The Valve Clad-d-der
San Jacinto Region Vintage Chevrolet Club of America September 2014 Volume 25 Issue 9
Director: Cathy Sweet (979) 236-0792 [email protected] Board Members: Asst. Dir: Bob Kelly (281) 705-0921 [email protected] 2014 Ron Holter ([email protected]) Secretary: Sheila Bradford (281)-579-9834 [email protected] 2015 Brad Boyer ([email protected]) Treasurer: Chip Sweet (979) 236-0792 [email protected] 2016 Gary Groschke ([email protected]) Membership: Cathy Sweet (979) 233-1600 [email protected] Committee Chairs: Activities: Bryan Felt (832) 237-1767 [email protected] Swap Meet James Blanton 409-457-6489 Editor: Phil McGraw (979)297-8758 [email protected] Area 6 Joint Tour Carolyn Couch 832-449-3338 Website: Bob Kelly (281) 705-0921 [email protected] Auto Rama Gary Groschke 713-705-4828 Facebook: Krista Jordan (281)-827-3196 [email protected] Christmas Party Trish Felt 832-237-1767
Meetings: First Monday Night except as noted. 6:30PM Eat and Socialize – 7:30 Meeting. The September meeting of the San Jacinto Region VCCA will be Monday September 8th at Hickory Hollow BBQ in the Heights, 101Heights Blvd. Houston, Tx. 713-869-6300 Directors Corner September 2014 The summer has gone by so fast. Unlike some past years the SJR has been busy with 2 fun Mini Tours thanks to the work of the organizers. Clint and Kathy Allred and Bryan and Trish Felt put together the Great Newman’s Castle Tour in Bellville, Texas on June 14th. Who would have thought that we had a real castle nearly in our back yard. It was a fun and interesting tour that included a delicious lunch from Newman’s Bakery and the antics of Mike Newman, owner, architect and builder. Thanks go to Bryan and Trish Felt for planning and organizing the Hemi Hideout Tour on August 16th. There were 42 San Jacinto Region members and guests that attended. We understand a total of 200 old car club members from 4 different clubs in the Houston Area attended. We were given appetizers, salad, main meal and ice cream and cookies for dessert. It was an awesome timber building in a pristine setting that was a masterpiece in itself. It was filled with giant Neon signs, automobilia and auto collection. All compliments of the owner, a real car nut. If you missed either one of the tours you missed a great time.
The final months of the year will be busy. We have the Area Joint Tour in Albuquerque, NM, SW Fall Tour in Espanola, NM and Southern Fall Tour in Conway, then AutoRama on Thanksgiving weekend. Gary Groschke has a list of vehicles for out display and will need a bunch of volunteers to help with setup, manning the booth and teardown. We need to nominate and elect 2015 officers. I have asked our three Board members, Ron Holter, Brad Boyer, Gary Groschke to assist members in volunteering to hold an office. We need several as our current officers have held their positions for a while and deserve a break. Please contact one of the Board Members or say yes if asked to run for an office.
The next SJR meeting will be at Hickory Hollow in the Heights on Monday September 8th. I will be out of town attending the Early Six Tour in Longmont, CO so Bob Kelly will be conducting the meeting. Cathy Sweet
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Coming Events and Tours (Brian Felt)
September & October Sept. 18-20 2014 Area 6 Joint Tour, Albuquerque. NM Sept. 23-27 Fall Southwest Tour, Espanola, NM Sept 26-27 39th Annual LSR Swap Meet, Grand Prairie, TX 2014 VCCA Southern Fall Tour, October 20 through Friday, October 24, Conway, AR
Southern Fall Tour
Folks, Although the tour is full, please contact Chip or Cathy Sweet if an opening becomes available. 979-233-1600 or 979-236-0792.
I am pleased to announce that the 2014 VCCA Southern Fall Tour will be held in Conway, Arkansas (near Little Rock) Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24. Melvin and Beula Ivy graciously agreed to plan the tour while attending the Southern Spring Tour in Bowling Green, KY. They have planned varied activities including: lunch on a river boat, touring the Capital, ascending Petit Jean Mountain, Winrock Farms, visiting a working dairy as well as miles of scenic and interesting roads. The tour will begin on Monday, October 20 afternoon and end with a dinner on Friday, October 24. Plan to arrive by mid-afternoon on Monday and depart Saturday morning. The tour is for Chevrolets from the beginning 1911 through 1954. It is limited to 40 registrations so it is advised to get your form and payment sent in soon. A registration form is attached. If you have problems downloading one let us know and we can mail you one. Please make your hotel registrations directly with the Hilton Garden Inn.
We will send more information to those registered or that indicate an interest in attending as the Tour gets closer. Any questions? Let us know. We will try to help.
18th VCCA Southern Spring Tour - 2015
Hi VCCA touring friends,
It’s the dog days of summer and we’re ready for cooler weather and a new VCCA touring season. Hope your summer is going great! This is the first announcement of the 18th VCCA Southern Spring Tour - 2015.
Location: Brazoria and Galveston County, TX Dates: April 20th to April 25th , 2015
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We’re calling this tour “The Brazoria – Galveston Texas Heritage Tour”. There are so many historic places of interest, sights to see and great food to eat that we’re sure you will love this tour! This is the stomping grounds for many of our SST family and they are excited that we’re coming their way.
More details plus registration materials will be sent out in the fall when plans are finalized. SAVE THE DATE!!
Bill & Sheila Bradford [email protected] 281-579-9834 281-435-7748 cell
The Rear View Mirror
Hemi Hideout Photos by Sheila Bradford
Pierson’s ’53 & Couch’s ’66 at the Hideout
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The Front of the Hemi Hideout with a ’71 Chevelle. The VCCA was well represented by the SJR.
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Bill Bradford and Pat Plesko (guest and ’14 Vette owner) at Hemi Hideout entrance
Inside the Hideout (Trish, Cathy in the background, Hans?)
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Carolyn Couch & Carolyn Pierson,John Matejka & Marsa (?) enjoying the food
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Bryan Felt, Richard Conroy and Ray Pierson in front of ‘Waterloo Boy’ the predecessor to the John Deere tractor
Photo by Sheila Bradford
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Dodge military issue pickup (Power Wagon)
MEMBER NEWS Photos by Cathy Sweet Saga by Forest Sweet
Chip and Cathy Sweet buys a 1931 Phaeton from Ralph McEowen.
“If you want to buy it I guess you can”. Those words started an epic and memorable few months. It all started sitting in a dentist’s chair many years ago. But that is another story and not for this issue of the “Valve Clad- d-der”. This particular tale actually began a few
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years ago. A long term VCCA member and friend Ralph McEowen surveyed some of his old Chevy parts and realized that he had many of the parts which he could use to assemble a 1931 Phaeton body. He had restored or worked on at least a half dozen of the 852 reported built in 1931. That number represents a major percentage of those that are currently known to exist. Some required fabrication of parts or repair panels that were “right down the alley” for Ralph, an expert metal fabricator and accomplished woodworker. So he had the knowledge and skills to “assemble” the body. I learned of the “body project” during one of the occasional phone conversations with Ralph. I told him that I was interested in possibly purchasing the body when it was finished. I had and extra 1931 chassis given to me by Richard Conroy that he didn’t need for his ’31 Coach street rod project. The rare Phaeton body would be a great use for the chassis. Having owned at least one 1931 Chevrolet since the dentist’s chair in 1969 I amassed a collection of spare parts including enough to “assemble” the car when I acquired the body.
Each time I mentioned possibly purchasing the Phaeton body and mating it to a ’31 chassis it was met with “we don’t need it”. Undaunted I persevered only to be rebuffed again “you already have too many”, “you need to get rid of some first”, “we don’t have room for another”, “where would you put it?”, “you need to finish one we already have first”. Each time I talked to Ralph I told him I was still interested and was working on the “Boss”. Alas to no avail.
A couple of years ago Ron Eyres from Kechi, Kansas called asking about where he might get a wood kit for a 1931 Phaeton. He had talked to the wood guys who advertised in the G&D and none of them make the Phaeton wood. He was working on a ’31 Phaeton that was in a fire and needed new wood to replace the charred pieces in the body. I suggested he contact Ralph as he had made the wood in the past and might be able to help. Well, Ron did in fact call Ralph and made a deal to trade in his charred body for the one that was already put together, primed, nearly ready for paint and with brand new wood installed. He loaded the crispy body into the back of his pickup and drove to Greenville, Ohio. The assembled body replaced the blackened one for the return to Kansas minus a bunch of Ben Franklins from Ron’s wallet.
Ralph now had a body with warped sheet metal, rusting parts and nasty black wood pieces. What to do with it? Yup, straighten the metal, replace the front doors with better ones, scrap the wood pieces and install new ones. The body was installed on a spare 1931 frame to get everything lined up properly particularly since the metal parts had been altered by the flames and a stable platform would insure a proper fit. Well that wasn’t enough. He decided to restore the frame, suspension and drive train. Add a radiator, hood, lights wiring and the car was becoming more complete. Next was paint, upholstery and windshield. Top irons were duplicated from a borrowed set. I had supplied some engine and other mechanical parts so was following the progress. We even visited the project in May 2013 after the Mid-America Tour in Shipshewana,
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Indiana when I picked up some fabricated parts from my Roadster Pickup projects. The engine ran like a sewing machine. The body was due to be sent to the body shop the next couple of days. “We don’t need it.” …. “It needs lotsa work and you already have too much to do”….. Drat foiled again!
Fast forward to April 2014. Another trip to drop off a few parts and pickup more from Ralph and Kent Rehmert (taking over the metal fabrication business from Ralph). The ’31 now is painted a light tan “Coffee Cream” with chocolate “Fawn Brown” mouldings, black fenders etc. and “Swamp Holly Orange” wire wheels. It’s a very striking combination. And to top it off it was upholstered in brown vinyl by Ralph’s daughter who has done many, many old Chevrolet Phaetons, Roadsters. She is truly and expert in those old Chevrolet interiors. It still needed a top, side curtains and a few miscellaneous parts. On our way back to Bowling Green, KY for the Southern Spring Tour I heard “If you want to buy it I guess you can”. “How are we going to pay for it?” I told her I would figure that out. I drove very carefully despite a driving rain and dark of night.
I called Ralph the next morning and told him I would buy the car. He wanted me to send a check for half when I got home and then the rest when I came to pick it up. “Bring a big trailer so you can take home more parts too”. The tour in BG was particularly enjoyable. We got to see the “hole” Corvettes that were recently removed from the sink hole, many other sights and even the recently completed 1931 Phaeton owned by Ron Eyres. It had “my” body which looked great and was painted the same colors to boot, fraternal twins. Ron’s has right hand drive and rear mounted spare tire.
Cathy’s niece was moving from a three bedroom house to an apartment and had family furniture that would not fit into the smaller space. She had asked if anyone in the family wanted any of the extra pieces. Our kids each wanted a few pieces. The round Oak table with five chairs that was used by the Comstock family, a Danish modern couch that belonged to my parents, a coffee table that Cathy and I built and covered with tile pieces during early marriage were requested. I was informed that WE had to get them in Bloomington, IL before mid-June. At least that is what Cathy told me a bunch of times. I still wonder if that was a factor in her saying “If you want to buy it I guess you can”.
Well the week after the final B D K B B Q was selected to travel to Ohio to get the car. And also the furniture. It was necessary to get the enclosed trailer serviced and new tires installed as it had been several years since it was last used as a car transport. It was a lot to get done but we managed. We departed on a Thursday morning and arrived in Greenville OH a little after noon on Friday. Purchased a sack full of Made- Rites for lunch. Another story. Delivered a few parts to Kent, picked up some and then to Ralph’s. In addition to the car put a few parts in the truck and more in the trailer. Couldn’t put in too many as we had to save room for that ^&$#%!! furniture. The car purrrred as it moved under its own power into the trailer. Seemed like it was glad to be
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going to Texas. Ohio has cold winters. We got to Bloomington just before dark and had the truck and trailer loaded by a little after 10 pm. We made our stop for the night about 100 miles toward home.
We had decided to take I-44 through St Louis because of long westbound traffic delays observed on I-40 in Arkansas a couple of days earlier. While traveling near Rolla, site of the 2013 Southern Fall Tour, Cathy asked “Do you think that the guy that did the top on Ron’s car would put a top on ours?” I called Ron and asked him. Said he would check and call us back. He called back and told us that Rick Fisher would do it but could not start for a couple of weeks. He cautioned that you had to at least double the times that Rick would give you. Ron volunteered to put the car in his barn and take it to Rick if we wanted. I called Rick and made a deal to have him put on the top. Called Ron back and told him we were in Springfield and were headed his way. “I have to leave on Monday morning so you will need to be here before that”. I told him we would be there in a few hours. I noted a questioning tone to his voice. Didn’t realize that he was thinking Springfield, IL and not Springfield, MO. We arrived well before dark and parked the trailer with car inside in his backyard. He looked it over and asked if we wanted it pinstriped. He would get the lady that did his to do ours. You bet!
The pinstripping was done in a couple of days and the car taken to Rick’s. It rested in the trailer for two weeks (times a single digit number) until finally put into the upholstery shop in late July. That freed the trailer for another task (another story, stay tuned). Wednesday August 20 we got the call that the top and side curtains were finished. We left our house on Thursday afternoon, stopped by Ron Holter’s to help with his ‘28s and overnighted in Burton. Arrived in Augusta, KS about 4:30 on Friday, loaded the car, paid Rick and made it to the Eyre’s home in time to change clothes and attend the Horseless Carriage Club meeting by 6:30. There were several folks we knew from VCCA tours at the meeting/dinner (Richard & Diane Mann, Dan & Shelly Klossen, Jim Maxwell, Don & Marlene Schmidt). Saturday found us on the road to Roeland Park, KS to pickup some ’31-’32 Sedan Delivery parts and back to Kechi in time to visit the Yard salvage store and pickup some bargains. We arrived back home before dark on Sunday. It was a total of a little less than 2000 miles in three and half days. Tiring but rewarding. Yup, I would do it again.
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Photo by Cathy Sweet
For Sale
1956 Chevy 2 door Hardtop Turquoise and Ivory. Asking $33,500.
Contact Bob Sears (713)468-2128 [email protected].
Editor’s Epilog
Remember AutoRama is coming on Nov 26-30. Gary Groshke at 713-705-4828 will need cars and help with this event.
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