest U.S. numbered highway, but now, in its truncated form, is number 2 behind U.S. Route 20. Books have been written about Route 6, like local author James Gay recent book titled “Along Route 6 in Massachusetts” and Malerie Yolen-Cowan’s “Stay on Route 6” documenting her 6 week road trip on the historic route. It also attracts adventurers like Apryll Gilbert who ran a marathon a day along Route 6 in 2015 from Long Beach to Provincetown and Joe Hurley from Connecticut who walked from Provincetown to Long Beach in 2004, documenting his trek with wonderful photographs and stories in a great coffee table book titled appropriately “Ten Million Steps on Route 6”. Joe Hurley actually participated in our inaugural Route 6 Provincetown Cruise weekend back in 2012.

The cruise has evolved into a comfortable routine of using established rally points where one can chose to start from or join in the Saturday morning cruise that begins in Seekonk and travels the historic route through Fall River and New Bedford to one of the three highlight Rally points before landing at the Province Lands Visitor Center in the National Seashore Park in Provincetown.

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Downshifters host club at the Cape Cod Visitor Center

Santa Maria crew docked at Provincetown McMillan Pier

Classic Marilyn Monroe Garage Doors along historic Rte. 6A in North Truro

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8th Annual US Rte 6 P-Town Cruise

By John Buchanan

Continued from Page 8 The factory Five Rally point in Wareham is where owner Dave Smith provided a tour of their R & D project build for 2020 SEMA in Las Vegas, a Dodge Hemi powered Speedstar bodied street rod coupe. The second Rally point is along the picturesque original historic Route 6 called the Old King’s Highway (6A), Cape Cod’s most historic and scenic road, to the West Barnstable R.R. Station & Museum which is opened specifically for our cruise. The third Rally Point is off the current U.S. Route 6, a.k.a. Mid Cape Highway, at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center on 5 Patti Page Way where D.J. John “Johnny Angel” Remedis appropriately was playing Patti Pages “Old Cape Cod’ for us when we pull in for coffee and Cape Cod potato chips with our host Patti Lloyd. After landing in Provincetown at the cruise destination Province Lands Visitor Center its off to check into the host Surfside Hotel then to MacMillan Pier where this year the reproduction Columbus flagship Santa Maria from Spain is docked offering a surprise tour opportunity. Also there was a lot of fishing boat activity with giant blue fin tuna and scallops being off loaded into waiting refrigerator trucks while lobster men were hauling out their traps for the year. The sunset photo ops at Herring cove, sunrise photo ops and outdoor firepit schmoozing at the Surfside, early bird meals at Fanizzi’s bayside restaurant next door, and walking past the colorful shops along narrow Commercial Street, former historic Route 6 alignment makes this multicar club weekend cruise an annual event that kicks off the October fall season in New England.

71 lb. Blue Fin Tuna being unloaded at MacMillan Pier in Provincetown

Factory Five Racing owner Dave Smith explains their future expansion plans

West Barnstable RR Station & Museum opens for our P-Town cruise

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November 2019 Member meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

P.O. Box 217 Wrentham, MA 02093

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