TEXAS BUGLETTE

+  +    OUR 22^ND YEAR    +  +

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER, BUICK CLUB OF AMERICA

**  HOST CHAPTER OF THE 2004 BUICK CLUB OF AMERICA NATIONAL MEET IN PLANO, TEXAS  **

THE  NORTH  TEXAS  CHAPTER  IS  A  MEMBER  OF  THE  TEXAS  VEHICLE  CLUB  COUNCIL

VOLUME 23, ISSUE 09                          DALLAS/FORT WORTH AREA                         SEPTEMBER, 2006  

So far, the year 2006 is quickly drawing to a close (and school has just started!).  Before long, the weather will (most probably) be colder and the days shorter.  Yet there are still some nice days left to enjoy various end-of-the-season outdoor car events.  After that, the indoor car show events will start to carry us through until next Spring, when everything starts over again.  So, if there was something that you didn’t get a chance to do this year, it’s time to start planning to do it in 2007.

This month, our meeting is scheduled to be in Denton.  On that particular Saturday, there is also a local event taking place on the town square (including some vintage car displays!).  We will have out meeting at El Guapo’s Mexican Restaurant after a meal at starting at 1:00pm.  The address is 419 South Elm, a few blocks south of The Denton Square.  PLEASE note the “One Way” streets on the supplied maps!

Of course, other than our normal October meeting, the South Central Regional Meet will be in Fredericksburg, TX, hosted by our associates of the Alamo Chapter.  They have a pretty full slate of activities for those that desire to partake of them—other than the show event on Saturday, followed by the banquet later that evening.

A while back, I suggested that Bill and Thelma Lough contact the Love Field Antique Mall to get us tentatively booked there for our December meeting (in their restaurant area).  I figured that we needed to have that slot reserved for our group, earlier on, than to possibly try to get it reserved later.  This was the backup plan if no chapter members offered to host the meeting at their home.  It has been a variable situation as to where the meeting is held in December, whether in a member’s home or in a restaurant-type setting.  I also knew that time to get someplace reserved, just in case, was drawing close, plus I’d mentioned it a few times earlier but we never did get around to discussing it at the meetings. 

I wanted to clue y’all in on how that reservation came to be, before the members voted to actually approve that proposal.  Purely a “planning ahead” issue and nothing more, in case there were no other alternatives presented for consideration.

Now that the membership has voted to approve the Love Field Antique Mall for the location of our December meeting and holiday meal, the details will be similar to as they were the last time we had our December meeting and meal there.  Each attendee will need to fill out a form and send it with a “co-pay” amount to Thelma Lough, prior to the stated cut-off date—if they desire to join us in the holiday meal prior to the meeting.  The form and information will appear in next month’s newsletter.

It was very good to hear the various comments on the 2006 BCA National Meet in Rochester, MN.  It was also great that several of our chapter members scored very highly in the 400 Point Judged Show!  Congratulations on those achievements!  As you may know, the 2007 event will be in Seattle, WA and the 2008 (non-400 Point System Judged) event will be in Flint, MI.  The registrations forms for the 2007 meet are on the BCA website and also in The Bugle, so don’t leave home without mailing it (and required funds) in first, by the specified cut-off date.

Not only is our chapter proud of the accomplishments of our chapter members in their show awards, but we are also very proud of our chapter members that are helping make the BCA events (and chronicles thereof) better.  Namely, Roy Faries as the National Computer Coordinator for the BCA National Meets and Pete Phillips as Editor of The Bugle.

Another North Texas Chapter member, who is deeply involved in putting together information on Buick production numbers is David Corbin.  He mentioned that he would be going through the McLaughlin Archives in Canada (a lucky “find” of sorts), with respect to frame, engine, and other “numbers” of production McLaughlin vehicles in Canada. This research is a continuation of his previous project on Flint-produced Buicks, for which he received an award from the BCA at the Centennial Celebration in Flint.  This should be a very interesting project as he delves into previously un-looked-at information to position it against what he already has in his database on Flint-produced Buicks of the earlier 1900s.

We are also proud of two South Central Region members.  We thank Barney Eaton for his service on the BCA Board of Directors, plus his continuing active involvement and work with the Reatta Division and the BCA Tech Advisors.  We also congratulate Lone Star Chapter Director Bill Stoneberg for his recent election to the BCA Board of Directors.

Take care and enjoy your Buicks!

Willis Bell

MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 12, 2006 MEETING

 
Meeting was called to order at 2:20pm by Director Willis Bell at Bodacious Barbeque in Arlington, TX.  There were 26 people in attendance, including one guest, Molly’s daughter.  

Andy Walla spoke about the 2006 BCA National Meet – the work, the fun, and the satisfaction of winning a Gold Award with his LeSabre T-Type.  He thanked all the club members for their help, information, and critique over the last two or three years that helped him to achieve this honor. 

Bob and Sandy Buntaine also spoke about the 2006 BCA National Meet and the good times and camaraderie and also noted that they won a Silver Award.  Bob said the judging was very close on everything (the judging team found gray primer on an underdash wiring harness, resulting in a point deduction which led to the Silver Award), but nonetheless it was an enjoyable experience as usual.

Roy Faries once again came to the rescue at the National Meet.  Terry Dunham was preparing to make a presentation, along with Larry Gustin, concerning Buick History.  The presentation also included a computer screen projection which was somewhat troublesome.  This meant the natural thing to do was to get Roy, to which he promptly responded and got everything on track again.  Thanks, Roy!

David Corbin spoke to us at length about his upcoming trip to Canada and to the McLaughlin Archives, which he will be able to research.  This research will focus on some henceforth unknown data and to ascertain what happened to a series of missing engine numbers from the Buick Motor Company archives.  He will be missing the next two meetings.  We wish him and Clara well on their trip.

Dale Sherman brought a flyer announcing a recently-found place in Princeton, TX, known at the Lost Highway Classic Cars and Antiques.  It is a restoration of some old buildings in the town of Princeton.

After further discussion about the fun and enjoyment of attending a BCA National Meet, Jimmie Furr mentioned the possibility of starting discussion about another BCA National Meet hosted by our North Texas Chapter.  Gather up your ideas.  We can have all this fun and enjoyment at home without a long, cross country trip by just a little bit of work that we already know how to do because we have hosted two of the most successful ones thus far. Other subjects were discussed around the room about many things.  Pete passed around the future edition of The Bugle before it goes to press, for everyone to see.

Chuck Bloomberg talked about some meeting sights at Lake Grapevine, that would not be available because of the lake level, but mentioned a park in the area with a pavilion for a possible meeting sometime this fall.  Thelma Lough asked about the possibility of having some Saturday other than the (normal) 2^nd Saturday, if that would help the availability of the location.  Chuck is to check it out and coordinate with Bill Lough.

Willis brought up the December Meeting location and format.  Motion made and seconded to have it the 2^nd Saturday of December at the Love Field Antique Mall’s Restaurant.  Thelma to coordinate, with sign-up forms to be in the newsletter in the near future.

Bill talked about their trip to the Alamo Chapter’s monthly meeting and planning session for the October South Central Regional meet.  There will be a ice cream social at the Fredericksburg Inn on Friday afternoon, with the show being the next day.

For the September chapter meeting, Roy Faries mentioned a car show on the Square in Denton.  And then a 1:00pm meeting at a local Mexican restaurant.  Roy is to check out that possibility and advise Bill Lough and Willis Bell.

Pete Phillips and Roy Faries arrived at the meeting in a 1961 Buick Electra 225 that has 63,000 miles on it.  Roy told the story of the history of the car, which belonged to his uncle since new and that Roy had been permitted to drive the car to his high school prom.  Some years later, Roy’s uncle passed away and the car sat in the field for many years.  Recently, Roy purchased the car and then Roy and Pete trailered the car to Pete’s shop in Sherman.  Pete then got it running and ready to make the trip to Arlington for the August meeting.  Still a good bit of work to do on it. 

Don Mitchell mentioned that Gene Snyder in Whitney, TX, needs new rocker panels for a 1954 Buick Special. 

Meeting adjourned at 3:35pm 

Jimmie Furr, Secretary

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL BUICK MEET INFORMATION

Fredericksburg Inn & Suites  201 S. Washington  Fredericksburg, TX 78624  1-800-446-0202 / 830-997-0202 

The group room rate is $99.00/night + state and city taxes = $111.87/night.  Breakfast is included.

Check the “Antique/Classic” section of the classified ads in the “Automotive” section of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, and other metro-area newspapers for weekend car cruise, show, and race events.  Also . . .
www.hotrodhappenings.com  and www.hubcapcafe.com/calendar/texas.htm . 

NORTH TEXAS BUICK CLUB
CHAPTER OFFICERS – 2006
---------------     +     ---------------

DIRECTOR                           Willis Bell             817/694-1313 (Voicemail) or NTX5467@webtv.net
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR      Dale Sherman      972/977-0420
TREASURER                        Thelma Lough      972/270-3784      
SECRETARY                         Jimmie Furr        817/558-2009
ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR       Bill Lough            972/270-3784      
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR    Robert Kam          214/826-7846
NEWSLETTER EDITOR         Willis Bell            817/694-1313 (Voicemail) or NTX5467@webtv.net

ALL printed or e-mailed material for the newsletter must be received by the 1^st of the month prior to publication

---------------     +     ---------------

CHAPTER WEBMASTER         Ms. Aurora Chancy    ntbuick@hotmail.com    972/517-4004

NEXT REGULAR MEETING   > >   SEPTEMBER 9, 2006    In Denton, TX!

DETAILS INSIDE!    

BRING YOUR BUICK!    BRING YOURSELF!  

Host Chapter of the BUICK CLUB OF AMERICA 1996 & 2004 NATIONAL MEETS   PLANO, TX

>>  MEMBER,  TEXAS  VEHICLE  CLUB  COUNCIL  <<

ALL CHAPTER MEMBERS MUST ALSO BE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL BUICK CLUB OF AMERICA ORGANIZATION.  NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION AND FORMS ARE IN “THE BUGLE”.

For Membership Information, contact:    ROBERT KAM                  214/826-7846      Dallas, TX

Send all Local Chapter Dues to:        THELMA LOUGH, Treasurer     3200 Hula       Mesquite, TX 75150-2568

The Buick Club of America Office Mgr is: MIKE AND NANCY BOOK           P.O.Box 360775    Columbus, OH  43219                      Email:  BuickClubOffice@aol.com

CHECK US OUT ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB.  OUR CLUB WEB PRESENCE CAN BE ACCESSED FROM THE BCA WEBSITE  www.buickclub.org  OR DIRECTLY. 

MUCH INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AND THE BCA’S WEBSITE!

BUICK:  PREMIUM AMERICAN MOTORCARS – AS ALWAYS!

BUICK, CELEBRATING OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF UNIQUELY AMERICAN STYLE!

NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER    BUICK CLUB OF AMERICA

  MEMBER INFORMATION FORM

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