DECEMBER 2020 TUMBLEWEED CLUB OF NEW MEXICO

RG #79, EARLY FORD V-8 CLUB OF AMERICA, PO BOX 21538, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87154-1538

MEETS FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, 7:00 P.M., OLD CAR GARAGE, 3232 GIRARD BLVD NE

TIMES

PLEASE NOTE: All meetings include Show & Tell. Members are encouraged to bring items to share.

NEXT MEETING: No December Meeting

NEXT BOARD MEETING: January 12, 2021

BREAKFAST GROUP: Saturday, December 5, cruise to Sopa’s, Bosque Farms. See the article on page 2.

CLUB WEBSITE: Be sure to check out our website at www.abqfordflatheadv8.com Updated “current Information and calendar” is on the current information page. More club pictures are on the website.

FORD V8 FOUNDATION WEBSITE: Another interesting website to check out is www.fordv8foundation.org

EARLY FORD V8 CLUB OF AMERICA WEBSITE: www.earlyfordv8.org

2021 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS

President: Joe Abbin (roadrunnerengr@msn.com)

Vice-President: R. Jeff Jackson (jbjaxun@gmail.com)

Secretary: Beth Jackson (jbjaxun@gmail.com)

Treasurer: George Abernathy (gabernathy@sunriseveterinary.com)

Director: Demetrio Lee (Dmost_1@yahoo.com)

Director: Roger Wilbur (rogerwilbur88@gmail.com)

Director: Chris Joiner (Amy2001tweety@hotmail.com)

Director: Larry Bost (LBost11@gmail.com)

President’s Message for December 2020

A Club Bailout, Cruise and Merry Christmas Joe Abbin

Our board decided that there is still too much uncertainty as to what we should do as far as scheduling a normal club meeting or party in December. No regular club meetings until further notice due to ongoing health concerns and evolving government rules and recommendations. We decided that Jeff Jackson will replace Jay Hertz as Vice President until we have a new election. I propose that we keep current officers in place for 2021 unless we decide otherwise at the next board meeting. We have a vacancy for a new director. Volunteers?

We may try a Zoom board meeting on January 12 with all club members invited as an experiment with this technology. Any volunteers to set this up?

To avoid a complete vacuum however, the board voted to do a cruise, breakfast, and garage tour on Saturday, December 5, weather permitting and providing the current lockdown is lifted. We will meet at the UNM stadium at 8:30 am and proceed south on Broadway (Hwy 47) to Sopa’s in Los Lunas. We may eat inside if possible with social distancing or takeout if not and proceed to Al Seery’s garage for a tour. Bring your own chairs and warm clothing. It is a nice scenic drive. We will have a go-no go update with further directions after the first of December. We may also have a second mystery garage to tour. Top secret location!

Also, the board decided on a club bailout for 2021. All members who paid dues in 2020 will have their membership extended through 2021 at no charge.

Merry Christmas and a much better New Year!

CLUB CRUISE TO BOSQUE FARMS

All interested members and friends, who are up for a drive, meet on Saturday, December 5th at 8:30 am at the Pit parking lot (University south of Avenida Cesar Chavez). Drive your flathead or whatever vehicle is available to you. We will drive on Broadway to 47 and south to Sopa’s in Bosque Farms. Our southern members are welcome to join us for breakfast around 9am. After breakfast, we will take a tour of Al Seery’s garage. Wear your masks and practice social distancing.

December Birthdays and Anniversaries

Corrine Lovato (3) Jim & Jeannine Kontny (11)

Dee Patterson (4) Bob and Joan Quirici (21)

Bobbie Benzaquen (11) Jeff & Beth Jackson (26)

Jan Rothell (14) Bob & Nancy Agnew (30)

Jackie Abernathy (18) Jim & Joyce Clements (30)

Bill Verant (19)

Dorothy Hammond (27)

Joan Quirici (31)

New Member Welcome

We have new members that we have yet been able to meet due to Covid restrictions. Welcome to Joe and Anita Warren who reside in Corrales. Joe’s email is jbwarren302@gmail.com and they are the proud owners of a 1940 Ford Deluxe Opera Coupe. I’m sure many of us will be eager to take a look at that, Joe and Anita.

Club Dues Due

The Board of Directors voted to waive dues for 2021 for those members who paid their 2020 dues. However, if you did not pay your dues in 2020, you will need to pay dues now to continue as a member in good standing and remain on our club roster. If you are unsure of your status please email treasurer George Abernathy at gabernathy@sunriseveterinary.com or contact secretary Beth Jackson at jbjaxun@gmail.com

Hotly Contested “Your Favorite GOAT Contest” Votes Are In Joe Abbin

Joe's 1940 Gasser in 2005 Now owned by Bobby Ford

The Black 1940 Deluxe Coupe is the “Fairest of the Fair” IMHO

How about that GOAT election? We are not talking about the animal here, your high school sweetheart, or the Pontiac. Nope, we are talking about the Tumbleweed election of our favorite Greatest Of All Time FoMoCo product in the 1932-1953 time frame. In a major break with tradition, early voting began in July. Mail-in and electronic voting with same day registration were encouraged with no identification or time limits imposed. What could go wrong? Nominees included the 1932, 1933-34, 1936, 1937, 1940, and 1949-51 Fords and the1950 Mercury. The race was tight until after midnight on November 2 when counting was suspended temporarily when a black 1956 Ford pickup with an expired California license plate delivered over 1400 late mail-in ballots with only 1940 Fords marked as the favorite. Counting and numerous re-counts resulted in the 1940 Ford being certified the GOAT in a landslide. Following the election, the Tumbleweed club president declared himself the President for Life, awarded himself the prize, and impounded all non-1940 ballots. This election invited controversy and it is doubtful the results will ever be unanimously accepted by the membership at large. Democracy at work.

Joe's 1940 6th Grade Class Doodling in 1953

Joe's 1940 Gasser in 1961

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

We all know the story of the first Christmas; it is the story of Christ’s birth. The holiday is celebrated around the world in different ways. Some celebrations take place in the churches; many involve festive parades; family gatherings are very popular, replete with food, decorations and presents. All involve decorating with everything from manger scenes to plenty of lights to inflated Santas and snowmen. Beautiful ornaments are created around the world just to decorate our homes, stores and trees. It is a favorite holiday, especially for the children. We cook and bake, we send cards, we greet others with a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”, we go Christmas shopping, we wrap gifts, we drop coins into Salvation Army buckets, we donate to feed the less prosperous, we decorate trees and homes, in NM we put out farolitos to welcome the Christ child, we attend parades and parties, we go to midnight mass, we take our pictures with Santa, we go caroling, kids are out of school driving adults batty, we hide presents and keep secrets from other family members. All this is done in the spirit of celebrating a great season, remembering why we celebrate, and just having fun.

In 2020, all this may not happen. Governors and health “experts” are telling us to stay home, avoid crowds and family gatherings. Stores are closed to shoppers, Salvation Army donations are online, no parades, no school to escape from, churches are limited capacity or closed altogether, no mall Santas for photos, no hugs or kissing under the mistletoe. This will be the year of “Bah Humbug!”

So, what to do? If you are forced to stay in your house, put up lots of decorations and a tree. Send cards and messages to friends and family. Have a grand Christmas dinner. Play Christmas carols. Eat lots of candy, cookies, pies and cake; hot chocolate and eggnog are always great. Don’t forget that “cup of good cheer”. And you can watch movies; many Christmas movies are available on tape, disc or CD. Here are some favorites:

“It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart is my personal favorite.

“Miracle on 34th Street”, the black and white version with a young Natalie Wood and a ’40 Ford.

“A Christmas Story” about growing up in the big city in the 1940’s.

“Holiday Inn” and “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby and associates.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer” are animated favorites.

“Sound of Music” with Julie Andrews has wonderful music that cheers you right up.

“Red Skelton Christmas Show” is on tape and is hilarious.

Several versions of Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” are available and mostly pretty good.

The original “101 Dalmatians” and “Lady and the Tramp” are great ones to watch this time of year.

There will be plenty of Christmas special TV shows, both old reruns and new ones.

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night. Pray that 2021 will not be a repeat of this year.

Joyce

FORD RACING IN THE 1950’S

At our last meeting, way back in March, we talked about Henry Ford and how racing started Ford Motor Company. Recall after the demise of The Detroit Motor Company Henry Ford and his wife were living with his parents and Henry Ford dreamed of starting another motor car company when he learned of an upcoming race paying $1000 to win. Henry along with some of his mechanics and engineers from The Detroit Motor company began building a race car. On October 10,1901, the race was held. Alexander Winton, an established racer, was going to race and betting odds had him as the favorite. Henry’s team focused on having his car survive the race not necessarily winning. Henry’s car had less horsepower but also weighed much less than Winton’s. Henry couldn’t afford to hire a driver so he asked a bicycle racer to give him training on driving around corners. Henry won the race when Winton’s car failed. That win brought him the support to start The Ford Motor Company.

We also discussed the famous race cars of the 1930’s highlighted by the four Ford Flathead powered cars that ran in the Indianapolis 500 in 1935. One of those cars is displayed in the Early Ford V8 Foundation Museum. Ford had the only affordable V8 during the ‘30’s and 40’s making Ford the engine of choice for hot rodders. In 1949 at the first Bonneville Speed week a Flathead Ford set the E/Streamliner record going 193.54 miles per hour. And, in 1949 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix, Miles Collier bested the Ferraris and Bugattis and Dusenbergs and set a race record 7 miles per hour faster than the previous record.

Now, let’s step forward to the 1950’s. The 1950’s brought an era of aggressive competition. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler were fighting over bragging rights and racing. In1954 (actually in 1952 for Lincolns) Ford introduced the new Y block V8. That was a full year before General Motors unveiled its vaunted small block V8. Ford got its first bragging rights with a Lincoln Capri in 1952 by winning the Carrera Panamericana. The Panamericana was a 2100 mile 6-day race. In 1953 Lincolns took the top 3 places. Those cars were prepared by Bill Stroppe and Associates in Signal Hill California. Bill Stroppe also managed Mercury’s NASCAR-USAC competition. John Holman was on the Stroppe team. In 1957 Ralph Moody joined with Holman and created Holman & Moody. Everyone who is familiar with Ford recalls Holman and Moody and their association with Ford racing.

General Motors unveiled the Corvette in January 1953 and that triggered Ford to begin development of the Thunderbird. The T-bird went from concept to development in just one year and was introduced in 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show. While the Corvette was positioned as a sports car Ford advertised the T-bird as a “personal luxury car”. In 1955 Ford sold more than 16,000 T-birds while General Motor sold 700 Corvettes.

Winning races brought in customers. In 1956 and 1957 heavily modified T-birds were raced at the Daytona Beach course. Danny Evans took first place in the Experimental Class running over 98 miles per hour in the standing mile. Marvin Paunch entered a T-bird at a nearby airport road course and took second place to Carroll Shelby driving a Ferrari.

The Y block grew from 239 cubic inch displacement in 1954 to 368 cubic inch displacement (cid) available in 1956 for Lincolns and 1957 for Mercurys. In 1957 you could purchase a high performance 312 cubic inch Y block in most of Ford’s cars including station wagons. In 1957 there were at least 4 versions of the Y Block available in the T-bird, a 292, a 312 single four-barrel carb, two E code 312’s with different camshafts, and an F code supercharged 312. Supercharging was Ford’s answer to the General Motors fuel injection system.

In NASCAR’s 1956 Grand National Series run on dirt and paved tracks, Ford and Mercury won 19 races. Karol Miller, a popular drag racer, took his street driven 1956 Ford Victoria to Bonneville Speed week and ran 150 miles per hour (mph). He replaced his 302 (yes 302 Y block) with a supercharged 259 cid engine and drove the same car to Bonneville in 1958 and ran 153 mph. Then he drove the car to Daytona Beach and ran there. Bill France banned supercharging, multiple carburetors, and fuel injection in 1957.

Ford’s captive racing shop, DePaulo Engineering, was successful in NASCAR and drag racing. They also prepared cars for endurance runs. They built a Ford that averaged 117 mph for 22 days in the Stephens Trophy Trials run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ford was aware that winning races brought in customers but they also wanted to show long term endurance. DePaulo Engineering built two stock specification 270 horsepower (Hp) 1956 Ford Fairlanes that that averaged 130 mph for 100 hours and 108 mph for 50,000 miles. On September 28, 1956 USAC and FIA certified that those two cars had broken 458 records. Those cars were driven by Johnny Martz, Chuck Stevenson, and Jerry Unser Jr (our Albuquerque connection). Ford had its advertising agency create a three-page advertorial captioning these events as “The Longest Left Turn in History”. Ford placed that ad in many publications including the October 29, 1956 issue of Life magazine.

All automobile manufacturers were producing cars with bigger displacement and higher horsepower engines banking on ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’. By the mid 50’s the Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (AMA) was concerned with the liabilities of racing and potential Congressional interference. There were several major racing accidents during this period including Bill Vukovich’s death at Indianapolis. In 1957 AMA banned direct factory participation in organized racing. General Motors President Harlow Curtis was the first to support the ban. All manufacturers observed the ban and racing was no longer supported ‘out the front door’. Almost immediately manufacturers started their racing support ‘out the back door’. Ford sold the contents of DePaulo Engineering to John Holman and Ralph Moody. Clearly the end of one era in racing and the beginning of the next.

By Jeff Jackson (heavily extracted from ‘Ford Total Performance’ written by Martin L. Schott and other articles). Future articles about Ford racing in the 1960’s upcoming.

NEWSLETTER NOTE

Members are encouraged to submit articles, ads and photographs for inclusion in the newsletter. Please understand we have a volunteer Newsletter Editor so try and submit typed and proofed articles, comments, and new want ads (for sale items will continue to be updated at the meetings). The deadline for submissions is the 20th of the month. Beth Jackson, 505-908-7564, or email: JBJaxun@gmail.com

Tumbleweed Early Ford V8 Club Calendar for 2020

December

Saturday 5th, Cruise to Bosque Farms for breakfast and garage tour. Meet at 8:30am at PIT parking lot.

Christmas Party Cancelled

Saturday 19th Breakfast Cancelled

Participants in the cruise to Madrid in November with lunch at The Mine Shaft