Rocket Review Page 1

March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 1

Rocket Review Serving Mid-Michigan

March - April Published by Chapter - Oldsmobile Club of America 2007

New Eras in Lansing

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: By Wayne Mason An era has

President’s Message 2 ended in Lansing,

Editor’s Notes 2 Michigan on the property currently Membership 3 owned by General 1895 Lansing Map 4 Motors. The site is 1889 Illustration 7 bounded by Logan Homecoming 2007 9 Street/MLK Boulevard

Olds Parting 10 on the west, Olds Avenue (formerly Demolition of the Oldsmobile plant in Lansing is almost Your OCA Membership 12 complete. What will occupy this site next? What occupied this Isaac Street in the Secretary’s Report 14 site in the past? Read on, and discover the history of this land! 1860’s) on the north, Classified Ads 15 Division Street on the east, and the Grand tury, GM decided to dis- timers called it, “the River on the south. Here, continue the Oldsmobile Olds.” An era had ended. in early 2006, demolition brand, and the Olds name- Yet, this was not the first began of the decades-old plate faded from exis- time in Lansing’s history Of Special Interest: General Motors factory. tence. Production of other that major change had · Tool Definitions Pg. 11 This once bustling factory GM cars continued at the occurred on this site. manufactured Oldsmobiles factory for one more year Today, as we view · How to determine when by the thousands from its before the plant closed the plot of land from the your membership expires humble beginning in 1901 permanently on Friday, Pg. 12 Logan Street bridge, we until the last Olds Alero May 6th, 2005. Ultimately, see piles of twisted metal, · was produced on April 29, GM decided to bulldoze Chapter Merchandise Pg. 13 crumpled bricks and mor- 2004. When Oldsmobile the decades-old factory · Cooper’s Honored Pg. 15 tar, and abandoned ma- sales declined toward the initially known as the Olds chinery from a once-busy end of the twentieth cen- Motor Works, or as old- Continued page 5 | see New Eras March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 2

2007 R.E. Olds Chapter Greetings from Your President Board of Directors

President SPRING IS IN waters. I may be able to coordinate Vicki May THE AIR . . . It must something in my community if others (616) 891-8713 could do the same in theirs. My area [email protected] be true because I'm hearing a lot about would be Houghton Lake, Clare, Vice-President upcoming spring and Harrison and Coleman all good shows Harry Emmons within a couple hours of Lansing. 517-485-5998 summer car shows! no e-mail In my first newsletter · Chuck Mitchell offered up info on article (when the Secretary the upcoming Old U.S. 27 Cruise. temperature was still above zero) I Ed Shand · Capital City is working on the 517-655-4739 talked about the theme of "Friendship Made In Michigan Car Show and [email protected] and Fun", and invited ideas from the Parade. Treasurer members. Dave Sanders of Harrison, Dave Violetta a member since January '05, offered · Then, there's the Grand Rapids 517- 669-9246 28th Street Cruise, and a ton of [email protected] the following thoughts: I attend several car shows through other shows. Membership Coordinator out the summer and I rarely see any It's a natural tendency to get so Joe Pohl members from our club showing their 517-323-2342 caught up in our own Oldsmobile [email protected] cars except at the Homecoming Event. I specific activities that we forget the would like to see Club Representation opportunities presented by broadening OCA Representative at shows within 2-3 hours of Lansing, Chuck Mitchell our horizons and making our club (517) 882-9757 and attend as a "Featured Group". At more visible --Opportunities for having [email protected] Caro, Mi. they featured a Studebaker fun together, getting new ideas, and Club, and at Capac they featured meeting other people passionate about Newsletter Editor Chevrolet Club, most Car Shows Webmaster cars. Who knows, we might meet Wayne Mason present awards to the Club with the some Oldsmobile owners that would (517) 669-8051 most participants, with advanced be terrific members for OCA and the [email protected] planning and communications we just R.E. Olds Chapter! Past President might have some fun at these events. Ken Nicholas Thanks to those who gave input (517) 663-2397 If this is anything that might spur on club activities. [email protected] some interest with our members, we could try an event or two and test the Enjoy the journey, Vicki Board members are elected for a one year period of time at the Annual Banquet Meeting. Officers assume their office beginning Feb- ruary 1st of the subsequent year in which they are elected. Notes from the Editor

General Club meetings are held Here’s one way we can improve on the 1st Tuesday of the month ur Chapter our web site: we have 33 cars posted on at various locations, but usually at web site has our Member’s Cars page, but many are the R.E. Olds Museum in Lansing. O experienced almost from the same owner. I know, since we Contact Ken Nicholas at the num- 10,000 visitors since it’s creation and have almost 100 members in our Chap- ber shown above for more infor- posting on the world wide web in De- ter, that many member’s cars are not mation. cember 2004! That type of interest yet displayed. If you would like to have a Oldsmobile Homecoming Car shows that the Oldsmobile name lives on, photo and description of your Oldsmo- Show committee meetings are and that other people care very much bile on our Chapter web site, e-mail a held periodically through out the about our hobby. With visits to our site GOOD QUALITY photo along with a year. Contact Don Cooper at: averaging about 270 per month, we like description of your car. The photo [email protected] for to keep our site fresh and new. How- should be a jpg format, and be at least more information. ever, in the last few months, little new 800 pixels in width. Questions? Call me. content has been added other than the Hope to hear from you soon. occasional changes to meeting dates and Wayne new officer’s names. [email protected] March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 3 R.E. Olds Chapter Membership Application Monthly Meeting New ______Renewal ______Application Date ____/_____/_____ Programs Needed OCA Number ______Birthday - Month ______Day ______Name ______you have a suggestion Street ______Do for a speaker or program City ______State ______Zip Code ______- ______for our monthly meetings? Someone or something that would Home Phone (_____) _____ - ______Work Phone (______) _____ - ______be interesting to share with your E-Mail address ______Oldsmobile friends? Let us know Spouse Name ______Birthday - Month ______Day ______your ideas. Even if you have a topic of interest but don’t know List of all Oldsmobiles owned: ______who to contact about doing a ______program, let us know and You must be a member of the Oldsmobile Club of America to join this Chapter. maybe we can find someone. Chapter dues are $10.00 a year or 3 years for $25.00. Contact Judy Send application and make check payable to: Badgley at 517- R.E. OLDS CHAPTER 337-0444, OLDSMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA weekdays or e- P.O. BOX 80101 mail: LANSING, MICHIGAN 48908-0101 [email protected]. R.E. Olds Chapter is a regional chapter of the Oldsmobile Club of America, based in the Mid-Michigan area. The Chapter received its charter in 1984, and has served Olds enthusiasts in the area since then. A bi-monthly publication, ROCKET REVIEW is sent to members and offers a variety of member stories, technical information and a classified ad section. As a member of the chapter you are invited to join the group at various car show around the state and enjoy family oriented car club activities.

How to Join the Oldsmobile Club of America Happy Birthday Visit the Oldsmobile Club of America’s web site: www.oldsclub.org for an application form, dues schedule and other club information and benefits. March Birthdays - Doris Harsant - 4th, Tom Remington - 5th, Ed Shand - 7th, Troy Collins - 8th, RE Olds Chapter Dues Sharon Brehm - 10th, Margaret Dues are $10 for 1 year or $25 for three years, renewable each June for all Hilliard - 20th, Arleen Zimmerman - members and payable to R.E. Olds Chapter. Mail to: RE Olds Chapter 27th. OCA, %Joe Pohl, P.O. Box 80101, Lansing, MI 48908-0101. A renewal form is not necessary. Your address label contains the year in which you need to renew your membership. For example, if the “RN” code after April Birthdays - Rita Violetta - your name is “RN06”, then your dues are renewable and due in June 2006. 2nd, Ron Severance - 11th, Doug No additional renewal reminder will be sent to you. Badgley 21st, Ruth Calkins - 26th, Sheryl Casteel - 27th. Upcoming Events Club Meetings for 2007 are June 16th - 15th Annual If we don’t list your birthday, send usually scheduled for the first Oldsmobile Homecoming Car yours/spouses birthday information Tuesday of the month at the R.E. Show and Swap Meet. (month and day only) to Olds Transportation Museum at 7 9 AM - 4 PM. [email protected] . In the PM . Scheduled meeting dates for subject line put R.E. OLDS. Or snail this year are: March 6th, April mail to: 3rd, May 1st, June 5th, July 10th, Wayne Mason August 7th, September 4th, 2713 W. Clark Rd. October 2nd, November TBA, Lansing, MI 48906 December 4th. March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 4

New Eras in Lansing Central Michigan Fair Grounds - 1866-1888 & State Fair Grounds - 1889-1892

Above - Attendees enjoying conversation before dinner. Left - Where there’s chocolate, there’s Willis!

Partial map of Lansing from the 1895 Standard Atlas of Ingham County, published by Geo. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1895 March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 5

New Eras cont. from page 1 rails, bringing fair goers to these troit by way of the plank road com- factory complex. When the debris is grounds. Try to imagine this site as pleted in 1853. Agriculture was the finally cleared, will the land be re- a fairground! Although it may be primary activity in and around Lans- stored to its former native state of hard to imagine, that is exactly what ing during this time period. first occupied the property during the 1800’s - mainly shade trees and An October 4th, 1865 newspa- Lansing’s early history; in 1866, this grass? Probably not – we can only per article in The State Republican property was called the Central speculate on the site’s future. The urged the local Union Agricultural Michigan Fair Grounds! property’s appearance today is Society to join forces with sur- clearly very different from its As Paul Harvey would say, rounding towns, and help to organ- makeup in the mid-1860’s. Try to here is the rest of the story. In ize an annual mid-Michigan fair. The imagine the GM property as 1865, the population of the young news article stated a good fair wooded parkland, complete with a Capital City of Lansing was a mere should be “. . . an annual festival of horse racing track, baseball field, 3,573 people, and the United States pleasure, when all could gather to- and exhibition buildings. Try to was emerging from the ravages of gether and spend a day or two in imagine rail lines stretching from the Civil War. Post-war reconstruc- respite from labor, showing each downtown Lansing to its terminus tion had begun, and Lansing had be- other the result of his handiwork on Olds Avenue. Try to imagine a come a regional trading center, pri- horse drawn trolley car riding these marily due to its easy access to De- Continued page 6 | see New Eras

Above is a drawing which appeared as part of an advertisement appearing in The State Republican newspaper (forerunner of The Lansing State Journal) on August 26, 1889, just before the start of the first-ever Michigan State Fair held in Lansing. The street running in front of the fairgrounds (at bottom of illustration) is the current-day Olds Avenue, while the street running along the right hand side of the fairgrounds is Logan Street. The illustration was drawn looking south and a little east. Surprisingly, the Grand River, which runs along the back of the fairgrounds, is not depicted in this illustration. Note the Detroit Free Press identification in the lower RH corner; the local Lansing newspaper must have bought/borrowed the ad from the Free Press. See page 7 for the full ad. March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 6

New Era |cont. from page 5 lavished praise on the new State Fair be held annually on this site through unitedly giving thanks to the Great site: “WE POSITIVELY ASSERT that 1892. No doubt, the State Fair years Benefactor for his goodness in pre- no Fair Ground in the United States were the fairground’s zenith. To- serving and blessing all.” can equal them. A magnificent forest ward the beginning of the twentieth Answering the newspaper’s chal- of Maple and Elm, shading twenty century, with the annual State Fair lenge, the Union Agricultural Society acres of undulating land, form a cool moving permanently to Detroit, the held an organizational meeting in and delightful promenade where fairgrounds became less of an at- Lansing on November 17th, 1865, 20,000 people may amble at lei- traction, and fell into inactivity. An which led to the creation of the sure.” Additional amenities included era was coming to an end, but a Central Michigan Agricultural Soci- a grandstand at the race track which new one was about to begin. seated 2,400 people, newly con- ety (CMAS). Members included rep- During the 1880’s and 1890’s, structed stables for housing 600 resentatives from surrounding Ransom E. Olds began tinkering head of horses and cattle, pens for towns and the counties of Ingham, with steam and gas powered vehi- pigs and sheep, and cages for poul- Eaton, Clinton, Shiawassee, and cles, working out of his father’s en- try “without limit.” Activities during Livingston. CMAS immediately gine shop on River Street in Lansing. fair week included numerous horse formed a search committee to se- In 1897, R. E. Olds and a group of races, trotter races, and a Roman lect suitable grounds on which to Lansing investors formed the Olds th chariot race. The Michigan Fish hold the fair. An April 18 , 1866 Motor Vehicle Company. Ransom Commission displayed 500 varieties article in The State Republican an- built the first few vehicles in Lansing. of fresh-water fish in nine aquariums nounced the selection and purchase Then in 1899, a new factory was housed in a 52 feet long exhibition of 49-1/2 acres along the Grand built in Detroit to manufacture the hall. Lansing’s mayor, James M. River on which to build the new Olds vehicles. Production began in Turner, was the largest exhibitor in fairgrounds. The property was lo- March 1900; however, on March 9th, the livestock department with 40 cated about one mile from the cen- 1901, fire completely destroyed the head of horses and cattle and 20 ter of Lansing along the Grand Detroit factory. Upon hearing this River; we know this site today as sheep. The State Fair continued to part of the GM assembly complex Continued page 9 | see New Eras mentioned above. Construction began on the new grounds with the creation of a horse race track and floral exhibition hall. The new fair grounds were deemed “. . . one of the finest agricultural enterprises in the north- west.” Annual fairs continued until July1889, when the Central Michigan Agricultural Society transferred ownership of the fairgrounds to the State Agricultural Society. The Cen- tral Michigan Fair Grounds, thereaf- ter, became known as the State Fair Grounds. In preparation for the first State Fair to be held in Lansing in 1889, thirty-thousand dollars worth of improvements were made to the Demolition of the old Oldsmobile factory buildings shown in June 2006. grounds. A newspaper ad in The According to the map on page 8, the old test track would have been near the “isle” between the scrap piles shown in this photo. (looking State Republican on August 26, 1889 east from Logan Street / MLK bridge) March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 7

Advertisement found in The State Republican newspaper (forerunner of The Lansing State Journal), August 26, 1889 edition. March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 8

A map of Lansing as it appeared sometime after 1904. Note the Olds Motor Works property with one factory building and testing track north of the Grand River. The State of Michigan Library labeled this map as 1902 vintage; however, the REO Car Works property is shown on the map in the lower RH corner. Since REO did not exist until September 1904, this map must have been created after 1904. Note Moores Park located south of the Grand River; in the 1895 Lansing map shown on page 4, this same park was named Belvidere Park. The park remains named Moores Park to this day.

Both photos above were taken from virtually the same location; however, the LH photo was take in April 2006, while the RH photo taken in December 2006. Very little remains of the old Oldsmobile factory. March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 9

New Era |cont. from page 6 Homecoming 2007 Those entrants who pre-register will have their name and car model news, the Lansing Businessmen’s 2007 is here, - Happy New Year - computer-printed on the car dash Association, composed of Lansing’s and the Homecoming committee is card. It will make a nice keepsake. most prominent businessmen, im- working hard on the 15th Annual Ed has also prepared a "how to" Homecoming show to be held on set of instructions to give to our mediately began to coax and entice June 16th. You all have a 2007 the Olds factory back to its birth- volunteer registration workers. Each calendar by now, so be sure to save helper will be given this information place in Lansing. To sweeten the this date to help with the show. There prior to their assigned work time so deal, the Lansing Businessmen of- are jobs available from 6pm, Friday that they will be prepared on show fered Mr. Olds the use of the old night through 6pm Saturday night. We day. are counting on our membership to fairgrounds property on which to help. The 4000+ Homecoming flyers locate his new factory. Finally Mr. have arrived, and address labels are The 2007 show will celebrate 110 being prepared from our database. A Olds agreed to return. The prop- years since the birth of Oldsmobile erty which had held yearly agricul- flyer-mailing workshop will occur at and will feature the Curved Dash the February meeting. Please come to tural fairs since 1866 was about to Olds. Jim Walkinshaw has been help - many hands make for short be transformed into a huge manu- keeping the Curved Dash Olds Club work. All Homecoming participants facturing complex. informed about our show, and from the last 2 years, approximately expects a dozen or so of these cars to 1000 in number, will receive a flyer via The Lansing Journal’s August participate. mail. Additionally flyers will be sent to 13th, 1901 edition announced, with a The committee has held four some OCA Chapters for distribution. large, front-page article, the return meetings so far and has accomplished Be sure to contact a committee of the Olds factory to Lansing, and much. Additional sponsorship money member to get some flyers to was received, thanks to Gary distribute. labeled it “one of the most impor- Casteel’s efforts. This money will be tant deals in the history of the Capi- The last 2 years of Homecoming used to help purchase the we have been very tight on space. In tal City.” Work on the new fac- commemorative gifts for the 110th fact, Joe Place has run out of vendor tory’s construction began immedi- Anniversary of Oldsmobile at this space and turned people away. He ately, with manufacturing operations year’s Homecoming . and others have been checking commencing on December 18th, The committee selected the gift around for a new (bigger) site for 1901. Housing in Lansing was in type at the January meeting. The gift, a 2008. If you have any ideas, contact curved, white, acrylic plaque which Joe. such short supply that the grand- sits on a table or desk, features our th stand near the old race track was Remember, save June 16 for Club logo with the State of Michigan Homecoming. WE ARE COUNTING converted to temporary housing for and the rocket over it and a Curved ON ALL OF YOU TO HELP. the newly-hired factory workers. Dash Olds. These gifts will be given to The old horse racing track was put the first 500 show cars registered as well as the first 100 vendors. to good use as well, serving as a test Entrants should be very pleased with COMMITTEE track for the newly manufactured this gift. The commemorative gift will Doug & Judy Badgley 517-337-0444 Oldsmobiles. And so began a new not be shipped, so if you want one, Don & Eva Cooper 517-627-6697 era on the old fairgrounds. you must register AND bring your Harry and Lori Emmons 517-485-5998 car. Gary Casteel 517-882-7109 From 1866 to 1900, thousands To further celebrate the 110th Alan Goshka 517-622-2070 of people made an annual pilgrimage birthday of Oldsmobile, we will be Ashley Jones 517-645-7366 to the well-known Central Michigan serving cake which, Vicki May (our Wayne Mason 517-669-8051 Fair, later known as the State Fair new Chapter President and Wayne & Vick May 616-891-8713 Grounds. Today, the only pilgrimage Homecoming clown) volunteered to Chuck Mitchell 517-882-9757 make and decorate. Vicki is a multi- made to the site is from an occa- Ken & Marsha Nicholas 517-663-2397 talented lady! Terry Pinkney 517-676-4473 sional, former Oldsmobile employee Ed Shand, our new Homecoming Joe & Shirley Place 517-543-6445 wishing to catch one last glimpse of registrar, has created an outstanding Scott Whittaker 517-622-4378 the once proud factory before it, system for registering the cars. Car Steve Zaban 517-655-2421 too, finally disappears from our dash cards, confirmations, T-shirt Ed Shand 517-655-4739 landscape, and another new era vouchers, etc will all be printed from Dave Violetta 517-669-9246 begins. the computer prior to show day. Jim Walkinshaw 517-676-2185 March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 10

use my little trailer as a storage area In 1958 GM offered an optional Olds Parting for the parts. So before the snow suspension called Pneumatic ride. It with Willis and Troy arrived, I managed to relocate the used reinforced rubber air bags to trailer to the ramp leading to where replace the coil springs in the front the car was located. I had to and the leaf springs in the rear. The prepared it for storage of parts and air to keep the bags inflated was maintain it free from filling with snow. supplied by a small 2-cylinder As the old saying goes – a picture is compressor driven off the power worth a thousand words (this also steering pump. Compressed air was helps keep the newsletter to a carried to the bags and two storage W ell, we have, at times, reasonable size). Up under the tarp, tanks through copper lines that told you how life sometimes prevents to keep the snow out, you’ll see the resembled brake lines. High and low us from making our road trips or hood sitting on a shelve-like area so I pressure storage tanks allowed air to getting things done on our projects. could put other parts under it (the be added or removed from the air Once again life reared its ugly side trailer is 5’6” by 10’). The other bags to adjust the ride height when with the sudden and unexpected picture with this article shows the car additional weight from passengers or death of my mother. While she will without the hood, waiting for me to luggage was added. The copper lines, no longer be asking me when I’ll be return and remove some more parts clips, junction blocks and fittings all getting rid of this junk or that rusted as I work towards checking the engine had to be removed and saved since piece (she had a hard time out. It’s still in this condition now, they are all “last-time-seen, never” understanding my classic toys), I will ‘cause life got in the way. It’s now parts and not easily replaced. Most of miss her dearly. With that said, we time for Willis to bring you up to date them will be reused. That took most continue with our adventures. on his wagon project. He and I did of the day. We still had to remove all some work on it (he more than me). the steering parts from the Toro I’ve been planning on getting to drive cradle since they won’t be work on the ‘64 Cutlass over the needed to steer the rear wheels. winter months. What was slowing W ell as Troy said, life me down was where to put the parts. does get in the way. I had carpal After removing the rear cross As you remember from last time, the tunnel surgery on both hands a week member from the 1958 chassis that ’40 chassis found a home in a metal apart in December. That certainly the rear bumper bolts to, the same container. You also know that my adds a degree of difficulty to any had to be done to the Toro unit to two other ’40’s (cars with chassis) are manual-type undertakings. So with remove the unwanted torsion bars. at the airport in Grand Ledge with my the help of friends and family, I was Now the two units can be clamped ’40 Stinson airplane parts. I also have able to get the 1958 air ride chassis together to find where to make the parts stored up the street at that I had been saving and the 1967 next cut to the frame rails. That’s Westland Storage. As you might have Toro drive cradle, to a friend’s shop enough work for today. Rome wasn’t guess by now, another storage area that has more room to operate. And welded together in a day either. operate we did. For those of you for junk and rusted parts was out of Till next time, Happy Oldsing who have never heard of a 1958 air the question. As often happens (with Troy & Willis me anyway) is the old gray matter ride suspension (let alone seen made a few electronic connections one), a brief one night and I decided that I could explanation follows.

Troy’s trailer storage for his ‘64 Cutlass hood Troy’s ‘64 Cutlass, sans hood March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 11

Minutes | continued from page 14 Tool Definitions DRILL PRESS: A tall upright Secretaries Report: The minutes announced that there is a new class machine useful for suddenly snatching of the December 5, 2006 general and rules for the OCA Race class. flat metal bar stock out of your hands session meeting were presented to They will be used this year for the so that it smacks you in the chest and the membership and opened for Nationals and officially be introduced flings your beer across the room, discussion. Jim Harsant motioned to for the 2008 National show. splattering it against that freshly accept the minutes as read. Joe Pohl painted part you were drying. seconded the motion. The 2. Chuck Mitchell received an email membership approved the motion. from someone that has a 1966 98 for WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off Newsletter Report: Wayne Mason sale. The email was passed to those bolts and then throws them was unable to attend the meeting. present. somewhere under the workbench Vicki May made a request for Wayne with the speed of light. Also removes 3. Ashley Jones has calendars made fingerprints and hard-earned guitar that if there were any car information for this year. The cost is $2.00 for changes for the website, send them to calluses in about the time it takes you club members and each sale will to say, "Ouch...." Wayne for updating. benefit the museum with a donation. OCA Representative Report: ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Used Chuck Mitchell no additional 4. Dave Violetta asked why we for spinning pop rivets in their holes information to report. change officers in February and not until you die of old age. Membership Chairman Report: January. He made a motion to have the officer positions change in January. PLIERS: Used to round off bolt Joe Pohl reported that there were no heads. dues paid during the past month. Doug Badgley seconded the motion. There was one request for new The membership approved the HACKSAW: One of a family of membership and the application was recommendation to make the change. cutting tools. It transforms human sent to him. Troy Collins will make the necessary energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to Old Business: changes in the bylaws to reflect the change and present it to the influence its course, the more dismal 1. The next Homecoming meeting is membership for approval. your future becomes. th on the 16 of January at the Museum A motion to adjourn the meeting was VISE-GRIPS: Used to round off at 7:00 PM made by Joe Pohl, and supported by bolt heads and to transfer intense Jim Harsant. The motion was carried. welding heat to the palm of your 2. The club has received $500 from hand. sponsors for Homecoming Respectfully submitted: Ed. Shand, Secretary. OXYACETYLENE TORCH: 3. The Homecoming committee has Used almost entirely for lighting spent $170 on advertising various flammable objects in your The board approved $25.00 for the A total of $1200.00 in sponsorship shop on fire. Also handy for igniting Member of the year gift Certificate has been received for Homecoming the grease inside the wheel hub for Don and Eva Cooper. you're trying to get bearing race out New Business: The membership approved the of. 1. Ken Nicholas is the club minutes on February 6, 2006 WHITWORTH SOCKETS: representative for OCA. He Once used for working on older British cars & motorcycles, they are now used for impersonating that 9/16 socket you've been searching for the last 15 minutes. Left - Somewhere HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: inside this snow- Used for lowering an automobile to covered trailer is the hood for Troy’s ‘64 the ground after you've installed your Cutlass! new disk brake pads, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper. EIGHT-FOOT LONG DOUGLAS FIR 2 X 4: Used for levering an automobile upward off a hydraulic floor jack handle. March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 12

Is Your OCA Membership Current? The R.E. Olds Chapter is OCA membership. At the same Homecoming event in OCA’s granted “Chapter status” by time, we also drop that monthly magazine, Journey With authority of the Oldsmobile member from our Chapter Olds. It is very important that all Club of America (OCA). We mailing list until such times Chapter members keep their are a Chapter of the as their OCA dues are fully OCA dues current! Oldsmobile Club of America. paid. In January, we ran a spot One of OCA’s requirements There are many reasons check on our membership to for maintaining our Chapter why we must comply with verify their OCA membership. status is that all Chapter OCA’s membership Unfortunately, we found that members must also be a requirements; here is one of several Chapter member’s member of the Oldsmobile them: Each year, we obtain our OCA dues had lapsed, or in Club of America. This fact is liability insurance from OCA some cases membership was stated in our Chapter Bylaws for our Oldsmobile never applied for. Some of and also on every R.E. Olds Homecoming event. Before these delinquent members had Chapter membership OCA grants this insurance, just joined our Chapter last application. they verify each Chapter June, but apparently did not join Several times a year, our member’s OCA membership. OCA; a couple of the Chapter compares our Chapter When OCA finds Chapter delinquent member’s OCA membership roster with OCA’s members whose OCA dues are dues had expired in 2003! It is master roster, and we verify delinquent, they hold up our unfortunate, but these that each of our Chapter insurance application. This delinquent members will not members is also a member of jeopardizes our Homecoming be receiving this newsletter. OCA. When we find a event! Without insurance, we We urge all of our Chapter member with an cannot hold this annual car members to keep their OCA expired OCA membership, we show. In addition, because we membership current. We value notify the individual and ask are a member of OCA, we your membership and do not them to please re-new their receive free advertising for our want to lose you.

How To Determine When Your Membership Expires Your OCA membership expires on date shown here; be aware - no other notification is sent to remind you to renew your membership!

All R.E. Olds Chapter memberships expire on June 1 of the year indicated on your address label. In example below, membership expires in 2008. No additional notification is sent.

Address label on cover of Journey With Olds, the Address label on back cover of Rocket Review, official magazine of Oldsmobile Club of America the official magazine of the R.E. Olds Chapter March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 13

R.E. Olds Name Badge Order Form Chapter Jackets rder forms for ordering an RE Name:______Magnetic O Olds Chapter Jacket can be attachment is Address:______found on our Chapter web site, standard. www.reolds.org. Just click on the City: ______State: ______Zip______If you want Chapter Merchandise link at the top Print Name(s) below exactly how you want pin attachment of our home page and you will find forms for not only Chapter Jackets, it to appear on your name badge. check box below. but also Chapter Name badges and Polo shirts. So, just in case you 1.______don’t want to cut up your 2.______newsletter to order Chapter merchandise, use the handy forms 3.______on our Chapter’s web site. Happy 4.______Shopping!

I will pick up badge at No. badges ordered _____ x $5.00 = ______monthly meeting. Or Add shipping ______Please mail badges to me. ($1.50 per order)

Total ______

Please make checks payable to: R.E. Olds Chapter Please send order form along with check or money order to: Ron Severance 2233 Hampden Dr. Lansing, MI 48911-1636

R.E. Olds Chapter Polo Shirt Order Form White shirt ($18) ______Maroon shirt ($20) ______Quality Polo shirt (white or maroon) with Chapter logo, approx. 3” high, Add $2 for 2X______embroidered on top left chest. Add $3 for 3X______Jerzees brand, 2-button, 50/50 poly cotton with stain resistant finish offered at Chapter cost in men’s sizes below. See a photo of this shirt on Add shipping ______our Chapter Web site, www.reolds.org. Click on the “Chapters ($5 per order) Merchandise” link, then “Chapter polo shirts.”

New! Please send order form along Name:______with check or money order to: Address:______R.E. Olds Chapter Attn: Judy Badgley City: ______State: ______Zip______I will pick up from Judy. 304 S. Clippert St. Circle size(s): S M L XL 2X 3X Or Lansing, MI 48912-4606 Please mail Please make checks payable shirt to me. to: R.E. Olds Chapter March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 14

motioned to accept the minutes as New Business: read. Jim Brehm seconded the Ken would like to meet with motion. The membership approved Secretary’s the board members after the motion. the meeting. Report Newsletter Report: Wayne Mason presented the dates for the general A motion to adjourn the meeting was session meetings for 2007. Jan 2nd Feb made by Harry Emmons, and 6th March 6th April 3rd May 1st June supported by Jim Harsant. The 5th July 10th Aug 7th Sept 4th Oct 2nd motion was carried. Nov (TBA) Dec 4th . The newsletter Respectfully submitted: Ed. Shand, will be coming out before Christmas. Secretary. Please submit any articles to Wayne. R.E. Olds Chapter General The Board approved the expenditure The user name and password to Session Meeting of $25.00 for the “Member of the access the member area of the December 5, 2006 Year Award” Chapter website was given to Ken Nicholas called the meeting to members present. Any member who The membership approved the order at 7:04 PM. was not in attendance and in need of minutes on January 2, 2007. There were 28 present at the this information may e-mail Wayne at meeting. [email protected], and this Presidents Report: Ken welcomed information will be sent to them. R.E. Olds Chapter General the members and thanked them for Vicki May motioned to accept the Session Meeting attending. He thanked those helping newsletter report as presented. January 2, 2007 with the club activities, Judy Badgley Chuck Mitchell seconded the motion. and her help with the Helen Earley The membership approved the Ken Nicholas called the meeting to portrait and Homecoming, Wayne for motion. order at 7:03 PM. his newsletter and web master duties, There were 26 present at the OCA Representative Report: meeting. Dave Violetta for his work as Chuck Mitchell no additional treasurer, Ed Shand for secretarial information to report. Presidents Report: Ken welcomed job, Joe Pohl for his dedication with Membership Chairman Report: the members and thanked all for membership, Chuck Mitchell as the Joe Pohl was not present at the attending. Happy New Year. Ken OCA Representative and Harry meeting. presented the member of the year Emmons as the Vice President and award to Don and Eva Cooper for filling in while Ken is absent. Old Business: there work with the chapter, handling Vice Presidents Report: Harry No 1. The Helen Earley portrait was the trophies, ballot tabulation, being new information to report. presented to the museum on member at large, being on the Treasurers Report: Dave Violetta December 4, 2006. homecoming committee, filling in for was unable to attend the meeting. Ken with the races. Ken announced Wayne Mason presented the 2. Banquet Report: Everyone that this was his last meeting as treasures report. The balance on applauded those who assisted with president and thanked the members hand as of 10/31/06 was $18,979.48. the banquet and the leadership Eva for their support over the past years. Revenues for the month were Cooper making the arrangements. $620.00. Expenses for the month Vice Presidents Report: Harry were $1,419.47. The balance on hand 3. Ken received inquires about the was unable to attend the meeting and as of 11/30/06 was $18,180.01. Harry building 70 demolition. Jerry Garfield there was no report. Emmons moved to accept the has been in touch with GM so that Treasurers Report: Dave Violetta treasurers report as read. Chuck any material or artifacts will be saved presented the treasures report to Mitchell seconded the motion. The for the museum or for others if those present. The balance on hand membership approved the motion. interested. Some items are not as of 11/30/06 was $18,180.01. Wayne Mason presented the detailed conducive for storage because of their Revenues for the month were description for 2007 budget items size. Jerry Garfield is the contact $750.00. Expenses for the month which was prepared and approved by person attempting to save what can were $450.50. The balance on hand the board on November 14, 2006. be salvaged. Harry Emmons as of 12/31/06 was $18,479.51. Mike Secretaries Report: The minutes suggested approaching the museum Ross moved to accept the treasurers’ of the October 3, 2006 general about saving the letters on the report as read. Joe Pohl seconded session meeting and a recap of the building and mounting them on the the motion. The membership November 2006 elections were back wall of the museum. approved the motion. presented to the membership and Bricks from building 78 are available opened for discussion. Mike Ross through Troy Collins or Willis Dennis See Minutes | page 11 March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 15 Classified Ads

Classified ads must be received by the editor on or before the first Tuesday of publication Cooper’s Honored month’s (February, April, June, August, October, December) with words, he talked me into Cost of ad is “0” for members and $6.00 for non-members. am going to make going to our first Canadian show, Photos welcome. Ads will be run an attempt at and our first OCA Nationals, and once unless you call the Editor and I request that it be run again! writing a short article about our having our car judged for the first membership in the R.E. Olds time at a National meet. Chapter. Eva and I bought our For Sale - 1934 Oldsmobile The old ‘57 is gone now L-series straight 8 touring first “old” Oldsmobile in August sedan. This car was donated to 1990. Lucille, as we called her, and has been replaced by a ‘69 was a 1957 4-door 88. We Cutlass “S” convertible and a ‘72 actually bought it to save it from a “442”. There have been Chapter young man that was planning to do members who came and went, but some very strange things to its body. That fall I the Plymouth Congregational Church as a fund raiser. It is called Helen originally a Texas car, and it has Earley and told NO RUST. It has been well her I was maintained and used little. The car interested in is a good ride and driver. The joining an Oldsmobile club. She it seems like the true Olds people interior is exceptional. The car sent an application for the antique still hang in there. Through the was displayed many years at the club so I joined them for one year. Chapter, we have met many R.E. Olds Museum. Asking $7350. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great people from Canada and many Call Plymouth Congregational club but I wanted the local club. different states. They are good Church at So that winter we joined the OCA people that we never would have 517-484-9495. More pictures can be seen at and R E Olds Chapter. met had it not been for our Chapter and Oldsmobile. www.plymouthlansing.org The first Chapter meeting we attended that winter was at the Now comes the main part museum. I sat behind a fairly good of this story. Tuesday, January 2nd, sized man with a deep voice and at the monthly Chapter meeting, an opinion on everything that was Eva and I were presented with the Rememberance said. I happened to look down at Chapter’s Outstanding Members Dorothy, wife of Bob his feet and noticed that he was award for 2006. Although I think Jarboe, passed away Monday, Jan wearing low cut deck shoes with there are more deserving 8, 2007 in Haverhill, Mass. She no socks. I think that most members of this award, I know was 82 years old. It was not members can figure out who he there can be no one more proud unexpected since she had needed was. He is one of many that I to receive it than we are. round-the-clock care since Bob consider a very good friend. Receiving the award is a great died. She will be interred at honor and having Ken Nicholas Arlington National Cemetery It wasn’t long before we present it to us made it even more later this year. were approached by Ken Nicholas special. and Rod Dimon about helping Bob worked in Olds sales with the Homecoming Show. We thank the membership at the manager/director level. They said, “Give it a try and see if very, very much. The Chapter and Museum knew you like it.” We must be a little Bob from when he came out of slow because it has been 15 years Don & Eva Cooper retirement to head up the and we still haven’t figured it out Oldsmobile Centennial. yet. Ken seems to have a way March - April 2007 Rocket Review Page 16

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