JULY 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 July Meeting
NEXT BOARD MEETING: TBA.
BREAKFAST GROUP: Saturday, July 18th 4:30 pm, Cruise & Picnic at Rotary Park (see President’s letter)
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
2020 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
President: Joe Abbin (roadrunnerengr@msn.com)
Vice-President: Jay Hertz (jdhhag1@comcast.net)
Secretary: Beth Jackson (jbjaxun@gmail.com)
Treasurer: George Abernathy (gabernathy@sunriseveterinary.com)
Director: R. Jeff Jackson (jbjaxun@gmail.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 July 2020
A Club Cruise and What is Your Favorite GOAT Contest
Joe Abbin
Our board decided that there is still too much uncertainty as to what we should do as far as public gatherings to schedule a normal club meeting or breakfast in July. No regular club meetings or breakfast until further notice due to ongoing health concerns and evolving government rules and recommendations.
However, we voted to do a cruise and picnic on Saturday, July 18. We will meet at the service station at the SE intersection of I-25 and Tramway at 4:30 pm. We will then proceed west on Tramway to old US 85 to Bernalillo. Proceed north to Bernalillo past the Range Café and turn left at the first intersection (W Calle Don Francisco which turns into Rotary Drive) and proceed about two blocks to Rotary Park. There is a huge shaded pavilion in case of rain with plenty of room for social distancing and parking for our small group. Bring your own chairs and food. It should be cool by then and a nice easy, scenic drive.
Now about that GOAT. We are not talking about the animal here or the Pontiac. Nope, we are talking about your favorite Greatest Of All Time FoMoCo product in the 1932-1953 time frame. Send Beth or I your nominee for flathead GOAT and why. Pictures would be nice but not necessary. While you are at it, nominate your flathead WOAT (Worst) and why for extra points. Our editor will publish entries and we will vote on winner(s). The winner will receive “The Key”, a priceless new top secret product from Roadrunner Engineering. Wahooooo!
Stay well and stay tuned!
July Birthdays and Anniversaries
Beth Jackson (12) Larry Bost (20) Jay & Helen Grevey Hertz (2)
Kim Goodrich (14) Jim Kontny (26)
Max Glover (15)
Street Racing in ABQ
Joe Abbin
It has been years since I regularly raced "informally" at South Eubank (and later on Renaissance). Residential and commercial buildup has pretty much discouraged those venues. However, it is clear that street racing has not disappeared. From where I live, I can often hear the racers on both Tramway and Montgomery. And of course, it is hard to resist a little stop light "Gran Prix" even as an immature adult just to show the kids how Fords rule the street.
Nevertheless, I was surprised to see perhaps 100-200 cars and motorcycles converge from all directions on Trumbull SE between Eubank and Moon at 1AM in the morning last Saturday night. I was just heading home from wrapping up the photo shoot at my garage just around the corner on Acoma SE. All brands and types of high performance vehicles set up in a coordinated event with vehicles assigned to block traffic from the side streets. Spectator's vehicles lined both sides of Trumbull and filled the driveways and parking lots.
Not knowing what I was getting into, I got stuck behind one of the vehicles blocking access to Trumbull and was soon surrounded by mostly motorcycles. A gal on the back of a motorcycle just outside my driver's door held up her cell phone and gestured for me to roll down my window. I didn't figure out till later she was trying to get me hooked up with whatever social media was being used to as a means of communication. I finally got out of there impressed with the degree of coordination and the enthusiastic participation at this "outlaw" event. I could hear APD coming to join the party about a mile away.
On the way home I felt a little sad and nostalgic, remembering my own hot summer nights on South Eubank 60 years ago. The roar of the engines, the smell of burning rubber, the flagman positioned dangerously in front of the vehicles and eventually the blinking red lights ahead. Many of those drivers, spectators and cops are gone now, but their grandkids carry on.
WHY WE CELEBRATE 4TH OF JULY
In June of 1776, Richard Henry Lee issued a call for a meeting of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. A resolution was passed to end rule of the Colonies by the British. A group of five, led by Thomas Jefferson, wrote a resolution and presented it to the Congress. Others in the group were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. On June 28, they presented the draft to Congress, and a number of changes (which Jefferson called “deplorable”) were suggested. Left out were the arraignment of the British people and King George III for encouraging and fostering the slave trade, which Jefferson called “an execrable commerce”. 86 changes were made, and 480 were left out. On July 2, 1776, 12 colonies of the Continental Congress approved the resolution. The final draft was adopted by all 13 colonies of the Congress on July 4, 1776; John Hancock was the first signer. It was August 2, 1776, before all had signed the document. It was read aloud from the steps of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. John Adams wrote to his wife that future generations would honor that day, and “that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”
When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness – That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.
Submitted by Joyce Clements
THE FAMILY FLINT
Many of you knew Frank Sims of the Hi-Country V8 RG. A while back, a Denver news channel ran this story about his family 1926 Flint. It is a cool story, and you can watch the video if you’re interested.
Board Meeting Minutes
Secretary, Beth Jackson
On Tuesday, June 9th, eight board members met (socially distancing at Joe’s shop) to discuss future activities of the club. Joe started by reading the latest Health Department rulings, notably that gatherings of more than 5 people are prohibited and all must wear masks in public settings. At that time, the 4th of July picnic and the Western National Meet in Alamosa had not yet been cancelled. Please note that at present, both events have now been cancelled.
The group, after much discussion, decided that a cruise and picnic, on our regularly scheduled breakfast date in July, would fall in with Health Department rulings. See Joe’s note for details on that July 18th event.
Also, we discussed the following recommendation for the national club. The board unanimously approved and agreed to present it to our club for discussion.
Recommendation:
We recommend polling our members on the desirability of embracing and encouraging flathead powered "specials" at Early Ford V-8 and other events.
Discussion:
The V-8 club should actively embrace flathead powered hot rods and customs in the club's exhibition class or a new class. These vehicles are interesting by their very diversity and ingenuity in using Henry's classic engine. Many of these vehicles are eligible and competitive at concourse quality events such as Pebble Beach, the Father's Day Roadster Show, Grand National Roadster Show (featuring America's Most Beautiful Roadster Award), the Detroit Autorama (featuring the Ridler Award) and others.
In addition, many of these cars are bringing 6-figure auction proceeds at premier auction events such as Barrett-Jackson and others. We feel it is our member's loss that they can only view these exceptional vehicles at other venues and in magazines other than our own. Historic hot rods are hot!
The public interest is there, many of us have both stock and modified vehicles. The Goodguys and National Street Rod Association have huge memberships and events where flathead powered vehicles are often the stars and appreciated by thousands including many young people. We think that our club and our vehicles are appreciated at these other organization's events and that we should have a presence there and perhaps even sponsor awards and have membership signup booths at those events.
As long as they are flathead powered we think the club could and should be interested. The vehicles can be trains, planes, boats, tractors, etc. Let's not forget Henry and Edsel were hot rodders and customizers! Examples of their work would make a many part series of V-8 Times articles.
You are all welcome to give your opinion to any of your board members. We welcome comments from club members.
It was also suggested that if we are not able to meet in person, if appropriate the presentation might be published in the newsletter.
We discussed meeting places and dues in light of the virus restrictions, but we did not reach any conclusions.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:16pm.
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
Joe’s Photo Shoot
It was a pain, but Andy’s Garage across the street from my garage on Acoma sponsored a photo shoot for several magazines (e.g. Hot Rod Deluxe, etc.) and they set up at Andy’s garage and my garage. The gals could choose their setting. Most of them included my Willys! The truck and trailer held all the equipment, etc. and had a makeup salon and dressing room for Lady Ashley to work her magic on the models. The trailer also served as the home on the road for the photographer, Rob, and Lady Ashley. Joe Abbin
Tumbleweed Early Ford V8 Club Calendar for 2020
July
Tuesday 7th NO Club Meeting
Friday 4th NO Parade in Corrales and Picnic at Azevedo’s is cancelled
Saturday 18th 4:30pm – Cruise to and Picnic at Rotary Park in Rio Rancho – Drive your Flathead, bring your own food and enjoy the company of club members and friends.
August
Tuesday 4th Club Meeting 7pm Program – Auction/Auto Slide Show by Joe Abbin. Refreshments by Van de Velde’s
Sunday 9th All Clubs Picnic
Saturday 15th Breakfast
September
Tuesday 1st Club Meeting 7pm Program – Civil War in NM by Sanders. Refreshments by Joiner’s
Sunday 13th State Fair Car Show CANCELLED
Saturday 19th Breakfast
Sunday-Thursday 20-24 Western National Meet, Alamosa, CO - CANCELLED
Friday-Sunday 25-27 Annual NMCCC Auto Swap Meet
Saturday 26th Party for Lou and Mary Gorenz to celebrate their 90th birthdays!
October
Tuesday 6th Club Meeting 7pm Program – Electric Cars Now & Then. Refreshments by Jay Hertz
?? Northern NM Overnight Tour being planned
Saturday 17th Breakfast
November
Tuesday 3rd Club Meeting 7pm Officer Election Refreshments by Robert Napier
Saturday 21st Breakfast
December
Saturday 12th Club Christmas Party (tentatively pot luck)
Tuesday 8th (tentative Board meeting with new and old officers and directors to plan for 2021)
Saturday 19th Breakfast
UPCOMING EVENTS
At this time, the following are the only events I have not received a cancellation notice on. Check before you try to go to any event, as the event has probably been cancelled. The end of May is supposed to be the date that allows more activities, but there are no guarantees.
JULY
July 11 – Collector Car Appreciation Day
July 11 – 2nd Annual Recovery Car Show – Aztec Church of the Nazarene, Aztec
July 17-18 – Crimestoppers Show – McGee Park, Farmington – Johnny D. Adams (505)334-4275
AUGUST
August 1– 2nd Annual Special Olympics Car Show Fundraiser – Holy Family Catholic Church, 562 Atrisco SW – Sponsored by Knights of Columbus, District 21 – Registration 8-9:30am, show 10am-4pm – Entry $10 minimum donation – Open to all cars, trucks, tractors & motorcycles – Adrian zdsgambler@gmail.com
August 1 – 4th Annual DeeDee’s Golden Ram Car Show – Riverside Park, Aztec
EARLY FORD V8 TOURS
Go to Early Ford V-8 Web Site for More Information.
September 20-24 – 2020 WESTERN NATIONAL MEET – ALAMOSA, COLORADO CANCELLED
With deep regret the 2020 Alamosa Western National Meet has had to cancel the entire event. There are too many concerns for everyone to take a chance on such a large gathering. Refunds will be issued as soon as our treasurer can get them processed.
Sincerely
The 2020 Alamosa Western National Committee
Bernie Arellano
For Sale: I have two 1935 engines and one transmission for sale. Both have aluminum intake manifolds, one comes with a set of unmarked aluminum heads for flat top piston engines. The rusty appearing assembly sat outside for years and does not turn. The other engine turns freely and does not show any cracks visually. $195 buys everything. Heads are worth more than that. No warranty. Must pickup on site. Joe Abbin 505-268-6768 p.s. I need a copy of V-8 Times for Nov-Dec 2014
