THE CHESAPEAKE BULLETIN SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2010

By Jerry Gordon Members have been encouraged to drive Contributors: an antique car to the Crab Feast. While Dave Phillips & Buzz Diehl the hot weather reduced the number somewhat from last year, Dave Phillips There’s a good reason why Chesapeake drove his 1954 Citroen Traction Avant, Region’s Annual Crab Feast has for ice, soft drinks, hot dogs and buns, which generated a lot of interest. Last consisten tly been voted the Club’s condiments, and disposable paper goods. year Dave brought his 1933 Franklin favo rite event. Where else in the During the day the grill was kept busy by Olympic, also a crowd pleaser. ant ique car hobby can you have so much Bud Currey and Gary Wilmer producing fun and eat a bunch of Maryland crabs hot dogs. We had to ask, “Why did you get a for only $5? And if you didn’t want Citroen as a collector car?” Well, Dave crabs you could have had a pound of After the invocation by Art Rutledge, said that when he was twelve years old jum bo shrimp. Plus all those side dishes everyone enjoyed the feast at the many his dad was in the Navy and had the and deserts that member’s bring are picnic tables in the pavilion. As usual, family with him while stationed in Japan del icious. there was a large 50/50 drawing conducted and Europe. He remembers that his dad by Ted Schneider. Thr winner was Pam bought him a book, All The World’s We had 111 members and guests show Canova Cars, and that the family’s next door up on Saturday, July 24th on one of the neighbor in Japan had a Citroen. hot test days of the summer. The When everyone was finished feasting the forecast was for a high temperature of auction started. It was led by our When the Phillips family were later more than 100 degrees and it proved to Auctioneer, Gary Ruby, who had an stationed in Europe, one of the common be accurate. The only saving feature of eclectic mix of items to sell, ranging from cars after WWII was the Citroen. So the weather was the significant breeze automotive parts and collectibles to knick Dave was a military brat with an interest mo st of the day that kept conditions knacks and stuff that members brought to in cars and had a lot of memories of the tolerab le under the roof of Patapsco empty their basements. Citroen Traction Avant. State Park’s Pavilion #105. About 1992 Dave started to look The Crab Feast is an event where for a Citroen to collect. Dave’s me mbers come together to work car was found at a dealer in on preparing a good meal while Lewisburg, PA who dealt in new having an opportunity to visit and used Citroen vehicles. The with each other. Almost like the car needed a restoration, which comm unity get-togethers of an included a factory rebuilt engine era long past such as a quilting and many repro parts that are still part y or a barn raising. made in . Dave installed a wool fabric upholstery kit. Ma ny members arrived early to About 750K Traction Avants do their part to organize the were made over three decades in pav ilion. One group set up a France, and . corn shucking operation to prepare the Dave Phillips’ 1954 Citroen Traction farm -fresh corn for roasting. Another Avant. This is the mid-level model known In addition to members already men- gro up wrapped the crabs in newspaper as the Normal. It has a 1.9L, 56 HP, tioned, Helen & Jerry Gordon, Mary & packa ges so that everyone had a place to four-cylinder engine, three-speed Ed Allen, Bonnie & Lou Mielke, spread out their crabs while picking the , front wheel drive, and 121- Franklin Gage, Margaret & Al Lawson, del icious meat. And several members inch . This classic design dates John Shenton, Vicky Wilmer, and Paula started very early in the day shopping back to 1934 – production ended in 1957. Ruby deserve thanks for a great event.

Shown from the left: Auctioneer Gary Ruby, Invocation by Art Rutledge, Lou Mielke, Organizer Bonnie Mielke, and M.C. Jerry Gordon. 11