Get Away to Callaway (& The Little White House) - Details pg. 28 The tailfin Issue 28 • May 2015 www.peachstateclc.com Following the ‘Trail of Tears’ and visiting the Wallace Lovell Collection PSCLC JUMPS INTO THE ATLANTA STEEPLECHASE! PG. 18 STREAMING INTO STEAM DAY PG. 16 PG. 4 THE TAILFIN is a publication of Peach State CLC, a region of the Cadillac and LaSalle Club, Inc., and is distributed to its members. Prerequisite for membership in Peach State CLC is current or pending membership in the national club. Member costs are $25 a year for Peach State CLC. The CLC, Inc. dues categories may be found at: http;//www.cadillaclasalleclub.org/ Contents P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b We’re excited that our Peach State website has been honored with a regional Merit Award! Check out our site at: 5 http://peachstateclc.com/ President Doug Bailey 770-992-8394 H jdouglasbailey@bellsouth.net peach_state_clc_members@yahoo.com Membership Director Cecil “Buster” Miller 706-517-0601 H 706-264-9558 W PeachStateMembership@gmail.com Treasurer Michelle Anderson 706-537-9999 H 2thepenny@windstream.net Activities Directors Tom and Linda Di Nucci 678-880-4345 H 770-479-9328 C Ltd9328@netzero.net Cadillac Love Story Marc McAfee admits he’s head over heels with his favorite ride. Although, that wasn’t always the case. Learn why he was quite unimpressed when first introduced and what changed his mind. 11 Winchell’s Cadillac Clinic 25 Atlanta Auto Show Vice President Kevin Garrison 706-207-1550 kgb1976@gmail.com Corresponding Secretary Sandy Barth 770-663-8327 H 770-630-2417 C sandy@gohighprofile.com May 2015 Marc’s ‘66 Fleetwood also gets a closer look under the knowledgeble eyes of Bob Winchell and other PSCLC members. And Marc walked away with valuable tips and advice. Bill Marsh hears the call from Rob Johns and delivers one beautiful baby blue ‘56 Coupe DeVille for show attendees to crowd around and oogle at. 1930 Cadillac All-weather Phaeton with V-16 engine. Communications Director Annette Benneche Annette@servellc.com National Board Director Martina Butler martina.butler@gmail.com TAILFIN Editor Sandy Barth sandy@gohighprofile.com Webmaster Lewis Schwartz LHS36@aol.com 2 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b Calendar Upcoming Calendar MARK THESE DATES then stay tuned for the specifics! May 17 Concours warm-up event and cruise-in at Chukkar Farms (north Fulton) May 29-31 Spring Driving Tour to Callaway Gardens, Warm Springs, and Columbus June 24 - 27 Cadillac Grand Nationals in WI June - TBD Streetside Classics (Lithia Springs) June - TBD Cofer Collection? (Tucker) June - TBD Josh Mills Shop? (Marietta) July 4 Roswell Manor on the Squre Cruise-in Cookout August 11-15 National Driving Tour in Michigan http://www.cadillaclasalleclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2105drivingtour.pdf CRUISE-INS: Don’t miss these cruise-ins, because we will be there and we need YOUR presence as a show of force! Canton Riverstone Cartersville Woodstock Acworth The Rolling Stones kick off their “Back to Babylon” World Tour in a 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Membership in the national club is required. The Cadillac & LaSalle Club pays for insurance to cover regions like ours during sanctioned events. CLC also offers one of the best glossy monthly collector auto magazines anywhere, The Self Starter. CLC provides an online forum for parts searches and technical support. And membership is required if you ever want to join us for a Grand National in various parts of the U.S. Dues for the national club are $55.00 per year through December 2015 for first class mailings of The Self Starter. http://www.badgerclc.com/nationalevent.php#hotel Downtown Canton 1st Friday Piedmont Church 1st Saturday Galaxy Diner 1st Saturday Tucker 2nd Saturday Cumming 2nd Saturday May 2015 3rd Sat PM 4th Saturday 4th Saturday 5th Saturday Welcome to new Peach State Members! Robert Briggs, 3 years, 1960 Eldorado Biarritz Jerry Pacella, 3 years, 1999 Sedan DeVille Tom Miller, 3 years, 1962 Series 62 convertible Marc McAfee, 1 year, 1965 Fleetwood David Snyder, 3 years, Thomas Boyland, 1 year, 1993 Allante Donald Smalley, 1 year, 1977 Fleetwood This first-class fee also gets you immediate access to the online version of the magazine if you live within the U.S. (You can receive the second class mailing of The Self Starter for $40.00 per year, but without internet access; it will arrive a few days later. This is a popular option, unless you need immediate access to those parts and auto sale listings!) Please visit http://store.cadillaclasalleclub. org/category_s/1819.htm for an immediate on-line application using VISA, MC, Discover or PayPal. Or, you can print and send a paper application to: Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc. P.O. Box 360835 Columbus, Ohio 43236-0835 Please advise Buster Miller, Peach State CLC Membership Director, as soon as you receive your new CLC member number! 3 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 _________ Steam Day Saturday April 25th by Tom Di Nucci Stanley Steamer Motor Despite the gloomy forecast the rain stopped We toured the two garages, and were treated to several late ’50s Jaguars and Packards undergoing restoration. Among the cars in this collection was an International Harvester that had won a blue ribbon at Amelia Island. Some of us even drove our classics – now that is trust! Foolhardy is what Bailey called it. Peach State CLC was joined by several other car clubs who also came in a variety of vehicles. One was a steam-powered Stanley Steamer the owner drove up from Smyrna, some 35 miles. Now, that is gutsy. As always, lunch was served at exactly noon – when the steam whistle blew. We were all treated to a fabulous BBQ lunch, courtesy of our host. And for dessert they were dishing out homemade orange sherbet. I keep telling you all that you need to join us for this event. It was once again a terrific time to celebrate American power. around 9:00 am in Holly Springs, GA. We had 11 PSCLC members and spouses brave the weather, which had been forecast to offer all-day thunderstorms. _________ 4 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 _________ Steam Day (Continued) Peach State Cadillac LaSalle Club at Gresham Mill. Some “Brass Era” cars that were made BEFORE 1915. Hundred years old, folks! There was an especially neat HUGE tractor (1909 Avery). A steam powered sawmill. AND a steam powered car (Stanley Steamer). Lunch was provided by the owner, some of the best Bar-B-Que we have ever eaten AND “Moon Pies” with home made ice cream for desert. A great time was had by all. Anne Marsh gives a friend a lift to check out the instrument panel of a classic. Notice the rear steps up to the “Rumble Seat”? Linda and Tom Di Nucci with their favorite, an EARLY buggy with a steering wheel. _________ A Passel of Jaguars being renovated the two nearer ones are XK-150s and the farther is an XK-140. Named for top end speed. Now, can you tell this is Packard Corner? 5 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 _________ Steam Day (Continued) Bill Atlanta and Gunther inspect a 1909 Avery tractor. four huge cylinders / 1500 cubic inches. The tank on the front is actually the radiator. This tractor runs beautifully and was featured in the Tellus Science Museum (Cartersville, GA) “Heavy Metal” exhibit. Across the hood of a red Thirties Packard. 6 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 _________ Steam Day (Continued) Gunther von Rothschild (on running board) gurgles appreciatively in the presence of automotive excellence and treats in Bill’s pocket! The rear end of that Stanley Steamer. 7 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 A Cadillac LoveStory by Marc McAfee This love story did not begin with a case of love at first sight. When I saw that big gray 20-foot long Fleetwood on its trailer in our driveway, I wasn’t impressed. I didn’t even think it was a Cadillac. My great-great uncle had bought it new in 1965. He’d driven it until he died, only about 60,000 miles, and then passed it on to my Granddad—“PaPa” to me. My Dad was on the way to deliver it to PaPa in Rome, Georgia when he stopped by our house. He thought it would make quite a surprise. First, a little background. Even though my parents tried their best to discourage me, I grew up a huge Elvis fan. And as we all know, Elvis was a huge Cadillac fan. A shot of my Dad and I shortly after the old gray beast joined the immediate family. That was the first family wedding she was picked for, when she was the getaway car for my aunt in 1997. So the King sparked my love of Cadillacs—the class, flashy designs, the dominance of American post-war style and grace. So when my Dad told me there was a classic Cadillac on a trailer out in the driveway when I was about eight, I sprinted out the door. I was disappointed. I don’t think I fully understand model years back then, so I thought anything that didn’t have ’59 fins wasn’t really a Cadillac! (Some of you who have 59’s may think that’s a valid point!) But then I climbed up and sat on that big white bench seat. Looked at that huge (stopped) clock and all that chrome. Just about the only thing that functioned back then was the engine and the inside courtesy lights. I’d flick them on and off, admiring that old-time yellow glow on the white interior. I soon fell in love with the tone-downed fins and vertical headlights, and set to fixing her up with my Dad, Frank. My first purchase was a new nameplate to make it a Cadillac instead of a “Cadill.” Then we sent off the clock to be rebuilt. Since I wasn’t going to be driving anytime soon, the car stayed with my grandparents in Rome. Fixing her up became a family effort, with help from a patient mechanic and family friend up there. When we went up to my Grandparents’ house, I’d sit in the car out in their yard. I’d read a book on the couch-like back seat, or do my homework as I took in the smell of that old leather. At one point squirrels built a nest under the hood. They stored acorns under the carburetor. But I still looked forward to the years I’d be able to drive it. I wasn’t always patiently waiting, either. When Dad wasn’t around, I drove it up and down the driveway by myself. I remember one of the many times I begged Papa to “borrow” the car for a few weeks, drive her back with Dad to our home in Kennesaw for awhile. It was firing on maybe 4 cylinders and swerving off the road if Dad dared to take his death grip off the wheel. He showed me how it went straight for the side of the 8 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 A Cadillac LoveStory (Continued) highway when he lifted his hands, and then tried to explain that I’d better get a 50s Chevy—because this car would be too hard to keep up. It was the first time I’d heard the phrase “nickel and dime you to death.” I just pouted. It would take years of desperate parts searches and unexpected new problems before I fully understood that phrase. Thankfully we soon found a Delta pilot who also restores old cars. He became a close friend as he kept that car going, and it’s been a chunk out of mine (and originally my Dad’s) paychecks ever since. When I was a freshman in high school, oh so close to driving it myself, my older brother drove me to school in it one day. It was a labor of love, because he was more into the Fast and Furious-style Honda Civics. But he drove it for me anyway, and soon regretted it. For the rest of the day, everyone in his classes would wrinkle their noses and ask, “Man, why do you smell like gasoline?” On another occasion I had my mom’s Dad drive it. I thought the son of the Great Depression would be impressed by the regal old beast, no matter its condition. Wrong. “Good God! This isn’t healthy! It’s banging and knocking and leaking fumes! Get me outta here!” So we had the exhaust re-done. Thankfully, my Dad would never listen to my more-practical mom when she told him to give the car up. He had too many memories of his own in it. He took rides in it with his great-uncle, the original owner, and remembers his father Frank Sr. tooling around Rome in it. When I got to be old enough to drive, the day finally came. Papa gave me the car. The hefty price? $1. Best buck I ever spent. She became my daily driver in high school, went to both my proms with me. My dates always knew who my REAL significant other was. Since I’d painted her UGA red with a white top, she became a big hit when I took her tailgating at The University of Georgia. People would try to 5 jump in the car as I drove. Before one game two girls said they loved the car as we were For my senior year my grandmother made me a gold lame suit in the style of Elvis so I could wear it for a spirit week at North Cobb driving down the street in Athens, and one of High School. them kissed my brother on the cheek as he rode along in the passenger seat. That may have been the day he first questioned his decision to lean toward souped-up Civics. I met my wife Lauren at a UGA tailgate when we were students there. She’d been introduced to me by a mutual friend who said, “You’ve got to see Marc’s car.” She saw it, but I didn’t get her out on a date until it was down for maintenance, and I had to suffer the humiliation of trying to woo her in an old Ford explorer. 9 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 A Cadillac LoveStory (Continued) “I swear that Cadillac was mine, we’ll be able to go out in it, and you won’t believe what it’s like!” I kept telling her. Disaster had struck. I threw a rod down the street from my house, I thought I could make it home with that oil pressure light on. The engine was toast, and I wondered if this was the end. I don’t think my Dad ever wondered for a second. He soon had it on the way to his brother’s shop and before I knew it, it was purring down the driveway once again. I’ve been trying to take a lot better care of her ever since. The Fleetwood has driven a half-dozen newlyweds around, including my wife and I in 2012. There was never a question of what our getaway car would be when we got married. Our wedding photographers just about made the car the center of the show. Only Lauren could out-shine all that polished chrome. When were started searching for homes together, I went straight to the garages with a tape measure. She fits by about two inches, but she finally has a roof over her head. The picture of me in all red to match the car was also from spirit week in 2005. I made sure my class got the color “red” to make my plans work. Looks like I forgot red underwear! All eight of my groomsmen were able to fit inside with the doors closed, wasn’t as comfortable as usual, but it wasn’t all that bad! It’s been a long time since its days sitting in my grandparents’ yard. I’m so glad Papa got to see it before he passed away in 2006— after we had just painted it red. It’s my favorite story about the car. My Dad had driven it back up to Rome to show it off to PaPa with the new paint job. A World War Two fighter pilot, he’d been battling Alzheimer’s and didn’t remember much in the end. Names and faces were a daily struggle. But he remembered that car—or at least the old rusted gray one. “Hey Dad, what do you think?” Frank Jr. asked him. “I think I got screwed!” He said. 10 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 Cadillac Clinic at Winchell’s March 29, 2015 “Lift it up and let’s see what’s under there!” One of our most popular events is the Cadillac Clinic hosted by Bob Winchell every couple of months at his shop in Marietta. We met again on March 29th for the first time since last winter. What better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon than hanging with the guys, checking out Bob’s latest additions, and racking up one of the new guys’ cars? Good to see Winch on this sunny spring day. This time our guinea pig was Marc McAfee, our newest member at the time. Marc’s story is covered in the last story, so we won’t go into details here. But this day was a great illustration of what the Peach State clinics can be for any and all of us. Join us next time! Give me a call to see if we have room for YOU on the lift! Marc has owned his bright red Fleetwood since he was a kid, and had recently begun a “rolling restoration.” Something lots of us can relate to! When Marc called he was looking for help with his window regulator alignments (eliminating gaps) and under-carriage (exhaust condition, linkage, etc.). A perfect candidate for our clinic! Above: Marc McAfee’s ‘66 Fleetwood on lift. 11 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 Cadillac Clinic at Winchell’s It helped a little bit that I own a ’66 also, which can serve as something of a model because it’s a CLC Preservation award car in good, original condition. Crap! I lost track of time and couldn’t bring it because the danged choke was out of adjustment and I didn’t have time to prime my baby! (Note: I replaced the choke back in December. Winch gave me advice on adjusting it; later I was able to tune that sucker up so priming the carb is a thing of the past. I will bring it the next time Marc, I swear!) Winch moved his cars around to accommodate us, and as I pulled in with (Continued) up with him whenever you can. I was passing out our new Challenge Coin/Key chains as some other members showed up: Tom Miller is a newbie (’62 Series 62 convertible), George Erneston (’68 DeVille convertible), Mark McDermott (’78 CDV), Mark Nichols (’64 Cadillac. ’58 Fleetwood, a Thirties Packard, and many others). Under the red ‘66 Fleetwood (“under the limbs of the spreading chestnut tree a village smithy stands…” ahem, I digress) we find Subway sandwiches Marc was already there with his box of donuts. They ran the Fleetwood up onto the lift, and soon they were under the car, crawling around and conducting an inspection. Winch was in his element, and Marc was soaking it all up. Ain’t it grand when you find a gaggle of guys who share your passion for all things Cadillac, Marc? Jay Friedman was also there, and he’s such a source of experience and knowledge that you don’t need a car on the lift to learn something important. Besides, Jay is just such a nice guy you want to catch (photo above) Tom Di Nucci and Jay looking at the driveshaft. Winch’s ’64 is in the foreground, while Phil Maddox looks on with Tom Miller. What’s that, a new muffler? Yes! [shot under the car, closeup] We tinkered with the passenger side rear door, and I struck out despite having replaced my own doors’ motors. But Winch was helpful, and Marc got some ideas that I believe led to a good fix later. He left the lift with a smile and a list of To Dos for his project. Success, my friends, that is what you call THAT! George Erneston standing in the doorway of his black ‘68 convertible, with Mark M. and Winch on his right and Mark N. and Doug is on George’s left. See you at the next Peach State Cadillac Clinic, dates to be announced! Let me know if you have a minor project for the gang to tackle. 12 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 Easter Parade Avondale Estates, GA • Sunday Afternoon April 5 I got there early because it was my first old car event in some months. I got a chance to relax and watch the cars arrive and stage for the big parade. I even got my nose sunburned, because this was the first sunshine we have seen in the metro Atlanta area in some time. We had quite a good turnout, with folks driving from as far as Madison (Benneches) and Waleska (Dunns). There was a springtime jubilation in the air, and the mix of classic autos matched the spirits of the participants. We had Packards, Lincolns, Chevies, Fords, Rolls, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, Jags and Mercedes… to name but a few marques. Avondale Estates once again showed its true colors, turning out in hordes and lining the parade route. The candy was flying out those windows, and over the backs of the convertibles, and the kids were hustling to and fro. Those people know how to throw a PARADE! Afterwards we lined them up at the central park, and the AACA chapter served us cold drinks, cookies and snacks. All in all another marquee event. Next year, you should be there with your bunny ears and bags of candy! — Doug Above left: Stan and Mary Jean say ‘cheese’ for our photographer; Right: Annette, Ron and Jay strike a pose. Below: Cars and attendees gather at the park after the parade. 13 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 Easter Parade Right: Cars in staging are before the parade. Below: Doug, Jimmy and Linda. The ‘Tux’ is riding LOW. (continued) Below The parade as seen from the back of Dunn’s ‘76 Eldo. Bottom: Quite the lineup in Avondale! 14 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 Applying Last Month’s Heritage Data to a Sample Window Sticker This is how Bob Winchell’s window sticker turned out using Doug’s template and Winch’s information from his cowl tag and the GM Heritage Center’s build sheet. Some of you bought a similar treatment for your pride-and-joy at last December’s Christmas Banquet… so if you’re still interested you should get in touch with Doug. 15 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 Racing Report PSCLC Steeplechase Cruise-in: April 18, 2015 On April 18, 2015, the Peach State Cadillac LaSalle club gathered yet again for the 2nd annual 50th running of the Atlanta Steeplechase in Kingston GA. The weather report for entire week was rain, rain, rain for all day Saturday. Surprisingly enough Saturday came and went with very few rain drops. By the end of the day there were 4 drops of rain reported during the event. The mud however, that’s a whole other story!! By Friday evening there were a handful of people who had changed their mind about going mainly because of the weather. There were a few other excuses as well but nobody is holding grudges against the last minuet bailers. 7:00 Saturday morning Tom’s phone started ringing with the questions, “are the races still going to happen?”, “is it going to rain?”, “are you driving your Cadillac”? The girls had to sort out which outfit they were going to wear as well, dress and rain boots, cute shoes and a dress, white shoes or old shoes in case its muddy…decisions, decisions.. Finally, Caddies were packed, girls were dressed, food was prepared and we were all off for a day at the races. There were 6 beautiful Cadillacs pulling into the grounds of the Atlanta Steeplechase. The Cadillacs made there way down the very muddy terrain. Tom and Linda led the way going very slow so no Georgia red mud splattered on their ’61. They were followed by Ron and Annette in their ’62, then Mark and Carol followed in the ’70 Bumblebee, then Anthony and Lori in their non Cadillac vehicle, Adam, rocking his 2010 Escalade with Russ close behind in his 2005 Seville, and last 16 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 but certainly not least the ’76 known as Goldilocks carried Lee and Mary Jean. All of these fine cars were loaded with everyones friends and family too. The Cadillac group had the biggest spot in the infield. The cars were a huge hit — as always. There were many pictures taken of the Cadillacs. Once everyone got parked in their assigned parking spot Adam, Russ and Lori finally got to set up the spread they had only talked about on the phone and emails for the past 6 months. People were setting up tents and tables and unfolding chairs, everyone was hard at work. Seating was great this year because of the decision to go with card tables and folding chairs for everyone to sit at. We had a horsey theme and the all decorations looked great. We were also the only spot with a photo booth and props. There was so much delicious food, we could have feed 50 more people. If anyone went home hungry that was their own fault. After everyone enjoyed some food they all began to wonder around the grounds. Some were luck enough to grab a great spot on the rail to see the beautiful Budweiser Clydesdales roll by. Before we knew it, it was time to place the first bet on the first race. Horses were called to the paddock, jockeys mounted their beautiful thoroughbreds and then they were off! The McDermmotts were the big winners for the betting. By the end of the races people packed up quick trying to beat the rain cloud. It was another successful event. Watch for details for 2016! Don’t the weather scare you away, its always a fun time when the Cadillacs are involved! Photography courtesy of Lori Grinnell, Di Nuccis’ daughter and a future PSCLC member. 17 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 March 21: Georgia Old Federal Highway Tour Trail of Tears (Gainesville to Chatsworth) We blew the dust off our classic Cadillacs and ran a one-day Road Rally on Saturday, March 21. Shaking off the winter’s blues, we welcomed the Spring in style. We met at “400 Wheels,” a vintage car dealership and rallying spot whose owner has been courting Peach State Cadillac for over a year now. We found his collection neat (nice early Sixties VW bug, eh Jay?). It was also a convenient spot for our breakfast, just off GA 400 north of Roswell at Brown’s Bridge Road (Hwy 369). Old friends well met. Donuts and coffee are nice, too! We started out heading west on North Georgia’s Old Federal Highway, which runs a bit along the old Cherokee Trail of Tears toward Chatsworth. We traveled the back roads and scenic routes through places like Tate, Talking Rock, and Jasper. We drove by the Tate House, and the ruins of Vann’s Tavern, which served alcohol and offered sleeping to travelers in early 1800s Georgia. We saw Scudder’s, originally a “house of entertainment” but later a woolen mill, livery, and general store. We stopped for a brief rest at a historic old church just outside of Tate, skipping the roughest portion of the Old Federal Highway in favor of a smoother piece of road. During our preview trip, Doug and Tom had stumbled on a very rare find. Eyeballing a nice red ’32 Deuce three-window coupe in Jasper, we stopped for a closer look. The restoration shop is run by a guy who said “If you guys like Cadillacs I have one to show you.” This turned out to be an all-original 1927 Cadillac Seven-Passenger, Dual Cowl Phaeton that was made by Cadillac for western singer and stage cowboy Hoot Gibson. We found independent validation that this collection existed in the Rome (GA) News-Tribune, January 1998, and now we had a one-time invitation to view Wallace Lovell’s special collection. It includes dozens of collectible cars of various makes, and that one very Special one. One of a kind… Silver plating on the hood, dash, instruments – and a solid gold shift knob… All lined up in Jasper. L to R, Tom Di Nucci, Forrest Ward, Mr. LOVELL, Bill Marsh talking about the ‘27 Phaeton. 1927 Cadillac Phaeton. 18 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 Georgia Old Federal Highway Tour Trail of Tears (continued) Alongside Highway 53 outside of Jasper, we stopped at Mr. Lovell’s place – a modest red brick ranch home. There were something like 30 cars in the yard all around his home in various states of condition. I recall four ’57 Chevies, a ’52 or so Studebaker, a few ’40 Fords and ’60s Mustangs, a neat old early Fifties Plymouth business coupe, and a ton of Fifties Fords. One was a rusted out hulk with the rear quarter of a late ‘60s Mustang leaning up against it. Try picturing a tree growing out of the trunk. Yep. Classic. ‘39 Ford coupe. Early ‘50s Studebaker. ‘48 Mercury. Packard shovel nose. Out back was a shed where a few old relics resided, including what we think was a 1925 Packard – covered but open to the elements on three sides. Below the house was the best storage of the property, where there were several convertibles sitting in the gloom, including a ’47 or ’48 Buick convertible. Around the corner was the chicken house. Dirt floors with open windows. Chrome glinting Packard under shed roof. 19 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 Georgia Old Federal Highway Tour Trail of Tears (continued) in the sunshine through the openings. They drew back the creaking doors and inside was…. Gold! Ah, each of these 20 or more cars had been driven in here off the trailer, in excellent condition. And were allowed to… deteriorate. I wanted to adopt a beautiful ’39 Ford Deluxe Coupe. But there were also a mid-Twenties “shovel nose” Packard, a beautiful Chrysler and that ’27 Phaeton. Just gorgeous. Under a tarp was a black ’56 Ford Sunliner convertible – said to be the one that Aunt Bea drove in the Andy Griffith Show! We got a shot of the owner with Tom and Bill Marsh as they discussed the Phaeton. Tom was trying to talk the owner into donating this priceless piece to the national Cadillac museum, but Lovell was having none of it. He is probably going to allow these pieces of history to continue to be eaten by the mice and worn down by the weather. Some powerful lessons there for all of us contemplating our later years and all the “stuff” we own. We bade Mr. Lovell farewell, and accepted his invitation to come back sometime. That will be quite a visit. Those of you who have been after us to arrange a “junkyard tour,” had better be on that next trip out Highway 53. This might be one of the last of those kinds of collections. Our final destination for this day was a Mexican restaurant in Chatsworth, GA. Chips and salsa and some margaritas were a great way to end a drive! Total time and mileage was about four hours, traveling over 65 miles from the rally point to Chatsworth. Folks took their time heading home, and visions of sugarplums (I mean classic autos) danced in our heads that night! ‘39 Ford coupe. Aunt Bea Ford Sunliner doppelganger. Plymouth grille. ‘27 Phaeton grille. — Doug 20 HHHHH HHHHH MEMORIAL DAY AUTO SHOW & BBQ Monday, May 25th 10am-3pm Hosted by Peach State Cadillac & LaSalle Club & Cadillac of Lake Lanier Event to be held at Cadillac of Lake Lanier located at 2355 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA In April, Shepherd’s Men ran 911 miles from NYC to Atlanta to raise awareness for wounded warriors from the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Check them out at www.shepherdsmen. com. WE ARE TEAMING UP WITH SHEPHERD’S MEN TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR GOAL! PEACH STATE CADILLAC & LASALLE CLUB Drive your classic car, bring a chair and your money. The front of the Cadillac of Lake Lanier dealership will be reserved for YOU – the main attraction. Come celebrate Memorial Day with us. We will have a live band, hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks for the entire family to enjoy. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO BENEFIT SHEPHERD’S MEN! DAILY DRIVER GUYS WILL LOVE THIS: Compete with the high dollar restorations. How? The winning car will be the one that generates the most bucks! Place a jar in front of your car. Everybody votes with their dollars, and EVERY PENNY GOES TO SHEPHERD’S MEN. Want to “buy” a plaque for your car? Stuff the ballot box! Think the guy next to you is ahead of you? Stuff the ballot box! Want to be on stage for your plaque? STUFF THAT BALLOT BOX WITH BUCKS! No pre-registration. We will hit you up for a small (or large) donation at the gate. Come on up GA 400 North to Brown’s Bridge Road (Hwy 369) then go east. For more directions search “Cadillac of Lake Lanier” on Mapquest or Google maps. SEE YOU THERE!!! Marty Pecora, Cadillac of Lake Lanier O: (866) 371-4474 Doug Bailey, Peach State CLC M: (404) 786-6077 Tom Di Nucci, Peach State CLC H: (678) 880-4345 CADILLAC OF LAKE LANIER 2355 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 CadillacOfLakeLanier.com 855-410-4015 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 JAY LENO HATES ETHANOL: CAN’T WE JUST GET RID OF ETHANOL? There have been a lot of old-car fires lately. I went through the ’70s, the ’80s and most of the ’90s without ever having read much about car fires. Suddenly, they are happening all over the place. Here’s one reason: The ethanol in modern gasoline—about 10 percent in many states—is so corrosive, it eats through either the fuel-pump diaphragm, old rubber fuel lines or a pot metal part, then leaks out on a hot engine … and ka-bloooooie!!! As someone who collects old cars, and keeps them up religiously, I am now replacing fuel-pressure regulators every 12 to 18 months. New cars are equipped with fuel lines that are resistant to ethanol damage, but with older cars, the worst can happen—you’re going down the road, and suddenly your car is on fire. There’s more. I find that gasoline, which used to last about a year and a half or two years, is pretty much done after a month Ethanol is a solvent that can loosen the sludge, varnish and dirt that accumulate in a fuel tank. or so these days. If I run a car from the That mixture can clog fuel lines and block carburetor jets. PHOTO BY AUTOWEEK teens or ’20s and fill it up with modern fuel, then it sits for more than two months, I often can’t get it to start. Ethanol will absorb water from ambient air. In a modern vehicle, with a sealed fuel system, ethanol fuel has a harder time picking up water from the air. But in a vintage car, the water content of fuel can rise, causing corrosion and inhibiting combustion. It gets worse. Ethanol is a solvent that can loosen the sludge, varnish and dirt that accumulate in a fuel tank. That mixture can clog fuel lines and block carburetor jets. Blame the Renewable Fuel Standard. This government-mandated rule requires certain amounts of ethanol and other biofuels be blended with gasoline and diesel fuel. But when Congress first passed RFS as part of the Energy Policy Act in 2005, our demand for energy was increasing. Today, it’s the opposite. Total demand for fuel has decreased thanks to more-efficient vehicles, more hybrids and increased environmental awareness. The EPA is set to release the 2015 standard in June. Meanwhile, some legislators are pushing to reform or eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard entirely. I just don’t see the need for ethanol. I understand the theory—these giant agri-business companies can process corn, add the resulting blend to gasoline and we’ll be using and importing less gasoline. But they say this diversion of the corn supply is negatively affecting food prices, and the ethanol-spiked gas we’re forced to buy is really awful. 22 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 The big growers of corn have sold us a bill of goods. Some people are making a lot of money because of ethanol. But as they divert production from food to fuel, food prices inevitably will rise. Now, if you don’t mind paying $10 for a tortilla ... CAR LIFE Jay Leno restores 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL Comedian and car guy Jay Leno lets us back into his garage this week to look at his fully restored 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. Leno was going to customize the 300 SEL by adding the 563-hp, Comedian and car guy Jay Leno lets us back into his garage this week to look Last week, I went to start up one of my at his fully restored 1972 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. Leno was going to Duesenbergs. When I pulled out of the spot customize the 300 SEL by adding the 563-hp. where it had been parked for about a month, I saw a huge pool of gas. I looked at it while it was running and saw gas just pouring out. “OK, I’ve got to buy another fuel regulator.” I pulled it out and opened it up. The fiber diaphragm was eaten right through. Should manufacturers make diaphragms for old cars out of modern materials like Viton or Teflon? Yes, they should, but not all of them do. Consequently, your chances of a fire remain. Here’s another problem: When you have vehicles with fuel cells in their gas tanks, ethanol tends to eat the coating out of the fuel cell. If you have an old motorcycle and redo the fuel tank, the first thing you do is seal the tank with some sealant. It’s generally a cream or a gray color, and it looks like you painted the inside of the tank. On a lot of my bikes now, I’ll open the gas tank and I’ll go in with a long set of tweezers. I’m pulling out sheets of this coating. Really, it comes out in 6-inch strips. The ethanol is just eating it up and clogging the fuel pump because it’ll move around as a sheet of material and block the opening. With cars like my McLaren F1, if I buy a 55-gallon drum of VP racing gas, the fuel cell will last twice as long. The fiber diaphragm of one of Leno’s Duesenbergs was eaten right through. PHOTO BY AUTOWEEK 23 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 It’s time for us as automobile enthusiasts to dig in our heels and start writing to our congressmen and senators about the Renewable Fuel Standard, or we’ll be forced to use even more ethanol. Most people assume, “Oh, that’ll never happen. They’ll never do that.” Remember prohibition? In 1920, all the saloons were closed. It took until 1933 before legal liquor came back. Most people don’t really look at what goes into their car. Obviously, the days of high-octane gas like Sunoco 260 are long gone. Those of us with older vehicles are the ones who end up paying the price. The car manufacturers don’t care. They don’t mind if your vintage car burns up or breaks down. They want to sell you a new one. It’s hard for enthusiasts. We really have nowhere to go. So write those letters, but I also suggest you drain and clean your old car’s fuel tank, use a quality fuel-tank sealer that’s impervious to ethanol, replace fuel filters, keep all the screens clear and use a fuel stabilizer (added to a full fuel tank), if your car is to be stored for the winter season. Oh, and keep a fire extinguisher handy. JAY LENO - In addition to being a comedian and TV host, Autoweek columnist Jay Leno has more than 280 cars and motorcycles in his collection. Note from Doug about Barb’s recovery — Thanks to members for support! “Peach Staters… Just wanted you to know that you are THE BEST! While Barb and I have been “through the wars” since February 12th, two surgeries and a lengthy recovery in rehab, you all have been so warm and supportive. You opened my eyes once again to how truly caring this group is. We heard often about your well wishes and prayers, and some of you braved the hospital milieu to make a visit or two. This kind of support is beyond measure – people going through these health crises cannot bear it without the support of friends like you. Barb is home now, subject to my limited nursing abilities. But SHE’S HOME! We are looking forward to catching up with you all at the spring and summer cruises and car shows – starting with BOPC on May 1. Until then, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for all your kindness.” — Doug and Barb Bailey 24 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW Rick Ellis, the club founder of the “Georgia Cool Cruisers,” requested some additional classics for the Atlanta Auto Show and made the call to the Peach State Club to fill the void with Cadillacs. Bill Marsh stepped up with his 1956 Coupe DeVille and Rob Johns offered his 1941 Series ‘62 Convertible. In addition to the new cars, there were ‘44 classic, exotic and antique cars on display, ranging from a 1903 Oldsmobile to a 2009 Dodge Viper. The grouping of cars included “Autos through the Ages, ” Vendor and Wall displays, a Police and Fire Truck area, and the Lobby Display. Bill displayed his car in the lobby, while Rob showed his car near the Police and Fire Truck area. He was honored to land right next to Captain Herb’s 1962 Mayberry Galaxie. This was a great opportunity to talk about automobiles, Cadillacs and the club. Topics included the Avondale Estates Parade, the upcoming BOPC event and the Atlanta Motoring Festival. As a result of the Cadillac club’s participation at this auto expo, three new members are being recruited to join the Peach State and national clubs. Overall, both Bill and Rob had fun, met some interesting “car guys” and were ambassadors for the Peach State Cadillac and LaSalle Club. We look forward to another great show in 2016! Thanks “Georgia Cool Cruisers!” – Rob Johns ’41 Cadillac Convertible 25 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW May 2015 Anne and I had a great time at the 33rd Annual Atlanta International Auto Show. We led a caravan of classic cars into the Georgia World Congress Center, driving carefully over plastic covered carpet. Our 1956 Cadillac Coupe DeVille was featured in the main lobby at one of the main entrances to the show. There were over 400 new cars from 28 different manufacturers on over 400,000 sq ft. of show space. About 40 classic cars were in attendance. The classic car event was sponsored and moderated by Georgia Cool Cruisers who made it a top-notch event. They made a wonderful display sign for our car and also gave us a fabulous plaque commemorating the event. Georgia Cool Cruisers headed by Rick Ellis celebrates fundraising with 100% of the money going to worthy causes. In 2014 they raised over $30,000! Kind regards, Bill Marsh 26 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 “When we got our Peach State CLC key chain we were more than satisfied with the quality and beauty of the piece. A great value by far! Thank you Mr. Lewis Kelly for your wonderful idea and even more thanks and appreciation for sponsoring the cast of the coin so that each member could enjoy this beautiful piece. Now we need to get this beauty on a car tag some how!” — Mike & Michelle Anderson NEW! Peach State Cadillac and LaSalle Club medallions! Get them now for your four-wheeled baby! Or babies… PSCLC member Lewis Kelly brought this idea to the board and sponsored the whole deal. Thanks, Lewis! PSCLC can now offer you the latest in CLC and Peach State region memorabilia. This is a high quality collectible, a coin struck uniquely for us by a world renowned mint, constructed especially to serve as your favorite key chain for your Cadillacs and LaSalles. Photo below shows both sides and the slipcase. two coins shown; this photo prints at actual size These are Challenge Coins. Hefty, thick doubloons, 1.5” in diameter, polished gold metal on both sides, with colorful painted logos: Peach “My new Peach State Cadillac State CLC’s logo is on the front and And LaSalle club key ring is the National CLC’s logo is on the beautiful! I can’t wait to see it reverse. It’s a substantial piece, worthy of Cadillac. Collectible. These hanging from Patsy’s ignition!!” coins have been cast with a loop and chain to hold your keys. — Buster Miller I ordered TWO! If you want one, here’s how to order: Fill out the form below. We have only 100. When these are gone we will decide whether to strike more like these. Send me a check for $10.00 each. Make it out to Peach State CLC. ORDER YOURS NOW! First come first served! Mail with a check made out to Peach State CLC to: Doug Bailey Peach State CLC 2145 Azalea Drive Roswell, GA 30075 ****clip and mail*********************************************************************** Yes, Doug and Lewis. I want to order my own PSCLC keychain(s)! Enclosed is my check to PSCLC. I want # keychains at $10.00 apiece…………………………………………………………………...$ .00. Please limit your order to two (2) so everyone gets a chance at one. If we sell out we will order more! NAME: . CLC MEMBER NUMBER: . STREET ADDRESS: . CITY, STATE, ZIP: . I want mine sent Priority Mail (if you can wait to see Doug you can skip this)……………....$ I want to Pre-Order additional # keychains at $10.00 apiece for the next batch…..$ TOTAL.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………$ 6.00. .00. .00. 27 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 28 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 29 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 30 P e a c h S tat e C a d i l l a c & L a S a l l e C l u b May 2015 31 LAKE LANIER ADVANTAGE With every purchase or lease • Complimentary delivery available within 500 miles of our dealership • Complimentary pick up, delivery and loaner cars available with every scheduled service • Dent Repair • Key Repair • Personal Assistant • Certified Sales Consultants • Unconditional Satisfaction Guarantee • Pick-Up and Drop-Off Service • Full Service Dealership • Superior Service & Parts • Competitive Pricing & Selection • Roadside & Flatbed Towing Service • $500 Trade-In Value Guarantee • Mobile SmartApp • Complimentary Car Washes w/all Services • Complimentary Loaner w/Scheduled Appts • Online eParts & Accessories Store • Loyalty Rewards Program • 24/7 Online Service • Appointment Scheduling • Social Media and Community Involvement • Courtesy Shuttle Service • Authorized distributor for Laredo Coach • Works Limousines BRAND NEW 2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE BRAND NEW Dear Friends and Neighbors, My name is Marty Pecora. My family and I recently moved to this lovely community. We are second generation Cadillac dealers and have been in the automotive business since 1932. We decided that Georgia is a place that we would enjoy raising our children as well as establish a new Cadillac dealership. Tacy and I are the owners of the all new Cadillac of Lake Lanier in Gainesville, soon to be moving to Cumming. I can guarantee a world-class experience without the hassle of lengthy negotiations or hidden fees. We have a large selection of new and certified preowned vehicles to choose from, many with industry leading incentives. Feel free to contact me on my cell anytime at 845-598-2226. 2016 CADILLAC ATS-V CADILLAC OF LAKE LANIER 845-598-2226 2355 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 CadillacOfLakeLanier.com
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