MARCH 2024 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., LOCATION TBA
V8
TIMES
PLEASE NOTE: All meetings include Show & Tell. Members are encouraged to bring items to share.
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 7 pm at North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center, 7600 Carmel NE, one-half block North and West of Paseo Del Norte and Wyoming. Program by Liz Johnson on the 1937 Ford. Refreshments by the Jacksons.
NEXT BOARD MEETING:
BREAKFAST GROUP: Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 9 am at Sopa’s in Bosque Farms with tour to follow at Frank Browns.
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
March 5th Meeting – The 1937 Ford
Meeting is at 7pm, Tuesday, March 5th, at North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center, 7600 Carmel NE. The program will be on the 1937 Ford by member Liz Johnson. Liz has restored her 1937 Ford and will share that experience with us along with lots of information about the 1937 Fords in general. Bring your show and tell items and money for the raffle.
March Breakfast and Tour
Our breakfast (Sopa’s, 3/9, 8:30 am) and tour (Frank Brown’s collection, after breakfast, about 10:00 am) this month will be one of our best. Good food at Sopa’s and great cars at Frank’s. Frank has an outstanding collection of restored and custom cars including stock 1949 Mercury and Ford convertibles, a stock 1934 Ford Convertible Sedan, and a stock 1932 Ford Cabriolet. He is an expert on 1932 Fords.
Sopa’s is at 1700 Bosque Farms Blvd, Bosque Farms, NM 87068. Frank’s is at 905 Sichler Road, Los Lunas, NM 87031
2024 March President’s Message – Joe Abbin
Hello fellow V-8 fans! We have one of our own for speaker at our March meeting at the North Domingo Baca Multi-generational Center. See announcement elsewhere in this newsletter. Liz Thompson is our speaker. She is a relatively new owner of a very nice 1937 Ford coupe and will brief us on the 1937 Fords. The 1937 Fords incorporated several “firsts” for Ford. Anybody who submits the two most important of these firsts (in my opinion) to me prior to Liz’s talk will get a free raffle ticket! Wow! Could be worth a fortune! Could on over and get smart and maybe rich.
Barrett-Jackson and Worldwide Auctions
In January I attended the Barrett-Jackson and Worldwide auctions in the Phoenix area. One had 2200 cars for sale and the other 100 cars. What a difference! I took lots of pictures and can do a slide show on these auctions if desired. Not very many pre-1954 vehicles at Barrett, but several outstanding flathead Fords at the Worldwide auction from the Ron Thorpe collection. See examples below.
1946 Ford Super Deluxe
Station Wagon: $68,000
1951 Ford Custom
Convertible: $33,000
Minutes from the February 6th Meeting – Amy Joiner
The meeting was called to order by President Joe. There were twenty-six people present, including three guests and our speaker. The guests were Joe’s friend Helen, Monte Avery, Steve Schulties and speaker Jay Melin. Treasurer Amy reported we had no expenses yet this year, but she is still accepting dues. Amy mentioned that we need to do a memorial brick for Mary Gorenz and asked if she was the only member who passed away in 2023. Joe said we would address this at the next board meeting.
Joe offered individual birthday and anniversary greetings. Thanks to the Clements for our delicious refreshments. The refreshment sign-up list was then passed around. The minutes from the January meeting were approved by acclamation. Joyce gave a car council report. She had a couple of flyers for various events. She also mentioned the museum car show is on Sunday, May 19. The theme is the Roaring 20’s and the fee is $10.
Joe mentioned the articles that Jeff is going to work on about members for the newsletter. Joe spoke about his car being photographed in Scottsdale. He had the magazine there for show and tell. He also talked about how he and Helen went to two of the Arizona auctions. They went to Barrett Jackson, which had 2200 cars and they went to Worldwide, with 100 cars. Steve Schulties mentioned the tour we took to Los Lunas a few years back to see a collection in a hangar. He said the owner passed away in December and that it is too soon to know what will happen to the collection. The club breakfast in February will be Saturday, February 10 at Golden Corral at 8:30.
Liz Johnson was asked to do the presentation for our March 5 meeting. She agreed, if there is no snow. Our March breakfast will be at Sopa’s in Bosque Farms on March 9 at 8:30. Afterwards, we will tour Frank Brown’s car collection.
For show and tell, Joe brought some of the fake license plates he has made, along with some mini plates. He showed off the Rodding USA magazine that has his car on and in it. There was no real crime report. Joe did make a few comments about the DWI case in Albuquerque that is ongoing and in the news.
Max mentioned that Horizon Auto Glass has been sold and is now Auto Glass Now. Max showed an old license plate and donated a bunch of plates for the raffle. We decided to raffle off one of them per month. Joyce showed a copy of High-Country newsletter. We then had refreshments and the raffle.
The program consisted of Jay Melin giving a lot of interesting information about license plates. Everyone was intrigued and had questions for him. He gave handouts with a plethora of useful information.
March Birthdays
Larry Azevedo (6)
Vi Chavez-Cropp (12)
Bob Payne (15)
George Abernathy (16)
2024 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
President: Joe Abbin (roadrunnerengr@msn.com) 505-263-1946
Vice-President: Chris Joiner (amy2001tweety@hotmailcom) 505-382-8723
Secretary: Jackie Abernathy (docszoo22@gmail.com) 505-269-4010
Treasurer: Amy Joiner (amy2001tweety@hotmail.com) 505-382-8724
Director: George Abernathy (docszoo22@gmail.com) 505-771-2113
Director: Joe Baird (clanbaird@gmail.com) 505-263-5329
Director: Larry Bost (LBost111@gmail.com) 505-379-7891
Director: Jeff Jackson (jbjaxun@gmail.com) 505-908-7565
Director: Liz Johnson (diesel_buster@yahoo.com) 505-281-5747
Director: Bill Joiner (joinerenterprise@cs.com) 505-238-1794
Director: Roger Wilbur 505-603-5031
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. The deadline for submissions is the 20th of the month. Beth Jackson, 505-908-7564, or email: JBJaxun@gmail.com
JOKES OF THE MONTH
Why did the snail paint a big “S” on his car’s hood? Because he wanted people to shout, “Look at that S-car go!” when he drove past.
When Jimi Hendrix was 16, he was in a car crash. Luckily it was just a Fender bender.
What happens when Kermit the Frog’s car breaks down? It gets toad.
Why is Miss Piggy such a bad driver? Because all she does is hog the road.
What kind of vehicle does a chicken drive? A coop.
Why can’t motorcycles do push-ups? Because they’re always two-tired.
Kids, I bought the cat a new car. It’s a Cat-illac.
What type of car does the dog hate? A Cor-Vet.
If Yoda owned a business, I bet it’d be a…Toy Yoda Dealership.
Did you know that Teslas come with a unique “new car” smell? They call it “Elon Musk.”
I heard Gordon Ramsey drives a cool car. Must be a Chef-rolet.
What’s got four wheels and flies? A garbage truck.
I accidentally drove my Subaru Outback into the river. Now it’s a Scuba-ru.
What did the traffic light say to the car? “Turn your head while I’m changing!”
Uncle Buck lost his left arm and leg in a terrible car accident. He’s all right now.
Where do canines park their cars? In the barking lot.
My wife said I’d never be able to afford a car by selling Chef Boyardee. You should have seen her expression when I drove pasta.
What has 10 letters and starts with G-A-S? Automobile.
MEMBER OF THE MONTH
LIZ JOHNSON
We have a wild flower in our club. Liz Johnson rides Harley motorcycles, has multiple Mustangs, and is updating a 1937 Ford. She also lives off the beaten path near Chilili New Mexico and still makes most monthly V8 club meetings.
Liz was born in Chicago Illinois. She started admiring cars at age 3. She says she would say car-car to get someone to take her for a ride in the Olds Delta 69. Rather than Barbie dolls Liz had and maintains a large hot wheel’s collection. In Illinois at the time, she could get her learner’s permit at age 15. She says she waited for one day past her 15th birthday to get her learner’s permit. However, at age 16 she got her driver’s license on time.
Her high school ride was a Pea Green 1975 Delta 88. She’d offer her friends rides to school in exchange for help with gas money. In Chicago at the time, it was three bus rides to get to school so she didn’t have much difficulty encouraging her friends to ride along.
By the time she was working she had two Harley motorcycles. She didn’t ride her nice bike to work for fear of it disappearing from the parking lot. So she rode her older Harley which was kind of a dirt bike but it didn't draw so much attention when parked.
When she started collecting mustangs she joined a club. However, like some clubs back in the day, she felt they didn’t take women members seriously. She didn’t join another club for a long time. She says the Tumbleweed club has been a good experience.
As we talked, she said she had always wanted a prewar car. She found her 1937 ford in Roseville California. She describes it as kind of a barn find. Later back in Albuquerque she found the Tumbleweed club. She didn’t remember her first talk with me but she dern sure recalls Joe Abbin. “Joe was soooo helpful pointing me to various places to get work done and answering my questions,” Liz said. Thank you, Joe.
By the way, Liz is giving the presentation at the March meeting updating us on 1937 Fords.
By Jeff Jackson
(Note) Past Members of the Month articles can be accessed on our website www.abqfordflatheadv8.com Go to Showcased Members and learn more about your fellow club members.
March 2024 CLASSIFIED ADS
For Sale: Radiator for 1953 Ford P.U. - very good $150. Gary McGlasson 505-250-1586
For Sale: 1936 Ford Cabriolet, $30,000. Tan exterior, LeBaron-Bonney interior and top. Working radio in box with correct controls is included. Extra parts go with the convertible. Bob Quirici 505-821-1646 or 505-350-2454
Storage: Outdoor $25/month, secure yard. Joe Abbin 505-296-7678
For Sale: 1926 Model T, Roadster Project. Jim Clements 505-884-7912
For Sale: 1953 Ford flathead V-8. Partially dis-assembled but complete. Many new and used parts including two transmissions, new water pumps, etc. To be sold as one lot.
Gary Bachman, gbach2736@gmail.com, 505-850-9026
Wanted: 1939 Ford ½ ton rear fenders, floorboard and rear bumper assembly. Contact Daniel at dperea@q.com.
Services Offered: Vintage engine rebuilding, any make, any model. Stock or modified. Dynamometer testing available. Results guaranteed. References available. Gary McGlasson, 505-250-1586.
Tumbleweed Early Ford V8 Club Calendar for 2024
January
Tuesday 2nd Club Meeting 7pm North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center - Program Ford Service Manuals & Info by Joe Abbin, Refreshments Amy & Chris Joiner and Joe Abbin.
Saturday 13th Breakfast 8:30am Dave’s High Desert Grill.
February
Tuesday 6th Club Meeting 7pm North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center – Program by Jay Melin who will present a brief history of NM License plates. Refreshments by the Clements.
Saturday 10th Breakfast 8:30am at Golden Corral
March
Tuesday 5th Club Meeting 7pm N Domingo Baca Center - Program – Liz Johnson on the 1937 Ford. Refreshments Jeff & Beth Jackson
Saturday 8th 8:30am, Breakfast at Sopa’s with a Tour of Frank Brown’s Collection following at 10am.
April
Tuesday 2nd Club Meeting 7pm N Domingo Baca Center - Program – Joe Baird on Ford Specials. Refreshments Joe Warren
Saturday 13th Breakfast 8:30am
May
Tuesday 7th Club Meeting 7pm Program – Bob Agnew on Rust Repair and Prevention. Refreshments Liz Johnson
Sunday 19th Museum Car Show, “The Roarin’20’s”, breakfast following set-up
Monday 27th 11 – 2, Club Birthday Party
June
Tuesday 4th Club Meeting 7pm – Program , Refreshments Gus and Debbie Van de Velde
Saturday 8th Breakfast 8:30am
July
Tuesday 2nd Club Meeting 7pm – Program , Refreshments Don Gutierrez
Thursday 4th Parade in Corrales and Picnic at Azevedo’s
August
Tuesday 6th Club Meeting 7pm – Program , Refreshments Gary & Laurel McGlasson
??? All Clubs Picnic
September
Tuesday 3rd Club Meeting 7pm – Program , Refreshments Max & Johanne Glover
Sunday (?) State Fair Car Show
?????? Annual NMCCC Auto Swap Meet
October
Tuesday 1st Club Meeting 7pm – Program , Refreshments Larry & Lorna Azevedo
Friday – Sunday 11th – 13th - Trip to Durango to ride the train. (Tentative)
November
Tuesday 5th Club Meeting 7pm Officer Election – Program , Refreshments Rich & Barbara Polk
Saturday 9th Breakfast 8:30am K & I Diner
December
Saturday 7th Club Christmas Party 1pm Potluck at George’s Warehouse
Tuesday 3rd (tentative Board meeting with new and old officers and directors plan for 2025.
Businesses Used by Members
(Send us names of businesses you have used)
1. Starters and Alternators of New Mexico, 3711 Franciscan St NE, Albuquerque NM 87107, 505-344-5025, Eldon.
2. Skinners Carburetor & Distributor Service, 3100 Pan American Fwy NE, Unit 6, Albuquerque, NM 87107, 505-344-3704, Albert & Nic.
3. McBride’s Springs & Welding, 1010 2nd St NW, Albuquerque NM 87102, 505-242-2174.
4. Old Car Garage/World Wide Automotive, 3232 Girard Blvd NE, Albuquerque NM 505-881-2722, Bob.
5. The Santa Fe Detail, 7512 Avenger Way, Unit 2, Santa Fe NM 87507, 505-204-5120, Luis.
6. Auto Glass Now, 8201 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque NM 87110, 505-897-9000. Also at 8301 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque NM 87113, 505-445-7022
7. Wild Heart Ranch Texas, 3120 FM 1995, Van TX 75790, 505-908-7565