CHEVROLETTER September 2020
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CHEVROLETTER September 2020 Vol 2020 Issue 9.0 Director’s Report September 2020 Another month has slipped away and there is not much new to report. I hope everyone is healthy and safe and making the best of a bad situation. Recently I was informed of the passing of John White, a New Jersey VCCA member. Those of you who have been to Hershey may or may not have met John. John was usually out searching for vintage car models and related paraphernalia. John Mahoney knew John for many years and they would bunk together for the long Hershey weekend. I met John 3 or 4 years ago and could see right away what a nice guy he was. Besides being a supreme model builder, he volunteered in many ways to help others and his community. Sometimes it takes a person dying to discover all the good they have done over the years. Not having Hershey this year almost seems like the event is grieving the loss of John, we will miss him. The car scene seems to be made up mostly of cruise event and no organized events sponsored by a car club or promoter. I am told there is a possible $10,000.00 fine for exceeding the limit of people at a given event. We have been going to a Sunday morning cruise in the parking lot of Miller’s Ale House in Commack. This was a nice event with around 50-70 cars getting there sometime after 8 am. Recently the entire “beach crowd” were kicked out of Robert Moses and decided to come to Miller’s. There are now 300+ cars, taking up all surrounding parking lots and getting there at the crack of dawn. We are assuming the cruise will not last long with the influx of people so if you are interested, you better go soon before it is closed down. I saw an ad for one show that required pre-registration up to a set limit and then was closed. By the time I saw the ad, the show was filled. At this point, the Long Island Street rod show and swap meet is not being held. There is a show on November 1st called the Monster Mash Car Show for those dying to get their cars out. I will get more information on this show as the time grows closer. We just renewed our website fees for the next three years, we share this site with 2 other VCCA clubs which allows us to pay only 1/3 of the expenses. Go to bing.com and enter Long Island VCCA and our listing should be the top one. We also have our Hemmings Motor New website and our club Facebook page. Stay safe and see you all soon, Chris 1 September 3rd Club Breakfast at Eisenhower Park Normally we have our club breakfast at On Parade Diner in Woodbury and they are open and complying with all regulations. Last month we planned to meet at Eisenhower Park for a picnic breakfast. Our plans were changed slightly when it started to rain once we were there so we all moved over to field one where there is a roofed pavilion. There is a bathroom adjacent to the pavilion and possibly an aerobics show for entertainment (you had to be there) On September 3rd, we will meet at Field 1 in Eisenhower Park at 9:30 am for our second picnic breakfast. Field 1 entrance is on Merrick Ave, north of Hempstead Turnpike. When you pull in, turn right and head down to the pavilion on your right. There are plenty of places on the turnpike to get breakfast food and all you need is a chair and possibly a table depending on the size of your breakfast. This actually sounds like something we might want to do in the warm months even after life has returned to “normal”. Since there is a roof over our heads, we are not so dependent upon good weather although I doubt we would go in a pouring rain. I will send updates if there is any question about cancelling the day. Have a mask with you just in case and bring some hand sanitizer and see you there. I will try to get there earlier and if you have any problems, you can call my cell at 631-988-4005. So bring your car and a comfy chair and let’s have some socially distanced interactions. Chris September 14th Regular Club Meeting So far nothing has changed since our last meeting, as of my last communication with the Town of Oyster Bay, our meeting hall is still unavailable. I just sent the Deputy Commissioner of General Services an email requesting an update so we will see what comes of it. As a contingent plan, we will be meeting in the community center parking lot on September 14th at 6:30 pm….not 8. I will get a jug of coffee and a dozen donuts and members should bring a chair. There is not much to talk about but it is always good to see some familiar faces again. Drive your vintage Chevy and see you in a few weeks. If there is any change in status I will send out an email and do not go if it is raining Chris 2 Calendar of Events coming up for 2020 September 3rd- Club breakfast, Field 1, Eisenhower Park 9:30. See article September 14th- Regular Club meeting, 6:30 Oyster Bay Community Center Church street. See article October 1st- Club Breakfast, location to be determined October12th- Regular Club Meeting, Oyster Bay Community Center. Hopefully the building will be available to us by then. Cruise Nights Thursday Nights- Kings Park Key Food Parking Lot, Indian Head Road, just north of 25A. Meet from 5-8 pm. Pizza and ice cream stores close by. Friday Nights- Bellmore Train Station- I have not been there this year. Saturday Nights- Stop and Shop lot in Smithtown on Jericho (rt 25) just east of the bull on the left side. 4-8 pm. Bathrooms in Stop and Shop Sunday Mornings- Miller Ale House Route 454, Veterans Highway, Commack. 8 am-12:00. There is a 7/11 and Dunkin Donuts just up the road on 454. Limited shade on a warm morning. 3 Long Island Region VCCA Garage - Spotlighting Chevrolet History Bill Thomas Cheetah Bill Thomas Cheetah replica An original 1964 Cheetah on track at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed The Bill Thomas Cheetah was an American sports car designed and engineered entirely with American components, and built from 1963 to 1966 by Chevrolet performance tuner Bill Thomas. It was developed as a competitor to Carroll Shelby's Cobra Bill Thomas William P. "Bill" Thomas was born on 28 May 1921 and lived in Anaheim, California. In 1956 Thomas commenced work tuning and modifying Chevrolet Corvettes for racing for C S Mead Motors Co. By 1960, Thomas had started his own company, Bill Thomas Race Cars. At that time General Motors approached him to undertake performance work on the new Chevrolet Corvair. He also prepared the 1962 409 Bel-Airs and Biscaynes for drag racing and another Chevrolet stock car for Louis Unser who won its division of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. He was also contracted by GM to develop the Chevy II Bill Thomas died October 10, 2009. 4 Long Island Region VCCA Garage - Spotlighting Chevrolet History Bill Thomas Cheetah- continued Design and development Prototype In 1963 Thomas gained covert support from General Motors Performance Product Group head Vince Piggins to develop the Cheetah as a concept vehicle. It was designed by Thomas and Don Edmunds, his lead fabricator. Edmunds is credited with the bulk of the construction of the car. Financing for the project came from private investors, Thomas, and John Grow, a Rialto California Chevrolet dealer. Grow owned the prototype car. Using his racing connections, Thomas arranged for material assistance from Chevrolet for the major components - the Corvette 327 engine, Muncie transmission, and independent rear-end assemblies. Other components were stocked from the larger GM parts bin, such as Chevrolet passenger car spindles, and NASCAR spec Chevrolet drum brakes. Design and Build Following delivery of the drivetrain components, Edmunds laid them out on the shop floor and began taking measurements. Using chalk, Edmunds sketched the basic outline of the chassis. The original blueprints of the Cheetah by Edmunds consisted of a few simple drawings showing the major components in block form, with major dimensions marked. Edmunds' design methodology for the majority of cars he built during his career was to sketch what he thought a car ought to look like, and then build it. Only his last few Indy cars involved professional designers. Once the chassis shape was determined, Edmunds sketched the body. He showed his drawings to Thomas and after a few minor changes began construction. The Cheetah was designed to be a cruising machine or styling exercise, not a racing car. Thomas wanted a prototype to show General Motors the level of work his company could do with the intent to obtain additional contract work. After construction began Thomas decided the car would also compete on the racetrack to further promote the concept. The chassis had not been designed for this and therefore was not rigid enough for racing. This problem emerged once the car began to compete Once Edmunds had the lower half of a rolling chassis built, he constructed a plywood body form or "buck" on which fit on top of the chassis.