The Silver Ghost Tourer®
Fourth Quarter 2016 The Publication of the Silver Ghost Association, Inc.® 16-4 Board of Directors President’s Message
President: Billi Carey s this issue of the Silver 14 McKenzie Lake Place S.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2Z 2T5 Ghost Tourer (SGT) is H: 403-256-5611, C: 480-292-1674 [email protected] Aboth the final publication Activities: Doug Magee, Jr. of 2016 and the first issue you will Mineyahta Lodge, 766 N. Main St., receive in 2017 I wish to convey PO Box 1919, Wolfeboro, NH 03895 H: 603-569-0456, C: 860-830-1707, O: 860-349-1097 my very best wishes for the New [email protected] Year to our members along with Membership: Pia Sierra heartfelt thanks to our board 8306 Jana Drive, Odessa, FL 33556-4705 H: 813-920-0305, C: 813-546-2185 [email protected] members and all of the other [email protected] dedicated volunteers that make Publications: Jon Leimkuehler up our SGA family. 2452 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15241 H: 412-835-4593, C: 412-427-6196 [email protected] This is the second issue of the Editor: Gil Fuqua SGT under the direction of our 3100 West End Ave, Suite 550, Nashville, TN 37203 new Editor, Gil Fuqua. Many of O: 615-324-7311, C: 615-481-4237 [email protected] you have written to me to express your approval and compliment Technical: Bill Kennedy his first issue. I encourage you to continue to provide Gil with PO Box 304, Taylorville, IL 62568 H: 217-824-9375; your feedback and also to consider his request for articles, photos O: 217-287-7231 [email protected] or ideas you may have for upcoming issues. The Editor’s task is a Secretary: Twister Stroman PO Box 4, Sterling City, TX 76954 H: 325-378-3209 large one and can be made somewhat easier by a constant flow of [email protected] content from our our membership. If you have never had an article Treasurer: Mark A. Corigliano published in the SGT why not make your first contribution in 2017? PO Box 502, 1 Jonah Court, Peakpack, NJ 07977 H: 908-375-8044 [email protected] 2017 is shaping up to be another event filled year for the SGA. Webmaster: Bill Kennedy Our first event will be the annual SGA Winter Fling to be held [email protected] Feb 1st through 4th at the beautiful Ritz Carlton Hotel located North American Directors at Large: Morris Franklin in the historic French Quarter, New Orleans. Registrations have 9019 S. New Braunfels, Suite 115, San Antonio, TX 78235 been strong but at the time of writing there were still a few spots H: 210-656-7510, O: 210-333-7510 [email protected] open so please consider joining us for what promises to be a Gregory R. Gill 1430 Bryant Dr. E., Long Beach, CA 90815 H: 562-494-6454, memorable event. O: 562-354-2512, C: 562-243-6313 [email protected] The annual SGA Wholly Ghost Tour 2017, Maples & Mountains, DeNean Stafford hosted by Gilles Laviolette and confirmed for September 18th PO Box 269, Tifton, GA 31793 H: 229-386-2685, O: 229-382-4401 [email protected] through Oct 3rd, is in the advanced stages of planning. Gilles has Lee Wolff chosen beautiful scenic routes that will traverse the countryside 362 Blossom Lane, Orange Village, OH 44022 H: 440-498-1880, of south eastern Ontario and the quaint Eastern Townships region C: 216-496-9492 [email protected] of Quebec. Please watch the SGA website and the next issue of International Directors at Large: Roland Duce the SGT for the tour details and registration info. Registration is Thurgarton Priory, Thurgarton, Notts, England NG14 7GY planned to open in February. H: +44 1636 830202 [email protected] Since the new board was installed in August they already have Denis Deasey 22/193 Doman Rd, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia 3141 two meeting under their belts. At the last meeting the board decided H: +613-9866-6550 [email protected] to add extra touring events throughout the year to augment our annual SGA Wholly Ghost Tour. Since these tours will be shorter The Silver Ghost Tourer® is the official publication of the Silver Ghost Association, Incorporated®. Efforts are made to publish accurate in duration and easier to plan it will be more important than ever information and recommendations, but no responsibility can be assumed to make regular visits to the SGA website for information and by the Association or the Editor in the event of claim of loss or damage arising from publication. Automobile or parts advertisements are free to registration details. SGA® members. An exciting change for the SGA in the new year is our move The purposes of the corporation are exclusively for the Board of Directors to promote, support, encourage, preserve, educate and receive and accept to online membership renewal. In the past we have managed funds for promotion, support, encouragement, preservation and education our renewals using a fairly labor intensive and mostly manual of the public of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost automobile. Send contributions to Gil Fuqua, SGA Editor process. In an effort to serve our members more effectively, to ([email protected]). reduce the workload for our volunteers and also to improve the “Silver Ghost Association”, “Silver Ghost Tourer”, “SGA”, and “Wholly Ghost” are registered trademarks of the Silver Ghost Association, Inc. and cost effectiveness of our organization both “renewals” and “new may not be used without written permission. membership applications” will be available online. Please watch your email inbox during February for an SGA email that will include instructions for completing your annual membership renewal. Front Cover Photo: Front Cover Photo: Chassis 1341 – 1910 Roi des Belges – owner Danni Suskin. Photo taken at San Francisco de Asis Mission Church in Taos. The Until next time, Happy Ghosting! famous adobe church was the subject of several paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe. Photo: Gil Fuqua Billi Carey
2768 Ghosts in the Land of Enchantment
By Penny Armstrong, KS
Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort served as the base for the SGA’s New Mexico tour that started and ended in Bernalillo, north of Albuquerque. Open cars represented over 80% of the Silver Ghosts on the New Mexico tour, including Wathne’s 1914 Littin & Son Tourer - 38MA, Milhous’ 1923 Pall Mall Tourer - 357HH, and Dolan’s 1926 Pall Mall Tourer - S176ML.
PROLOGUE round the middle of September, 2016, a small migration for Santa Fe where we spent four days with a large group of of Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts and their owners was Penny’s boarding school classmates and husbands. Aunderway from coast to coast. Travelers were on the Doug and Mary White drove 29LK from North Carolina move from the West Coast (California), from the East Coast and, as usual and as they expected, found that getting to New (Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Mexico was half the South Carolina and Pennsylvania), from the north (Michigan) fun. They had perfect and the southwest (Texas), and from the heart of the country top down weather most (Illinois, Kansas, Iowa and Colorado). It was an international of the time. On the migration as well, from Canada, from England and Australia way out they stopped as well as a few originally from South Africa and Switzerland. for a day at the Crystal All of these ghostly travelers were converging upon New Bridges Museum Mexico, an appropriately Ghost friendly state, for the 2016 of American Art in Wholly Ghost Tour, hosted by Danni and Linda Suskin. Bentonville, AR, and Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Specifically, their destination was the Hyatt Regency Tamaya they spent the three days Doug and Mary White drove 29LK Resort, 20 miles north of Albuquerque. before the tour started over 1,700 miles from their home Ghosts came on trailers, by transport, and some made the in breathtaking Canyon in Winston-Salem to the start of trip to New Mexico under their own power, four wheels on de Chelly, AZ, home of the tour in Albuquerque. the ground. Some arrived several days early. Ron and Nanette the Navajos. They took Elenbaas and Bill Johnston and Ronda Stryker left their rig in scenic back roads and stayed mostly in bed & breakfasts. the resort designated parking area and went to a wedding. We A five-car “Ghost Train” departed from Illinois for an (Jim and Penny) arrived next and parked our truck and trailer adventurous trip that tested their endurance on a hot, windy next to the Michigan rig. We unloaded 74AU and set off in it route that was nearly all interstate – I-44 and I-40, with a little bit
2769 on old Route 66. Participants gathered the day before departure at Bill Kennedy’s home in Taylorville, IL. Bill, Gil Fuqua, Bill and Lynn Vatter, Kimberly and Dave Shadduck, Nancy and David Watts, John Dolan, and Jacquie and Lynn Boynton filled Bill’s house to capacity that night. The next morning, David Shadduck and David Watts made their farewells and went home. Kimberly and Nancy loaded into the Shadduck Ghost. With everyone organized and ready, the Ghost Train headed southwest. As they went through St. Louis, John Dolan made a detour to the airport to pick up Denise and then rejoin the group. Five cars became four on the first day, just outside Joplin,
MO. A piston in the Shadduck ghost seized as Kimberly was Photo: Kimberly Shadduck in the passing lane going around a truck. Bill and Gil, who were traveling with them, helped get the car flat-bedded to secure storage in Joplin and managed to get Kimberly and redistributed and Kimberly made the rest of the trip with the Nancy and their luggage into Bill’s car for the rest of the day. Vatters while Nancy rode with Bill and Gil. After the Ghost Train rendezvoused that evening at a motel The next big event was a flat tire on the Boynton car. Bill near Tulsa, OK, a great reorganization took place, luggage was and Gil could see it happening and saw the locking ring roll across the highway into the grass. The group searched for it while Lynn changed the tire, but Photo: Kimberly Shadduck to no avail. Jacquie’s summary of the Ghost Train experience: “The heat was stifling and all the cars had issues of one kind or another because of it. We spent the second night in Yukon, OK, and then in Tucumcari, NM. It was a long way, lots of fun, but the Tamaya Resort was a welcome sight.”
Sunday, September 25 -- Arrival And Welcome Dinner The Tamaya Resort was a welcome sight for everyone as we arrived throughout the day. The big, comfortable lobby was the scene of what felt like a family reunion with greetings, Lynn Boynton’s expertise in changing tires got an early hugs, lots of talk, eating and drinking. The sprawling resort workout on the pre-tour drive from Taylorville, IL to is nestled in the low hills of the Santa Ana Pueblo. Owned by Albuquerque - 85BG -1922 Pall Mall Tourer
The evening glow off the Sandia Mountains as seen from the Tamaya Resort. Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
2770 the pueblo and operated by Hyatt, it is an important economic until cars could enter and we didn’t want to take the shuttle in. engine of the pueblo. It was the first, and most luxurious, of Instead, we returned to the Tamaya Resort on Hwy. 4, taking many experiences that we had with Native American Pueblos the long, scenic route again instead of the faster interstate. in New Mexico throughout the tour. When I say sprawling, I mean just that. The resort land is Tuesday, Sept. 27 – Albuquerque To Grants, NM, vast and so are the resort buildings. For most of us, it was a long Via Acoma Pueblo and sometimes mystifying hike from the lobby to our very nice This was a day of driving long distances, with two main rooms. During the afternoon, Danni arranged for Jacqui Hall, stops, first at the Petroglyph National Monument west of the Kimberly Shadduck and Nancy Watts to share in the driving Tamaya Resort and just 24 miles into the day’s drive, then at of the Suskin’s truck on the tour as a riders’ luggage carrier the Acoma Pueblo near Grants. Because Jim and I had taken and trouble truck. A cocktail hour and welcome dinner at the resort marked the official start of the 2016 Wholly Ghost Tour. After dinner, Danni handed out the tour bags one by one, giving each recipient an opportunity to make a brief autobiographical statement as he or she received it. Robert J. Torres, a native New Mexican with roots in the state dating back to the seventeenth century, rounded out the evening with an interesting introduction to the state, a hint of what was to come in the next several days.
Monday, September 26 – Day Trip To Los Alamos This was an almost 200 mile day so an early start was in order. The first 20 miles were on 4-lane Route 550 north. At San Ysidro we turned east onto New Mexico 4, a 2-lane mountainous route of incredible beauty – the first of many that we would see on the tour. Very shortly after the turn-off we entered the Jemez Pueblo, which has been occupied since the 16th century and has many buildings dating back to that time. We stopped at the visitor center for a quick introduction to their history and culture in their very nice little museum. Back on the road, just past Jemez Springs we stopped to look at Soda Dam, a waterfall that looked like a cape draped over rocks. The weather was so lovely and the scenery so spectacular –autumn in the mountains! – that we put the top down while we were stopped there. It stayed down for the entire tour. Beautiful Route 4 took us north and then east on a forested mountain road that passed through the Valle Caldera, a huge, meadowy volcanic crater, and then with some very sharp hairpin turns dropped us into Los Alamos. Photo: Anonymous Photo: Los Alamos is an interesting place – a city but not really a city, as if it’s trying but cannot quite get past the institutional Don’t run out of gas in Los Alamos. Note the machine gun greyness and the feeling of secretive security. You actually mounted on top of the armored police vehicle that stopped to pass through a guardhouse to enter the city. It was confusing to assist Bill Kennedy and Gil Fuqua in 1797. drive in and there was a lot of intrusive road construction, but we managed to get to the Bradbury Science Museum at about a tour of the Acoma Pueblo just the week before with my high 11:30. It didn’t open until 1:00 PM and rather than get back out school classmates, we chose to be a little more leisurely at the on the one-way under-construction roads, we opted to have Petroglyph National Monument, eat lunch nearby and went our lunch at the very bare bones Time Out Pizza right next door way to Grants at the end of the day. to the museum. By the time we were finished and the museum The Petroglyph National Monument encompasses a great opened, at least ten of our SGA cars had arrived and stayed. It deal of land with three public areas where a visitor can hike and was a nice little party. see the petroglyphs. In the small Visitor’s Center we saw an Danni had had a blow out just before Soda Dam that excellent introductory video about the entire site. We chose to morning, so after they arrived at the pizza place he spent some go to the Boca Negra Canyon, to the north of the visitor’s center. time in the shade of a tree doing a tire repair. Jim and I spent It has a well-maintained system of paths that wind among black an interesting hour in the science museum, getting a glimpse of rocks with petroglyphs. At the end of the paths, there is a climb the history, research and science of Los Alamos, and then drove by way of a footpath and rough steps that looked doable from to an overlook of the valley. We decided to forego a visit to the the bottom. We were not equal to the climb, however, and soon Bandolier National Monument because of timing. It was an hour turned back, ready for lunch.
2771 Photo: Gil Fuqua
Acoma Pueblo sits atop a sheer-walled 367- foot sandstone bluff.
One of the friendly park rangers in the visitor’s center Linda, Jacqui Hall, Bill Kennedy, Gil Fuqua and Nancy Watts directed us to a local restaurant called Hannah & Nate’s, not chose this option, and Jacqui said later that in places it was quite far from the National Monument. It was a find, indeed. Great steep and much more rigorous than she had expected. food and for dessert, the best bread pudding I have ever eaten. Grants, NM, is just a short drive from Acoma. We spent We saw many pueblos on this tour, but the Acoma Pueblo the night there at the Holiday Inn Express. At the end of the stands out because of its location. The old pueblo is built on driving day, Tim Sierra ran out of gas just a mile from the hotel. top of a large mesa. The adobe houses on the mesa date from Danni had arranged for a buffet dinner for the group at the the 1500s and there is an historic church, used only for special nearby La Ventana Steak House. We were driving after dark, events. The Acoma tribe is matriarchal. Houses on the mesa so people doubled up in the cars with reliable lights. Mike and are passed down from mother to the youngest daughter of the Patti Adams from California, new to Silver Ghosts and new to family. There is no electricity or running water on the mesa so the SGA, hopped in with us and we had a very pleasant evening. now only about 20 families live there full time. The rest of the houses are used for weekends as well as when there is a tribal Wednesday, Sept. 28 – Grants To Socorro Via Pie Town gathering. Most of the Acoma people live in the modern part Another long driving day, this one with two options: 192 of the pueblo that is on level ground surrounding the mesa. miles or 249 miles. It was also a day of long distances between Those who took the tour of Acoma reported that they had gas stations. Most of the group took the shorter option and a charming and lively young guide named Megan, who was made an early start. raised on the pueblo in her grandmother’s house, one of the After a false start in the wrong direction (we weren’t the oldest houses on the mesa. She no longer lives up there but only ones) we headed south along the eastern edge of the El returns to lead tours. Malpais National Monument, a volcanic field that covers much Visitors go to and from the mesa in shuttles from the of the park area. It was a beautiful morning and a glorious drive visitor’s center, but for the hardy there is the option of walking at the edge of dramatic rock formations. Part of the drive was a back down to level ground at the end of the tour. Danni and designated scenic route along the Continental Divide.
2772 The road from Quemado to Pie Town, and then to the radio telescopes at the Jansky Very Large Array provided long stretches of Ghost-friendly driving with little other traffic. Photo: Gil Fuqua
2773 Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
Heather Furger and 1926 Pall Mall Tourer (S362PL) at Pie Town Café. The special feature at the Pie Café was the “New Mexico Apple Pie”
that included green chilies and Piñons. Photo: Gil Fuqua
As we left the National Monument area, the difference in terrain was startling – from spectacular, mountainous rocks directly to flat, arid plains. The morning drive (83 miles) went faster than we anticipated and we arrived in Quemado, our first In the Visitor’s Center parking lot Twister Stroman and only opportunity for gas on this leg of the trip, in time for discovered that he had a flat tire. It was changed quickly with coffee and a fill-up. Our lunch stop in Pie Town was not far help from friends and he and Sue were on the road again. away and we were ready for lunch. Our destination, Socorro, was about fifty miles away on a Pie Town is just what it sounds, a little wide place in the straight, flat road. We were all checked in at the Comfort Inn in road with a few restaurants that feature pie. But that doesn’t plenty of time for dinner. Small towns have limited capacity for begin to do justice to the incredible pies and home made ice feeding large groups, so Danni had arranged for us to eat off the cream (Jacquie Boynton said that the ice cream tasted like menu at the Socorro Springs Restaurant and Brewhouse. Once “more”) that we had at the Pie Town Café, which had opened again, we were driving in the dark. Bob and Gail Milhous rode just for us on their normal closing day. We overwhelmed the with us. We had dinner in a room that accommodated us all but place, sat inside and outside and had a wait for our food but was very noisy, and then had a quiet night in a nice little town. we didn’t mind. It was an unusual and delicious lunch stop in a very empty stretch of New Mexico. Refueled in every sense, we started out again on Route Thursday, Sept. 29 – Socorro To Santa Fe 60 to Socorro. Flat countryside, big wide sky, crossing the The problem when planning tour routes in New Mexico Continental Divide again, and pretty soon we were seeing is that much of the land belongs to pueblos on which road huge radio telescope discs in the fields as we went by. We construction is limited. That limits route options and sometimes were arriving at the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array of radio puts our cars on interstates. Two different routes were outlined telescopes that monitor radio waves from far outer space. The for us for today’s trip up to Santa Fe, neither of them ideal. It site is about four miles off the road and it was well worth the side was possible to go up the I-25 for 75 miles, then east into the trip. There is a great little Visitor’s Center with an informative Albuquerque Old Town on Central Ave., which is also Old video and we were very impressed by the mindboggling science Route 66. Or take an untested route on access roads, ending at and research done at this modest appearing site. the same I-25 entrance to Old Town.
2774 We opted for a third route, figured out by Doug and Danni and Linda recommended a side trip from Hwy. 14 Mary White. This route took us north on I-25 for 25 miles to up to the Sandia Crest. Ron and Billi Carey took the suggestion Bernardo. There we left the interstate and went east on US and said that it was a long drive but well worth it. They were 60 to Mountainair, then turned north onto Hwy. 55 merging able to get very close to the tower at the top and the fall colors into 337. The beautiful and tranquil drive took us along the and view of Albuquerque were spectacular. The Sierras, who eastern edge of the Cibola National Forest through ranches concurred, said the view was awesome. and grassland. At one of the towns along the way we saw the We arrived without incident at the beautiful Inn and Spa Clendenen and Hunter cars stopped at a café and we also came at Loretto in downtown Santa Fe. Danni put out the word that upon the Stromans en route. We traveled along with Twister we would have a bring-your-own-drink gathering on a second floor rooftop terrace in the evening followed by dinner on our own. All very nice and we settled in Photo: Gil Fuqua for a two-night stay in Santa Fe.
Friday, Sept. 30 – Rest Day In Santa Fe We were happy to have a restful, leisurely morning and a late breakfast without setting out in the car. Because the Inn at Loretto is so centrally located, it was possible to walk everywhere. Our tour book included recommendations for historic sites, museums, galleries and restaurants. And of course there was always shopping. The first organized event of the day was the restaurant tour at 2:00 PM. We started with a salad at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Then we were divided into two groups, each going to four different restaurants. At each stop we learned something about the restaurant and sampled an item
Bill Kennedy’s 1911 R.R. Wood Landaulet (1797) at the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), a massive radio astronomy observatory near Socorro, NM.
and Sue the rest of the way. At Punta de Agua the road was Photo: Kimberly Shadduck justifiably designated the Salt Missions Trail Scenic Byway. We crossed I-40 and joined Hwy 14, known as the Turquoise Trail, still headed north. At this point we also joined the recommended tour route once again. We found a gas station with Bob and Gail Milhous there cajoling their car, which had a thirsty and unhappy radiator. Three and a half gallons of water took care of that problem and we started out again, looking for lunch. We found a place called Hollar’s in Madrid – a tree- shaded outdoor table and a meal that included fried okra, sweet potato fries, fried green tomatoes and buffalo burgers. Maybe not healthy, but awfully good! Dog-friendly Hollar’s also had a dog menu featuring five items ranging from bacon and eggs to dog biscuits. Those who followed the route through Albuquerque Old Town on Old Route 66 commented on the stop and go traffic. Lynn and Jacquie had a funny experience there. While they were stopped at a traffic light, a lady stepped into the street, stroked their car and made some odd comments, then asked persistently for a ride. Fortunately, the light changed and the Boyntons moved on quickly without a passenger.
An Aussie (Jacquie Hall) in Madrid (New Mexico).
2775 Photos: Gil Fuqua 1924 RRCCW Pickwick Limousine – 261KF 1911 Roi des Belges – 1671 Bill & Lynn Vatter – GA Tim & Pia Sierra – FL Photos: Gil Fuqua 1926 Pall Mall Tourer – S176ML 1912 Roi des Belges – 1962 John & Denise Dolan – NY Mike & Cynthia Sierra – FL Photos: Gil Fuqua 1914 Littin & Son Tourer – 38MA, Don & Darby Wathne – SC 1914 Penny Tourer – 20UB, Alan & LaDel Clendenen – CA
1910 Roi des Belges – 1341, Danni & Linda Suskin – GA 1915 Colonial Tourer – 10AD, Ron & Billi Carey – CND Photos: Gil Fuqua
2776 Photos: Gil Fuqua 1926 Pall Mall Tourer – S362PL 1923 Barker Style Tourer – 29LK Kurt & Heather Furger – CO Doug & Mary White – NC Photos: Gil Fuqua 1911 R.R. Wood Landaulet – 1797 1913 Wilkinson Tourer – 18NA Bill Kennedy – IL Ed Rowan – NJ Photos: Gil Fuqua 1913 Roi des Belges – 2617, Ron & Nanette Elenbaas – FL 1924 Windovers Tourer – 74AU, Jim & Penny Armstrong – KS
1923 Hooper Touring – 23EM, Bill Johnston & Ronda Stryker – MI 1921 Locke Tourer – 63AG, Twister & Sue Stroman – TX Photos: Gil Fuqua
2777 from their menu. Memorable for our group were the steaks that were served at the first stop as well as the chef’s preparation of a beef tenderloin at the third stop. The Monroe Gallery, just a short walk away, hosted our group for a happy hour reception from 5:30 to 7:00. They had historic photographs on display ranging from the Wright Brother’s first flight to the riots in Ferguson, MO. It was truly a trip down Memory Lane for many of us and it inspired much talk and reminiscing. Dinner was on our own. We had a lovely meal with Alan and LaDel Clendenen and Gary and Sheryl Hunter under the trees of the patio at the Café Sena. The Sierras, who had been in our group for the restaurant tour, returned to the first restaurant for more of that delicious steak.
Saturday, October 1 – A Drive From Santa Fe To Ghost Ranch The drive from Santa Fe to Ghost Ranch was about 60 miles. We needed to be there and checked in by 4:00 PM for the group panoramic photo. We started out in the mid-morning, heading northwest on US 84 and taking our time. It was a beautiful drive and a beautiful day. We joined Twister and Sue parking lot with a flat tire. Pam Wolff, Darby Wathne, Jacquie in Abiquiu for lunch on a sun dappled patio at the Cottonwood Boynton and I hung out and chatted while another parking Inn. As we sat there enjoying the meal and the sunshine, more of lot tire change was accomplished, taking advantage of Lynn’s our cars arrived. It was a perfect spot for a congenial meal, with expertise and experience. And even a good little clothing shop for some after-lunch recreation. then, onward to Ghost Ranch, just The post-prandial shopping option turned out to be useful, a few miles away. as the Wolff car, traveling with the Wathnes, was sitting in the Ghost Ranch is like a large summer camp for adults with the (Below) Sandy and Bruce Massman (L) with their ghost of Georgia O’Keeffe and the 1922 Tourer (7KG) with Gary and Sheryl Hunter and landscapes so familiar from her their 1923 Oxford Tourer (327KG) at Ghost Ranch. paintings hovering over everything. We were assigned to spacious but (Right) Alan Clendenen makes on the road repair of bonnet that tore loose in strong New Mexico cross winds. Photos: Gil Fuqua
2778 Ghosts at the Loretto Inn & Spa in Santa Fe, NM. (left to right): 10AD, 20UB, 327KG, 261KF, 38MA, 39BG, S307PL, 28MG, S176ML, 63AG Photo: Kimberly Shadduck spartan accommodations, widely spread out over the ranch, people out of camera range moved around and chatted and took and instructed about mealtime hours in the big dining hall. pictures of each other. We had a nice visit with Bruce and Sandy Jacqui Hall was assigned to the Ghost House, which had been Massman, who were parked next to us. the home of Georgia O’Keeffe when she stayed at Ghost Ranch. Bill Kennedy conducted a Tech Session in the Convocation Artists in floppy sun hats with their easels were ubiquitous – the Hall after dinner. His topic was metal fatigue of fan hubs, scenery was spectacular. resulting in the shearing off of the fan blades with serious Before dinner, served for exactly one hour in the dining potential damage to the radiator and bonnet of the car. He hall, we posed for our annual panoramic photo shoot on a field believes that it is inevitable that this will happen to every Ghost near the ranch entrance. My chief memory of the experience and he has developed a reinforced replacement fan hub that he is being instructed to take off my sunglasses and look into the recommends installing sooner rather than later. At the time of setting sun. As the camera moved across the half-circle of cars, the tour he had yet to do it to his cars, but was planning to do
Photo: Kimberly Shadduck The sedimentary rock formations around the Ghost Ranch provided spectacular variations in geological color.
2779 Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
New Mexico sunrises and sunsets were spectacular. Kimberly Shadduck was up early and late to capture the beauty. For those who slept late, this is what early morning can look like in New Mexico. Photo: Gil Fuqua
The aspens were in full golden color around Chama, providing a beautiful backdrop for touring the northern so when he returned home. The second part of his tech session New Mexico mountains. was a slide show of the building of his underground garage from excavation to the raising of the clock tower. Later in the evening the night sky was thick with stars. We Taking advantage of the Ghost Ranch tranquility and took chairs outside and joined our neighbors, Gary and Sheryl, scenery, the Morrisons and Joan Laybourn spent the morning for a glass of wine, stargazing and quiet conversation. on the porch of their cottage. The Stromans, Boyntons, Danni and Linda and Jacqui Hall hung around as well. Most of our Sunday, October 2 – A Drive From Ghost Ranch To Chama group had left, opting to get their lunch on the road. We had Breakfast in the dining hall was so-so, as dinner had been a tire with several ominous bulges and Twister, Lynn and Jim the night before. We had only about 60 miles to drive so we decided that it needed to be taken off. So, once again a parking decided to do the Ghost Ranch Historical Tour at 10:00 AM. lot tire change. By then it was lunchtime and we decided to take When I realized that the tour was more about the buildings our chances in the dining hall. It was the best meal that we had than about Georgia O’Keeffe, I quietly dropped out to just there, spaghetti and meatballs and excellent salad. We ate with wander and enjoy the beautiful day and the amazing scenery. the Stromans at a picnic table on a terrace outside the dining Jim took the complete tour and really enjoyed it. The guide hall. We were happy that we had stayed for lunch and happy to was an interesting young woman, a geologist who had come to have had the full Ghost Ranch experience. Ghost Ranch for the fossils and stayed for Georgia O’Keeffe. All The drive to Chama was more or less an hour and the scenery the workers at the Presbyterian-run ranch are volunteers who became more and more lovely as we approached Chama. For work 40 hours/week for free room and board. Understandably, us, this was the most beautiful part of New Mexico. The aspens there is a waiting list to be a volunteer there. were in full fall foliage – bright gold scattered lavishly about on a dark green mountainous background. It was just spectacular everywhere we looked. Photo: Gil Fuqua
Photo: Gil Fuqua
The adobe church located on the plaza in Ranchos de Taos was built between 1772 and 1816. Known as the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church, it is one of the most painted and photographed churches in the world, including David Morrison’s 39BG chased the steam train through the paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe, and photographs by Ansel mountains to Antonito, CO where he picked up Charlotte for Adams, Paul Strand and Ned Scott. the return ride to Chama, NM.
2780 Photos: Gil Fuqua 1922 Pall Mall Tourer – 85BG 1923 Oxford Tourer – 327KG Lynn & Jacquie Boynton – MI Gary & Sheryl Hunter – CA Photos: Gil Fuqua
1922 Regent Tourer – 7 KG 1923 Pall Mall Tourer – 357HH Bruce & Sandy Massman – CA Bob & Gail Milhous – FL Photos: Gil Fuqua 1926 Fleetwood Tourer – S307PL, Karl Zoller & Marie Novak – PA 1922 Windsor – 39BG, David & Charlotte Morrison – CA
1921 RRCCW Enclosed Drive Cabriolet – 28MG 1923 Tourer – 107JH, Lee & Pam Wolff – OH
Jim and Mariann Stickley – IA Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Photo: Gil Fuqua
2781 The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad uses period steam trains to provide tours from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO. The railroad was constructed in 1880 to serve the silver mining areas in southwestern Colorado. Its track traverses 10,015 feet, the highest mountain pass reached by rail in the US.
a banquet room at the High Country Restaurant and Saloon, the only restaurant in town capable of accommodating our group. We were to order off the menu. This evening, Bill and Lynn Vatter rode over with us and we joined Karl Zoller and Marie Novak for dinner. The noise was almost at hearing-loss level in the small, packed banquet room. We were seated at a makeshift table for six in the middle of the room, with voices and clatter coming at us from all four sides.
Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
Chama is a little mountain town about ten miles south of the Colorado border. It is the terminus of the narrow gauge Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, on our agenda for the following day, and it has some nice little shops near the downtown railroad station. It does not, however, have any motels that could accommodate our entire group so we were divided between two motels. We checked into the Branding Iron and found a Photo: Gil Fuqua parking lot full of MGs – a friendly group that was finishing up their own tour of the area. Northern New Mexico gets cool in early October. The temperature dropped to 27 degrees in Chama, producing The afternoon was still young and we were eager to see frost on the bonnets and warm hats, gloves and coats for the more of the beautiful mountains. We set off for a ten-mile drive early morning drive over a 10,000 foot mountain road to Taos. north to the Colorado border with Alan Clendenen keeping Jim company in the front seat and Sue Stroman in back with me. It was so beautiful that it was hard to decide where to look, so Compounding the problem, most of our MG friends were much to see. Once back in Chama we got settled for our two eating in the main dining room at the restaurant. There was not nights at the motel. nearly enough wait staff and kitchen staff to keep up with the Oh those sociable Hunters! Descending the outside steps of crowd. After enduring noise amounting almost to pain in the our motel, we found them happily partying center of the packed banquet room, I persuaded the wait staff Photo: Gil Fuqua with the hospitable MG group on the grassy in the main dining room to seat the six of us there around a area nearby. We were immediately invited table meant for four. We waited just as long for our food, but we to join in and it looked like too much fun could hear each other and enjoy our conversation as we waited. to pass up. Along with Gary and Sheryl, The wine wasn’t bad either. we spent a delightful hour in very good company. Car people are great the world over. Since we have an MG TD in our Monday, October 3 – The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic garage at home, we felt quite a part of the Railroad group. The morning was cooler than mornings past and no breakfast Once again, Danni had solved the was provided at the motel. We took the recommendation given problem of feeding a large group in a to us by our waitress the previous night and went to Fina’s, a small town by reserving for both evenings nearby small café presided over by Fina herself and heavily
2782 patronized by locals. group boarded as well), while the other half waited a couple of David and Charlotte uncomfortable hours for the bus to return and collect them for Morrison and Joan the hour-long ride back to Chama. Laybourn as well as The only good that came out of the mix-up was that dinner, Twister and Sue had in the same location as the evening before, was served in two apparently received “shifts”, the first starting at 6:30 PM. It was quieter and quicker the same advice and we and altogether a better experience. As the first shift was ending had a perfect breakfast. and the second was trickling in, Bill Kennedy reprised his
Photos: Danni Suskin Then we drove into tech session underground garage slide show for those who had town and parked the missed it the first time. car, closed up with the tonneaus, on the street in front of the railroad station. There was time to check out the better than average shops across the street from the station before we boarded the train for a 10:00 AM departure. As we departed it was raining and hailing a little but we were snug inside our parlor car, drinking coffee and eating coffee cake. The tracks followed the same route that we had driven on the afternoon before and the view was just as glorious. Don and Darby Wathne were sitting next to us. Darby had had back surgery about a month previously and was valiantly handling the train movement, seated in an upholstered chair. More a concern to both of them was hurricane Matthew, which was threatening the East Coast and heading directly toward
their home in South Carolina. Ultimately, they left the tour early Photos: Gil Fuqua and returned home before the hurricane’s landfall. Train followers accompanied us for as long as possible, stopping their cars to take pictures at virtually every intersection Fractured fan blades make a where the train crossed a road. Prominent among this group lot of noise and can destroy a was David Morrison whose large, white Silver Ghost was bonnet or radiator. This errant immediately visible as he followed us along. Charlotte and fan blade partially penetrated Joan were on the train with us. the bonnet when it sheared off. At the halfway point of the trip, the train stopped at Osier Note – The SGA store sells a and we all got off to have lunch at the best organized “mess reinforced fan hub and blades hall” I have ever seen. Comfort food was the order of the day, that are much stronger than the a choice of the meat loaf line or the turkey line with beverages original design. and desserts plentifully located around the large area. The food was really good and those efficient workers Earthship Biotechture resembles a moonscape where Martians landed and fed about 250 people built their homes in the New Mexico desert near Taos. It’s known for its in one hour without “Radically Sustained Buildings” that include interesting designs that incorporate making us feel hurried. Photo: Gil Fuqua the bottoms of wine bottles for portals and beer cans for their bling. We arrived at the station in Antonito, CO, at 4:45 PM. This was where things started to fall apart for about half of our group as a result of lack of supervision by the train company. Long story short, half of our group returned to Chama on the bus provided for us (tickets were not checked upon boarding the bus and passengers not in our
2783 Tuesday, October 4 – Chama To Taos so that it would reengage with Cold overnight and 27 degrees in the morning. John Dolan the flywheel. While they were decided to put his top up and shook out ice from the folds as he waiting for Ron to return, the raised it. Gil Fuqua wanted to add water to their radiator and ladies struck up a conversation found ice at the top of the water bottle as well as ice crystals that with some hunters who invited rattled when the bottle was shaken. This was a good morning them out to their truck to for layering. admire the elk that they had killed that morning. When the ladies didn’t return, their guys went looking for them and found them at the truck shooting Fireballs with their new elk hunter friends. Ron’s car ran fine. He said that it worked better than their three Photo: Gil Fuqua navigators did after their Fireball shots. It was an interesting morning in Chama. Twister Stroman was in the Napa store buying antifreeze when a man approached him to tell him that he knew of a Rolls-Royce in a barn – his wife’s barn, in fact – that was for sale. He had recently married a widow whose deceased husband’s Rolls-Royce, prepped for painting, was still in their barn. The bridegroom was a Corvette owner and he coveted the barn space for his Photo: Gil Fuqua own car. So Twister went along to take a look. He found what looked like it might be a Silver Wraith. It had been completely Bob Milhous’ 1923 Pall Mall tourer (357HH) parked at the Karl dismantled, stripped of paint and primed. All the dismantled G. Jansky Very Large Array, near Socorro, NM. The radio parts had been dumped into the interior of the car, making it telescope in the background is 25 meters across (82’) and weighs 209 metric tons. By comparison, the Silver Ghost is hard to really see the condition or make an identification, but about 6 meters long and weighs almost 2.7 metric tons. he had the owner raise the bonnet and he made a note of the chassis number –WYC76. Too big a project for Twister, but if anyone out there is interested, he knows how to get in touch We headed back to Fina’s for breakfast. The word was out with the barn owner and her new husband. about Fina’s and more of our Ghost group showed up there for Sitting in the barn right next to the RR-in-a-basket was a a perfect breakfast. It was also a popular breakfast spot that Steinway baby grand piano in an equally dismantled condition, morning for elk hunters. Ron and Nanette Elenbaas, Ronda also for sale! Stryker and Bill Johnston, and Ed Rowan and Coralie Ogle went Well, back to the road. The drive into Taos was short and to Fina’s for breakfast. After they had eaten, Ron went off with easy and started with the same glorious mountains and golden a borrowed jeep and a towrope to get his starter repositioned aspens as the last two days. We could see, however, that the cold nights and rain had taken their toll. There was less gold to be seen and more clusters of upright bare aspen trunks. The road was lovely but it was also the most isolated that we had been on. In more than an hour of driving we saw only two other cars. No towns either. After we made the final swing around the mountains we found ourselves on a long,
New Mexico was full of wild cats – Kimberly Shadduck, mountain lion and Jacquie Hall in Photo: Gil Fuqua Santa Fe, NM.
2784 flat approach to Taos. We passed the fantasy-like houses of We stayed in town to do car maintenance, kick tires and get Earthship Biotecture on our left and then crossed a long bridge ready for our party. Heather Furger, on her own today, went with over the gorge into Taos. us to the grocery store. While she and I spent an hour inside We arrived at the El Monte Sagrado resort before lunch and buying wine, fruit, cheeses and other necessities, Jim held court could not check in, so we left the car and walked to one of our in the parking lot. We returned to El Monte Sagrado and stored favorite places in Taos, Doc Martin’s restaurant in the Taos Inn. away our purchases, then decided to go to the Taos Pueblo. After lunch we set off for the Taos Pueblo but found it closed This time we were not disappointed. The pueblo was open for a tribal ceremony. We decided to try once again at the El and we took the 1:00 PM tour with a young Native American Monte Sagrado and this time we were luckier. Not only could guide. All the guides are members of the Taos Pueblo and have we check in, but we also had been upgraded to a two-bedroom, grown up there. They are in college and their grades are part of two-bath cottage with a large living room, a patio and a walled the criteria for being selected to be a guide. The tour felt like a garden. That kind of good fortune should be shared. With a rest very personal experience. day tomorrow in Taos, it was time to throw a party. The Taos Pueblo is an interesting contrast to the Acoma A cocktail party and plated dinner at the resort was on the Pueblo. It is on accessible level ground, very spread out, brown agenda for the evening, followed by an SGA Board Meeting. and dusty. The Old Pueblo is at least 1000 years old and has I extended our party invitation during Danni’s pre-dinner adobe houses piled up on three levels. As with the Acoma announcements. Dinner was excellent and the board meeting was lively.
Wednesday, October 5 – A Day In Taos The itinerary for today was the Enchanted Circle Tour, beginning and ending at our hotel. This is perhaps the most driven of New Mexico’s scenic byways with several stops along the way including the Red River Fish Hatchery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Eagle Nest and Angel Fire Lake, a popular sports resort. Our lovely weather held. It was a beautiful driving day. As Bill Kennedy was headed toward the Fish Hatchery he heard a loud thump. A fan blade had sheared, creating a large dent in his bonnet, the very problem that he had featured in his Tech Session. The Tech Session Photos: Kimberly Shadduck apparently increased awareness of a few more fan incidents. In addition to Bill’s problem, Bob Milhous hit a fan blade when he closed his bonnet, scuffing the radiator. Bill Kennedy and Gil replaced the fan hub and blades on Bill and Bob’s cars after parts were shipped in from the SGA store. And Ron Elenbaas, closing Bill Johnston’s bonnet, caught a fan blade but did no damage to the bonnet.
(Top right) Bill Kennedy makes final adjustments at Ghost Ranch for his panoramic photograph of the cars on the tour.
(Right) The afterglow of a perfect hot air balloon ride with Ronda Stryker, Ron and Nanette Elenbaas, Mike and Cynthia Sierra, Pia Sierra, Karl Zoller and Marie Novak.
2785 Pueblo, very few people (only five families) now live full time Thursday, October 6 – Taos To Tamaya On The High Road in the Old Pueblo because it does not have electricity or running Our driving day began on the 56-mile High Road, an official water. The houses pass from generation to generation but not New Mexico Scenic Byway that winds through the Sangre de through the matriarchal line. Some of the “newer” houses on Christo Mountains between Taos and Santa Fe. It goes through the Old Pueblo site, 100 to 200 years old, contain shops and high desert, mountains, forests, small farms, tiny Spanish Land a couple of them have tiny restaurants. There appears to be Grant villages and Pueblo Indian villages. The natural beauty continuous maintenance of individual spaces. We saw adobe of the area has attracted artists and artisans whose galleries and walls being built and repaired in several places. studios are scattered along the route. After our tour we ate lunch at the tiny Adobe Café right in We drove through Las Trampas, a royal land grant town the pueblo – maybe three tables. Jim, Heather and I each chose founded in 1751 and designated a National Historic Site. It is and shared different Native American dishes that included fry dominated by the stately San Jose de Gracias Church, also a bread, chipotle stew and pies. We were the last customers of National Historic Landmark and considered a model of Spanish the day. We sat on a miniature patio enjoying the local food colonial church architecture throughout New Mexico. Next was and the warm afternoon. Truchas, another royal land grant town that was the location But we had work to do back at the hotel. The party was for the movie version of The Milagro Beanfield War. Then we set for 5:30 PM so that it would fit with any later dinner plans. came to Chimayo, site of El Santuario de Chimayo, a Roman Organizing was pretty simple, however. We had asked that Catholic shrine that is a National Historic Site as well. It is people bring whatever food and drink they had to share and the a contemporary pilgrimage site and receives around 300,000 outpouring was amazing. Just about the entire group showed visitors annually. The Sanctuary is especially popular during up and partied until nearly 8:00. There was so much food left that several of the usual suspects stuck around afterwards and we had a fine dinner that lasted well into the evening. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is the largest hot air balloon Another group gathered for dinner at Kurt and Heather Furger’s festival in the world. The SGA New Mexico tour was timed neighboring cottage. It was a nice, convivial ending to the day. so that participants could finish off the tour with a hot air balloon ride. The weather was perfect, the balloons were spectacular and the pilots provided perfect rides – a great way to finish off a wonderful tour. Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
2786 The glowing balloons look like gigantic lighted ornaments in the early morning or evening. SGA members were greeted by balloon glows as they entered the field
Photo: Gil Fuqua for their early morning flights and again at dinner at the Abruzzi Balloon Museum.
Holy week for pilgrims who go there to seek blessings or fulfill for the children. During the entire time that we were there, vows. Walking is traditional, some pilgrims walking from as about four hours, I never heard a child crying or fussing. We far away as Albuquerque, about 90 miles. linked our fate with the Clendenens and Hunters and went in As the High Road ended, our route took us on a bypass search of breakfast among the vendors. around Santa Fe that led us to I-25 south of the city. There was It was possible to walk right out on the field and watch close- no realistic non-interstate option going further south, so we set up as the teams prepared the balloons. All around us we could out on the interstate. The mountain views from the highway see the balloons slowly inflating and then waiting at ground level were great, the traffic not so, but we were on the home stretch for their scheduled lift-offs. Referees (about 180 of them we were and happy to be there. told) in black and white stripes, many with quirky individual It wasn’t quite as nice a ride for Danni and Linda, whose embellishments, were the lift-off authorities. Their skill was car failed to proceed on the interstate about 25 miles from apparent as balloons went up around the field without incident, the resort. Kimberly and Jacqui were following in the truck. in no logical order of precedence to the uninitiated observer. Tim and Pia Sierra were driving along the I-25 access road in The day was lightening. The first balloons up were the the same direction and came upon the stalled group. A quick commercial passenger ones. Danni had booked our group with roadside check determined that a gear that drives the magneto RainbowRyders and we chanced upon them as they were getting had stripped. They were able to get the car off the interstate things up and running. Our Ghost group was boarding baskets onto an access road for safety and Tim and Kimberly went to of twelve to fourteen passengers each, carefully balanced for the resort to retrieve Tim’s truck and trailer. Pia drove the Sierra weight. It was awesome to see the balloons ascending with our Ghost to the resort with Jacqui, and Danni and Linda stayed friends on board. And they said afterward that the half-hour with their car. The Suskin Ghost went back to Corrales on the ride was just spectacular, with the view, the other balloons in Sierra rig for a well-deserved rest and repair. the air and the quiet ride being especially wonderful. The specialty balloons were the next group to go up. The Friday, October 7 – Balloon Fiesta! variety of styles was riveting. We saw dogs, space ships, Darth The Balloon Fiesta day started early. We were up at 4:00 Vader, and on and on. We each had favorites, of course, as we AM, in the lobby at 4:45 AM and onto three shuttles in cold wandered among the balloons in all stages of readiness. Danni early morning darkness. Two of the shuttles carried those who stayed on the ground with us and was a welcome guide who were going on balloon rides to a tent in the Balloon Fiesta Park could give us information from a balloon pilot’s point of view where they had breakfast and were prepared for their rides. as well navigate us through the increasingly heavy crowd. Those of us who were keeping our feet on the ground went in Led carefully by Danni, we were all out of the park and onto a third shuttle that took us to the park entrance. We joined the our shuttles by about 9:00 AM. We headed back to the resort hundreds of people pouring into the park at that dark and early for a day of catching up on sleep, talking, stowing cars in rigs hour, including busloads of well-behaved school children and (ours included), and general relaxation. We were going to return countless families with infants and small children. to the Balloon Fiesta Park early in the evening for the Balloon The scene was organized chaos and it was still very dark Glow Dinner at the Abruzzi Balloon Museum overlooking the and cold. In front of us was a huge field where balloons – launch field. A Glow features balloons that sit stationary on the hundreds of them -- were being laid out on the ground by their field in the dark, inflated and lighted. support teams. Food and souvenir vendors were set up around Once again in shuttles, we arrived at the museum with the outside edge of a wide walking area that surrounded the plenty of time to enjoy the exhibits and check out the fine shop. field. And people, lots of people. It must have been fascinating Dinner was a buffet for a few hundred people. We had reserved
2787 tables and plenty of time to eat and talk. Because the weather had turned colder and it was very windy, the Glow was limited to about five balloons. However, at the end of the evening there was a truly spectacular fireworks display coordinated between two different platforms on the far side of the launch field. We watched from the terrace outside the second floor dining room and then went back to our resort for some well-earned rest after a long, balloon-filled day.
Saturday, October 8 – Winding Down And Fond Farewells New Mexico’s roads Our last tour day dawned rainy, windy and cool – the first included long straight runs bad driving weather of the tour. A number of Ghosts were and many curves through already loaded in trailers. The plan for today was a circular the mountains. trip that visited some of Albuquerque’s highlights including the Unser Racing Museum, the Casa Rondena Winery and Old Town Albuquerque. Our tour book had information about Postscript all those sites as well as restaurant, museum and shopping There is no way that this description of our unforgettable suggestions. New Mexico tour can adequately reflect the fun that we all Terry Swann and Pam had together, the conversations, the sharing of ideas (lively, Porter, who had just joined us sometimes), the mutual support and friendships. at Tamaya, as well as Kimberly As a group we looked out for each other. There were no Shadduck took the resort shuttle major car breakdowns – except, of course, for Danni’s and to the Balloon Fiesta Field again fortunately that was this morning but returned on the last day on disappointed. The bad weather the road and close to meant that few balloons had home – but there was taken off. plenty of satisfactory We slept late, collected parking lot tweaking Mike and Patti Adams and to be done at the end Jacqui Hall and went off to Bernalillo in our truck for a late of each day. We had breakfast that turned into brunch as we searched for a breakfast quiet heroes like place that could seat us. We had not taken into account all Cynthia Sierra, who the people who would be doing the same thing after an early without fuss did morning at the Balloon Fiesta. We ended up at Denny’s and much of their driving All Photos: Gil Fuqua enjoyed a leisurely meal, then returned for a quiet afternoon when Michael at the resort. developed a painful problem with his hand. And we had just Some hardy souls set off to brave the weather and see the enough flat tires along the way to keep things interesting and sights, but for a lot of the group it was an afternoon for packing Lynn Boynton busy. and preparing for the trip home, visiting with friends, coffee We had fellow feeling among those who had suffered or drinks in the lobby and a general feeling of winding down. losses. On the last afternoon, sitting in the Tamaya lobby, Joan Danni had planned a happy hour at 6:00 PM followed by a Laybourn and Bill Keister, Doug White’s recently widowed farewell buffet dinner at 7:00 in a resort banquet room. The brother-in-law who had been their rider during the tour, shared dinner was delicious and afterwards we all spent an hour or so their lives after losing a spouse. We had old and new loving making our fond farewells and anticipating the next time that relationships as well. During a meal with the Morrisons and the we would be together again. Hunters we all shared stories of how we had met and married. And everyone enjoyed the happy aura that surrounded Ed Rowan and Coralie Ogle. Danni and Linda could not have been better hosts. They were patient, supportive and creative. They made us feel welcome and they were excellent ambassadors for their adopted state of New Mexico. Planning and carrying out a Wholly Ghost tour takes years of careful planning that sometimes works out and sometimes does not when the day actually comes. Danni and Linda really helped us roll with the punches and made the tour seamless and fun. We thank them heartily for their kindness, hard work and flexibility and for a perfect introduction to the culture, history and beauty of enchanting New Mexico.
2788 Our First SGA Tour
Michael Adams in S110MK
sn’t it nice when everything you planned to do on your Photo: Gil Fuqua vacation turns out to be even more exciting and more fun Ithan you ever imagined? This was our first tour ever, and an SGA Tour seemed like the right place to start. Patti and I didn’t know what to expect, we just knew we would be seeing New Mexico together, and, that we wanted to get to know our car, and, the other people on the tour. Both of those expectations were met, and exceeded! S110MK ran near perfectly after some minor adjustments by Bill Kennedy, Lynn Boynton and Dave Morrison and some good advice from others like Jim Armstrong, Twister Stroman, Doug White, and Ron Carey. Thank you to all who offered assistance. I would like to also thank Tim Sierra for the little fiber washer that stopped my big oil leak! No need to find a good mechanic....just go on tour and your Ghost will be running magnificently by days end! All of the problems we had with S110MK were minor and Mike and Patti Adams easily fixed. In Albuquerque the points needed to be reset, as toured through the the fiber block had worn down to the point they would not open, Karl G. Jansky Very hence no spark. At the Very Large Array near Socorro, we had a Large Array and visited bad ground in the distributor housing, again a no start situation, Chama, NM for a ride on the Cumbres & and in Santa Fe the float stuck and the carburetor needed both Toltec Scenic Railroad the high speed and low speed jets adjusted. That stopped the on their first SGA
belching black smoke! All of these repairs were made by the Wholly Ghost Tour. Adams Photo: Mike above mentioned members in the field with nothing more than a pocket knife and years of experience! From that point on, our car ran without incident, and we were left with enjoying what was the Balloon ride near the end of the tour in Albuquerque. new adventures awaited us each day, and getting to know our Learning how to inflate, ride and then pack up the balloons after fellow “Tourers”. landing gave us the full experience of a balloon ride. Luckily The tour book was amazing and was part of the reason we we picked the right day (no rain) to ride and had the right pilot learned so many things on the trip. We could read about all of (soft landing). Check that one off on the bucket list! PS don’t the things we were seeing each day and plan which route we look down. felt up to, or just plan our own route from place to place using Some of the other cars had problems which turned into the maps provided. Being new, we mostly traveled alone, and an opportunity for me to participate in “real tech” sessions. I I wondered how many others were as glad to see us at day’s was able to spend quite a bit of time with Bill Kennedy, Lynn end as we were to see them! Completing each day on the road Boynton, and Gil Fuqua working on various fan blade failures seemed like a victory to us, as we traveled a total of 996 miles! which required replacing the hub assemblies on 1797 and Bob The tour had many highlights and one especially stood out Milhous’ Ghost. There’s no substitute for hands on experience. I for us. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic railroad was over the top was fortunate to be able to learn and help out all at the same time! Photo: Kimberly Shadduck (pun intended) of the 10,015 foot Aside from the cars, places we went, and the things we saw Cumbres pass. The scenery was and did, which were all very amazing, what Patti and I came magical, the steam locomotive, away with was a whole new group of friends. We got to know the whistles, the smoke, the most everyone on the tour, and as someone once said “you’ll tracks clanking under foot, the join the SGA for the cars, and stay for the people”. So true. We leaves turning autumn colors, the look forward to seeing everyone again soon on the next tour. I cliffs, the tunnels, the clouds..it might suggest to those of you reading this that have never been was one of those experiences on a Wholly Ghost Tour to please consider going on the next hard to put into words. You just one. If you like talking Ghosts, driving your Ghost, meeting had to be there. I think everyone wonderful people, eating out at great places, visiting interesting who rode the train felt a special bond, like being in an Indiana places and just having fun, then a Wholly Ghost Tour is for you, Jones movie. And being on the first bus back to Chama made so, set aside the time for the next tour, you will be glad you did, I it a perfect day! know it was a game changer for us. Thank you Danni and Linda Another event we really enjoyed and had never done before for a wonderful two weeks in New Mexico! See you next year.
2789 Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Gil Fuqua
Jacquie and Lynn Boynton Don and Darby Wathne Jim and Mariann Stickley Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
Sue and Twister Stroman Billi Carey
Danni and Linda Suskin Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Photo: Gil Fuqua
John and Denise Dolan
Kimberly Shadduck
Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Mike and Patti Adams Photo: Gil Fuqua
Joan Laybourn Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
Nancy Watts Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Gil Fuqua
Alan and LaDel Clendenen Bill Johnston and Ronda Stryker Ron Elenbaas
2790 Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
Karl Furger David and Charlotte Morrison Karl Zoller Photo: Gil Fuqua Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
Penny and Jim Armstrong Sheryl and Gary Hunter
Bob & Gail Milhous Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Photo: Kimberly Shadduck
Bill Kennedy, Pia and Tim Sierra Sandy and Bruce Massman
Lynn and Bill Vatter Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Photo: Kimberly Shadduck Photo: Gil Fuqua
Marie Novak Lee and Pam Wolff Ed Rowan and Coralie Ogle
2791 Albert & Margaret White, both always ready for a drive, happily pose 1365 overlooking the Dove
Valley and the Izaak Walton Hotel. This 1910 chassis carries a Roi des Belges tourer by Gamble. Photo: Colin Hughes
A Week in June Silver Ghost Register Events Story by Mermie Karger, photographs by Colin Hughes and Mermie Karger
Silver Ghost Workshop 2016 in conjunction with the East of common problems and how to solve them; breakdowns on Midlands Section of the RREC the road from ignition difficulties to wheel changing; failure The second of the popular Silver Ghost Workshops, to stop; adjusting and maintaining the brakes. Necessary for held 19-23 June 2016 in conjunction with the East Midlands understanding were specific examinations of wheels, tappets, RREC Section, took place in Derbyshire, hosted by Graham valves, magneto, trembler coil, springs, brakes, gear box, and and Barbara Mead. There a representative collection of Silver much more. Ghosts spanning almost the entire twenty years of production, Throughout the three days, we could compare and contrast, along with many mechanical components, were available for for example, a 1904 Rolls-Royce with a 1907 Ghost with a 1912 inspection and demonstration. Ghost with a 1923 Ghost, each from below on a lift or from These workshops are open to all RREC members. There is above while running. How I wish that my simple video of the no need to own a Silver Ghost, just to be interested in finding oil drip feeds on the 1904 car could be reproduced here. out what all the fuss is about. Although I have a passable knowledge of the workings The chief organiser, Roger Cockfield, had divided about of my Ghost, it was fascinating to learn more of the whys 20 people into five groups. Each group moved from station and wherefores (as Ralph Lindquist used to say) of those to station, having about earlier and later than half an hour introduction mine. That statement and discussion on each could easily be made of station’s topic. Roger, the various workshops with Martin Carnell, held by the SGA. A Photo: Colin Hughes Nicholas Simon, Jeff major difference is that Booker and several the session leaders at other knowledgeable this workshop did not enthusiasts, led these necessarily own Ghosts sessions which covered themselves. But through starting, maintenance many years’ ownership and lubrication; failure to and driving of primarily proceed – identification small horsepower cars,
2792 they had an excellent knowledge of Rolls-Royce principles and often had a solid engineering background which led to very clear explanations of the subjects. I can’t resist noting certain differences in the language, and I don’t mean the usual English – American ones. At this Photo: Colin Hughes workshop, the expletive of choice was “bugger”, and the term “balls”, for the weights on the governor, from the steam engine world’s term for full speed as “going balls out”, were heard from time to time over the general discussions. More importantly, workshops such as these enhance prior knowledge, strengthen acquaintanceships, and bring more people into the fold. At least one couple are actively looking for a Ghost. Jeremy Leasor, pictured, recently purchased 1924 Silver Ghost 89RM, an open charabanc by R Ford, Registered YT33, now named Celeste (remember Babar?). Already familiar David Morrison in Joan Laybourn’s 1913 Barker Open Drive with other old cars, he commented: One of the great joys of old Landaulette, 2644, which had been found in storage in Norway. cars is that they are time machines which transport us to a world where things were done differently. They all have their idiosyncrasies and one must learn to indulge their peculiarities. Forgotten techniques must be mastered, out-dated technology
understood and new skills acquired, but this is all part of the Photo: Colin Hughes pleasure. If this alarms you, if you feel compelled to replace the old with the new, that is fine. To each his (or her) own. But why have an old car? Why not simply buy something new?
RREC Silver Ghost Register 110th Anniversary Tour of Derbyshire Peak District 21-24 June 2016 Thanks to the kind and knowledgeable efforts of Graham Mead, about 15 Silver Ghosts ranging in year from 1907 to 1924 spent three days driving in the Derbyshire Peak District. Many Looking very disappointed at finding the Cat and Fiddle closed, of the roads we travelled were used for testing our motorcars. Graham Mead turns to leave in 1907 “The Auld Lady”, 60577, Graham knows all of them. carrying a Maudslay Wagonette. Now we have one more reason why Silver Ghosts are so tough, smooth and reliable. If a car can handle the roads of the Peak District, it can handle anything. Here are some excerpts from the directions. • You are now on the ‘Straight Mile’ used by R-R in the 1920’s
for speedometer testing. (Find it on Google Maps as Derby Photo: Mermie Karger Road, west of Hilton at 52°52’26.9”N 1°39’59.4”W) • Climb the long hill on to the moors. As you near the top on the far horizon note the Cat & Fiddle, an old coaching inn where the test drivers would frequently pause for refreshment. (Unfortunately for us, it was closed for lunch. Google Maps 53°14’25.3”N 1°59’31.8”W) • Descend a steep hill on the narrow winding road with tremendous views of the River Dove valley. Cross a narrow stone river bridge. Turn right at the 1840s memorial stone column in Ilam towards Dovedale. (Google Maps 53°03’17.0” N 1°47’58.” W). Georgina Wood chats with fellow Ghost drivers Katie Forrest • We now start climbing Swinscoe Hill which was used by and Susie Forrest before Katie moves 2154, the Forrest’s 1912 Barker Phaeton, into place for the afternoon cavalcade at the Company for testing engine power and carburation, Burghley House. Following is 16RM, the Forrests’ 1924 Park particularly for the Alpine cars in 1913. (On the A52 Ward 2 door allweather Allweather Coupé. after crossing the River Dove in Mayfield. Google Maps 53°00’34.6”N 1°45’57.1” W). (Far left) Climbing up the moors to the Cat and Fiddle, 2644 followed 72EM, 1924 Laybourn/Windovers tourer carrying Greg Gill and Joan Laybourn. The arrow in the road surface tells oncoming traffic “Get back on your own side!”
2793 • If you are feeling adventurous, you can carry on into the town of Wirksworth where cars being developed for the 1913 Alpine Trials were tested on the very steep and narrow hill out of the Market Place. (The B5053. Maybe some in our group tried, but it wasn’t reported widely. Google Maps 53°05’08.2”N 1°34’22.0”W) (Left) Under Roger Cockfield’s guidance, a new Ghost We first passed through the town of Ashbourne when the owner, Jeremy Leasor, prepares himself for the arcane town’s many antiques shops were closed. Many tourers were ceremony of compressing valve springs. lured back from the challenging roads into the challenges of shopping. Colin quipped that it looked like the Silver Ghost version of The Antiques Road Trip. Reports were whispered, possibly not true, that one elaborate purchase necessitated a special present for a partner. We enjoyed staying at The Isaak Walton Hotel, named for the author of The Compleat Angler, who fished the nearby River Dove in the mid-17th century. We had a bit of time to wander down to it for a walk along its banks and for the fun of crossing the Stepping Stones. Wednesday evening, Graham Mead led us through the early history of Rolls-Royce and the Silver Ghost in a presentation that he and Mike Evans had worked out together. We were all sorry that Mike and Frances (and 72LG) could not be with us on the tour. At Thursday’s final banquet, in SG Register style, the inimitable Andy Courtney rounded up the unabashed in our group to sing songs or tell jokes and tall tales, all excellent, but none as entrancing as Andy’s. He can elaborately recite a delightfully complex story from memory – even when he’s ill.
Andy and Rita Courtney’s 1924 6TM with Dual Cowl Tourer by Geo Williams of Sydney, and Nick and Claire Stow’s 33CE, 1921 Tourer by Barker, Photo: Mermie Karger linger in Ashbourne during our Silver Ghost Antiques Road Trip.
2794 The roads were irregularly cambered, full of sheep and lined with Brexit “Leave” signs. During our very comfortable drive with David Morrison in 2644, 1913 Barker Open Drive Landaulette, we were treated to a few of his idiosyncratic quips: “The high seating position makes it easier to see if your headlamps have fallen off,” or, “It’s a 3 speed box, so there’s only a 75% chance of making a mistake.”
Photos: Mermie Karger
Friday, many in the group drove to the RREC Annual Rally via Nightingale Road, Derby to visit Rolls-Royce and the one remaining listed building from the old works. On leaving, they followed half of the 20 mile route used prior to WWII to test all chassis before being sent to the coachbuilder for the chosen coachwork to be fitted. Those who started the week at the workshop, completed the tour and continued on to Burghley drove about 170 miles. It’s constantly amazing to this American how much there is of historical and social importance, and beauty, in a comparatively small area.
Whether following narrow roads with passing places, The 110th Anniversary of the Silver Ghost at the RREC maneouvering through road works, or parking in a space Annual Rally at Burghley House in town seemingly smaller than the car, Albert White, an Saturday at Burghley brought more Silver Ghost celebrations experienced lorry driver, knows exactly where 1365 will fit no and more Silver Ghosts. matter what the obstacle. He moves it along smartly, too. In late morning, efficient marshals lined all Ghosts participating on either side of Silver Ghost in front of the main house. Innumerable photographs were taken in a variety Roger Cockfield uses his model trembler coil to demonstrate of media. the adjustment of the stream of sparks between its points. Mid afternoon, all Silver Ghosts in the line-up were invited to take part in a Celebratory Parade around the Main Arena. Malcolm Tucker and Graham Mead gave a broadcast commentary on the history of each of about 30 cars. Most are listed in Issue 1 of the recent Silver Ghost Register magazine, ‘The Silver Ghost.’ The main event for all cars took place on Sunday. Silver Ghost awards will be reported elsewhere. Without the dedication to Silver Ghosts shown by Andy Courtney, Silver Ghost Register Chairman, and without his appreciation for those who drive them, these celebratory activities might not have happened, and certainly not with the same flair. Note: In order to join in on Silver Ghost Register events or to receive its magazine, join the RREC, and if you own a Silver Ghost, you will be included in the Register. If you don’t, there are other ways to be part of the SGR. Go to the RREC website, choose “how to join,” download the application form and proceed from there.
2795 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Barker Tourer – Chassis 20UB
Owners: Alan and LaDel Clendenen
Photos: Gil Fuqua
20 UB was delivered to John Burns Frazer in Ottawa, Canada in June 1914. Frazer ran a successful lumber business in Ottawa and was on the Board of Directors of The Grand Trunk Railroad. He was also a Colonel in the Canadian Army and was posted to Flanders in WWI.In those days, rank had privilege and he elected to take his new Rolls-Royce with him. According to Alan Clark MP, who was the 5th owner of this car, King George V rode in 20UB when he reviewed the Canadian Troops. After the war in the early 20’s, the car was sent to Springfield for service and a new Pickwick body. John Frazer kept the car until the mid-1930’s when he sold it to a friend in Ottawa. The friend used the car sparingly one season, and then after World War II sold it to another friend in Windsor, Ontario. The friend drove it in a parade a few times in the 1950’s and then it sat until B.P Moser bought it in the late 1970’s. Moser known as Ben to his close friends, never drove it, but kept the car until his death. At that time, Charles Howard brokered the car to Alan Clark, MP of Salt Wood Castle, near Dover. After Clark’s death, it went to Doug Magee who had the current body built for it and restored by David Hemmings. The Clendenen’s acquired the car from Doug in 2006 through David Gooding.
2796 1915 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
Colonial Open Tourer – Chassis 10AD
Owners: Billi & Ron Carey of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Chassis 10AD was built to colonial London-Edinburgh Photo: Gil Fuqua specifications. It includes the taller 22 inch radiator and was constructed to carry a 5-passenger body. After completion of factory testing on March 20th, 1915, the chassis was shipped to Melbourne, Australia and then delivered to Sydney to the original owner, William J. Adams of the Tattersall’s Hotel and Tattersall’s Lottery fame. Once the car arrived in Sydney, it was bodied by Angus & Son, a leading coach builder in Australia. The original body was light blue in color. After Mr. Adams death, his widow kept the car for her personal use until 1936 when it was sold to a Sydney firm of undertakers to be used as a mourning coach. The undertakers sold the car in 1949/1950 but nothing is known of this buyer other than it was presented to the workshops of Bert Ward where the cost to restore it was considered prohibitive. In 1960, the car was purchased by Stan Nash of Sydney. It was fitted with a 1938 Studebaker body. Mr. Nash purchased the car for the paltry sum of 20 pounds, intending to use it for spare parts. It was some time later that he realized that he had purchased an Edwardian Silver Ghost with complete and original chassis. Wholly Ghost Tour of Tasmania, Victoria and New South In 2007, the Carey’s purchased the car and it underwent a Wales, the 2015 SGA Wholly Ghost Tour of Ireland, as well complete restoration with completely new coachwork. as several North American tours, including the recent SGA The car recently completed the 2013 Alpine Tour, the SGA Wholly Ghost Tour of New Mexico.
2797 1921 Rolls-Royce Springfield Silver Ghost Enclosed Drive Cabriolet – Chassis 28MG
Owners: Jim & Mariann Stickley, Cedar Rapids, IA
28MG is a copy of the Prince of Wales personal car of 1920, and his trustees made him sell off his collection, and 28MG Chassis 9LW, a Barker two-door sedan. 28MG is also a two- was purchased by John Schaller III, the Rolls-Royce dealer in door sedan but has the doors reversed from the English model Indianapolis, in 1950. Shortly after acquiring the car, Schaller (left front and right rear) so that passengers can enter on the drove it to an AACA meet in Lake Forest, IL for a total mileage kerbside. Note the single rear door. The car’s rear section is a run of about 600 miles. functioning landaulette with an opening rear section. 28MG Edward A. Young acquired the car around 1970 and kept is featured in an early Springfield catalog and is described it in storage for about 20 years until it was sold to a Mr. Duke as an “Enclosed Drive Cabriolet.” The coachwork is Smith- in Kansas City. Roger Morrison bought the car from Duke and Springfield, body number SS101. The car also has unusual subsequently sold it to Jim Stickley in 2003. The Stickleys have natural oak wood window surrounds and “A” pillars. It was driven the car, named Duchess, on every SGA tour since 2003. originally painted Brewster green. On the most recent SGA tour through New Mexico, the Duchess 28MG is an early Springfield model was reportedly flying at 70 MPH down a hill in anticipation of and has more in common with its British the approaching steep ascent. cousins than later Springfield cars. The chassis is essentially English with Dunlop hubs, right-hand drive, and a 3.25:1 final gear ratio. It has 23" lock ring wheels with 6:00x23" tires. The running boards incorporate a battery and tool box. 28MG was made for Potter Palmer of the Palmer House in Chicago through Emil Ennis, an agent for Palmer. It had three subsequent owners before it was acquired by D. Cameron Peck, a famous Chicago car collector. Peck ran into financial issues
Photo: Gil Fuqua
2798 Gale Petronis rescued the Cadillac, keeping it running for the duration of We have lost a prominent the tour. Gale and Henry married a year later at a lovely and member of our Ghost Touring quaint venue in Orlando, Florida. family. Gale Petronis passed The couple traversed the globe together for the next 22 away on November 4, 2016. She years. Gale was like a ‘wild bronco’ when we met her. Henry succumbed to Wegner’s Disease. was a ‘silent Sam’. They each influenced the other very Gale is survived by her husband, positively. What a great couple. Henry and daughter, Summer. Henry and Gale showed cars at almost every ‘Concourse Gale knew how to live! Her d’Elegance’ in the world, always being recognized for the life reminds me of a quote from extreme quality of the Collection. Touring antique cars is the 1958 movie, “Auntie Mame” the common denominator for most of us. Cynthia and I are when Mame encourages her so grateful for the privilege of meeting and becoming fast assistant, Agnes, to “Live…Life is a banquet and most poor friends with Gale and Henry. We met Henry in 1982 and bastards are starving to death!” Well, Gale dined well…and Gale in 1993. Since then, we have completed dozens of tours threw countless dinners, parties and banquets enhancing together, attended many Concourses together and enjoyed many of our lives. many dinner parties, and visits. We consider the Petronises Gale’s life was filled with adventures like speed boat among our best friends. racing, circumnavigating the globe and touring antique cars, Cynthia and I had the pleasure of touring thousands but she was sustained by the love of her family, her friends, of miles with Gale and Henry. Gale was “navigationally her community and her co-workers. challenged”, so they would always follow us on tours all Gale was born in Chicago and raised in Miami. She over the USA, Canada, Europe and the U.K. We will always owned and managed the family business, Amazon Hose remember Gale’s smile peering out from a blazing orange & Rubber, for much of her life until she turned over parka in our rear-view mirror. The last two tours together, management of the business to the direction of her very Gale and Henry rode as passengers in our Silver Ghost. capable daughter, Summer. We are so thankful for the many amazing memories we Gale entered the antique car world in about 1987, shared together. when she entered her 1913 Cadillac in Millard Newman’s Gale’s outrageous, adventurous, loving and generous Transcontinental Tour to England, Scotland and Wales. The personality, wonderful dinner parties, hospitality and Cadillac presented many challenges, but Gale persisted. She unconditional friendship will forever impact us all. Most again challenged the Cadillac in 1993 on a Transcontinental of all, her presence will be sorely missed. Tour to Ireland, where she first met Henry Petronis, who –Michael Sierra
James Richard Frawley in a back garage – a 1934 Rolls- Royce 20/25, coachwork
3/30/47 – 11/30/16 by Mann-Egerton – his focus shifted. By the time he had Dick Frawley might not have been finished active duty, his Rolls-Royce hobby had morphed born with a wrench in his hand into a business. He retired from the Navy as a Commander, but he picked one up at an early founded The Frawley Company and moved it to Parkesburg, age. Then set it down, assuming Pennsylvania. Over the decades he has worked on more than he would go to college and grad three hundred Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars and for school to become a veterinarian. almost as many owners, who began as customers and ended The selective service lottery up “family,” along side the vendors who made each car a interfered, when, in true luck- communal project and each day an adventure. In business he of-the-Irish fashion, he drew had two aims: to restore the cars to running their very best number four. That assured that and to treat customers as he would wish to be treated. He the Department of Defense would was a life member of the RROC and served as Chairman and take over his education. He selected Naval Aviation and went Treasurer of the Keystone Region. For the club he conducted off to learn about flying P3 airplanes. While stationed in scores of seminars, both local and national, and wrote the Brunswick, Maine he frequented the officers’ club, which definitive article on re-wiring a pre-war car (in brief, assume resulted in his marrying the bartender. From there it was it will take four times longer than you think). His dream of to Villanova University to teach ROTC and get his Masters helping animals was realized in the dozens of stray cats who Degree in bio-chem (still planning to care for animals). wandered into the shop. He is survived by his wife, Judith When he heard from the friend of a friend about an old car Skillings, the cats that stayed and all the cars still running.
2799 Cleo Stroman helped keep Jim and Cleo on the road and headed in the right Cleo Stroman, the girl with the direction. We had wonderful times together. In Tennessee beautiful legs who was the love in 2006 we found ourselves stranded at a country service of Jim Stroman’s life, died on station because Jim Stroman’s car had failed to proceed. He December 9, 2016 in Austin, Texas. did not have roadside assistance insurance so I called our She and Jim had a long history of AAA number and told them that Cleo was my mother. AAA touring with the SGA. Their son came immediately. After that, Cleo and I enjoyed quiet jokes and his wife, Twister and Sue, about our new “relationship”. have followed in Jim and Cleo’s Cleo was a soft-spoken, gracious lady with a million- footsteps and Twister is currently dollar smile that brightened all who came into her orbit. You serving as SGA Secretary. just couldn’t keep from smiling back at her. One day she Although Jim died eight years was standing in a ladies’ room line at a restaurant where we ago, it is still natural to think of had stopped for lunch. A total stranger, exiting the ladies’ Cleo and Jim together on their SGA touring adventures. room, stopped by Cleo to compliment her on her beautiful They were quite a team. Jim provided lots of excitement smile. Cleo beamed. while Cleo was the always-willing partner who could tone For all that she was gentle and low-key, Cleo led an down her husband’s enthusiasms with a simple look or a eventful life. She and her identical twin sister were born at touch. Over the years she rode in warm socks and always home and grew up on various west Texas farms. She met with a smile on some precarious perches in Jim’s various Jim when she was hired as Jim’s father’s secretary and they Ghosts. She kept a stash of cookies handy for sharing during married in 1944. Together they had an adventurous ranching roadside repairs. life and raised three children. Cleo and Jim were married for For the last few years that Jim and Cleo participated in 64 years. In addition to her children, she is survived by five the SGA Wholly Ghost tours, my husband Jim and I had the grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. privilege of being part of an ad hoc wrap around team that –Penny Armstrong
David Dudley (1938-2016) 1913 Alpine Trial devised by John Kennedy. Subsequently It is rare for us to carry an David and Harry Watson organised the very successful 90th obituary of a non-Member, but anniversary Scottish Reliability Tour in 1997. Finally in both David Dudley, who died in July 2003 and 2013 he advised on and participated in further after a fall while maintaining the anniversary celebrations of The 1913 Alpine Trial. roof of his home, gave owners Throughout he planned everything with great care and of Silver Ghosts exceptional smoothed over problems and difficult relationships with skill, service irrespective of where in whilst retaining his boyish sense of fun and good humour. the world they lived or to which He managed to bring together the RREC and the SGA and organisation they belonged. particularly the 20 Ghost Club better than anyone else. His David attended the Royal interest was in the cars and the people who owned them as Military Academy at Sandhurst well as the incredible feats they were capable of then and before joining the Royal Signals now. As a result, all his events were attended by exceptional Regiment where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. numbers of members from around the world. His delightful At the end of a posting in Canada in 1979 he brought back wife Fran was always there supporting him and charming to England a much-neglected Rolls-Royce Phantom II which all who met her. We all carry memories of David and those he then spent five years restoring before taking it with him events, that will be remembered for many, many years. to his next posting to Germany. Although never owning a Silver Ghost, he edited the In the process, he became a member and avid contributor RREC’s Silver Ghost Register magazine on a shoestring to the RREC and by 1989 he had become a member of the for 20 years, persuading members of all Club’s to write Management committee subsequently becoming Chairman interesting articles, particularly on technical matters. He 1995 -1997. kept in touch by driving what he called his “Super Ghost” His success was down to several strong capabilities, a fast, New Phantom tourer, which was a Ghost all bar the careful detailed planning, determination and perseverance engine. His enthusiasm, persuasive powers and boyish and an ability to get the best out of a varied team working with charm will be sorely missed by all who knew him, but most him. He had to use these qualities to the full in 1993 when he of all by David’s wife Fran and sons Simon and Jon to whom held together the management and sponsorship teams from we extend our condolences the RREC, SGA and 20 Ghost Club in organising the very –Tim Forrest challenging re-enactment on the 80th anniversary of the
2800 Gonna Put Your Ghost Away For From The SGA Store The Winter? http://www.silverghostassociation.com/sga-store/ By Bill Kennedy SGA No. 1 – Antiwear Additive $20.57/qt If you’re going to change the oil, be absolutely certain you SGA 1 is designed to replace the antiwear additives being run the engine under load long enough to get the oil up to removed from premium crankcase oil. It uses a temperature. That probably means you’ll have to drive the car different chemistry than simply adding the ZDDP at high speed on the highway for 15 minutes or more to get the that has been removed in unknown quantities, as OIL temperature up. Heat is required to activate the rust and too much ZDDP etches yellow metal in Ghost oxidation (R & O) inhibitors in crankcase oil. Don’t forget the engines. The additive will effectively replace SGA 1 antiwear agent. If you can’t drive the car anymore, it’s the antiwear characteristics that have been better to store it with the old oil in it. lost in the currently available crankcase oil, Don’t start the car during the off season unless you are going mineral or synthetic. SGA 1 has also been to run it enough to get the engine warm. Moving the car around formulated to address storage corrosion in from one garage to another, and similar short term operation is the relatively cool running bottom ends of responsible for rusting in the engine which contributes to heavy Ghost engines when they are stored for a wear, stuck valves, etc. Remember, sitting inside a dry building week or more at a time without being run up or even undercover outside never hurts an engine. to operating temperature. Use one bottle per If there’s much chance the cooling system has OAT oil change. Part No. MP-JK32337 antifreeze in it, drain it if it’s approaching two years old. Store the engine with the cooling system full of 50-50 antifreeze, or SGA No. 3 – Cooling System Corrosion Inhibitor $11.80/qt. water with SGA No. 3 in it if you are sure the storage location SGA 3 is a cooling system corrosion inhibitor will not be subjected to freezing temperatures. Drain it only if specifically designed for the open cooling system and there is pending danger of freezing and you can’t get antifreeze metals in a Silver Ghost. It allows the use of in it. An empty cooling system corrodes and develops hard plain water without antifreeze and extends deposits more so than a full one. the life of IAT antifreeze to five years. If you are going to put a battery charger on it, use one SGA 3 prevents corrosion and electrolysis, of the small tenders and connect it through a 24 -hour light lubricates the water pump packing, prevents timer such that the charger comes on only for about one hour cooling system deposits, and is compatible a day. Even the best tenders tested boiled a lot of water out of with all types of antifreeze. Note: SGA 3 the battery when left on constantly for months. Got an AGM does not provide freeze protection. Part No. battery? Remember it takes a different charger to do it right MP-JK45425 and get maximum life from the relatively expensive battery.
FOR SALE: 1911 Silver Ghost Hooper limousine, chassis 1645, in excellent condition, just serviced and ready for show or a tour. SGA Activities 2017 Recent work includes a rebore and new pistons and valve guides, FEB 1-4: Winter Fling, Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, rewound generator, Sue Stroman and new back wheels [email protected] with straight sided tires (original beaded edge JUNE 18-24: RROC Annual Meet, tires on rims are with the car). I have owned French Lick Springs, IN: this car since 2005 and Michael Ozment & Marlyn Coomes have enjoyed numerous tours including two trouble-free tours of over [email protected]; [email protected] 1000 miles, and many shows with best-in-show trophies. The car has attended two RROC National Meets and Pebble Beach—see SEPT 18 – Oct 4: SGA Wholly Ghost Tour in the Silver Ghost Tourer page 2117 or The Flying Lady page 8706. The archives show a Barker cabriolet as the first body, but I have Quebec – Maples and Mountains Tour. been unable to find any evidence that this was installed. Certainly Gilles & Marilyn Laviolette, the Hooper body was installed well before WW1 and is likely the [email protected]; original body. I have most of the car’s history, an Owner’s handbook, 613-446-5750, 352-633-5753 and all necessary tools. I can deliver to the shipping company or to a transporter in Blaine, WA. Asking US $760,000 or £605,000. John Peirson in Vancouver, Canada, 604-926-2753 or [email protected].
2801 SGA WHOLLY GHOST TOUR 2017
MAPLES AND MOUNTAINS
QUEBEC & EASTERN ONTARIO, CANADA Tentative Dates: Sept 18 - Oct 3, 2017
To register interest or for more info: [email protected] 613-327-5533