svaalberta.com

Winter 2015

ALBERTAProtecting the rights and privileges of the autoRIDES hobbyists of Alberta.

Who are the Dropsicles? Find out on page 27! FORD MUSTANG

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Our trip to the 2014 04 What Factors Affect the Value 18 PRESIDENT Corvair International of My Collector Vehicle Harry Bullock Convention [email protected] / (403) 394-6486 Ray Caught in an Affair! 20 NORTH VICE PRESIDENT Alberta licence Plates and 06 Paul Gordash Collector Vehicles A Week Is Not Enough! Arizona 23 [email protected] Auctions 2015 Sooner or Later You'll get SOUTH VICE PRESIDENT 08 Les McKelvey Hooked! Dropsicles 27 [email protected] Spring Thaw at 30 10 Coming to a Mailbox Near You 28 SECRETARY Ted Lobley From Bar to Show Car [email protected] / (403) 681-0001 12 New Rules for Exporting 30 Vehicles from the U.S. TREASURER Magna NM 16 Jim Herbert [email protected] / (403) 241-2218

DIRECTORS Al Riise [email protected] / (403) 274-4474 Orest Lazarowich PRESIDENTS MESSAGE [email protected]

Bob Bownes Special congratulations to Premier Jim Prentice for his recent purchase [email protected] of a restored 1956 Thunderbird at the Barrett Jackson Auction in Warren Rogalsky Scottsdale this January. He picked a very fine example of a collector car [email protected] / (403) 280-9332 and I hope to see him on the road driving it this summer. Earl Clements [email protected] Once again the Arizona auctions had a record year with total sales from Bill Hunter the six different auction companies exceeding 292 million dollars. (Also [email protected] keep in mind these are US dollars.). Ferrari dominated the top ten list and while most of us can only dream of purchasing that type of collector Don Cooper [email protected] / (403) 934-0041 car, if you attend the auction you can get up close and get a good look at all the . On a related note if you are importing a vehicle into Canada Dave Scragg [email protected] / (780) 940-2641 from the U.S. the rules have changed as of last fall. A very good article in this issue explains one member’s experience. Jess Smith [email protected] Also included is an article on Hellaflush. Never heard of it? Read it to SVAI DIRECTOR get an insight into another type of collector car. Confused on how to Bill Chadderton [email protected] license your collector car? Want to know who invented the tow truck, or how a collector car is evaluated? We have articles to help with that. NAACC DIRECTORS Warren Rogalsky [email protected] We are very pleased with the participation we are receiving from our members and are thrilled to share their knowledge and stories. Thank Jim Herbert [email protected] you very much for helping make this issue of Alberta Rides an excellent read. Think Spring and prepare for the touring season. EDITOR Farin Manji [email protected] Harry Bullock, President, SVAA

ALBERTA RIDES 3 Our trip to the 2014 Corvair International Convention in Tacoma, WA

Michel and Suzanne Gelinas, Calgary AB

This year’s convention being only 800 miles from our home hanging crooked and it was evident I would have to drive in Calgary made it an obvious decision. We took two days the car without the clutch. I pulled out a printout from the to drive our ’64 Monza convertible to Tacoma. The slight glovebox of an old article about how to do it. After reading detour from the Okanagan Valley to see the Grand Coulee the instructions a couple of times I started in first gear, Dam was certainly worth it! shifted to second… stalled at the stop sign. Trying to re- start from the intersection was more of a challenge, given The convention was hosted in a beautiful downtown Tacoma the slight uphill. Knowing the host hotel was up the hill in hotel, a free short tram ride away from the world-class Tacoma and not knowing how far away we were, we decided LeMay America’s Car Museum. We arrived a day early so to play it safe and stay put. By then other rally participants Suzanne and I could drive down to Mt. St. Helens. We were stopped-by to help. A broken clutch pivot bracket under the very fortunate to have beautiful weather for the 150-mile dash was discovered. A “field repair” was attempted without drive. Others told us they’d been there and could not see success. A club member kindly let me use his cell phone to the mountain because of the low clouds. The first evening call the roadside assistance number given to us the morning is the welcome dinner followed by the valve cover race. of the event. The gravity racers must have a Corvair valve cover in their design. I had an improved model this year but did not make Hagerty Insurance is a sponsor of the convention and offers it to second round. Better luck next time! free assistance to the participants during the driving events. It took some discussion to convince the man-on-the-phone The Concours d’Elegance took place on the grassy area they were to tow us back to the host hotel in Tacoma and adjacent to the LeMay on the second day. The Corvair was not only 10 miles. Telling him where we broke down was the featured marque at the museum with a few models a bit trickier. The road sign at the nearby intersection inside the front lobby. Being an attendee at the convention read 416 ave and 316 st. In which city he asked? In what gave us unlimited free admission to the museum all week. county? Didn’t I tell him we’re just following the rally Even Suzanne enjoyed it! directions and we don’t really know where we are? He must have Googled it, or something, as he asked me to confirm Though the weather was less than pleasant the day of the if there was a cemetery at the intersection. Sure enough Economy Run and Rally, the scenery of the rally route made there was so he said the tow truck would be there within two up for it. Beautiful sinuous roads through the countryside hours. Upon leaving, the member’s wife left her own phone northeast of Tacoma were ideal for the Corvairs. The rally with us, just in case. Two hours later her phone rang. The directions and questions were simply and clearly written towing company said they sent the truck out and could not and made for a not-so-stressful drive. We actually thought find us. I assured them we had not moved an inch in the we were doing very well compared to other years. After a past two hours! I got back on the phone with Hagerty. By brief stop on the side of the road I could not shift the car then we had opened the “panic envelope” handed to us at into gear! I suspected a broken clutch cable. I never had the start of the rally and could see where we were. Hagerty a broken cable before but I’ve carried a spare ever since sent a different towing company from nearby Enumclaw to we bought the car 16 years ago. I got Suzanne to operate our rescue. The flat-deck driver took great care loading our the clutch while I looked under to car to see everything Corvair onto his truck and dropped us off at the hotel some apparently working fine. By then, the clutch pedal was 28 miles away and 4 hours after our initial breakdown,

ALBERTA RIDES 4 all at no cost to us. That evening I removed the clutch pivot bracket from under the dash. Many said they’d never heard of such a breakdown. The next day, the member who originally helped us brought equipment from home and welded the bracket while sitting in the outside vendors’ area of the hotel. All he would accept from me was lunch! It took a lot of tongue-twisting to re-install the bracket in the car without removing the whole brake pedal assembly but, that afternoon, I was test-driving the car around the block! We certainly wish we had completed the rally and never had time to write up a hard luck story. We did take second place in our class in the Economy Run (third place overall) with 29.82 miles per US gallon (that’s nearly 36 MPG to us Canadians!)

We left the convention early Friday morning, as scheduled, to tour the Boeing factory, and drove up to Vancouver Island to spend a few days with friends. The drive back to Calgary went well. The total mileage for this trip was 2,400 miles. I am sure the welded bracket is way better than the factory’s original brazing and that I will never have this problem again. Looking forward to more Corvair driving and rallies in the future! Above: The broken pivot bracket

ALBERTA RIDES 5 Alberta Licence Plates and Collector Vehicles

Jim Herbert, SVAA Safety Check Coordinator, Calgary AB

I was approached at church a couple of Sundays ago by a How to register and licence a collector vehicle in Alberta? young couple who had just inherited a car. As they knew me as a car guy, they asked if the car was considered a In Alberta, the Traffic Act 320/2002 allows the collector to “Collector Car” and if it was how should they register and register and licence his “Collector Car” in following ways: insure it. When you asked this question, hopefully this will help answer it. 1. All collector cars can be registered as regular passenger and can be plated with a regular class 3 plate, personalized What makes a car collectable? or vanity plate, Support Our Troops plate and Veterans plate for our military veterans. The quick answer is age and how rare and unusual it is. For the long answer I went to the Collector Car insurance 2. If the car is 25 years or older and only operated as a industry. They have four classes of Collector Vehicles. collector’s item in exhibitions, club activities, parades and transportation to and from these activities or to and from 1. Antique or Classic Vehicles: (25 years or older) Must be having repairs and maintenance work done, the car can manufactured at least 25 years ago. be registered as an Antique and run Antique plates. An exception to this is when an antique vehicle owner has the 2. Modified, Street Rod and Custom Vehicles: (15 years or a cloth registration and its corresponding vintage (YOM) older) Vehicles that are at least 15 years old and have been licence plate(issued prior to September 1984), the licence customized from their original manufactured sate for the plates are valid until the vehicle changes ownership. purposes of appearance or enhanced performance. 3. If the car is registered as Antique and was manufactured 3. Special Interest Vehicles: (0-24 years) Limited or late before 1974, the car can be plated with Vintage or Year of model production vehicles that are less that 24 years old Manufacture (YOM) plate. In order to do this, YOM plate with factory special or limited edition packages or rare number must be recorded on the vehicle’s registration by an factory options that are consider collectible, and with Alberta Registries agent. annual production of not more than 25,000 units. If should be noted that when using YOM plates on your 4. Exotic Vehicles: (0-14 years) Vehicles manufactured collector car that the number on the plate will not register within the past 14 years that feature cutting-edge design, on a police officer’s computer as it is not a discrete number. technology or performance and have an annual production of You may be pulled over to allow the officer to confirm your 300 or less. These vehicles have not been altered from their registration. It is strongly recommended that you carry your original manufactured state. antique plate in your vehicle to confirm your registration.

ALBERTA RIDES 6 ©2015 Interstate Batteries | CCE0734-01 Sooner or Later You’ll Get Hooked!

Nigel Matthews, Vancouver BC

If you have owned a vehicle for any length of time and have As Holmes’ repair business flourished, he explored how never encountered the friendly (or perhaps occasionally he could move disabled vehicles to his shop, to avoid the hostile services) of a tow truck, then you are an anomaly! unpleasant task of chilly roadside repairs. In 1916, he Many a pristine show car or collector car began the journey came up with the solution. Holmes modified a Cadillac by back from being a relic on the end of a tow truck hook. attaching a triangulated structure equipped with a manually The industry has evolved and the older trucks that used cranked system, made up of pulleys, steel cables, with a hooks, chains and a piece of wood have been replaced with hook attached to the end. He patented his invention and wheel lifts that do not cause any damage to the bodywork. called it the Holmes 485 wrecker, named after the cost, The ultimate tow is a flatdeck truck. During the mid- which was $485. 1970s I drove a ground-hugging modified MG Midget with a front that would be ripped off in seconds by a The Holmes Company grew into North America’s largest tow conventional tow-truck. The only tow-truck in Vancouver truck manufacturer. Ernest Holmes died in 1943. His son that could tow me was operated by BCAA. It featured an Ernest Holmes JR continued running the company until he arrangement of two bars that were placed ahead and behind retired in 1973. The International Towing and Recovery the front and were attached to straps making a cradle Museum in Chattanooga is located a few blocks from the that was lifted up by the tow boom that protruded over the original Holmes repair shop. . On display is the oldest known surviving tow truck in North America. It is a 1916 Locomobile, built at a hefty 1916 Ernest Holmes was the owner of the only automotive repair cost of $6,000. shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1915, John Wiley was driving his Model “T” Ford on a trip that ended in a mishap and the “Tin Lizzie” ending up in the Chickamauga Creek. Holmes and six men to the rescue! Using a car and a rope, it turned into an event that would take almost the entire day.

ALBERTA RIDES 8 ALBERTA RIDES /xx

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Legends is a division of Thomson Schindle Calgary Office Green Insurance & Financial Services Ltd. Suite 700 - 1816 Crowchild Trail NW Calgary, AB. T2M 3Y7 Exclusively underwritten by Phone: 403.723.9416 Fax: 403.723.9421 Intact Insurance 1.800.830.9423 [email protected] Brooks Office Medicine Hat Office #3 560 Cassils Road East #100, Chinook Place. 623-4thSt. SE Brooks, AB. T1R 1M6 Medicine Hat, AB. T1A 0L1 Phone: 403.501.5123 Fax: 403.501.5133 Phone: 403.526.3283 1.800.830.9423 [email protected] [email protected] Spring Thaw at 30

Dick Wallace, Calgary AB

Surviving the erratic weather woes of another winters's introducing the club to the local car gentry. Early spring blast is a annual hurdle for western Canada’s classic car of a new season of fellowship and comradery seemed the hobbyists. Drifting snow, slicker-than-Saddledome-rink icey most obvious time to launch. It was noted a number of local roads and bone chilling sub zero mercury levels plummeting clubs held ‘marque-only’ car shows at that time. With an down the kitchen window thermometer drives us to winter- expressed desire to break down any manufacturer barriers long garage projects. that were thought to exist, a plan was hatched to provide a venue for a non-competitive, low buck event for the Calgary For the last 30 years it is also the time when the Nifty hobbyists and invite all comers of the area car community. Fifty’s Ford Club of Calgary start planning and preparing for another version of the ‘unofficial’ start of the pending Searching the historical weather charts back many years summer cruising season, aptly dubbed ‘Spring Thaw’ – yes, (if one can put any faith in Calgary's weather patterns) it a title suggestion made while hovering over the front fenders was determined the third weekend of April was the safest during a garage resto winter project. weather weekend for an outdoor event, so a site was secured at Chinook Centre Mall. After a word-of-mouth information In early April all eyes await the first signs of spring. blitz, over 100 cars descended on the mall parking lot that Summer cruise calendars begin to surface, a lowly Robin early Sunday morning. By Jove, I think we're onto something makes a backyard appearance. All giving way to thoughts of here! another season of rolling white-walls, spoked rims, rumbling Smitty’s, and eye-squinting hand-rubbed paint surfaces A follow up second spring event in 1986 confirmed our cruising down the asphalt for another rite of spring. first success was no fluke as over 200 cars overflowed the lot necessitating the first move the following year to larger It all began shortly after the formation of the NFFC in spring facilities at North Hill Mall. The popular launch of another of 1985. A small group of 50’s Ford owners banded together car season struck a noted turnout with representations from to discuss the feasibility of hosting a car show as a way of Edmonton to Lethbridge, Crowsnest Pass to Medicine Hat.

ALBERTA RIDES 10 Adopting an abbreviated version of the postal service motto, "neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night", the growing masses of classics, antiques, customs, hot rods and muscle cars challenged the facilities every spring.

The locations overflowed available space ensuing years We dream of roaring engines at Southcentre Mall, Deerfoot Mall, McMahon Stadium, of metal, rubber, the smell of exhaust and back to Deerfoot Mall, and new this year to the Grey of a car that does more than A to B Eagle Casino site. Hobby support consistently exceeds it stirs the soul 500+ registrants, and several industry related sponsors. A registration fee had been introduced to cover basic It’s not some pie-in-the-sky dream expenses, with a commitment that proceeds would be it’s the dream we earned directed to the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank along with the dream we live collections of cash and food items. the dream we’ll pass on What has Spring Thaw put back into the community of Calgary? BECAUSE LIFE’S BETTER IN A CLASSIC

The Nifty Fifty’s Ford Club celebrate the upcoming 30th year of Spring Thaw and are thankful for the participant support and are pleased and proud to announce total cash and food value donations directed to the Calgary Food Bank to this date at $60,650.

The club also awards a annual bursary of $500 to SAIT Polytechnic to a student in the Automotive Service Technician Apprentice program.

As fall colors turn to winters blasts, you can hear the metal-to-metal sounds emerging from back alley garages as we once again prepare for the launch of another decade of Spring Thaw.

We believe in keeping the dream of classics alive. That’s why we do everything we do: insurance and roadside service tailored to classics, classic vehicle valuation tools, Hagerty Classic Cars magazine and more. Do you dream of classics? Join us and learn more at Hagerty.ca.

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Hagerty Canada, LLC policies are underwritten by Elite Insurance Company, an Aviva Canada company. Membership in Hagerty Plus Roadside Service program is provided by Hagerty Plus Canada, LLC, a non-insurance affiliate of Hagerty Canada, LLC. Roadside service provided by Signature Motor Club, Inc. From Bar Car to Show Car

Jim Herbert, Calgary AB

Back in the mid 70’s I was passing through Edmonton and behind the bar in the Racer Pub during the summer of 1974 happened to stop at a small pub in the west end, where and there it remained for the next 15 years. there was little British sports car mounted on a shelf behind the bar. As I visited with the barman I found out A Calgary collector acquired the car in 1990 and stored it that it was an MG “TD” and that it still had the engine and until it was shown at the 1994 GOF West in Kananaskis. transmission installed. While we reminisced about previous He sold the car shortly after the show and it was seen at sports cars that we had owned or driven, we wondered if this many of the Calgary MG Car Club events over the next few bar decoration would ever see the road again. summers. In the winter of 1996 the car was again put up for sale and arrived in my garage in spring of 1997. Twenty years later, I had just completed restoring the mechanical components of my 1974 MGB and was about to Armed with box full of ziplock bags for the small pieces start on the bodywork, when a 1951 MG “TD” came up for and a camera to record how things were assembled, the sale. I thought I should at least have a look, as it was from car was dismantled. All the parts were cleaned, accessed the same era as a 1951 Cessna L-19 that I had restored and labeled for rebuild or replacement. The years had not and still fly. To make a long story short, several weeks later been kind to the little MG Midget. The cancer of rust, wood I had traded a perfectly good 1974 sports car with disc rot, several minor collisions and the steam from the pub’s brakes, a heater and roll up windows for a 1951 classic with dishwasher, had all taken their toll on the body, while the poor brakes, no heater and side curtains. As I proudly drove years of sitting at the bar had dried out all of the seals it into my garage, I wondered how I would ever convince my and pitted most bearings in the engine and transmission. wife that I made a good deal on the trade and that in no I was, therefore, required to make dramatic revisions to time I would have my new car in top shape with just a small the restoration budget (upwards, of course) and the scale out lay of cash. of the project expanded to include a complete frame off restoration. It was time to call in Todd and his specialists at As I researched the history of my new purchase I found out Sports Car Parts of Calgary. that I was now the proud owner of the bar decoration that I had so admired years ago. It soon became my quest to The frame was powder-blasted and acid-dipped to remove return the car to its former glory. all the old paint and corrosion. Several cracks were repaired and the frame was straightened back to the original The car was hand crafted by The M.G. Car Company Ltd. a specifications before it was repainted in its original black. division of Morris Motors Limited, a Lord Nuffield company. My goal was to restore the car to as period original as The serial number (TD/11144 EXR) that is stamped into its possible. This required that all running gear be painted not frame indicates that the car was built for export as a right powder-coated. hand drive. The factory production sheets confirm that the car was completed on October 22, 1951 and was 1 of 940 We were forced to put down our Whitworth Wrenches and built that year. take up wood working tools as we built the wood skeleton for the body. Newly-built steel body panels had to be The first record of TD/11144 EXR is in the Somerset mated to the white ash frame and all clearances checked, England Registry in 1954 with the registration number 350 as the N.O.S. fenders and hand-built doors were fitted. LYC. It was exported to Canada in 1973 by Paradise Garages This arduous task was completed after many hours of fine of London but does not appear in the Canadian Registry adjustments, with some of the wood pieces having to be re- until June of 1994. The car was placed on an elevated shelf fashioned several times.

ALBERTA RIDES 12 Once we had the car completely together, it was 1250 cc race class) and the head was decked to give 9.3 disassembled and the joints of wood frame were glued and to 1 compression ratio. Larger valves were installed (36mm then the body was reassembled to confirm that none of the intake and 34 mm exhaust) and the head was ported and alignment had been lost. The car was again disassembled polished. A Crane “SR” high-lift cam was also installed. and all the panels were primed and painted on the inside High performance pistons and rods were mated to a chrome- and the wood was sealed with a preservative. This was done moly crank shaft. The components were all dynamically to eliminate the possibly of corrosion starting where the balanced. With the internals complete, a C75B Shorrock metal panels wrapped around the wood, as had been found belt drive supercharger was installed to give 6 psi boost on the old body. The time that is spent during this mock at 5000 rpm and to keep the spark hot at this increased up stage of any restoration is very critical because once compression a Lucas 4 VRA magneto ignition was added. the body has been painted it is very hard to do make any To keep the engine oil cool, a 10.5 pint finned aluminum alignment changes without damaging the new paint. oil sump and 13 row full-flow oil cooler were added. The radiator was pressurized to 7 psi and 5 bladed fan added. After we had the car completely assembled with the engine To fully utilize the increased torque and to increase the and drive line installed, a jig was built to hold the body top speed, 4.33:1 gears were installed and the old bias ply in shape. The body was then unbolted from the frame and tires were replaced with Michelin ZXZ’s. It should be noted the steel jig was bolted in place. This allowed us to remove that all the above modifications were made using period the body for the final metal and paint work. Mike and Tom accessories and followed specifications that used by the MG of Innovative Auto Body continued to work their magic and factory racing teams of the 1950’s. painted the car in deep burgundy (MG color Autumn Red) and silver (MG color metallic grey). While this was being After all the engine and bodywork was complete, the done, the final engine work was being completed. detailing to “Show Car Quality” commenced. All of the bright work was re-chromed and polished. A new interior, This is where the old hot-rodder of the sixties started complete with leather seats and wool carpets, was installed. to come out in me. The block and head were sent over All the original dash panel instrumentation and switches to D&W Custom Engine Specialties of Calgary for some were rebuilt and the original markings restored. A new performance enhancements. The XPAG engine was bored canvas top and side curtains were made to the original out to 40thou over to 1298 cc (just legal to stay in the specifications.

Above: Frame with bodytub in the background ALBERTA RIDES 13 In order to make the car road worthy for today’s standards, Paul, Minnesota for the US National MG Show (Best of a turning signal system from a 1953 model was adapted to Class & Runner-Up to Best of Show.) work inside the original marker lights. Seat belts were also installed using re-webbed race belts from the 50’s. These The little bar car is now truly a show car, but don’t think were fitted to match the period Brooklands 19 inch steering that her tires have never touched the road. Since her wheel. restoration, Midge has motored over 4,800 miles of open road, has raced at the Sonoma Speedway in California, Two and a half years had passed since I drove the little MG rallied in the Napa valley, and has had the distinction of into my garage and after over 2600 hours of work, we were being the oldest car on the track at the Vintage on the finally ready for a summer of shows and car rallys. During Prairies Races in Calgary. the next four months the little MG, now affectionately known as “Midge,” attended many of the British car shows My quest was complete, the old bar decoration has returned in Western Canada and started to amass a large collection to it’s former glory and is now a very responsive sports car of awards and trophies. It seemed a shame to put her up with a top speed of 116 mph and a ¼ mile time of 18.9 on blocks for the winter, so we decided to move in to the sec. The dyno at Sports Car Parts confirms that the big time and attend winter car shows including the Calgary little car is developing 57.6 SAE horsepower at 4800 rpm World of Wheels (Best Antique/Restored), Saskatoon with 67.8 ft-lbs of torque at 3800 rpm at the rear wheels. Draggins 41st Annual Easter Car Show (Best Pre-1960 Sports Car), Edmonton Powerama (Best Import Sports Car). The next time you pass a silver haired couple driving a little To escape the rainy, snowy, spring weather we headed south burgundy and silver MG, please wave as it may be Linda and of the border for shows in Portland, Oregon (Best of Show), me out to enjoy feel of the open road in another Canadian Chico, California (Best Pre-61 MG), and then finally to St Classic.

Framework after Engine Detail

Rear interior before Rear interior after

ALBERTA RIDES 14

Magna NM

Nigel Matthews, Vancouver BC

William R. Morris was one of the founding fathers of the I spotted the pictured 1931 F-Type F1 Magna (also known British motor industry (BMC) and the “M” in the MG sports as the 12/70) at the Arizona Concours in Phoenix and fell car brand. Like most of his contemporaries he began in love with the little three-seater, which has room for one building bicycles. In 1909, he moved on to cars and opened passenger in the rear dickey seat. Morris Garage in Longwall Street, Oxford offering automotive sales and servicing. By 1913, the business was flourishing MG gained access to the six-cylinder, overhead-cam, 1270- necessitating a move to larger premises, and a name change c.c Wolseley Hornet engine when Morris acquired Wolseley. to Morris Garages and later Morris Motors. Only 30 F-Types were built with this engine and fewer than five are believed to have survived. This car, said to In 1921, William Kimber was hired as the sales manager, be the only one in North America, was found by its current and the next year, following the sudden resignation of American owner in a barn in the Montreal area where it had Edward Armstead, was promoted to General Manager. Under been stored for over 25 years. Its original U.K. license plate Kimber’s direction the stage was set for an automotive was MG 1624; interestingly a number of MGs of this vintage brand that would be known the world over for building had similar plates beginning with MG. great open sports cars, known as MG (Morris Garages). The marque is still alive and thriving today, owned and Of the 1,250 F-Types built, 188 chassis were supplied to operated by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation outside such as Abbey, Carlton, Farnham, in China. Sadly, the current model range does not include a Jarvis, Meredith, Stiles, Vanden Plas, Windover and Wye and convertible sports car; only sedans and hatchbacks. Meredith.

Above: This car is designed by Frederick W. Stiles and the body built by James Young.

ALBERTA RIDES 16 Add your events to the SVAA calendar!

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ALBERTA RIDES 17 What Factors Affect the Value of My Collector Vehicle?

Norm Flanders, Calgary AB

Appraisers are expected to place a value on the car for transmissions, etc. are considered more collectible than resale, insurance or a variety of other reasons. Anyone those without. Trucks are another matter again, with that has owned a collector vehicle has likely encountered features such as four wheel drive, style, and box size a situation where two people have very different opinions sometimes are thought to change the collectability of the as to the value of a vehicle. There are many factors that truck. For all vehicles but particularly for exotic cars, often might affect value of any vehicle and to do a proper job, a the lower the production volumes for any particular model knowledgeable appraiser must consider them all. Appraisers improves collectability. In general, such owners prefer to are subject to the same biased opinions as everyone else; own something “unique” and rare. They also tend to prefer based on their past experience and preferences. These have a degree of luxury with features such as leather, and driver’s to be overcome to create an accurate appraisal. One of the comfort options usually desirable. ways of reducing the level of bias in establishing a value is to use a rational methodology to consider as many factors as For many sports or track race cars, the opposite is true possible. and a performance power train, suspension and brakes and fewer options that might negatively affect handling Collectability or performance generally increase collectability. If a The major factor affecting collector vehicle values is vehicle has some history, this too can dramatically change collectability. All vehicles are collectible, but some are collectability. There are many examples of this. Older more collectible than others. There are no exact rules to sports cars or drag racers that have a documented history predict collectability but there are some subjective factors of winning races for example, will often fetch premium that play a role. If you polled a number of people at a car values at auction sales. Sometimes an entire model line show I daresay that most people would say they’d rather own can be affected by history. Aston Martin DB5 models were a GTO than a VW beetle. This is stated with all due respect only produced from 1963 – 1965 meaning a very limited to all VW vehicle owners. They are fine cars, but in general, production run of just over 1000 cars according to some it appears to me that most people would prefer to own sources. That alone makes them quite collectible. The DB5 something else. The more collectible a vehicle might be, model was also chosen as the “James Bond” car and this generally the more value it is likely to have. This is largely a has very likely increased the value of these cars even more subjective matter that considers the rarity of the vehicle in than one would expect for a typical rare British Sports Car. question and how “collectible” that vehicle might be. Compare values of 1963 – 1965 Jaguar XKE’s to the same era Aston Martin to see that provenance can have a major Everyone has their preferences of course and “rules” effect on value. governing collectability vary according to the type of vehicle. Muscle cars with large V8 engines are more Unfortunately the collectability of a vehicle is often in the collectible than the same car with a small V8, or heaven eye of the beholder and no two appraisers or owners will forbid a six cylinder power plant. Arguably, for this type completely agree 100 % of the time. Collectability can of vehicle, four speed transmissions are generally more be very unpredictable and what is considered a collector collectible than three speed transmissions or automatics. vehicle today does not mean that it will be collectible If however you are looking at luxury vehicles, cars with tomorrow. This is really only important if you purchase your more convenience options, power accessories, automatic vehicle as an investment. The bottom line should be if you

ALBERTA RIDES 18 SVAA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

May 2, 2015 Held at the CAVAC Original Red Deer Swap Meet 12:30 p.m. at Westerner Park

For more information visit www.svaalberta.com

like a vehicle, then buy it and enjoy it while you can. I know level of professionalism in the collector vehicle appraisal that readers can probably think of an exception to every business. It has attempted to make member appraisers guideline mentioned above. Owning a collector car can be a aware of these issues and established some standards in very personal and emotional experience. To some extent all order to improve the quality of appraisals owners receive. If exotic and muscle cars were marketed to a potential owners you would like to contact an SVAI member in your area you emotions. Being aware of these issues and taking them into can find more information on our website www.svai.ca consideration makes the task of an appraiser challenging to say the least. Understanding them helps the owner realize why two people might disagree as to value. The Specialty Vehicle Appraisal Institute of Alberta, often known as SVAI, is a non-profit organization with the goal of improving the

2015 International Antique Auto Meet

July 2-5, 2015

In the heart of the Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek AB Hosted by the Southern Alberta Antique & Classic Auto Club

Go to SAACAC.com for information and registration forms or call Byron at 403 485-8501

ALBERTA RIDES 19 Ray Caught in an Affair!

Malcolm Fischer, Stettler AB, with input and pictures from Keith Robertson, Calgary AB, Al Riise, Calgary AB and Jim Stuve, Red Deer AB.

Well folks, what’s changed in a hundred years? Not much, needed repairs and solutions is what he licks his lips just says you? Well our buddy Ray Fowler just can’t stand relying pondering. He was wishing for mud, and maybe quicksand, on the words of others alone. He has to experience things in and washouts on the way...but wait! They weren’t even “on person. Has to be there on the spot. No maybe’s, no doubts. the way” yet. CRASH! CLICKETY-CLICK! SMASH! Do it for real. Ray loves that sort of thing. If you called it Have you ever heard a spoked wheel hub spinning while an obsessive love affair, you wouldn’t be stretching it much. crunching the spokes as she spun, and the just sitting So what might he have been dreaming about a couple years there as content as can be? Well if not, you should o’ been back? Driving from Calgary to Edmonton just like they there because that’s exactly what happened! One minute would have driven it 100 years ago! And he broached the you’re loading up the McLaughlin and the Studey all ready subject with good friend Pat McKenna. Owners of a 100 for departure, and the next...well, let’s just say a “different” year-old 1914 McLaughlin-Buick and a 1915 Studebaker, kind of wheel setup was required? The Ray factor came respectively, their eyes got all glassy just thinkin’ about it. a-haunting!

Just imagine doing that journey just like they would have So what to do now? As you might imagine, the local tire done in 1914. Yep, just imagine! But, these two wouldn’t stores do not stock 1914 McLaughlin wheels. Who would be satisfied just imagining. Never! So, a little snooping have such a thing? Enter good friend Keith Robertson, who in Calgary’s Glenbow Museum turned up a genuine 1914 saw the despair in ol’ buddy. Ray’s bewildered eyes sent Alberta Road Guide. The real thing. And the air rang with the troupe on in the Studey. You can see from the picture the cry of, “Let’s do it!” And the planning was on. Ray below that, first of all, the original 25” Baker wheel on and Pat would not be denied, and soon they had two more McLaughlin was, well...done. adventurers to join them. Lyn said, “What the heck. No sense stopping now. Bein’ married to Ray is a constant adventure!” And ol’ banjo-pickin’ buddy Jerry Huck was more than game and immediately started researching campfire-tuned songs from 1914. They were rolling!

Now, fast forward to 2014, and mosey down 9th Avenue in Calgary and peek behind the Fairmont Palliser Hotel, and what would you see? Just like 100 years ago, a couple old touring cars parked in the back parking lot! The foursome was anxious, ready and willing, starting with City Hall, get on the road. And off the road. And everywhere the exact trail of 1914 would lead them. Everywhere! Tarp all ready to string over the cars at night to sleep under, banjo all tuned up and ready to play 'O Susanna'. Stuff loaded up and tied onto the bumpers and running boards. So what could go wrong? AMA trailered the car to Carstairs, where the crew had journeyed, and it was transferred to their “trouble trailer.” Well, this is where “the Ray factor” comes into play. Ray loves trouble. Car trouble. He lives for it, and improvising

ALBERTA RIDES 20 Keith went to his “storage of many, many things” location in Olds and brought forth all the pieces his experience had taught him to bring, and also snabbed onto an Overland Stan-Weld wheel he luckily had kept. They worked ‘til midnight resizing and adapting the Overland front wheel for back end use – see above pic, no small task – and Tuesday morning, she was ready to roll! A nice green Overland wheel on a nice blue McLaughlin. Soooo Perty! And on they journeyed.

Now it is not the intent of this piece to chronicle the adventure in detail and tell the whole story. We’ll leave that to the Fearless Foursome and anything they may write later, or to the TV special on City TV in late September. But you do get the flavour of the adventure? Wonderful!

On the right are Ray, Lyn, Pat, and Jerry at their August 20th stop at Red Deer’s Sunnybrook Farms. You guessed it – this was one of the stops on the real journey in 1914. And you see the banner draped proudly across the derriere of Her Studeybakerness.

Ten whole minutes before the expected time of 10 a.m. when the tourers had planned to arrive at Sunnybrook, they rolled through the gate. There was great laughter and cheery news from Ray who spoke eloquently to all who gathered there. ALBERTA RIDES 21 And to the left, you see the beautiful script that adorned the car doors. They took a welcome pause at Sunnybrook (see left, below the scripts) and the museum folks started up their own 1911 McLaughlin and slid her in beside the ’14 (right below). Aren’t they a beautiful pair too? Sweet!

And while on site, Lawrence Gould presented Ray with the cherished Emile Hermary Award recognizing his valuable comradeship and skills at the recent Circle Tour in Lethbridge. Above, Jerry watches as the attending media folk catch Aficionado-of-Most-Everything, Eric Wilberg, strumming a few notes on ye olde banjo.

Yup, ‘twas a great pause for the cause, and no doubt, the trip was replete with adventure throughout. We invite you to follow subsequent reading and TV coverage of this ambitious endeavour. Once again, Ray and Company prove that Touring is indeed Timeless!

ALBERTA RIDES 22 A week is not enough! Arizona Auctions 2015

Bill Hunter, Calgary AB

Last year, I wrote a story entitled “Barrett Jackson: Three I really enjoyed the Russo & Steele Auction, the selection Days is not enough". My premise was that although three of cars was great, and they seemed to be selling. I can’t days was great, three days just was not enough time. This report on the results, we were only there for part of the day. year, thanks to the hospitality of one of our fine Alberta I already plan on going back next year! Hagerty’s website Iron Indians members (who shall remain anonymous to has a very informative section regarding sales results at protect his spare room in Scottsdale) I was able to spend a all the Arizona Auctions, and a quick check revealed that week enjoying Scottsdale and surrounding area, taking in Russo & Steel was up 3% to $19.6 million, and sold 67 several auctions, a somewhat famous wrecking yard, visiting percent of the cars on offer, a 6% gain over last year. This “snowbirds”, two Hagerty hosted events, etc. etc...and site also has video of the Hagerty seminar amongst other guess what? A week was not enough! interesting stuff. We also traveled to Mesa, for the Silver Auction one day, and it too was very enjoyable auction; cars Like I said, the “Hurtin’ Albertans” were once again invited were well presented, and there was a very nice selection to Arizona, and with a week to spend this time, we started with and without reserve. A twenty dollar entrance fee, a the planning process. Through online research, we found great venue at the Casino and a great little excursion out of it’s cheaper to buy an event pass to Barrett Jackson on line the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. Silver Auction results are also ahead of time than to buy passes daily at the gate. This available on Hagerty’s site. A also left us open to decide which other events to attend as desired. We were invited (thanks to Todd Hutcheson- We also went to the famous “Desert Valley” auto wreckers, Hagerty, and Jessica Smith-Lundgren & Young Insurance) and all I can say is wow! You have never seen such a to a great breakfast event, hosted by Hagerty at the Penske selection of old cars in a wrecking yard! Lots of great parts, Museum. Wow! What a great event; the Hagerty people well priced, and sunburn is the biggest issue, not rust! it were just great, and the Penske Museum is just a wonderful was a great way to spend a couple hours in the Arizona sun! place for a car nut in Scottsdale! The event featured a Throw in a few visits with the lucky, retiree “snow birds” discussion about the collector car hobby, how current we know from home and a few days at Barrett Jackson, and economic conditions and demographics are, and how they guess what?! A week is not enough! I need to retire, Karen... will affect our hobby. It also included a panel of people we need to talk...you know how you love gardening? Brian directly involved in several aspects of the hobby including has a tree growing in his garden in Scottsdale! More Ken Lingenfelter from Lingenfelter and Wayne Carini who next year. you might recognize from ‘Chasing Classic Cars”. There was great discussion and it was a great event all around.

We moved on to the Russo & Steel Auction, near this auction are more Alberta collector car auctions so it feels a bit more like home. Russo & Steel had very nice cars, all presented very well in outside tents. This Auction seems a bit more in line with the average hobbyist. Some cars are offered with reserves, for the added comfort of sellers. Cars moved into an arena to cross the block, the ring was tight and action packed, just like an auction should be. MEMBER CLUBS

If you are looking for a club in your area or a club with a particular focus, you should find it here. For the most up to date list visit www.svaamembers.info

Alberta Iron Indians Pontiac Club (Calgary) Calgary Plymouth & Friends Car Club Didsbury Car Club First Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Varies First Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ABC Country Restaurant Denny's on 16 Avenue NE Didsbury Museum 11520 24 St SE Rockyview County, AB Didsbury, AB Calgary, AB Phone: (403) 994-0845 Phone: 403-650-2009 Calgary Thunderbird Club First Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Edmonton Antique Car Club Alberta Iron Indians Pontiac Club Royal Canadian Legion First Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (Edmonton) 9202 Horton Road SW Northern Alberta Pioneers & Descendents Last Monday 7:00 p.m. Calgary, AB Association ABC Country Restaurant Phone: 403-251-3339 9430 - 99 Street 1380 Avenue & 127 Street Edmonton, AB St. Albert, AB Central Alberta Vintage Auto Club Phone: (780) 465-4041 Phone: 780-940-2641 Second Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Golden Circle Elk Point Auto Club Alberta Super Run Association Red Deer, AB Second Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Car Show Phone: 780-352-6949 Magic Pizza First Sunday at Noon Elk Point, AB Westerner Park Chipman Car Crafters Car Club Phone: (780) 724-2527 Red Deer, AB Second Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Phone: 403-250-7046 Chipman Town Office Foothills Street Rod Association Chipman, AB Second Monday at 7:00 p.m. Antique Willys Association Phone: (780) 363-2324 www.fsra.ca Innisfail Legion Calgary, AB Crossfield, AB Cold Lake Cruisers Car Club Phone: 403-259-4764 Phone: 403-932-2675 Second Monday at 7:00 p.m. A&W Cold Lake Ford Central Club Bonnyville Gear Grabbers Car Club Cold Lake, AB First Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Irregular Phone: (780) 639-3084 MGM Ford Lincoln Agricultural Society Red Deer, AB Bonnyville, AB Crowsnest Pass Wheel Nuts 403-505-9811 Phone: 780-815-1980 Hillcrest, AB Phone: (403) 563-3844 Just Kruzin' Specialty Vehicle Club Calgary Firebird Club Second Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Last Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Cypress Rod & Custom Car Club Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds Calgary Motor Products First Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Lloydminster, AB Calgary, AB Member garages 780-205-2154 Phone: 403-686-6048 Medicine Hat, AB Phone: (403) 526-0545

ALBERTA RIDES 24 Lebarons Car Club Southern Alberta Antique & Classic Auto Touring Tin Car Club Last Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Club Second Monday at 7:30 p.m. Member garages First Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Member's homes Lethbridge, AB Atco Gas Auditorium Edmonton, AB 403-328-2923 Lethbridge, AB Phone: 780-862-4748 Phone: 403-380-4825 Lloydminster Auto Club Vegreville Iron Runners Auto Club First Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Southern Alberta Drag Racing Association First Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. except Jan & Heritage Bldg. Weaver Park FIrst Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Aug Lloydminster, AB 1610 – 31 Street N \Vegreville Historical Society Museum 780-871-2553 Lethbridge, AB Vegreville, AB Phone: 403-320-7272 Phone: 780-632-4279 Medicine Hat Vintage Vehicle Club First Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. St. Albert Cruisers Vintage Sports Car Club of Calgary Veiner Centre Second Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Second Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. 225 Woodman Avenue SE St. Albert Inn Austrian-Canadian Club Medicine Hat, AB St. Albert, AB Calgary, AB 403-527-3678 Phone: 780-499-5546 West Central Alberta Classic Club Peace Classic Wheels Stampede City Model A Ford Club First Thursday at 8:30 p.m. Third Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Second Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Athabasca Valley Hotel Dunvegan Motor Inn Club Garage Hinton, AB Fairview, AB Calgary, AB Phone: 780-223-0974 Phone: 780-835-0544 Phone: 403-282-9655 Western Wheels Classic Auto Club Ponoka Piston Poppers Studebaker Drivers Club, Foothills Chapter First Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. First Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. First Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. March to October Member garages Austrian Canadian Club Tamarach Inn Ponoka, AB Calgary, AB Rocky Mountain House, AB Phone: 403-782-9390 Phone: 403-247-0581 Phone: 403-845-2335

Porcupine Hills Classic Cruisers Club Sylvan Lake Customs & Classics 6 p.m. on Sunday's, April – Sept First Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Klein Auto Sales Legion Hall Claresholm, AB Sylvan Lake, AB Phone: 403-625-6023 Phone: 403-887-7047

Prairie Motor Brigade Taber Corn Country Cruisers Club Second Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Second Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Smitty's in Airdrie Taber Legion Crossfield, AB Taber, AB Phone: 403-823-0333 Phone: 403-223-1581

River City Classics Car Club The Cruisers Club of Red Deer First Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Second Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. High River Agricultural Museum Burger Baron High River, AB Red Deer, AB Phone: 403-652-7226 Phone: 403-886-4016

ALBERTA RIDES 25 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

All information contained herein was compiled by the SVAA for all to use. We encourage reprinting of the information and would appreciate credit for its use. To advertise your club events here and on the SVAA website visit www.svaalberta.com or call Dave Scragg at 780-962-8430.

Feb 20 - 22 May 1 - 2 May 23 49th Annual World of Wheels The Original CAVAC 45th Annual Red Deer 11th Annual Vintage, Classic & Specialty BMO Centre, Stampede Grounds. Swap Meet at Westerner Park. Vehicle Show & Pancake Breakfast. Pancake Contact Bill Knecht at 403-936-8446 Friday 3:00 - 9:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 - Breakfast from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m., Gates worldofwheels.com 4:00 p.m. Contact Art Burgess at open at 8:00 a.m. First 10 drivers pre 403-358-4404 or registered vehicles at the gate will receive Feb 28 [email protected] a free breakfast. Pre registration will be Northwest Cruise Calendar available after February 1 by phone or Contact Les Edwards at 403-275-3830 May 2 by e-mail. Those not pre registering can [email protected] SVAA Annual General Meeting at CAVAC regsiter at the gate until 10:30 am. Contact Original Red Deer Swap Meet, at 12.30 Lawrence Gould at 403-227-1883 or Mar 11 - 15 p.m. at Westerner Park. For more 403-302-2694, or [email protected] Calgary International Auto & Truck Show at information svaalberta.com. BMO Centre, Stampede Grounds. May 31 autoshowcalgary.com May 9 Calgary Firebird Club’s Annual Charity Show calgarymotordealers.com Didsbury Show & Shine in Didsbury, AB. n Shine. Held at the MacLeod Trail Hooters. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. with a Registration is $10.00 and starts at Apr 10 - 12 $10.00 fee. Show from 8:00 - 5:00 p.m. 9:00 am. Show 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Portland Swap Meet held in Portland, OR. Charity of choice is "Essentials For Our Charity supported is the "Children’s Wish portlandswapmeet.com Community". Semi Trucks are welcome. Foundation". 503-678-2100 Contact Gil at 403-994-0845. Contact [email protected]

Apr 22 - Sept May 22 - 24 Jun 7 Show'n'Shine at Grey Eagle Casino, Calgary. 41st Annual Okotoks Collector Car Auction. Chipman Car Crafters Annual Show'n'Shine, Every Wednesday for the driving season. Preview starts on Friday from Registration from 9:00 a.m. to noon with a 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., open 9:00 a.m. on $10.00 fee. Show starts at 9:00 a.m. with Apr 24 - Sept Saturday. Sale starts at 10:00 a.m. trophy presentation at 4:00 p.m. Pancake SVAA sponsored A&W Cruisin' The Dub 403-938-4139 Breakfast starts 9:00 a.m, Ukrainian food Show'n'Shine. Junction of Deerfoot & 403-272-8348 available during the day. Entertainment, Glenmore. Eery Friday night of the driving [email protected] 50/50 draw, gate prizes. Local charities season. okotokscarauction.com supported. Contact Alfred Zips at 780-363-2324 or [email protected] Apr 26 May 23 30th Anniversary Spring Thaw Show'n'Shine. 4th Annual May Madness Car Show'n'Shine Grey Eagle Casino. Registration starts at fundraiser for STARS Air Ambulance. Starts 8:00 a.m.; show from 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. at 9:00 a.m at NAIT South Campus. First 525 cars only. Support the Food Bank Contact Nichole Olenek at with cash or food donation. [email protected] niftyfiftysfordclub.ca facebook.com/MayMadnessCarShow

ALBERTA RIDES 26 “Dropsicles” Paul Gordash

Garry Cooper, St.Albert AB

Many grey-haired classic car fellows proudly wear T-shirts cruise Jasper Avenue on Saturday nights. Keeping with the that declare: Old Guys Rule! And at show ‘n’ shine car cold Canadian theme, the Dropsicles call their annual show shows in Alberta that’s pretty much true. Old guys with their and shine “Meltdown.” They have raised over $30,000 for ‘50s classic and muscle cars from the 60s, 70s and 80s charity in the last 15 years, starting by supporting the Youth – some with high-horsepower Hemi engines - dominate the Emergency Shelter and more recently helping the Alberta categories. But is that such a good thing? Of course, if you Cancer Foundation. are an old guy that rules, you probably think all is well. Paul still co-ordinates and promotes the club with However, if you are a young guy or gal who likes to membership reaching as high as 40 young car nuts. Over customize their late model smaller, economically-powered the years, chapters started in Calgary, Red Deer, Grande rides and want to compete for trophies in the scores of Prairie and, for a while Lethbridge and Vancouver. Besides S&S’s every summer in this car-crazy province, well – not minitrucks and compacts, members drive and show full- so much. sized trucks, imports, SUVs, and vans.

They’re not revolutionaries, but prefer to call their concerns The minitruck world started by building budget cruisers. an ‘evolution” in the collector car show and shine hobby. This has evovled into trucks with fancy paint jobs, The younger custom car enthusiasts with their style of massive billet wheels, LS motors, and custom fabricated automobiles feel left out of the mainstream action. They suspensions and frames. It takes some skillful calculations want in, but are not being accommodated enough to attract and fabrication to fit in the big wheels and keep the them into the show scene. As the Old Guys that Rule age chassis hugging the pavement when it’s “laid out” by the and drop out of S&S competition, will there be enough air suspension from its . Getting the maximum younger custom car hobbyists around to keep public out of wheel size and “drop” is “for bragging rights”, says entertainment interests going? That’s a growing concern Paul. “It’s like: Look what I’ve done. How cool is that? these days, and it is being recognized as a “generation gap” “Minitrucks started as low-budget builds. They pioneered problem. It’s a problem that Edmonton’s Paul Gordash has lowering techniques such as seeing what effect is made by been dealing with for some years now, more recently as cutting a quarter coil. Then came custom coil & leaf springs North Vice President on the executive team of the Specialty and by 1995 were doing air suspension, starting with simple Vehicles Association of Alberta. air shocks and evolving into using air bags.

Last summer was the 20th anniversary of the formation of “We shaved handles, chopped tops” just like the hot rod Dropsicles Custom Truck and Car Club. Paul, now 44, and a builders. Now the hot rod builders are taking a page from handful of young Edmonton guys founded the club in 1994. us on air suspension” The young custom car guys pretty They were a group who turned out on hot summer weekend much have their own dictionary. A new trend is labelled evenings to cruise Jasper Avenue with their Mazda, S-10 “hellaflush”. That’s were fabricators put camber on all and Ranger minitrucks. They decided to form a club for four wheels and stretch tires in such a way that --- Aw, their lowered (or dropped) customized vehicles. forgeddaboudit! It’s over my head. Besides, the practice has been banned by Quebec’s motor vehicle branch in that A minitruck club in the Great White North . . . hmmm . . . province. This legislation, although targeting something dropped trucks. . . cold as an icicle. Eureka! Let’s call club foreign to most of you, sets a precedent for the government Dropsicles. They designed a logo decal and slapped one on to legislate how you build your car. the back windows of each of their beloved minitrucks to

ALBERTA RIDES 27 “Radically hopping or dancing hydraulic low-riders are not Paul and his Dropsicles people would like to see many of our style”, says Paul emphatically, “I’ve watched dancing Alberta’s largest show and shine competitions accommodate low-rider displays in Southern California and it’s crazy. custom truck and car entries with categories and classes It’s chaotic. Dropping those cars from the point of having that would attract the newer generation – classes for the headlights in the sky back down to pavement often vehicles such as minitrucks, full-sized trucks, SUVs, breaks ball joints. Wheels will break clean off. High-voltage european sports cars, and import tuners. Many are systems to run hydraulic pumps sometimes light the trunks beginning to agree that a new generation of show car on fire and rear-ends come apart. Chaos!” vehicles for shows must be developed. Paul hopes to convince car club show and shine sponsors in Alberta that These new generation hot-rodders can compete with the Old the Old Guys Rule should make way and encourage the Guys that rule. In the World of Wheels a year ago in Calgary, evolution of new generation custom truck and car guys. But, that city’s Dropsicles club member, J.D. Zajicek, won a wait a second. Would that mean that show and shine sound first-place trophy with his Chevy Luv. systems that play ‘50s Rock and Roll would also have to add in Rap and Hip-Hop?

Coming to a Mailbox Near You

Ted Lobley, Image courtesy of Harry Bullock, Calgary AB

It is 1928. You are the proud owner of a Ford Model T that Nowadays, we have fancy databases with hundreds if not just got old as Ford has introduced the Model A. Your dealer thousands of names so we can personalize, print and bulk sees an opportunity to make some money keeping your T in mail advertising – junk mail to most of us. How times have top shape and this arrives in your mailbox. changed!

Now put yourself in the Ford dealer’s shoes. To do a promotion the dealer needs a target list. The list, hand written, is most likely in a ledger. Someone has to be hired to copy the addresses from the ledger to the cards, stamp and mail them. Note the address: nothing but the town name.

ALBERTA RIDES 28 Original Antique Auto Swap Meet Hosted by the Central Vintage Auto Club

May 1 - 2, 2015 Open to the public Friday 3 pm to 9pm Saturday 8am to 4pm

Westerner Park Red Deer Alberta $5 Entry Fee | Children under 12 free

Two days of antique, classic and hot rod cards, parts and automobilia!

Contact Art at 403 358 4404 or email [email protected]

ALBERTA RIDES 29 New Rules for Exporting Vehicles From the U.S.

Art & Eileen Jewell, Calgary AB

On September 30, 2014 Eileen and I left for Minnesota in their New York office. With the information we gave her to pick up a 1920 Model T Coupe which we, or should I over the phone, Donna filled out the form and emailed it to say Eileen, purchased in June. Prior to leaving, we had us along with our ITN, for a cost of $85.00 US. We again confirmed all the requirements for exporting a vehicle from emailed the original three documents, along with our ITN the US. We had the Bill of Sale, the US Customs and number to Whitlash, Montana four days before we planned Border Protection Vehicle/Equipment Worksheet, and would to cross the border, with the car, at Sweetgrass, Montana. pick up the Vehicle Title when we arrived in Chatfield, Minnesota. Copies of this information were to be forwarded We arrived at US Customs in Sweetgrass with the Bill of to Whitlash, Montana, at least 72 hours in advance of Sale, the Vehicle Title, US Customs and Border Worksheet crossing the border, on our return to Canada, at Sweetgrass, and our Internal Tracking Number (ITN). The first question Montana. Customs asked was, “do you have and ITN?” We gave the official our ITN, she went to a computer, pulled up On October 4th, we emailed copies of the three documents the information we had emailed, stamped the original from Chatfield, Minnesota to Whitlash Export in Montana, Certificate of Title, and said “we were good to go, have as required, and got an immediate reply stating that our a nice day”. It took all of 10 minutes. They didn’t look paperwork had been rejected because we did not provide in the trailer or see the car. US Customs told us the the required “Internal Tracking Number” (ITN). They requirement of the Internal Tracking Number had been explained that an ITN is now required by the US Census implemented a week before we crossed the border. They Bureau, in addition to the documentation we had forwarded. also told us that all information must now be forwarded by They told us that an ITN could be obtained by contacting email. Faxes will no longer be accepted. a freight forwarder or customs broker. Canadian citizens cannot obtain an ITN any other way. They gave us a link to We then proceeded to Canada Customs where they filled out customs brokers in the Montana and Idaho area. a Vehicle Import Form and charged us the required GST, also without looking in the trailer or seeing the car. Canada We contacted AN Deringer Inc., a broker in Sweetgrass , Customs told us that we should carry their Vehicle Import Montana and they emailed us a form, titled “Shippers Letter Form with us anytime we re-cross the border with the car. of Instructions”, and advised us to fill out all the indicated areas and return it to them. They said if we had questions It looks like brokers now want a piece of the action, when to call ”Donna” at a given telephone number. The form was we personally bring a car we have purchased across the very complicated and asked for information that was not border, and their involvement of course comes at a cost. applicable to us, so we phoned Donna, who turned out to be

ALBERTA RIDES 30 SVAA Insurance Package Top notch protection at low cost

Why do we, as specialty vehicle club people, have If you are an Officer or Director of your club, you will insurance? want coverage. It is your responsibility in your role to act One word: PROTECTION. The SVAA has for many years in a reasonable and prudent manner . That being said, worked with its broker to provide a comprehensive in the litigious culture of today, directors and officers insurance program to clubs at reasonable cost. are being named in lawsuits even when they are not apparently involved. The SVAA insurance program What do we get? covers the cost of your legal defence. Our sanctioned events and meetings have General Liability coverage ranging from bodily injury and Our current limit is $1,000,000.00. property damage to volunteer medical payments. It also includes setup and takedown at club events, all club What does the SVAA insurance program cost us? meetings and events such as swap meets and fundraisers. Further, the insurance company acts on our behalf and our Using a club with 20 members as an example, the cost member clubs when there is an incident. All volunteers of insurance is $110 per year. A Certificate of Insurance and committees are covered. is sent to the club upon receipt of their application for membership. Additional Certificates covering specific Our current limit is $5,000,000. events are provided as needed at no additional charge. Insurance is available only to SVAA member clubs.

This summary is issued as a matter of information only and is subject to application of terms and conditions the actual policies placed by SVAA.

For more information: [email protected] ALBERTA RIDES 31 JACK CARTER CHEVROLET Fueling Calgary’s Passion for Classic Cars

Jackcarterchev.com 403-258-6300 Deerfoot at Douglasdale