10 minute read
Remember These Vintage Car Commercials?
Billy Parker, retired country musician and KVOO disc jockey.
BY STEVE CLEM
Local automobile dealerships are among the most active advertisers on TV and radio. Typically, a TV campaign runs for a few weeks, promoting an event such as a 4th of July sale, and then is quickly forgotten. However, some commercials are still remembered 50 years later. They are recalled fondly on websites such as Tulsa TV Memories and in Facebook nostalgia groups. Perhaps the most mentioned vintage TV car ad is for Chick Norton Buick. In the commercial, someone takes a sledgehammer to the windshield of a new Buick. The tag line was “Chick Don’t Care.”
Some recall the slogan for Cox Chrysler/Plymouth in the 1960s and 1970s. Bill Cox ended his commercials by pointing his finger at the camera and stating, “I want to sell YOU a car.”
“Try Tink,” was the catchy slogan of D.B. “Tink” Wilkerson of Wilkerson Chevrolet, another vintage dealership with a big media presence. One TV commercial featured a large billboard with Wilkerson’s likeness. In the ad, a family drives by the billboard and the portrait winks at them. In 1972, a young country musician and KVOO AM1170 disc jockey began writing and voicing radio and TV commercials for Ernie Miller Pontiac. That relationship, with Billy Parker pitching Pontiacs, continued for an astounding 45 years, making Parker Tulsa’s longest-running car spokesperson.
Parker said he composed the slogan that was sung or spoken in those car ads, “Learn with Ern, he’ll wheel you a DEAL!” Parker says his agreement with Miller was never in writing. “I know things are different now,” he said, “but Ernie and I never had a contract. We never needed it! I trusted him, and he trusted me!”
Although Miller passed away in 1995, and Parker retired from commercials a few years back, he said he purchased his current vehicle from the dealership. “Ernie’s son Marc owns it now, and they no longer make Pontiacs,” Parker said. "But, I bought a Buick SUV.”
If you are tempted to think that Parker’s loyalty is due to some kind of discount for being their spokesperson for all those years, then you don’t know Billy Parker. It is because of a gentleman’s code. One that says words spoken nearly 50 years ago, never even committed to paper, still mean something.
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PLUG IT IN
HYBRID & ELECTRIC CARS
BY LINDSAY MORRIS
CONSIDERING AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE?
THE CHEVY VOLT
ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLE
TOYOTA PRIUS
HYBRID VEHICLE Take a look at the cars around you, and you’ll be amazed at the increasing number of Teslas, Chevy Volts and other electric and hybrid cars zooming around northeastern Oklahoma.
Hybrid and electric cars are becoming increasingly popular, and with several options now available, this may be the right time for a switch. Driving a vehicle powered by electricity reduces fuel costs, cuts petroleum consumption and reduces tailpipe emissions compared to conventional vehicles.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Electric vehicles, or EVs, can be charged using an off-board electric power source. There are two basic types of EVs: all-electric vehicles and plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs, or simply, hybrids). All-electric vehicles include battery electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles. They both charge in part from the electrical grid, and both types are charged partially by regenerative braking, which generates electricity from some of the energy normally lost when braking.
All-electric vehicles run solely on electricity. A typical all-electric range is 80 to 100 miles, while a few luxury models can go up to 250 miles. When the battery dies, it can take from 30 minutes to nearly a full day to charge it, depending on the type of charger and battery.
FINDING NEARBY CHARGING STATIONS
You might be surprised at how many charging stations are right here in the Tulsa area. Check out this brief list of GPS-enabled websites and apps that help EV drivers locate nearby charging stations.
1. PLUGSHARE – A free EV driver's app and website, allowing users to locate charging stations, leave reviews and connect with other EV owners.
2. SYGIC – The world's first navigation app with an integrated charging stations database and navigation.
3. FRANCIS ENERGY – This mobile app helps EV drivers view charging station information, the number of chargers available, charger type, price and directions.
Since this limitation to long-distance drives can be a hindrance to some drivers, a plug-in electric vehicle is preferred by some. Hybrids run on electricity for a short range (6 to 40 miles), then switch to an internal combustion engine running on gasoline when the battery dies. Hybrids use gasoline as the primary source of power, letting drivers use electricity when possible while having gasoline as a safety net when needed. Hybrids may also use hydrogen in a fuel cell, biofuels or other alternative fuels as a backup instead of gasoline. There are two primary types of hybrid cars: standard hybrid and plug-in models. Neither requires that you plug in the car to an electric source; however, with a plug-in hybrid, you have the option to do so. Standard hybrids do not need to be plugged in. A standard hybrid uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to help offset fuel costs and increase gas mileage. When the battery is depleted by electric motor usage without a lot of braking, the internal combustion engine picks up the slack while the battery recovers.
HOW TO CHARGE
Electric vehicles have different battery sizes and charge at different speeds. Therefore, the same vehicle will experience varying charge times at different chargers. The slowest way to charge is on a standard 120-volt outlet, which adds just a few miles of range per hour. While this can seem like a huge hassle, most EV owners are charging while they’re doing other things, like working or sleeping. So, a 10-hour charge can typically give a car about 50 miles. Level 2, 240-volt chargers, are the next step up. The speed of the charge time varies, but 15 to 25 miles added per hour spent charging is typical. Some businesses offer Level 2 chargers for employees, which means staffers have plenty of time to charge up before heading out for lunch or the commute home.
For trips that involve hundreds of miles in a single day, drivers typically rely on DC fast chargers. These chargers – which are much more expensive to install, and thus rarer – use direct current, rather than alternating current, to charge much more quickly. Not all DC chargers are equally fast. A 50kw charger is on the slow end of the scale, while next-generation chargers have 250kw or 350kw capabilities – well beyond what most vehicles are currently capable of accepting. Direct current fast chargers can be free, pay-as-you-go or subscription-based, with prices set by networks or property owners. Some automakers, such as Hyundai, Nissan and Tesla, may provide complimentary public charging at certain chargers.
CAR MANUFACTURERS ADAPT
Electric cars today are the fastest-growing segment of the auto industry, but they still make up a small portion of new car sales: about 3% of the global total, according to the International Energy Agency. Electric vehicles are purchased mainly by affluent early adopters who are drawn to the luxury models made by Tesla, which dominates the business, and by environmentally-conscious consumers. However, despite getting a relatively slow start, it appears that hybrid and electric vehicles are here to stay. Nearly every car manufacturer is producing some sort of alternative for fuel-efficiency. In January, General Motors announced that it plans to phase out petroleumpowered cars and trucks and sell only vehicles that have zero tailpipe emissions by 2035. Other manufacturers have made similar promises. Daimler, which makes Mercedes-Benz cars, has said it would have an electric or hybrid version of each of its models by 2022, and Volkswagen has promised an electric version for each of its models by 2030.
SMILES PER GALLON
Car Clubs Bring Auto Enthusiasts Together
BY A.W. WEBB
Auto enthusiasts can find a wide variety of car clubs to join in northeastern Oklahoma. They'll enjoy camaraderie with a group of like-minded people engaging around a common interest. Rod Nordstrom, president of the Cimarron Region Porsche Club of America, said he realized a lifelong dream when he joined the group of Porsche fans 12 years ago. "Pretty quickly, everybody knows everybody," Nordstrom said. "The second I stepped into the room and felt the joy and passion of the people around me, I felt at home."
CIMARRON REGION PORSCHE CLUB OF AMERICA
www.cimarronregionpca.org
Open to gearheads, leisure drivers, racers or people who are just interested in Porsches, the Cimarron Region Porsche Club of America hosts many social, competitive and educational events. Members can learn to pick the perfect line around the track, gain better technical knowledge of their Porsche or just share a meal with like-minded car enthusiasts. Tulsa Vette Set aims to bring together Corvette enthusiasts to help grow friendships, share technical skills and knowledge and provide Corvette-centric social gatherings. Tulsa Vette Set hosts various events such as “Vettogethers,” car shows, dinners and cruises. While there are many one-day cruises, Tulsa Vette Set also hosts overnight trips and at least one extended cruise a year.
The Tulsa Region Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) is for owners and enthusiasts of all vintage automobiles. The club even expands its definitions to include motorcycles, scooters, buses and race cars. The Tulsa Region AACA hosts meetings, tours and other activities to build fellowship in the antique automobile community. Oklahoma Mustang Club (OMC) dedicates itself to the care, preservation and celebration of Mustangs from vintage to current day models. The OMC hosts car shows, cruise-ins and “pony drives,” giving Mustang owners and supporters a chance to enjoy and learn about Mustangs in a family-friendly environment. Mustang ownership is not a prerequisite for club membership.
NeOkla SCCA, the Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter of the Sports Car Club of America, is a club for people who want to drive fast (legally). Covering Tulsa, Green Country and all of northeastern Oklahoma, NeOkla SCCA organizes competitions, ranging from track events, road competitions and autocross. Green Country Classic Mustangs is a regional branch of the Mustang Club of America. Green Country Classic Mustangs is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of Mustangs of all kinds. Green Country Classic Mustangs hosts club meetings, “show ‘n' shines,” cruises and high-speed touring events.
Tulsa Chevy Classics works to promote interest, preservation and restoration of Chevy cars and trucks from 1911-1972. They host monthly meetings and activities, like car shows, club cruises, parades and picnics. Tulsa Chevy Classics hosts a car show in conjunction with the Bluegrass & Chili Festival. Chevy ownership is not necessary for membership.
TULSA VETTE SET
www.tulsavetteset.com OKLAHOMA MUSTANG CLUB
www.okmustangclub.com
NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA MIATA CLUB
www.neomiata.com
While based in Tulsa, the Northeastern Oklahoma Miata Club includes Miata owners and enthusiasts throughout northeastern Oklahoma. The Northeastern Oklahoma Miata Club hosts monthly meetings, club drives, and dinners.
ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA – TULSA REGION
www.tulsa.aaca.com NEOKLA SCCA
http://www.neoklascca.org
GREEN COUNTRY CLASSIC MUSTANGS
www.gccmustangs.com
TULSA CHEVY CLASSICS
