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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.