CADILLAC & LASALLE REGIONAL UPDATE
The VOICE of the Iowa CrossRoads Region
September 2007
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007
Welcome to the Iowa CrossRoads Cadillac & LaSalle Region Newsletter! Please remember . . .The success of our newsletter is dependent upon the contributio ns made by our members
Nancy Kirstein and Noel Friday are happy to coordinate the production of a monthly newsletter for the Iowa CrossRoads Region. Nancy’s email address is: [email protected]. Her cell phone is 515-229-1427. Noel’s phone is 641-342-3137. * * * * * * Iowa CrossRoads Region – Cadillac & LaSalle Club Officers and Newsletter Contacts
JIM PITTMAN – Director DAVID L. TWOMBLEY – Treasurer National Board of Directors 2305 Linda Circle 40 Omega Place Urbandale, IA 50322-5206 8525 Douglas Ave. (515) 253-2618 Urbandale, IA 50322 [email protected] (515) 278-5018 Cell: (515) 249-5018 NANCY KIRSTEIN & NOEL FRIDAY [email protected] Newsletter P.O. Box 280 JEFFREY KRAUSMAN – Secretary Osceola, IA 50213 Dickinson Mackaman Tyler & Hagen PC (641) 342-3137 699 Walnut Street, Suite 1600 [email protected] Des Moines, Iowa 50309
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Website Addresses: National Cadillac & LaSalle Club www.cadillaclasalleclub.org Iowa CrossRoads Club: www.iowacrossroadsregion.org Betts Cadillac: www.bettsautos.com
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Renewal of your National Cadillac & LaSalle Club Dues Your copy of “The Self-Starter” magazine indicates the expiration date of your national Cadillac & LaSalle Club dues. On the outside wrapper, just above your name and address is the date of your dues expiration.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Maurine Edmond July 26 – A Belated Wish Jim & Elise Galinsky August 30, 1964 - A Belated Wish
Karen Repp September 19 Lyle and Lorie Dahl September 11, 1971
If your birthday or anniversary have not been included, please forward them to Nancy Kirstein.
Member News
Jim Johnson will be having foot surgery on August 31. His home address is: 10227 Blakesburg Road, Ottumwa, IA 52501. Jim, we wish you a speedy recovery!
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007
Colored Pencil drawing on Canson Mi-Tientes Paper 18”x24” By Dan Reed Illustration Jim Pittman’s 1956 Derham Sixty Special
First, a little story about the above drawing. My family, mainly our son John, spotted an advertisement by Dan Reed Illustrations in one of my car magazine; he proceeded to contact Mr. Reed by phone and email, and commissioned him to draw a picture of my 1956 Derham. John gathered pictures of my car, from my collection, (I have more than one of it you know) and sent them to Dan and they then visited about the content of the rest of the drawing and John thought it would be nice to have it setting in front of the Salisbury House. Dan proceeded to look at Salisbury’s web site, since he had never been there, to get ideas. This past Christ mas morning I was very surprised and, very overwhelmed when I unwrapped this gorgeous drawing by Dan. At the 2007 Grand National in Savannah, Georgia, I had the pleasure of meeting Dan, and expressing to him how much I enjoy the picture. I look at it every day in my of fice, directly in front of my desk.
The original owner of the car was Mrs. Helen De Young Cameron, wife of George T. Cameron, the publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle from 1925-1955. Mr. Cameron died in 1955, but this did not stop his widow from continuing to live large. The car was ordered and delivered new to San Francisco, CA. then shipped to the Custom-body firm Derham located in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, PA. Ownership and dates of the car after Mrs. Cameron’s ownership is somewhat murky, including a few noted Cadillac collectors along the way.
Standard Derham design elements were the closed rear quarters and the padded top. A smaller limousine could be had by using the 60 Special as a platform, rather than the longer wheelbase Series 75. Incorporating a division glass between front and rear compartments, plus the addition of the Derham script on the side of the hood completed the package.
The only files that exist today on Derham Body Company are located at the Gilmore CCCA Museum in Hickory Corners, MI. I have a letter from the museum stating they have searched the Derham Body Company files for 1956 Cadillac 60 Series cars for custom bodies they may have manufactured, and find only one record. This is the car identified as being sold to a Mrs. Cameron of San Francisco.
Now you know why my license plate is “1 of 1”.
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007
Calendar Of Events For 2007
September 29 12:00 Noon – Lineup for Pancake Day parade in Centerville (See article below) October 21 3:30-5:00 p.m., Business Meeting, Urbandale Library; Dinner after meeting November 3 Joint Christ mas Party with Buick Club, Amanas (Bring a $5 grab bag gift) December 15 6:00 p.m. – CLC Christ mas Party, Christopher’s Restaurant, 2816 Beaver, Des Moines
Please watch the newsletter for details and newly scheduled events. Always remember, “The More the Merrier” so don’t miss out on the fun. MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Pancake Day Parade - September 29, 2007 – 12:00 Noon Centerville, Iowa
DeWayne Repp has made arrangements for the Iowa CrossRoads Region to participate in the annual Pancake Day Parade in Centerville on September 29.
The lineup begins at 12:00 Noon on Washington Street, east of Main Street in Centerville. The parade starts promptly at 1:00 p.m.
DIRECTIONS: On Highway 5 from Albia, go to first stoplight in Centerville, turn south on 5. Go 3 blocks to Washington.
Please contact DeWayne at 641-932-5506 for additional information. Also, please let DeWayne know if you are planning to be in the parade.
Business Meeting of Iowa CrossRoads Region October 21 – 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Urbandale Library
Our next business meeting and planning session will be on October 21 at the Urbandale Library, 3520 – 86th Street from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Following the meeting, we’ll plan to have dinner together at, as of now, an undetermined location.
Please plan to attend as we make plans for our future activities.
Report of Joint Meeting with Buick Club - August 18 – Marshalltown, Iowa
The day was beautiful with a most welcome change in the weather from HOT to cool. We met at the Tree House just east of Marshalltown in hopes of having a tour. However, the owners were unwilling to grant the tour because of wet steps and their concern of someone being injured. We then drove to Pat Brooks’ garage where he is restoring the only existing Spaulding for the Transportation Museum in Grinnell. We had lunch together at the Tremont followed by a joint business meeting of the two groups. Those attending agreed that additional joint meetings would be beneficial to both our groups.
We then went our separate ways. Many of us shopped in the antique stores and at Lily Mae’s Candy Shop. Those attending from CrossRoads Region were Lyle and Lori Dahl, Steve and Joel Fox, Noel Friday and Nancy Kirstein, Jim and Karen Pittman, DeWayne Repp and Bill and Nora Schlenker
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007
DIRECTORS COLUMN - September 2007
Jim Pittman
Karen and I just recently returned from the Grand National and we had a great time as usual. We are sorry a change in plans prevented our fellow club members from going.
We left early so we could meet other members from various regions in Atlanta. There were between 40 and 50 of us that toured Atlanta and the surrounding area for two days before caravanning on to Savannah.
Mike Posey of the Peac h State Region showed us what “Southern Hospitably” was all about. He and his mother graciously hosted a cocktail party Sunday evening at their home. On Monday Mike had a bus tour planned for us which included a tour of the home of the author of “Gone With The Wind”, Margaret Mitchell, the Coca Cola Museum, and a cemetery where many veterans of the Civil War were laid to rest, (one memorial was for 30,000 unknown Confederate soldiers) and the richest street in Atlanta (multi million dollar houses). On Tuesday we toured the car collection owned by the founder of “Chick–fil-A”, Mr. Truett Cathy. He had a collection of over 200 cars; following that we toured the Dickey Peach Orchard. We all enjoyed Peach ice cream and the history of the orchard. Then it was on to Savannah.
Savannah is a beautiful city and full of history. The region had planned great tours and Karen was able to go on all of them. I was only able to go on the historic one Thursday as I had board meetings (the club and museum) on Wednesday and Friday.
There were nearly 800 in attendance but only 100+ cars for judging. I think people hesitated to drive their old cars in the hot humid weather. Yes, it was very humid but we expected that. We were lucky that the temperatures stayed in the 80’s most days.
This was the seventh Grand National we have attended and we have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. We continue to hear how much everyone enjoyed Iowa and the 2005GN. Next year is the 50 th Anniversary of the club and it will be in Cherry Hills, New Jersey, hosted by the Valley Forge Region. I think you should start to think about making hotel reservations now. They really have some great tours planned and I’m sure it will be quite an event.
As you all know, our next event is participation in the parade at Pancake Day in Centerville on September 29. I certainly hope you are planning to be a part of it, as we need to make a good showing. I will be planning a caravan later and will announce where and what time.
We will be having a business and planning meeting October 21 at the Urbandale Library at 3:30 p.m. with adjournment by 5:00 p.m. and dinner somewhere afterwards. We have several things to discuss and we will give more details on the GN2007 and 2008.
Be sure to check the calendar of events elsewhere in the newsletter for up-coming activities.
O yes, somebody told Karen they had heard we were planning another GN, that people really wanted to come back to Iowa. Are some of you planning something we do not know about??? If so, GOOD LUCK.!!!
Until Next Time Jim
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007
Pictures From The 2007 Grand National
My Favorite car at the GN- No this is not mine; it belongs to a member from Georgia
Mr. Truett Cathy of Chick-fil-A standing in front of his car collection
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007
Pictures From The 2007 GN
Jim and Karen at the award banquet.-Smile pretty-some can some can’t
Al and Maurine Edmond’s car now owned by a member in Florida-still admired by many
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007
William C. Durant - Founder of General Motors 1861-1947
William C. Durant was born on December 8th, 1861 in Boston Mass. He quit high school to begin work in his grandfather's Flint, Michigan, lumberyard. By 1885 he had partnered with Josiah Dallas Dort to organize the Coldwater Road Cart Company, which would become a leading manufacturer of horse-drawn carriages. By 1890, Durant-Dort Carriage Company was the nation's largest carriage company, producing approximately 50,000 horse-drawn vehicles a year.
In 1904, Billy Durant was approached by James Whiting of the Buick Company to promote his automobiles. Whiting persuaded Durant to join Buick as General Manager. In his first act as Buick's GM, Durant moved the Buick assembly operations briefly to Jackson, and then began construction on a large Buick complex in Flint. In three short years Buick led the U.S. automobile production by manufacturing 8,820 vehicles. Between 1904 and 1908, Durant was made Buick's president and established several essential parts and accessory companies such as Weston-Mott and Champion Ignition Company.
By 1908 the top four auto producers in the U.S. were Buick, Reo (headed by Ransom E. Olds), Maxwell -Briscoe, (headed by Benjamin and Frank Briscoe) and Ford (headed by Henry Ford). Benjamin Briscoe wanted all four producers to merge and form one large company. Negotiations began in New York with J. P. Morgan's son-in-law, Herbert Satterlee, and ended when Ford demanded cash instead of stock. and along with Reo pulled out of the deal.
Still determined to start this new auto company, Durant, at Satterlee's suggestion, dropped the proposed name "International Motor Car Company" and settled on "General Motors" as the new name for his company.
On September 16, 1908, Durant incorporated General Motors of New Jersey (GM) with a capital investment of $2,000. Within 12 days the company issued stocks that generated over $12,000,000 in cash. General Motors then purchased Buick with stock. Six weeks later, GM acquired the Olds Corporation of Lansing, Michigan.
Next, Durant completed a deal with financially troubled Oakland Company. Oakland was located in Pontiac, Michigan, and would later be renamed -- you guessed it -- Pontiac. Finally, Durant sought to acquire Cadillac Motor Car Company from the Leland father/son team. The Leland’s did not want stock and like Henry Ford, would only settle for cash to the tune of $4.5 million.
GM could not raise this amount of money, but Buick, the cash cow, could. So, Cadillac was bought with Buick funds, thereby becoming a subsidiary of Buick. Eventually, though, GM purchased Cadillac from Buick. During this same period, Durant also acquired many truck and parts supply companies, including AC-Delco, which he helped form with Albert Champion and still bears his initials today.
In an 18 month burst of aggressive wheeling and dealing, Durant purchased, acquired or incurred a substantial interest in almost 30 auto makers. However, all this wheeling and dealing came at a price. Durant became financially overextended and consequently, lost control of GM to banking interests in 1910.
Undeterred, Durant partnered up with Louis Chevrolet to form Chevrolet Motor Company in 1911 and used the profits from Chevrolet to regain control of GMC in 1915. However, Durant's management style once again proved troublesome and he resigned in 1920 under an agreement with, then GM president Pierre Du Pont in exchange for Du Pont's paying off Durant's debts. Determined to regain his place in the automotive marketplace, Durant formed Durant Motors in 1921 and produced a line of cars bearing his name for the next 10 years. However, a declining market and the Great Depression ended Durant's automotive career in 1933.
Durant continued to create innovative ideas, but he no longer had the money to execute his plans. Near the end of his life, he operated several bowling alleys in Flint near the Buick complex. Durant was not bitter, nor did he regret his actions. Instead, he put his energy into new ventures. He believed bowling alleys were the next big thing - every family in America would spend their leisure time at bowling alleys. This venture too, proved to be unsuccessful and marked the end of long string of personal tragedies and failures that plagued Durant since the fall of the Durant Motors in 1933. From 1934 until his death, Durant dabbled in Stocks, Politics, and Social Issues. None of these later ventures reflected his former industrious thinking and he faded from public life. On March 18, 1947, William Durant died in New York City, the same year as Henry Ford, thus, marking the end of a remarkable era in automotive excellence.
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007
2007 Salisbury Automobile Classic
Ready...Set...Go! 2007 Salisbury Automobile Classic Sept. 9, Noon to 5 p.m. Adults $10. Children 6-12, $5
NOTE: You may go to salisburyhouse.org to download a coupon for 50% savings on one adult admission)
On Sunday, September 9, 2007 the majestic Salisbury House will again set the stage to showcase American culture and history. Don't miss this opportunity to get a close-up look at over 80 classic and unique automobiles, set graciously on the estate's grounds. The variety will represent the evolution of the automobile through the 20th century.
On display by invitation only, these truly vintage automobiles find themselves at home in this regal setting. There will also be musical entertainment throughout the day, as well as "Courtyard Conversations" with guest speakers.
You won't want to miss the special features of this year's event, such as the unique GM Futurliner on display.
The event includes a self-guided tour of Salisbury House, with refreshments and food available throughout the day for a nominal fee.
P.S. For the best way to begin the Salisbury Classic Weekend, celebrate 1920s-style with the 2007 Gatsby Gala!
Directions: Salisbury House is located three miles west of downtown Des Moines, IA. Exit I- 235 at 42nd Street. South to Tonawanda Drive; left on Tonawanda for one block...... All proceeds from the show benefit Salisbury House Foundation in its effort to preserve, restore and utilize Salisbury House as an educational resource and center for the arts.
The Salisbury Automobile Classic is an annual car show held to benefit Salisbury House Foundation. It is limited each year to Classic and Prestige Automobiles, plus one Special Interest Class determined by the organizing committee.
The Iowa CrossRoads Region September 2007