|
Girls Gone Wild--
T-Bird Style! |
In this month's issue:
|
|
Have a Safe Memorial
Day!!
Remember those who served
us so
well. |
| A
Message from the President |
|
Keep
on driving !
Marc |
| |
| Dave can't start his car on Bluebonnet
Cruise |
| The Bluebonnet Cruise 2003
was an outstanding event, as we have become accustomed to. The
Bickfords do an amazing job each year in finding the best
flowers and the most obscure route. This year was no
exception. We left Cy-Fair High School a little later than
planned, took an early pit stop, made a quick stop next to the
beautiful field where the above picture was taken, made another pit
stop in Navasota, attempted to help a female motorist with a dead
battery, took a quick trip through the Antique Rose Emporium in
Independence, and still made it to lunch! It was at the
Emporium that Dave Barnes, original owner of the white 57,
had trouble starting his car. We were in a hurry, and had
rounded up everyone from the rose garden, had them all stacked in
their cars, and began to pull the 13-car caravan out. Dave
hops out of his car, running back down the line to get Bob's jumper
cables. I was in line behind Bob, so when he pulled out, I
just got out of my car and walked up the line to help. We
raised both hoods, applied the jumper cables, and Dave tried to
crank. Nothing. I was standing by his door, and noticed
that he hadn't put his car in neutral. I asked him if his car
started in park, unlike every other T-Bird I have seen. He
moves the PRNDL into neutral, and the car fires right up. We
must not give him a hard time. After all, anyone could make
that mistake on a car you've only driven for 46 years!
At lunch, we did give Dave some grief. He offered me cash
to keep his faux pas out of the newsletter, but I told him he didn't
have enough money for that to happen. Next time you see him,
ask him about it. |
| |
| Galveston-Gulf Coast Cruise |
|
Bill & Margie Perry are ready to head up our south
bound cruise, so lets go--Galveston - Freeport cruise (and maybe
Bolivar) on May 17th leaving from the Dixie Diner on I-45 at Dixie
Farm Road--we will try to leave at 8am, so if you want breakfast,
get there early. The Diner is on the inbound side of
I-45. We'll cruise the area to and around the coast -- eat
---cruise some more, ride the ferry, stop at a private car museum,
and come home. Total trip about 200 miles. Be there or
be square.
|
|
|
| Vintage Thunderbirds
Regional Convention in Houston |
|
Acting as President of Vintage
Thunderbirds of Houston, I would like to formally invite the members
of Classic Thunderbirds of Houston to attend and participate in the
VTCI Regional Convention which our club is hosting May 29 - June 1in
the Clear Lake area. We expect about 50 cars from our
clubs in Texas and the neighboring states to
participate.
There are a number of events and
activities in which your club members can participate with us. Some
of these will require registration fees for the convention.
Some will not.
First we would invite CTOH members to
cruise with us to Gulf Greyhound Park (I-45 South at La Marque) on
Friday, May 30, for a fun evening at the Dog Track. We have a
special reserved area in which dinner will be served as well as the
services of a "betting buddy" to explain the nuances of how to "win
big money" with the dogs. Cost for this will only be $20.00 per
person to include track admission, dinner and all other fees. A cash
bar will also be available.
Second, if any of your members wish to
participate in the entire VTCI Convention events to include the
Thursday Reception dinner, Saturday car judging to VTCI national
standards (55-57 Classic Birds will have own class and awards), the
awards Banquet on Saturday, Silent Auction and other activities
normally reserved for VTCI members we have made special
arrangements. VTCI will provide a "single event membership" for
a one time nominal fee of $5.00 to allow participation. This would
be in addition to event registration, meals and special event costs.
Details of all this and registration forms can be found on the VTOH
web site www.VTOH.org.
Third, if any members just want to
display your cars on Saturday during the judging activities, kick
Big Bird tires and generally hang out with us for awhile we will
have a special parking area reserved for that purpose. No costs
involved.
We look forward to your participation
with us. If you have any questions about any of this contact me at
281-333-3665.
Best Regards,
Al Richmond
|
| |
| Ford's
100th Anniversary Party and Rt. 66 Cruise |
|
If you are planning on joining us for the trip
up Rt. 66 and on to Dearborn, please let Hugh
Jackson or Dennis
Baetz now so we can plan accordingly. We are
leaving Houston on Saturday, June 7. We stay at the Best Western Airport,
Tulsa. 1-888-438-0780. Talk to Marcy at the motel.
This is the same one we stayed at before. From Tulsa,
we'll head out on Rt. 66, and take it to Chicago. We'll spend
about 3 nights on the Road, seeing such sites at the Blue Whale, the
Will Rogers' Memorial (did you know he never met Bill Clinton?),
Halltown antiques, Devil's Elbow, the Gateway to the West, and many
others. From Chicago, we'll head on over to Dearborn.
Rt. 66 in a T-Bird is a wonderful experience. Our hotel of
choice in the Dearborn/Detroit area is the Red Roof
Inn-Dearborn. Phone 313-278-9732 or reserve online at www.redroof.com. The dates
for the anniversary party are June 12-16, 2003. It's about 500
miles from Houston to Tulsa, about 700 miles from Tulsa to Chicago,
and about 300 miles from Chicago over to Dearborn. Dennis
Baetz is working on the details even as we speak! At this
point, we have Dave & Jenny, Kathy & Minny,
Bill & Margie, Bob & Alice, Dennis, and
me participating. If there's is someone else, let me
know ASAP.
|
|
|
| April Meeting |
|
The April meeting was held at the Cowboy Grill in
Brenham. Man, did they have great chicken fried steak.
Of course, we were hungry, as we had been looking at bluebonnets all
morning. We had 24 people, 9 Birds, and 3 civilians cars
attending. Louise & Cleo Bickford received many accolades
for the fine job of organizing the bluebonnet cruise. Louise
has already begun plotting next year's route. We had no old
business to cover, so we went right to new business. Bob
Vickers mentioned that the Houston Mustang Club is having a Blue
Oval Car Show at Trader's Village. The date has not been
announced, but it sounds like fun. Margie Perry had a CD
advertising the Birdsapalooza event. Bill Perry discussed the
May 17 Gulf Coast Cruise. President Marc promised weather of
sunny and 75. Bill and John Karsten have already traveled the
route. Our annual Christmas party was discussed. So as
not to wear out our welcome at the Smith home, we may need a place
to hold it. If you neighborhood has a club house that can
handle 50 people, let us know. Al Richmond discussed the
upcoming Regional Event hosted by the Vintage Thunderbirds of
Houston. We are invited to attend a dinner at the Gulf Coast
Dog Track on May 30 for $20, and a car show on May 31 for $5.
This sounds like fun. Wheels & Keels was May 3-4.
Marc is planning another Board meeting to plan the second half of
the year. And then he called the winning 50/50 ticket.
No one answered, and then Diesel Bill McBride spotted a ticket on
the ground under Marc's chair. Yes, it was the winning
ticket. We think Marc had the decency to split the winnings
with Diesel. There being no further business to discuss, and
we'd already made fun of everyone in attendance, we
adjourned. |
|
|
| May Meeting |
|
The May meeting will be held during our Gulf Coast Cruise
on SATURDAY, May 17. Wherever we stop for lunch, we'll
meet.
Again, please note--the meeting will be Saturday, May 17 and
not the third Sunday as is usual. |
|
| Wheels &
Keels |
|
Congratulations to our own Greg Rich for
winning Best of Class with his beautiful starmist blue 57. If
other club members won, I didn't hear about it. Let me
know. |
|
| Birdsapalooza
2003 |
|
On May 10, our buddies in the Big D Little
Birds Club held their annual Birdsapalooza event. Below is a
picture of club members Jean & Waymond Davis ready for a
race. We don't know how Jean did, but it was probably
Waymond's fault.
|
|
|
| West Texas Road Race |
Midland
Chamber of Commerce officials Wednesday announced plans for a
proposed open road race running from Spraberry to Rankin and back to
the Midland city limits.
The John
Foster West Texas Open Road Race is scheduled for Oct. 19 with a
proposed route from Spraberry at the intersection of Texas Highway
158 and Farm to Market Road 1379 to Texas Highway 349 where it will
continue on to Rankin. A return run will continue from Rankin along
349 to Midland's southern city limits.
Project
developers hope the race will be an economic opportunity for
Midland.
"Participants will occupy hotel rooms, eat in our restaurants
and buy products like gasoline, tires and other automotive items in
our area," said Shura Lindgren, vice president of Visitor
Development for the Chamber's Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
Naming the
race after Foster, who died late last year, was important to project
planners, who said Foster was a key planner in developing the
race.
"Mr. Foster
was instrumental in the initial planning of this event, and it is
with his help that the race is coming to fruition," said Ms.
Lindgren.
The race is
actually a four-day event from Oct. 16 to Oct. 19. The previous
three days of the competition will be geared toward registration,
inspection, a car show and qualifying as well as a Saturday car show
and festival.
Texas
Department of Transportation officials last week briefed Midland
City Council members on proposed plans. District Engineer Lauren
Garduno said TxDOT would help with plans to facilitate the race as
long as business owners and residents that access the roadways agree
to the race.
"We've been
in contact with the (Chamber) Convention and Visitors Bureau and the
Midland Sports Commission," said TxDOT spokesman Glenn Larum.
"They're preparing a detailed safety plans, a traffic control plan
for that Sunday."
While TxDOT
approves other road races across the state, with at least one known
fatality, Chamber officials are looking for TxDOT approval.
Currently, the Big Bend Open Road Race runs from Fort Stockton to
Sanderson. Officials said that race requires a more technical type
of driver, while the John Foster West Texas Road Race calls for a
driver with "concentration and the shear joy of a great car over
great roads."
Several
categories of racing will be allowed.
- Street
Rod: 85-95 mph
- Touring:
100-110 mph
- Grand
Touring: 115-125 mph
- Grand
Sport: 130-150 mph
- Super
Sport: 155-170 mph
- Unlimited: 170 mph plus
The route
provides the two-lane highway with a banked turn and long straights
through the oil patch. TxDOT officials acknowledge there is a
bit of danger anytime speeds exceed posted limits. "Anytime
you're running your vehicle at a high rate of speed, there's a
risk," said Larum.
In 2000, in
the Big Bend Open Road Race, a 60-year-old driver from Vineland,
N.J. headed into a turn at a high rate of speed in his 1987 Mercedes
560-SL. The driver had been racing in the unlimited class, and when
emergency crews first arrived the driver told them he was uninjured
and did not require transport. A few hours later, he was pronounced
dead in Lubbock. The final cause of death was determined as a kidney
laceration.
|
| |
| Ford's 100th Anniversary Celebration--Dearborn, June 12-16,
2003 |
With just under 100 days until the company's
Centennial, the plans for THE ROAD IS OURS 100th Anniversary
Celebration are coming together. The company announced earlier
this week that the headline talent for the concert series on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, June 13, 14 and 15 is set.
The renowned Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO)
will perform a selection of pop, jazz and classic music on Friday
evening along with a spectacular fireworks display. The DSO is
one of the most widely heard orchestras in the nation, with more
than one million listeners each week on nearly 500 radio
stations.
Beyoncé Knowles, lead singer of the
multi-platinum selling trio Destiny's Child, has also just been
added to the star-studded entertainment lineup. Knowles will
perform live on Saturday, June 14th. With the highly
anticipated May 2003 release of Knowles' solo debut album
"Dangerously In Love" on Music World Music/Columbia Records, THE
ROAD IS OURS 100th Anniversary Celebration concert is expected to be
Knowles' first concert featuring material from her new
album.
Finally, country music superstar and Ford Truck
man, Toby Keith, will close out the centennial concert series on
Sunday, June 15th.
MORE ACTIVITIES
A special event for racing fans will take place
on Thursday, June 12th. Ford NASCAR and other race vehicles
will be on display, and Ford drivers such as Ricky Rudd, Dale
Jarrett, and Mark Martin will sign autographs.
Throughout the five-day event, guests can
indulge in a luxurious head, neck and arm massage in the
Lincoln-Mercury Spa or help a team of classic car enthusiasts
assemble a Model T - from hundreds of pieces to cranking it up - in
less than 20 minutes.
Inside the Mustang Café, guests can make their
own Mustang compact discs with their favorite driving songs.
Attendees who decide to walk the "red carpet" will be greeted by
celebrity impersonators as they view the coral-colored Thunderbird
driven by Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry in the Bond film
Die Another Day. Wilder activities include real Monster Truck
Jams. Visitors can climb aboard Blue Thunder, a converted
Monster Truck complete with roll cage, or have their picture taken
with one of the bigger-than-life vehicles.
HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS
THE ROAD IS OURS event requires a ticket for
entry. To purchase a ticket, log on to Ford Motor Company's 100th
Anniversary registration website at http://www.celebrateford100.com
or call 1-866-410-0367 today!
Each ticket purchase includes credentials for
entry all five days, which gives access to all activities, concerts
and displays. Those who purchase tickets in advance will receive a
daily assigned parking area, shuttle service to and from the event
grounds, an opportunity to display their classic Ford Motor Company
car or truck, a 100th Anniversary commemorative coin, discounts on
100th Anniversary merchandise and more. The Final Event
Package, including your tickets, will be mailed approximately one
month prior to the event.
Join us as we celebrate our
century!
If you didn't find the answer to your question,
send us a note <mailto:100years@ford.com>.
|
| |
| SEMA News |
| Texas
Inoperable Vehicles: The Texas legislature introduced two bills that
may further restrict Texas vehicle
hobbyists from maintaining inoperable vehicles on private
property. The first bill allows municipalities to
enforce land-use regulations that would affect vehicle storage
and parking. The second allows
municipalities and counties to adopt ordinances that impose
additional requirements on junked vehicles.
Currently, Texas law defines junked vehicles as those vehicles on
private property with an expired license
or an invalid inspection certificate and have been inoperable for
more than 30 days.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Congress, NHTSA Discuss Vehicle Compatibility, SUV Safety Issues
The topic of a recent hearing before the U.S. Senate Commerce
Committee was how to make cars and trucks more compatible on the
nation’s highways. Dr. Jeffrey Runge, chief of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and representatives for auto
manufacturers, the insurance industry and consumer groups agreed
that there’s a need for certain improvements. In particular, these
improvements include installing more head-protecting air bags and
better seat belts in all vehicles. Congress appears to be
willing to let the industry identify voluntary solutions before it
considers imposing mandates. The automakers and the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety pledged to diligently pursue voluntary
safety improvements. Ensuring that bumpers and side door
reinforcements for cars, SUVs and pickup trucks match better is one
focus of attention. Reducing the stiffness in some truck frames is
also under consideration along with reducing the rollover propensity
for certain SUVs. Design changes are expected to happen
incrementally and may first appear as early as model year 2005.
"SEMA agrees with Dr. Runge's conclusion that a voluntary approach
will achieve positive results quicker than government imposed
regulations," said SEMA Director of Government and Public Affairs
Brian Caudill. "The manufacturers who design and build these
products are in a better position to rapidly respond to safety
issues." Once the interested parties agree on the changes, NHTSA may
decide to transform voluntary measures into permanent regulations
that apply to all automakers. SEMA will monitor any new
rulemakings. |
|
| Birthdays and Anniversaries |
| May 1 |
Kay Estes |
| May 5 |
Steffie Odle |
| May 5 |
David & Beverly
Worthington |
| May 12 |
Larry Hicks |
| May 14 |
Ron Swofford |
| May 16 |
Rick & Ally Virnig |
| May 17 |
Bill & Saundra McAuliffe |
| May 18 |
BB McCurdy |
| May 19 |
David & Anita Dick |
| May 19 |
Eddie Matsu |
| May 23 |
Larry Hamilton |
| May 26 |
Bill Taylor |
| May 30 |
Duckie Baetz |
| May 30 |
Dennis & Duckie Baetz |
| May 30 |
Ervin Platte |
| May 30 |
Ken & Joy Truelock |
| June 1 |
Ken & Carolyn Wind |
| June 3 |
Bill & Susan Lewis |
| June 13 |
Alice Vickers |
| June 14 |
Roger Penney |
| June 15 |
George & Cindy Pality |
| June 15 |
Bill & Janice Taylor |
| June 17 |
Chris Williamson |
| June 18 |
Dave & Jenny Barnes |
| June 20 |
Elizabeth Rich |
| June 21 |
John & Emily Karsten |
| June 22 |
Mary Lou Janacek |
| June 22 |
Bob & Jocie Kaufeler |
| June 23 |
Russell Yocum |
| June 24 |
Bob Vickers |
| June 25 |
Sissie Madiera |
| June 27 |
Vic Pekar |
|
| |
| Officers, Board Members, Committee Chairs |
| Click on
blue link for e-mail address.
|
|
| Tail Lights |
| A rich white
man in Lake Charles, Louisiana decided that he wanted to throw a
party and invited all of his buddies and neighbors. He also invited
Boudreaux, the only real Cajun in the neighborhood.
He held the party around the pool in the backyard of his mansion.
Everyone was having a real good time drinking, dancing, eating
shrimp, oysters, and BBQ and flirting with the women.
At the height of the party, the host said, "I have a 12 ft
man-eating gator in my pool and I'll give a million dollars to
anyone who has the nerve to jump in."
The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a loud
splash, and everyone turned around and saw Boudreaux in the
pool! Boudreaux was fighting the alligator and winning!
Boudreaux was jabbing the gator in the eyes with his thumbs,
throwing punches, doing all kinds of stuff like head butts and choke
holds, biting the gator on the tail and flipping the gator through
the air like some kind of Judo Instructor. The water was churning
and splashing everywhere!
Both Boudreaux and the gator were screaming and raising hell.
Finally Boudreaux strangled the gator and let it float to the top
like a Wal-Mart goldfish.
Boudreaux then slowly climbed out of the pool. Everybody was just
staring at him in disbelief.
Finally the host says, "Well, Boudreaux, I reckon I owe you a
million dollars."
"No, that's okay. I don't want it." said Boudreaux.
The rich man said, "Man, I have to give you something. You won
the bet. How about half a million bucks then?"
"No thanks. I don't want it." Answered Boudreaux.
The host said, "Come on, I insist on giving you something. That
was amazing. How about a new Corvette and a Rolex and some stock
options?"
Again Boudreaux said no. Confused, the rich man asked, "Well,
Boudreaux, then what do you want?"
Boudreaux said, "I just want the name of that sombitch who pushed
me in the pool"! |
|
| |
| Upcoming Events:
Every Saturday Night--
Cruise In at Chick-Fil-A on Holcombe at Buffalo
Speedway
Cruise In at Otto's BBQ in Sugar Land at the
Fountains
May 17,
2003--
Galveston--Freeport
Cruise for fun, food, and sand.
May 18, 2003--
North Houston Swap Meet, Sam Houston Horse Track.
409-722-6929
June 12-16, 2003--
Ford's 100th Birthday Celebration, Ford World
Headquarters, Dearborn, Michigan. Make your own hotel
reservations at the Red Roof Inn, Dearborn. Phone 313-278-9732 or online at www.redroof.com
October 19, 2003--
West
Texas Open Road Race in Midland, TX
|
I
was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.
George
Burns |
|
Happiness
Is Seeing Lubbock, Texas, in the Rearview
Mirror.
Song
Title
| |