The Torqueflite Times The Official Publication of Mid-South VOL. 31 Issue 7 August 2017

Mid-South MOPARS – Since 1986 Dedicated to promoting, fostering, and encouraging all activities toward the collection, restoration, racing, and preservation of , , , De Soto, , , , Ram, and AMC autos and .

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Perkin’s Restaurant 1340 S. Germantown Road @ Wolf River Blvd 901-759-5938

On the web at http://www.midsouthmopars.com

Newsletter submissions to [email protected]

September’s Feature

My 2005 Dodge Neon SRT4 ACR

by Stuart Maddox

In 2005, with my daily driver (1998 Dodge Durango) getting about 12.5 MPG and gas getting higher in price every day, I decided to look for a that would get better fuel mileage. I always liked the Neon SRT4 and knew that 2005 would be the last year of production. So, off to the dealership where I test drove an “orange blast” or as I call it – “easy to find in the mall parking lot orange” SRT4 and a Chrysler PT Cruiser Turbo (aka Fritz). Both were fun but the SRT4 was a little sportier so I purchased it.

My SRT4 is the ACR version (American Club Racing) which has a different suspension setup than the standard SRT4. It’s very fast (for a 4 cyl) and corners very well. I’m not a racer but it has the power to merge with traffic easily although you must be careful with torque steer from these front wheel drive cars.

2005 Dodge Neon SRT4 ACR Specs –

230 HP (with cold air intake) turbo 4 cyl (2.4 liter)

5 speed manual

4-wheel disc brakes

Go Fast wing

Racer Boy looks.

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It’s very fun to drive unless you’re stuck in rush hour traffic. I get a lot of looks from young people whom I sure are wondering why an old grey- haired guy is driving this car. Gas mileage is 23 mpg. In 5th gear, it turns 2500RPM at 65 mph. It really needs a 6th gear to get better mileage. All in all, I’m very happy with my 2005 Dodge Neon SRT4 ACR.

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About two weeks before Christmas, I dress the SRT4 up to become the Santa Car. I install Christmas lights front and back along with a Rudolph nose and antlers. All the kids in the family love to see me pull up in the Santa car during Christmas.

Did you say “ Rudolph”?

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

August was highlighted by our presence at the “CarTunes 1st Ever” car show hosted by Homer Skelton Chrysler. It couldn’t have been a nicer day! Mid-South Mopars clearly dominated the lot, with front row presence along Hwy 51. With Scott Landkrohn’s help, we were able to display our banner and there was no doubt that Mid-South Mopars has a presence in this area. Our “sea of blue” presence was also very noticeable as most of our members (maybe all) were wearing our club shirts. This is important at events – please make note of it (Ray Dietrich also has a new supply of shirts so if you don’t have one, please get one OR replace/add to the one you have).

We displayed 12 cars and I’d guess that 20+ members were there. The event was captured with excellent pictures taken by Amy Landkrohn and Hayden Wicker - they have been posted on the Facebook page.

Pam Kendrick, President of Memphis International Raceway visited with us, saw our cars, and met our members. She gave us some “gifts” and she is excited about getting to know us better and having us participate in the events at MIR. Ford vs will be held again for 2018 and I’d like to think that we will be present. I’ll talk more about this at our September meeting.

At the end of the show, Homer Skelton hosted a wonderful cookout and the YETI® cooler door prize was won by Scott Landkrohn. Does this mean he has to stock it and bring it to our next event? Homer Skelton reached out to us and offered their facility for a meeting. I’m not sure how that would work out, but it’s nice to know we are building a relationship there.

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On a personal note, I gained more insight on how to approach the mechanical problems I’m having with the Cordoba. This is going to be a slow-but-steady recovery, so you’ll have to bear with me as I move toward the goal of getting repaired and being ready for April 1, 2018!

David

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Vice President’s Message

Exhaust Rumblings from your Vice President

Hi everybody. Our August club meeting at Dale’s Restaurant in Horn Lake was very well attended. Unfortunately, the weather was a little sketchy so we did not have a lot of MOPARs in attendance.

The weather was great as was club representation at the first ever Car Toons Show and Shine at Homer Skelton Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Millington on the 5th. The dealership provided plenty of free hotdogs and hamburgers and ice cold water to drink. Thanks to them for putting on a good show. Congratulations to Scott Landkrohn who won the Yeti cooler door prize. My granddaughter drew the winning ticket and she was supposed to pull out my ticket but at least it went to one of our club members.

The Cars and Coffee Cruise In at the NAPA facility at the corner of Appling and Stage Roads is coming up on Saturday the 26th of August. They have been having a good turn out every time the weather has cooperated so that is definitely a cruise in that is worth attending. We have been having a pretty good club presence there as well.

There are several shows coming up next month that I hope we can support in a big way. The Collierville show at Central Church is on the 16th. There are two shows on the 23rd. The Delta River Show at Samstown Casino in Tunica, MS and the Music City MOPAR show at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, TN. For those who don’t want to travel, Coffee and Cars is the same day. The Mustang club of Memphis is also sponsoring a charity open car show at the Agricenter on September 30th. Lots of opportunities to back our MOPARs out of the garage and show them off.

Happy MOPARing to all of you and keep them between the ditches.

Alan

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TREASURY REPORT Scott Forrester, Treasurer

Beginning Balance: $2,218.98 Deposits: Club Merchandise: $22.00 Membership dues: $30.00 Miscellaneous: 50/50: $26.00 Total Deposits: $78.00 Disbursements/Expenditures: Bank Account Charges: $5.00 Miscellaneous: Postage: Stamps $9.80 Calling Post: $44.95 Total Disbursements: $59.75

Ending Balance: $2,237.23

Minutes August 1, 2017

The August meeting was held on August 1, 2017 at Dale's in Southaven, MS. The meeting started at 7:00 pm and ended at 8:10 pm. There were 26 members present, including 8 women. David asked where everyone traveled from to the meeting and determined that at least 50% of those present were from the North. He noted that this is a good showing from those who traveled to the South.

Marjorie started the meeting by saying grace.

David – (1) welcomed everyone and talked about the timing problems with his Cordoba. He took a poll of those who are reading the newsletter; (2) asked the women of the group if they would be interested in going to the Redbird's game as a club activity. The consensus was yes but when the weather is cooler; other sports outings were discussed; (3) mentioned that Amy Landkrohn would like to be the women's liaison; (4) reminded everybody about the “membership initiative” – recruit 2 new/returning members by December 31, 2017 and your 2018 dues are waived.

Alan reminded everyone about the show at Homer Skelton Dodge in Millington.

Scott gave the Treasurer’s report and John sought, and received, approval for the minutes from July's meeting.

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Ray reminded everyone of what club merchandise he had in stock. New shirts are available with pockets. Pricing will not hold after this order.

Cards were passed out for wants and needs to be put in the newsletter.

The club welcomed back Barbara Simmons who is the first member to pay her club dues for 2018. She has relocated to the area from Dallas, TX. She was one of the first people to get a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser and has always driven a Chrysler.

The 50/50 was won by Barbara Simmons who won $26.00. Ronnie Stocks won a Mopar sign with the first Mopar logo on it for wearing his blue club shirt.

The September meeting will be Tuesday, September 5th at Perkins in Germantown with the Executive meeting to follow on September 11th at Logan's in Cordova.

Total Attendance by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

18 18 29 27 29 32 30 26

Women Attendance by month (started tracking in July)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

? ? ? ? ? ? 6 8

John and Kim Wicker

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CLUB MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

License Plates $5.00 Hat $5.00 Blue Polo Shirts (new style) $10.00 Blue T-Shirts (new style) $10.00 20th Year Anniversary T-Shirts $5.00 Pencils and Key Fobs $.25 each or 5/$1.00

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IN OUR THOUGHTS

Please remember Bobby Buffaloe in your thoughts and prayers. His sister passed away Wednesday morning, August 23, 2017

(Please email [email protected] if you are aware of anyone in our membership in need of thoughts and prayers.)

Services Ed Becker (901-494-1825) Chrysler transmission repairs 7950 Pea Vine Rd. Middleton, TN 38052 Rick Sorak (901-399-0245) Car repairs, crash repairs, restorations

Wants and Gots Need something and can’t find it? Got something and don’t want it? (MOPAR or not) Send me an email by the 20th of the month to get your request in the current newsletter. [email protected] Wanted:

Ray Fudge: Wants a MOPAR ; prefers Hi-toque (901-476-7572) Mike Revelle: Wants a road race oil pan for a 360 e body.(901-649-4094)

Gots : Ray Fudge: For Sale:1966 Plymouth Valiant Mike Revelle: For Sale: 1999 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4.0L 5 speed manual with 134000 miles. It runs and drives good. It is white with beige and green interior/4” suspension/stock tires. He is asking $8300. For Sale: 2011 Rm Quad cab 4WD with a Hemi loaded with 126000 miles/white with grey interior/ backup camera/ CD radio w/remote/new all-terrain tires for $17,500.(901-649-4094). Clint Owens: (friend of Mike Revelle): For Sale: 440 Eagle Crank ¼ “ stroker (901-652-9894)

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Martha Walker: For Sale: 1965 dodge Coronet 500 2 door , red with black vinyl top. It is nicely equipped with 383 and many upgrades and original Cragar mag wheels extra parts included. This was Stan Walker’s one-family owned automobile, always well-maintained. $19900 OBO. Call 901-292-6656 Alan Alkus: For Sale: 1955 Chrysler Windsor 2door hardtop. Great restoration project. Owned over 30 years. Not running. Poly head V8. (901-465-3900)

1966 AMC Ambassador Original 327 motor and original interior. New outlet water manifold, water pump, , intake and valve cover gaskets and a few other items CONTACT: Kenneth Gipson [email protected] (901) 550-9600 (I have two pictures of this car in an email, I cannot seem to be able to moved them to the newsletter, therefore I am sending an additional email to you all with the pictures.)

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Upcoming Events

August 5, 2017, 10 AM to 12 noon Car Toons, Millington Homer Skelton Chrysler-Dodge Show and Shine – 7661 Highway 51 North

September 16/17, 2017 Collierville Classic Car & Bike Show, Central Church (see flyer at the end of this newsletter)

September 23, 2017 Music city MOPAR Club’s 28th Annual All MOPAR Show, Wilson County Fairgrounds, Lebanon, TN. 9am – 4pm (see flyer at the end of this newsletter, I was not able to transfer the registration sheet for this show from the original email to this newsletter, therefore you will find it in an additional email sent out at the same time as this newsletter. )

October 14, 2017 Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home Classic Car & Bike Show

October 17-18, 2017 Cruzin the Crossroads – Car and Show (Clarksdale, MS)

October 28, 2017 Bob Marr Memorial Park Car Show – Olive Branch, MS

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Your Mid-South MOPAR Officers

President: David Moeslein Historian/Program coordinator: Bobby Buffaloe (410) 952-5929 (901) 388-0105 [email protected] [email protected]

Vice President: Alan Bauer Advisor: Fritz Crombie (281) 546-5344 (901) 230-0541 [email protected] [email protected]

Treasurer: Scott Forrester Events Coordinator: John Gorski (901) 496-8809 (901) 517-3807 [email protected] [email protected]

Secretary: John Wicker Webmaster: Rick Sorak (901) 508-1234 (901) 399-0245 [email protected] [email protected]

Sgt. at Arms: Ellis Winter Newsletter Editor: Margie Buffaloe (901)262-6536 (901) 483-9789 [email protected] [email protected]

Have a great meeting!

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