NOVEMBER 2008 (Newsprint version with main graphics) 1 President's message Upcoming Events 2 ELECTION MEETING & Film Screening Celebration 3 Cruise-In at PW's 4 Holiday Party 5 WARL Holiday Donation Drive Recent Events 6 Armed Forces Retirement Home Car Show (album) 7 Rockville Car Show 8 October Cruise-In at PW's Feature Articles 9 Italian Auto Design and History - Part 2 10 Driving Vintage in Tough Economic Times Member Interests 11 Straight Eights ZAZZLE! (stuff for sale on line) 12 Business Ads Now Available on Our Web Site For ALL features of the newsletter, including additional “visuals”, please visit the Straight Eights member web site … http://www.straight8s.net Classified Ads http://www.straight8s.net/member_cartalk_2008/classified/classified.htm 1 President’s Briefs It is hard for me to comprehend that three years have passed since I first ran for President of our Club. On Saturday, November 15, 2008, it will be time for you to elect another representative. All things being equal, it has been a memorable journey, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with a particularly committed Board in service of the collector car hobby. Most gratifying is that our freshest ideas and greatest successes have stemmed directly from the creativity of our membership. It was a Member who first suggested that we consider PW’s Sports Bar as a location to hold an event. That event became our region’s first and only regularly-scheduled GLBT Monthly Cruise-In. Having this “open door” for new members to easily experience the Club is a significant reason behind our Club’s continued growth. From the outset of my tenure, I hoped to see our Club use the magnetism of our vehicles to support a worthy cause. It was a Member who saw a way to combine his love for cars with his passion for pets. The result is our highly successful partnership with the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL), an international model for animal welfare for which we have collected thousands of dollars in donated goods. The above speaks to another goal: to encourage focused, “interest-based volunteerism,” where members feel comfortable integrating the best of themselves with their Straight Eights Car Club experience. I felt strongly that this would make the volunteer experience at once less daunting, and more fulfilling. While we’re still building it, we have the beginnings of defined volunteer committees. It has been most visibly successful in the work of our Webmaster on our greatly-expanded Members Website, and our vibrant “Car Talk” Online Newsletter. Particularly gratifying is the fact that we have successfully deepened our connection with the larger GLBT community. Our proactive reengagement in regional GLBT Pride celebrations and our ongoing partnership with Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens have helped to keep the Straight Eights squarely in the public eye, with numerous articles in the regional GLBT media. If nothing else, I hope that during the last three years we have demonstrated that all things are possible within this organization with your participation. Not doing what we’ve always done, the way we’ve always done it offers an opportunity to grow and prosper. We have room in our Club for new voices. We have the flexibility to go to new places and to try different things. When all is said and done, this Club is yours to nurture through what you – personally – are willing to bring to it. So, I extend my thanks to the Membership and to the Board for the opportunity to help expand the platform for you to continue the creative evolution of this successful organization. And, thank you in advance for continuing to bring your talents to bear as we all continue to grow together in the years ahead. Jim Byers President Straight Eights Car Club 2 “Vote & View” Straight Eights Board Election 2008 (and Film Screening) Saturday, 11:30 am, November 15 Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, Arlington, VA Capping an exciting year of growth and achievement is the Straight Eights' Annual Election Meeting, at 11:30 am, Saturday, November 15, at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, 1611 North Kent Street, Arlington, Virginia (at Wilson Blvd, beside the former Newseum, where “Bodies” was exhibited last year). Located just 2-blocks from the Rosslyn Blue/Orange line Metro station, there's FREE underground parking. An optional lunch of gourmet pizza will be offered for a cost of $12 per person. For this reason, we ask that you RSVP by C.O.B. Wednesday, November 12, by email ([email protected] ) or by calling the Club Hotline at 703-624-0918. The individuals who have stepped forward to run for elected positions on the Board this year are: Milton Stern – President Howard “Smitty” Smith – Vice-President Joe Grimes – Treasurer [pending– Secretary] Mark Jordan – Membership Frank Adinolfe – Member-at-Large Jim Byers – Member-at-Large Howard Ghee – Member-at-Large John Lefever – Member-at-Large Matinee Film Screening & Lunch Once again, in our effort to make the voting process as enjoyable as it is essential, we're offering an Optional Lunch of gourmet pizza from Arlington’s amazing Lost Dog Café (a frequent mention on area ‘best pizza” lists, that also runs a thriving adopt-a-pet program), which you can bring into the Theatre to enjoy this year’s car-filled vintage film selection. The story of three very different automobile executives (Van Heflin, Cornel Wilde, and Fred MacMurray) is largely overlooked today, possibly because of its incongruous title. WOMAN'S WORLD (20th Century Fox, 1954) finds these executives from industry giant “ Gifford Motors” <wink, wink> summoned to New York City by CEO “Ernest Gifford” (Clifton Webb), who will appoint one of them as the new General Manager. Their respective wives (smoldering Arlene Dahl, pert June Alyson, and sophisticate Lauren Bacall) are equally, if not more carefully scrutinized for their ability to “assume the position.” Gasoline and Glamour ignite the screen in a film that includes abundant footage of: • Ford’s Advanced Styling Studios, design renderings & working tech models • Test-track scenes and smash-ups of 1954 FoMoCo. products, and • An extended driving tour of old Manhattan in one of Ford's most exciting and influential “dream cars”: the1953 Ford X-100! “1953 X-100. This is one of Ford’s first dream cars. Many of the styling features found their way into production. The torpedo slab-sides [and taillight treatment] were seen on 1961-63 Thunderbirds. The hood ornament is used on ’58 Fords. The hooded headlights and front fender outlines would show up on ’56 Lincolns. And the wraparound windshield hit the streets on the ’55 Fords and Mercurys .” “Standard Catalog of American Cars (1946-75)” This "A-List" Technicolor "transpor-tale" was directed by Jean Negulesco (fresh from his smash-hits Three Coins In the Fountain, River of No Return, and How to Marry a Millionaire), and features fab-fashions by Charles LeMaire (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, There's No Business Like Show Business, and Niagra) – all set against a backdrop of new and “futuristic” vehicles from Ford Motor Co., for an entertaining but seldom-seen mixture of high-drama and flashes of wit (Lauren Bacall and June Allyson’s frenzied shopping trip to Filene’s is a standout). The Rosslyn Spectrum is located in the Rosslyn Plaza office complex located beside the former Newseum building ("The Dome"), just two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro Station (Blue/Orange lines). There is FREE Garage Parking in the building's PMI Parking Garage. The garage is accessible from Arlington Ridge Road (follow N. Kent Street all the way around to the back of the office complex, bordering Rt. 66). For directions click this link: http://www.arlingtonarts.org/cultural_affairs/RosslynSpectrum.htm#Directions Again, please RSVP by COB, Wednesday, November 12 (and indicate whether you’ll join us for lunch) by emailing us at [email protected] , or by calling the Club Hotline at 703-624-0918. We look forward to seeing you there! 3 All Cruise-Ins of 2008 to Help Washington Animal Rescue League “Pet Treat and Creamy Peanut Butter Drive” On Sunday, November 16, 2008, at 3:00 pm, the Straight Eights will hold their next “Cruise-In” of 2008 at PW’s Sports Bar and Grill parking lot (www.pwssportsbar.com), 9855 N. Washington Blvd., Laurel, MD, 20723. (301- 498-4840). The “Cruise-Ins” occur on the third Sunday of every month, weather permitting. The Straight-Eights continues holding a “Pet Treat and Creamy Peanut Butter Drive,” benefiting the Washington Animal Rescue League (www.warl.org). Any kind of treats for cats and dogs from Snausages to Milk Bones are appreciated, however, they do ask that we do not donate rawhide chews as they can be problematic for canine digestive systems. If you don’t want to shop for treats, bring a jar of creamy peanut butter. The peanut butter is used to fill “Kong” dog toys, which keep our four legged friends occupied for hours. They are not in need of dog or cat food as the good people at Science Diet provide our furry friends with their meals. Give all your goodies to Milton Stern, who will deliver them the Friday following the Cruise In. 4 Annual HOLIDAY PARTY Saturday, December 6, 2008 You’re invited to come and share some holiday cheer and help support a worthy regional animal rescue charity at the Annual Straight Eights HOLIDAY PARTY, Saturday, December 6, held once again at the home of Member John Lefever, 4416 Tonquil Street, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. We do ask that you RSVP by C.O.B.