NOVEMBER 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 November Meeting
NEXT BOARD MEETING: TBD
BREAKFAST GROUP: Sunday, November 8, cruise to Madrid. 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
2020 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
President: Joe Abbin (roadrunnerengr@msn.com)
Vice-President: tbd
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 November 2020
Joe Abbin
Hard to believe, but I checked and the state Covid rules got tighter and now limit “mass gatherings” to 5 people or less, unless outdoors or at Home Depot. Therefore, we continue on with no regular club meetings until further notice. It seems consistency is still missing in the rules.
We will have two cruises, however. On Sunday, November 8 we will meet at Smith’s on Tramway and Central at 10:30 am and cruise to Madrid, NM for shopping and lunch depending on what is open. It is a nice drive on Old US 66 and experience the “Singing Highway” (if you can find it). Then on Saturday December 5, our Albuquerque and other Northern members will meet at the Pit parking lot about 8:30 am and cruise down to Sopa’s in Los Lunas for breakfast/brunch at 9:00 with our Southern members. This is also a nice drive down NM 47 (Broadway). After we chow down we have been invited to a garage tour at Al Seery’s in Bosque Farms.
It would be a great Christmas present if the virus self-destructed and we could have our annual holiday party, one of my favorite activities! Oh well, maybe next year! I will mail your present, but I’ll pick up mine…..haha.
Don’t forget to vote!
CLUB CRUISE TO MADRID
All interested (bored with being housebound) members and friends meet on Sunday, November 8th at 10:30 am at Smith’s located at Tramway and Central. Drive your flathead or whatever vehicle is available to you. We will drive out old 66 and take Hwy 14 to Madrid. We will attempt to partake of lunch at any Madrid establishment that is serving such. Wear your masks, practice social distancing and enjoy the great outdoors!
November Birthdays and Anniversaries
Roger Wilbur (11) Vern & Pat Willan (7)
Leslie Montgomery (22) David & Debbie McLain (10)
Ray Calderon (30) Philip & Corrine Lovato (14)
GREATEST OF ALL TIMES Nominees
I wanted to write something intelligent but alas, my brain isn’t. I pick the 1932 Ford four door sedan deluxe simply for the engine. I read 20 articles today seeking a definitive answer to a simple question: Ford Flathead or Small Block Chevy? Huge arguments online with good reasoning for either engine. I’ll go with the Flathead as first mass produced and being at the forefront of hot rodding. Open a hood today at a car show and you’ll see a small block Chevy. Open a hood with a Flathead and you’ll see a crowd.
Jeff Jackson
The Greatest of All Times Ford V-8 is one that is a low-mileage original, “As Henry Built It.” The year is not as important as the car being well-cared for and having few miles. The cars with little wear and tear on the suspension, power plant, body and interior, tend to drive as well as when new. They are best when some previous owner hasn’t “fixed it up.”
Our personal favorite is the 1940 Ford sedan with good suspension, a modern synchronized column-shift three-speed transmission. The car is easy to steer and drive, and being well-balanced, it doesn’t need power steering or brakes; it’ll “stop on a dime.” The sedan has good visibility, good air circulation, is easy to enter and exit, has comfortable chair-height seats, has a roomy interior, and the trunk holds lots of luggage. It handles well on the highway, and if you want to travel faster, get a Columbia axle. Our ’40 coupe has taken us to Arizona, California, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Michigan, Canada and back home. And the very roomy trunk carries lots of swap meet goodies. Both cars have provided lots of fun and adventures. People everywhere like the old cars and are eager to help with directions and services. You meet lots of friendly people along the way, and there’s always a place to stop for ice cream and sodas if the weather gets too hot, and you and the car need a cool-down. The cars were meant to drive.
Joyce Clements
MEMORIES
In March of 1977, the Tumbleweed V-8 Club was invited to use the Helweg and Farmer Bus Co. office for meetings, courtesy of Tom and Esther Helweg. It was a great meeting place with climate control, chairs, tables and space to store club stuff. We were able to continue meeting there until 2006. Tom and Esther were long-time members with several restored Fords and Mercurys from the flathead era, including a 1935 school bus.
In May of 1978, Tom decided to sell some of his cars, and he suggested the club organize a “Car Sale” at the bus company. Spaces were reserved, open to anyone with a vintage car for sale, and advertisements were sent out. There was no charge for the space, but if your car sold, you paid a 5% commission to the club. About 30 cars showed up for sale, and about a dozen sold. This was followed in June with a burger burn at the Helweg’s mountain home. There is no record of how much money we made, but it must have been successful, as we repeated it in 1979, but this time we charged non-club members for the spaces, and club members got one free space, and the club got a 5% commission. We had a celebratory dinner at a restaurant afterwards. In 1980, we tried again, and included a swap meet space for parts, all for a fee.
One story, as I remember it, was that Tom Helweg donated a 1927 Chevy sedan project car for the club to sell. It was sold, I think for $75 or $100. The purchaser paid for the car, but never came and got it. Several attempts were made to contact him, but to no avail. So in 1979, it became a door prize for the lucky vendor whose name was drawn. The winner never came and got the car. Tom was tired of looking at the car, he wanted it off his property, and it ended up in the Clements’ back yard. We didn’t want it either and were eventually able to give it to Gab Joiner, and its fate from there is unknown. No one wanted the car, even for free.
Esther Helweg passed away in 2020. Many members won't remember her, but she and Tom were very much involved in helping the club grow. Both Esther and Tom were very gracious people. They owned a garage full of old Fords and Mercurys that Tom restored in his shop. Tom passed away several years ago. Esther's obituary can be found at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/abqjournal/obituary.aspx?n=esther-helweg&pid=196878403 - Joyce Clements
Minutes of October 13, 2020 Board Meeting
Meeting was held at 7pm at Joe’s shop. Present were officers Joe Abbin, Beth Jackson and George Abernathy along with directors Roger Wilbur, Chris Joiner and Jeff Jackson.
The main discussion centered on possible activities for the club that would adhere to state CDC guidelines and be safe for our membership. Driving tours, meals, garage tours and a mini swap meet were mentioned. Consensus was reached on adding two activities to the calendar at this time. Sunday, November 8th, individuals will meet at 10:30am at Smith’s (Tramway and Central NE) and caravan to Madrid and partake of lunch on the patio at a local restaurant. Those living on the west side will meet at 10am at the Jackson’s house and then drive to Smith’s.
Then on Saturday, December 5, individuals will meet in the PIT parking lot at 8:30am and drive to Sopa’s in Bosque Farms for a 9am breakfast. Those living in the Los Lunas, Belen, Bosque Farms area are encouraged to meet us there. After breakfast, we will be having a garage tour at a yet unnamed location. Joe will be contacting possible owners.
Joe asked Jeff Jackson if he would be willing to assume the office of Vice-President, recently vacated by the death of Jay Hertz. He agreed to only if no one else could be persuaded to come forward and fill that position. Joe agreed to solicit other candidates.
Joe agreed to check the club mailbox as George has misplaced his key for same. (George has since located the key.)
It was suggested and agreed that members who paid dues in 2020 will have those dues carry over to cover 2021. However, those members who did not pay 2020 dues will need to pay in 2021 to remain members in good standing.
The meeting ended with a reminder to those present to enter their favorite flathead V8 in the G.O.A.T. contest as soon as possible.
The meeting was adjourned.
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
November
Tuesday 3rd Club Meeting Cancelled
Sunday 8th Cruise to Madrid, meet at 10:30am at Smith’s at Central and Tramway.
Saturday 21st Breakfast Cancelled
December
Saturday 5th, Cruise to Bosque Farms for breakfast and garage tour. Meet at 8:30am at PIT parking lot.
Saturday 19th Breakfast Cancelled
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER
November 3-6 – SEMA Show – Las Vegas, NV – See SEMA Action Network
November 8 – Tumbleweed V-8 Club cruise to Madrid, meet at 10:30am, Smith’s at Central and Tramway.
November 8 – NMCCC-Albuquerque Museum Old Town Cruise & Scavenger Hunt – 2000 Mountain Rd. NW – Cruise and scavenger hunt/trivia quiz with prizes – joyce@nmcarcouncil.com
November 14 – Feed NM Kids Food Drive & Classic Car Show – Philip & Sons Hot Rod Shop, 4101 4th St. NW – Entry $25 includes lunch of homemade chile dogs and frito pie, and raffle tickets – Register 9-11am, lunch 11:30am – All proceeds go to Feed NM Kids Thanksgiving Family Meal Drive – Raffles & prizes 2pm – Flyer with full information available at joyce@nmcarcouncil.com – Phil Lovato (505)264-9081
November 20-22 – 23rd Southwest Nationals – Westworld, Scottsdale, AZ – Open to pre ’88 – Goodguys (925)838-9876 or www.good-guys.com
November 21 – Just for the Hell of It Car Show – Body Works, Las Cruces – Mike Garcia (575)541-5772